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.....Minilite-style rims there's something about the Fiesta that makes it stand out even more. That slammed stance is killer, as Nick hopes his new engine will be too.
"The first engine was like a medium-tuned Crossflow, now I really need a steel crank and rods. That was my learning engine which was putting out about 115 bhp at the front wheels. This one puts out a bit more."
Just a bit then? Nick's not letting on too much, these racecar boys rarely do so. We can only guess that it must be healthy. One thing that Nick could really do with is a BC-type four-speed box with straight-cut gears. He reckons there's got to be one out there somewhere and if you want to sell one contact us. So how did Nick know what would work then? "A lot of it has come from helping out Scotty and looking at other cars, I buy all the mags and just study stuff."
It's this attention that sets the Fiesta apart, far more than a sum of all the parts. The brakes are an indication of the ingenuity shown, with unwanted width skimmed off, Nick then drilled the bell to further reduce the unsprung weight. Not brain surgery, but would you have thought of it? Nick states modestly, "It's just all stuff I've learned and put into practice."
When the Fiesta was first finished it ended up on the road, but now that it's strictly competition-only, does Nick miss lacing around the lanes? "It was good fun but it did your head in after a while with a set of carbs right on the bulkhead, but it was great when you got up alongside an Audi TT and blitzed them," he enthuses. There is, however, the Old Bill to be wary of. "The Police will get you for anything these days, so I'd prefer not to get done, and spend my money on something I can get up a hill. When you get to the top you're shaking and want to do it all again, whereas on the road you're looking for cameras."
It's a sad fact that Nick's right, but at 692 kg with no driver and some fluids, the Fiesta's worth every penny spent for every second saved. With that taking up all his money then, Nick now runs around in an Escort estate as it's reliable, can hold his fishing rod and tow his trailer, and that's pretty much all he needs.
There'll always be the dream list, which for Nick includes his elusive straight-cut box, an all-steel Burton engine and some cheeky throttle bodies. But for now he's enjoying his hills within the lively competition community in the South West. With a little help from fellow racers and sponsors on the way, Nick's got it well sorted no matter what you think of his Fiesta. We can't help but think there's a lesson to learn in there somewhere.
Tech Spec
Body
Originally XR2 left-hand-drive shell, Sunburst Red, 2 mm Perspex windows, single wiper, seam welded in places, fibreglass boot and bonnet, 5-litre alloy tank, all lines run inside car.
Engine
1600 Crossflow, twin 45 DCOE carbs, Maxiflow inlet manifold, Philspeed hot rod-spec cam, steel rocker posts, Isky double valve springs, big valve ported cylinder head, 41.5 mm inlet valve, 35 mm exhaust valve, Karl Schmidt 1300 Crossflow pistons, polished and balanced conrods, ARP conrod and flywheel bolts, lightened and balanced crank, high pressure oil pump, baffled sump, Lumenition ignition, Lucas sport coil, Duplex timing chain and adjustable pulley, four-branch manifold, Facet solid-state fuel pump and regulator.
Transmission
Lightened flywheel and clutch over, three-puck paddle clutch, four-speed BC-type box, damped gearstick.
Suspension
AVO coil-overs, 175 Ib springs, fully rose-jointed with adjustable castor and camber, KYB fast road gas shocks, nylon custom-machined rear bushes, altered rear beam to give more camber, solid rear suspension top mounts.
Brakes
Standard vented discs, skimmed down and cross drilled with drilled bells, skimmed-down drums with drilled edges, no handbrake.
Wheels And Tyres
13x6 inch Minilite-style alloys, Hoosier racing slicks.
Interior
VDO rev counter, Racetech oil pressure, coolant temp gauge, steering column lowered by 30 mm, FEV plumbed-in fire extinguisher, OMP bucket seat, four-point Willans Harness, helmet box, six-point bolt-in Safety Devices roll cage.
Thanks
Mum and Dad, fiance Nikki, Scotty Smith, West End Precision, Dave Bushby Plant Hire, Blights Motors and Sign Studios.
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