RIP Peter Fulke-Greville aka Pete the pirate from Spec R who has sadly passed away on Tuesday of this week

Not the fastest gun in the west with production of his parts but nevertheless quality products favoured by many a fast Ford enthusiast.

The tuning world has lost another stalwart sadly

RIP Pete

 

Sad news....RIP

 

Saw the news on FB. RIP

 

RIP Pete Fulke-Greville of Spec 'R' Alloy. You will be greatly missed by myself and all at GT-RS Eng. You fabricated the best alloy components for our race cars. We will make sure the Hart Escort will turn heads when fully restored..

 

This is the car that will be rebuilt by it's owner. New image taken in 2025 after a full re-commissioning.

in rememberance of Peter Fulke-Greville of Spec 'R'.

Close friends and specialist motorsport individuals, such as Julian Godfrey, Ray West, Scott of Julian Godfrey, Alan of Castle Combe, Gary Rhodes, Graham Wood, Joe Stevens, Rod Birley, John Gamble, John Cross, and a host of others will be attending the cars unveiling and a memorial event held for Pete.

The Ex Geof Woods 1974 LT40 Hart Escort Mk1 Tricentrol Special Saloon.

 

This wonderful iconic race car, that had been lost since 1979 is due to be unveiled during 2025. The full re-commissioning started just after Pete of Spec 'R' passed away in January 2024. And as Peter's brother had purchased the car fully from Pete when he got terminal cancer in 2019, his brother also bought out the 50% share of the car that another party had in it from 2017. Chris paid for all the components and items needed for the car, this allowed Pete to concentrate on doing his Spec 'R' work faster. So on behalf of Pete, I wish to say sorry for any delays in Pete not always getting his work out in time. Un-be-known to many, he had the cancer some time before being fully diagnosed, and was continuously ill. Anyway, his work was still GREAT, and he loved the work he did, and his customers.

Every original component of the LT40 Hart Escort has been fully, and sympathetically restored, so the car remains as to how it made it's race debut in 1974 and 1975 at the Tricentrol Super Saloon Car Championship. Although the car has always been Tahiti Blue, the original colour was the gel coat finish when made in 1973, to save weight. The car is now sprayed and oven baked by Chris, Petes brother in Tahiti Blue. The Brian Hart BDA engine was fully rebuilt by Julian Godfrey Race Engines himself, with Peter's brother paying for all of this, including replacing the Iron block with the latest alloy block, saving 20 kilo's. The engine has been Dyno Tested with the BHP being approx what it was when original in 1973/4. Chris alongside Martin Jones rebuilt the ZF gearbox, and Chris rebuilt the Le-Mans BMW CSL rear axle. All the magnesium components have been crack tested, as have the wheels, spaceframe and other components. The F1 calipers have been fully rebuilt, and assembled with all new Think Automotive hoses replacing the old copper pipes. Corbeau Seats replaced the originl seat with an exact copy, but now made it six point. The fuel pumps have been replaced with alloy high pressure Bosch units.

Weight saving has got the car down to an incredible 496 kilos, and with 271 bhp will make the power to weight respectable, especially as it is a normally aspirated enginne running Lucas fuel injection.

The original owner racer Geoff Wood found the LT40 Hart Escort to be hot, fumey and noisey with the engine inside the car, next to him. So what Chris has done has lined every alloy panel with heat and thermal noise insulation, and covered the outside of each alloy panel with anti glare matt black felt. There is now an alloy bulkhead fitted where the exhaust manifold passed through the footwell on the passenger side. There are now fitted extractor vacuem pipes to rid the cockpit of fumes and heat. Some heat has been diverted to the screen in case of a wet race. Total weight put on by adding all of this is just 1.2 kilos.

The half doors sit over F1 style safety pods, as was desighned by Len Terry. Chris has infilled with the latest material, used in Le-Mans cars.

I can add a few images here, and add a few more later to wet your appetite.

Many thanks go to all the help given by Ray West Racing at Thruxton, Mike Quaife, Julian Godfrey Race Engines, Scott Reed, Rod Birley, John Cross, Advanced Paint Supplies @ Shepperton Studios, Think Automotive, Minilite Wheels, Corbeau Seats, Martin Jones ZF, AP components, BMW Motorsport Spares in Germany, Hugo CSCC, Ricky Parker-Morris (RIP), Cyril Malem (RIP), Ross at Devizes, Gary Rhodes, BOSCH technical, McLaren Woking, Andy F3 at Castle Combe, and the man himself at Goodwood for future testing.

The Ex Geoff Wood LT40 Hart F2 Tricentrol Super Saloon in it's first Tricentrol race.

