James Hunt/Marlboro Challenge /1983 XR3i JNO 2Y

[AD64]

Just found a scrap book with pics of Marlboro Challenge at Brands Hatch in summer 1983 - got to meet my hero James Hunt and do a fast lap.

I remember he landed in a helicopter by the Octagon restaurant - he was wearing purple cords that were way too short! - he made a bee-line for 2 girls in the competition - they ended up having a closer look at his helicopter!

then proceeded to do single fast/mainly sideways smoky laps - window open, left hand on wheel, right hand holding fag - so cool!

anyone on here remember it or know the whereabouts of an Escort XR3i reg number JNO 2Y? -

Cheers
Andrew

[AD64]

another pic

[gforceg]

Not licenced since 1993 by the look of it.

[Plug550]

That brought back some memories! I've just spent a fantastic couple of hours going through my old photos to find these! I came in around twentieth with the hangover from hell. If only I'd focused a little, but that sums up my youth...

I don't remember seeing Hunt there though.

[AD64]

Hi Plug,
Great to see your images and great memories -

From memory - James H flew in late morning and we stood in a line near the start/finish line and got to shake his hand and say hello - I remember he spent a lot more time chatting to the 2 female entrants than anyone else! - I didn't make to last group of people who got to finally race and dont know who won it?

One of the 4 XR3i's must still be around - presume the number plates were JNO 2Y through to JNO 5Y?

Cheers
Andrew

[Plug550]

The Marlboro Challenge, for those who have not heard of it, was a promotional competition run by a tobacco company, who's name temporarily escapes me, in 1983 at Brands Hatch. It was free to enter for anyone between the ages of 18 and 25, with the aim of finding the next British World Champion. This was in the days before 'our Nige' was showing his true potential. If I recall correctly, 1000 winners were selected out of over 10000 applicants. The successful 1000 were whittled down by assessment. We were given 2 or 3 laps in these standard XR3i's in which we had to impress the driving instructor beside us enough to be given another go. I think they had a couple of days of this. On my day, there were probably a couple of hundred wannabe F1 stars. The best 50% got another go in the afternoon. The idea was to select the best 10 from the week, and then give them a weeks intensive training to find the overall winner. The ultimate prize was a fully funded year in Formula Ford. Peter Cox won it, so it was a genuine springboard, and fantastic opportunity the significance of which seemed to pass me by at the time.

http://www.koxracing.com/peter_archief.php?Marlbor...

However, there was a full range of driving skills on display by the contestants, and as a result those XR3's got a real beating. I notice the no 2 car has had the near side front 'altered'! I'd be surprised if anyone would have wanted to buy one of them afterwards, so I'd be quite surprised if any survived.

I did buy myself one soon after though, although I couldn't run to the new XR3i. I ended up with a Caspian Blue XR3 Carb with the 5 speed box. So I guess in one way or other, that marketing exercise had some benefit for Ford. Sadly for Philip Morris, I gave up smoking at around that time, in order to fund my car finance repayments. One of my more sensible decisions in my formative years me thinks.

[iva cosworth]

In the bottom pic the car behind is reg GHK 2Y so not all cars were consecutively plated

[4rephill]

AD64 said:

One of the 4 XR3i's must still be around - presume the number plates were JNO 2Y through to JNO 5Y?

Cheers
Andrew

Looks like the second car back could be: JNO 1Y

According to the DVLA:

Date of liability:

JNO 1Y: 01 01 1989
JNO 2Y: 01 01 1993
JNO 3Y: 03 04 2003
JNO 4Y: 01 11 1992
JNO 5Y: Vehicle details could not be found (probably no longer on a Ford and now owned by a dyslexic named JONES!)
GHK 2Y: Vehicle details could not be found (on a Ford)

It looks like they all bit the dust years ago!

[iSore]

Years and years ago, I had an R reg ex Shellsport Escort 1600 Sport. It was 9 years old, as rusty as an old horseshoe and had been ragged to buggery. No idea if anyone famous drove it.

[Willblack]

New to PH. Just found some photos of marlboro challenge at Brands Hatch in 1983. JNO 2Y and GHK 2Y feature. I remember picking up my brand new black xr3i the day before the marlboro challenge. Didn't have long enough to practice, but great fun cars.

[Willblack]

[neutral 3]

Fascinating ! I had no idea that this event took place. Huge James Hunt fan.

Very Fond memories of the red Y reg XR3i, that my Mum owned for a few months in circa 1987, before some Low life stole it from outside the house, in Chingford.

Shame that none of these XR3i appear to have survived, but theft and rot and accidents took their toll. Particularly theft, I recall many being stolen back then.

[ianmloveless6666]

i was there at the Thruxton Circuit.

[bongtom]

^ "ages 18 to 25"

Were you there with your son?