Friday 2nd December 2011

Time for Tea? Manx action in a Rover...

...and it's not the one you expect

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Our Rover-tastic SOTW was inevitably going to throw up some chat about the late, great Tony Pond’s 100mph lap of the Isle of Man TT course, but our YouTube wonderings have today taken us to a rather different place.

It’s still the Isle of Man, it’s still Tony Pond, and it’s still a Rover, but this time it’s the 1985 Manx Rally, and Mr Pond is campaigning a Group A Rover SD1 Vitesse (in classic Computervision livery).

It’s possibly an even more bizarre sight than the TT lap, and almost certainly one of the most peculiar rally cars ever, but as the first two minutes or so of the video show, Pond could hussle it along at a fair old lick.

And if that isn’t amusement enough, stick around for the rest of the video – Mantas, Quattros, T16s, it’s 80s rally heaven.

 

[Greg_D]

Why can't rallying be like that any more?

I think it is just that the cars are just so damned competent and the drivers so professional that the excitement has been developed out of the sport

It's a shame really!!!!

[Liquid Knight]

I wonder if Tom Walkinshaws guys ever did anything with the SD3?

Can't afford an SD1 yet.

[sparkster8]

I agree - wish it was like this still. If it was I would watch it still I'm sure........

[carsnapper]

Work that box! I miss manual gearboxes in a forms of motor racing Manual sequential shifters and paddle shifters take so much out of the physical act and skill of driving. (And enjoyment in my opinion).

[sparkster8]

Oh and Tony Pond in a Vitesse or a TR7 V8 .....I could watch that kind of footage for hours ! Actually same for McRae & Brookes in those Mantas as well - fantastic stuff !

[snorkel sucker]

Brilliant!

Those Audis sound epic. Also, is it just me or is Michelle Mouton, erm, quite hot...

[chevronb37]

Absoluely awesome. The speed they carry on public roads is just remarkable. And yes, Michele Mouton was a total hottie.

[traffman]

Now thats why i used to enjoy rallying , those quattros are epic.

Cant believe Pond can hustle that vitesse round like he does.

Kids of today must be astonished at the level of input required back then.

[Jerry Can]

well waddya know....? That would be my upload onto youtube. I am billyboy205gti, and I have made it at last...

[mig25_foxbat2003]

Heaven. No other word for it. I bloody love the noise those Sport Quattros make.

[666 SVT]

Michele should be in F1 with a list of excuses that long !

[Zumbruk]

Now I know why I stopped watching rallying in the last few years. Because it's become rather dull.

[Blown2CV]

i think the mantas are the stars of that vid, personally

[Melvin Udall]

Lovely stuff.

[alexmckie]

Stick shift.....



The only way to do it.....

[miniman]

Awesome stuff. Love the bit where Jim explains that at maximum revs the SD1 is doing 120 - whilst the classic BL revcounter flails around randomly

[SWH]

Wow, now I remember why I loved rallying.... remember watching this on the TV with my father, great stuff.

Makes the modern stuff, and the epically st TV coverage, seem even more bland than I thought it was!

[y2blade]

snorkel sucker said:

Brilliant!

Those Audis sound epic. Also, is it just me or is Michelle Mouton, erm, quite hot...

[psychoR1]

Hmm the best years of rallying.

I watched the British championship that year.

I remember well on the Mintex seeing Mr Pond at 100% at Lightwater Valley in the Rover - if ever a driver gave 150% to make up for an underdog car it was our Tony.

Mlle Mouton was also pretty swift (and pretty with it) in the short quattro.

Some fantastic memmories of that era in the forests.

[dome]

Splendid, Thankyou for posting. I like them all, even the Skoda.