The LT40 Lowline Escort at the 1975 Silverstone GP support race.

The 'Lowline' Hart Escort LT40 Super Saloon in the Silverstone paddock. Notice the half doors sitting over the F1 style safety pods.

The LT40 Hart Escort in it's final guise, raced by Andrew Grover in 1978/79. This was at Goodwood in 1978 in Andrew Grovers team colour of Dark Blue with a yellow roof.

The LT40 Hart Escort Super Saloon being tested at Goodwood Circuit 1978, driven by Andrew Grover.

The LT40 Hart Escort winning a race in the Wendy Wools Championship at Castle Combe. The ( Lowline' ) is low and corners flatter than most.

Leading the class again and settinng up the new class lap record lap time of over 100 mph. The LT40 with the right driver started to win on a very regular basis.

The LT40 Hart Escort Super Saloon being towed out of the barn after being stored complete since 1979 to 2017.

Inspections begin on the LT40 Hart Escort 'the Lowline', after being found stored in a barn for 43 years.

Peter of Spec 'R' Alloy.

Peter Fulke-Greville of Spec 'R' Alloy with the Chairman CSCC Hugo Holder, taking the screen surround off, allowing access to the engine.

Authenticating the ex Geoff Wood LT40 Hart F2 Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon. Left to right, Cyril Malem CTG F1 racing original builder, Hugo Holder CSCC Chairman, Peter Fulke-Greville Spec 'R' Alloy, Ricky Parker-Morris racer, friend and editorial editor.

The LT40 Hart Escort laid bare, showing the Len Terry designed F1'F5000 chassis and components, and fifty years of farm barn dirt all over it.

Showing Geoff Wood with the LT40 hart Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon, lined up with the top Super saloon racers of the time.

Graham Wood sitting in his dads old car that he had not seen for fifty years.

The BMW CSL Le-Mans rear axle fitted to the LT40 Hart Escort. Notice the rare F1 inboard brakes, the F1 uprights. The rear wheels are 14in wide on 13in Minilites.

The LT40 Hart Escort in it's last colour scheme

The Len Terry F1 designed spaceframe for the LT40 Hart Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon. Being alighned, prepared and ready for paint.

Now painted and ready for re-commissioning.

The LT40 Hart Escort being re-commissioned in 2024 by Chris F/G.

The LT40 Hart Escort having the F5000/F1 front suspension fitted by Chris.

Some of the prepared body panels being lined up on the LT40 Hart Escort

The LT40 Hart Escort Super Saloon now starting to resemble it's old self of 1974.

The LT40 Hart Super Saloon having the body panels fitted.

Now crack tested and prepared, the original Minilite wheels for the LT40 Hart Escort. 14in wide at rear, 11.5in wide at the front.

The LT40 Hart Escort, 'the Lowline'.

Showing the interior nearly finished for the LT40 Hart Escort Super Saloon.

The LT40 Hart Escort showing the fresh Hart engine fitted in during Dec 2024. It's getting there.

The LT40 Hart Escort showing how far back the engine is, to comply with the championship rules. This car when finished will weigh approx 496 kilos, down from it's original 508 kilos. The extra alloy bulkhead is shown between the fuel tank and ex-manifold lower section.

Engine now fitted, showing it behinnd the windscreen, alonside the driver. Alloy panels cover it, with added insulation for sound and heat.

 

wow what a car

 

Thanks James, it's looking good in the workshop
A few more weeks and will be ready for action, after a dry start-up at the Julian Godfrey Racing workshop.

Snug as a Bug. The Hart F2 engine fitted into the LT40 Hart Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon.

 

Great background and wonderful to be bringing it back to life!

 

Thanks Haz.
It has been a long year at twelve solid hours a day, every day, re-commissioning every original component and 1,600 new alloy rivets for the aircraft spec alloy inner panels to be re-fixed to the Len Terry spaceframe. But, I have loved every minute and can't wait to get it back on the circuits and show events.

 

Nearing completion by Chris Fulke Greville, the Ex Geoff Wood LT40 Hart F2 Ford Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon. Should be ready to unveil during 2025.

 

Nearing completion the 1974

LT40 Hart F2 Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon.

 

The 1973 LT40 Hart Ford Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon

 

Nearly

done after a full re-commissioning after being found in a barn where it had been stored for 45 years.

 

Getting ready to be unveiled in 2025 after over 3,000 hours of re-commissioning. Found complete in a barn of farmer/race car driver Andrew Grover who had stored it since 1979 until found in 2017. Weighing an incredibly light 496 kilos, a full F1 Len Terry designed spaceframe, a Brian Hart F2 BDA, ZF 5/speed works gearbox, a Le-Mans BMW Batmobile rear axle, and 14in wide rear rims keeps this rare car planted through the fast sweeping corners of the many UK race circuits, where it held lap records in the 1970's.

