Mick Walsh

m Malcolm played ‘Mr Fix It’ this month when he sorted a long-desired drive of a GT40. Better still, when I arrived at Ford’s Dunton test track in Essex, our favourite PR had .iid on two. The layout of two drag strips, with Karrusel-style banked turns at each end, wasn’t ideal to test this legend, but I came home impressed by the power punch, even trom detuned engines, its remarkable ride and, most of all, the security you feel behind the wheel. My admiration for the likes of McLaren, Whitmore and Miles is no less but it confirmed Ford’s tough sensation would look after you in the ; vent of a big moment. Porsche and Ferrari prototypes never give that ritimate confidence.Hero of the day was Ron >taughton, retiring custodian of Ford’s Heritage Vehicle Collection. Model Τ man at heart, Ron started is an apprentice at Dagenham in 1954 and virtually kick-started the :lassic collection. What better send-»ff for one of the blue oval’s -: ngest-serving employees than a irive in the newly restored Supervan . With Group C spaceframe chas-51 – now powered by 2 2 Obhp Scorpio older than a 650bhp Cosworth, the -dmate white van still had enough : ‘Jich to shake up Ron, who stepped ” ut stuttering after three laps. “It’s quite a lively motor, but it’s a bit bumpy for me on the corners,” rted the 65-year old. Top bloke.