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.....series of rolls resulted in the Mini being totally written off and ensured that the BBC would have some footage to show bored Grandstand viewers when the rain stopped play in the Test match.
Soon after, Keith announced his retirement from the rallycross scene - although I have a sneaking suspicion that neither he or his friends ever thought it to be a final decision. Now almost exactly a year on as this is being written, Keith Ripp has announced his intention to take on the whole 'cross world in an amazingly fast BDA-engined Fiesta lightweight. What's more, we at HOT CAR are going to be backing Keith all the way to the chequered flag!
We'll keep you informed of what happens when Keith does battle and in the mean time, let's take a look at his new steed.
SUPER-LIGHT
Keith has always been a firm believer in keeping a vehicle as light as possible - less weight is roughly equivalent to more power and it also allows you to add ballast here and there to improve suspension loading without ending up with an overweight car.
With this in mind, Keith purchased an ex-Hepolite rolling shell that had lain unused for almost two seasons since being driven briefly by Trevor Hopkins. The body consists of a radically modified Fiesta shell which has been strengthened and then lightened by the simple expedient of cutting it in half behind the driver and replacing the rear end with a glassfibre replica. The lost strength is regained with a tube system tieing in with the roll cage and suspension - a beam axle with coil-overs and four-bar set-up.
At the front end AVO uprights from magnesium sprout four-pot calipers from the same source while AVO also coughed up some 12" vented disc and group 2 driveshafts. Further details include an AVO anti-roll bar and pedal-box, a high-ratio Quiafe steering rack, hydraulic handbrake and braided lines throughout.
POWERHOUSE
The motivation for such an obviously purposeful beast comes courtesy of a 1600cc Ford-BDA 16-valver putting out a whopping 21 Obhp at around 8,250rpm. Primarily built for torque, the engine uses a steel 77.6mm crank pushing 80.95mm Cosworth pistons, drawing fuel via a pair of 48DCOE Webers and pushing the waste out through a Janspeed 4-into-1 manifold and large-bore system.
The rampant horsepower finds its way to the ground by way of a close-ratio Hewland box with 5.6:1 final drive and pawl-type diff. A steel flywheel and twin-plate clutch connect the mill and box. Revolution wheels of either 7 or 8" width by 13" diameter finally transfer the power to the tarmac.
Weighing a mere 1 2cwt, the yellow peril is also sponsored by Corbeau seats, Spax shock absorbers and Mountney steering wheels......
Captions -
Middle-Right - The Fiesta uses a potent 1600BDA unit with twin 48DCOE Webers putting out in the region of 21Obhp at 8.250rpm
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