 

Great to see it finally finished after all the hard work that has gone into its rebuild, well done to everyone that has been involved. Do you know where it will be competing this year ? It will be a crowd pleaser for sure!!!

 

Everything about this car screams I’m an absolute beast would love to see out on track Pete would have loved the car no doubt

 

Thankyou cossynut2. Peters brother Chris has spent over 3,000 hours fully refurbing the car, so should be unveiling it quite soon. I do know that the car will be at several shows during 2025. I will post when they are confirmed.

 

Hi Charlie, the car has to be dry started by Julian Godfrey racing, just to make sure all the pipework has been correctly fitted. The engine has been dyno tested, and produces similar BHP to what it had originally when Brian Hhart made the engine.
The original Brian Hart Cosworth BDA F2 1850cc steel block had been expanded to 1997cc by 1979 and had signs of cracking, so BlueSky supplied their latest alloy block and the engine was reverted back to 1850cc to how it was originally, for authenticity. Slightly lower BHP, but you know how the purists can be, and anyway will give less stress to the engine. Still revs over 9,000rpm, a typical BDA screamer with open trumpets.
Chris F/G has put Petes DNA within the spaceframe and a plaque has been fitted, as was always promised.

Near finished inside

 

The LT40 Hart Ford Escort nearly ready for 2025.

 

Not much room for the driver of the Hart Escort Super Saloon

 

The Hart Escort Super Saloon 'The Lowline', has now thermal and noise lining under all the internal alloy panels to help make the driver more comfortable.

 

Most of the interior is complete inside the LT40 Hart Escort. Every alloy panel has been covered in matt felt to stop any glare. The new fire system has to be plumbed in. It has single seater room for the driver, just.

 

One of our girls 'Summer' testing the Hart Escort. Super Saloon. I am putting her through Karts, more her size.

 

I cant keep the kids out of the re-commissioned Ford Escort. This is Indiana Percival, service crew.

 

And another service crew member Beau Percival.

 

Hi, thanks for the message.
Pete is rested now, and will be remembered when I attend all the shows with the Escort.
So far I have spent just over 3,400 hours re-commissioning the car, and it will make it's appearance at the BHP Kent National Show in May 2025. The organisers who I have known for a long time, also knew Pete very well and have invited several cars that Pete made Spec 'R' components for. Rod Birley, John Cross, Mike Quaife are exhibiting their race cars next to my Escort as a mark of rememberance.
During 2025, the Escort will be exhibited around the UK.

Several

 

The finished car looks superb and will be a great tribute to Pete. Well done for all your hard work.

 

The Ex Geooff Wood Hart F2 Escort Tricentrol Super Saloon, making it's set-up appearance at a national show. Now completed, it will be shown around the UK, NEC, Goodwood, Race Retro and all the main Ford shows.

The Hart F2 Escort Super Saloon getting an amazing reception throuout the whole show.
Testing will begin during 2025, not only at the UK's prestigous race circuits but at the famous Prescott and Shelsey Walsh Hillclimbe's.

 

The Hart Escort made it's way to Ardingly for the Classic Ford Show. The organisers placed it at the entrance for maximum views, and it got the views from some great Ford enthusiasts.

 

Happy New Year to all the Passion Ford enthusiasts. It was great talking to many of you at the shows we attended with the Hart Escort in 2025.
2026 should be a busy year, once again the Escort will be exhibited and a few selected events the car will compete. She showed some good lap times on testing at Silverstone National. The morning sessions turned up plenty of small Gremlins that were eventually sorted out, mainly in the suspension settings and tyre choices.
By the late morning our lap times improved from a 106s lap down to a 101.56s lap. The Escort pulled well and was very quick through the corners, with a slight tendency to do the typical Escort tail dance through Stowe. I got braver in the afternoon sessions by following some very quick Radicals and by the fifth lap got down to a respectable 58.92s lap. Slight adjustments to tyres and fuel octane, the Escort went out again and mixed it with the fast Radicals and Modsports V8 Morgans. I managed to pass all the Morgans and most of the Radicals, all except one who was putting in 54s to 55s laps. I got down to a 57.34s lap.
Considering the old girl hadnt been run in anger since 1979 and never after it's full re-commissioning, she did all right and would quite easy to

The ex Geoff Wood LT40 Hart F2 Escort Super Saloon.
race for an hour or two. And I lost over a kilo in weight due to not being young anymore.