What first made you fall in love with performance Fords?
"My dad had a blue four-door Ford Escort 1300L. Because it was my dad's car, it was the best car in the world to me. I cleaned it for him, and he let me sit in the drivers' seat and play with the controls. It wasn't a fast Ford, but it was such a strong childhood memory. As I got older, I learned about Ford's racing heritage which helped me appreciate it even more."
What was the first performance Ford you got to experience?
"My first job was in an independent garage. A customer brought a four-wheel-drive Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth in, and my boss took me out for the post-servicing test drive as a treat. I'd only seen the car in magazines, so experiencing it in the flesh was totally different. It had 300hp, but it was the way it picked up the power - and that noise."
What is it about those classic fast Fords that makes them so special?
"It's the Blue Oval, and the heritage with that. I'm not a big motorsport fan, but I always loved the Mk2 Escort in rallying, and the Tickford RS 500 touring cars. If someone says name an old rally car, you say Ford Escort. There aren't many brands with that history of racing, rallying and sportscars. Also, the Fords I grew up with stood out from the other performance cars of the day - such as Lotus Carltons and BMW M3s. The Mondeo ST220s were pretty cool, wild cars, so it would be great to see Ford do a modern super-saloon."
What was the first performance Ford you got to own?
"The first performance Fords I had a chance to own were Series 1 or Series 2 Escort RS Turbos, or Escort XR3is. But even those were out of my price range as an apprentice, as they were desirable cars. I went through a mix of cars, but I always planned on buying and restoring a Series 2 RS Turbo. I found one in Mercury Grey that needed work, and it spent 10 months on a ramp. The plan was always to finish the RS Turbo and sell it to fund a Mk1 Escort - a proper retro, rear-wheel-drive Ford with rally heritage. But the RS Turbo was such a brilliantly fun car to drive that I got sentimental about it. Even though it went up in value, I couldn't bring myself to sell it."
Was this when you bought your Mk1 Escort?
"I inherited some money in 2014, which let me keep the RS Turbo and get a Mk1. My only requirement was the body had to be good. After two months - I found one down in Essex. Mechanically, it was a bit tired, but it was in good, honest condition. I spent time sorting out a few issues and making it my homage to a Ford Escort Mexico - with a loud colour, stickers and a mild-tune. It has been stripped out for a rally look, but I'm planning to put carpet and insulation back in for longer drives."
It sounds like you've put a lot of love into that car.
"I can't ever imagine selling the Mk1 Escort. It took me so long to own one - from seeing it as a kid, learning what it meant, all the way to buying one. It's intrinsically linked to my DNA. I've done a few trips with my mates, and I take my three kids out in it - they're at an age where they're getting into cars a bit, and they love it. If push came to shove, I'd sell the RS over the Mk1..."
Are you a member of any owners' clubs or attend any meets?
"I go to the Classic Ford Show at Santa Pod every year, and some local shows. I enjoy talking about the Mk1 and I always get a good response as I keep my car in mint condition. I did consider joining the owners' club, but you get lots of people picking up little things about your car - such as headlights from the wrong year. I love the scene, but I don't like being told every metric bolt that's wrong! There are lots of concourse Mk1 Escorts, but this is my car personal car - rather than one I put on show."
And you don't just own classic performance Fords...
"As my family has grown, I've always had a daily driver or family car, and I like the contrast of having old cars on the driveway alongside something new. Previously it was a Range Rover Sport, but it got long in the tooth. I looked at a Focus RS, but I needed more space so I got a Focus ST3 estate. When buying cars, you are what you are. So, even if you need something pragmatic, there's no reason why it can't be fun. I'm not a fast driver, and I don't do track days, but a great car makes everyday driving so much more enjoyable. We've just had a third kid, so I'm trading the Focus ST3 in for an S-Max. If Ford could make an S-Max RS, that would be perfect!"
Want to see your performance Ford featured here? Get in touch with us here, and tell us why you love your Ford.