Fast Ford July 2024

INTRO SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! You don’t need us to tell you what a brilliant car the Focus ST170 was. But perhaps some people do need a gentle reminder of what a brilliant car it still is… time, science and technological evolution may have marched on apace over the last couple of decades, but the star of the ST170 has never dimmed; indeed, it’s starting to become celebrated as a true modern classic. A hot hatch hero. One of the greats. Ah, but have we left it too late to celebrate? It’s been such a common thing in the scene to pillage these cars for their engines and swap them into other models that the number of survivors is surprisingly small. As regular readers will know, we bought one for ourselves…

The Focus ST170 is one of the most underrated fast Fords of all time. It’s also one of the most cannibalised. So many have been pulled apart to donate their highly-tuned Zetec engines, close-ratio six-speed gearboxes, and beefy 300mm braking systems. More often than not, these parts have gone on to form the foundations of some epic builds – you only need to look at some of the awesome feature cars in this issue to see that. But does that mean the Focus ST170 is a bad car? Is it destined to be nothing more than a parts bin for classic Escorts and Fiestas? Of course not! The Focus ST170 is a cracking little car in its own right, and it’s about time it got the recognition it deserves. And…

As we get ready to wave goodbye to our Ford Focus ST170 and wish it well with its new owner, we’d like to take a minute to say thanks to all those who supported this project: Liqui Moly, Toyo Tyres, EBC Brakes, Polybush, and Bilstein. Together, these quality performance upgrades have transformed our Focus. Of course, none of this would have been possible without help from our friends at Ford Parts R Us and the ongoing support from Machine Mart. When we started the Save the ST170 project we not only wanted to save a Ford Focus from the scrapyard, we wanted to show how you could embark on a similar project from the comfort of your own home. Armed with a selection of quality tools and equipment, we’ve shown…

MILLTEK SPORT - SOUND OF THE POLICE! Milltek Sport is helping Devon & Cornwall Police to make all the right noises when it comes to highlighting road safety and engaging with the region’s modified car community, supporting the Force with the supply and installation of a fully ECE-approved system for its innovative Focus RS squad car. The 2016 RS has been ‘in service’ for two years, the project driven by Sergeant Owen Messenger and built in collaboration with the George’s Car Media channel on YouTube. Funding has been provided by Vision Zero South West, a road safety partnership aiming to reduce road deaths in the area. With the initiative’s emphasis on demonstrating how car enthusiasts can modify their vehicles legally, the addition of the Milltek Sport exhaust is perfect for…

ORGANISING A SHOW OR EVENT AND WANT IT LISTED HERE? Email us with the details – fastford.ed@kelsey.co.uk JUNE 8-9 JUNE Players Classic Goodwood Motor Circuit https://www.players-show.com/players-classic 28-30 JUNE Modified Nationals Lincoln Showground www.modifiednationals.co.uk/ JULY 6 JULY RS Combe Castle Combe Circuit www.rscombe.com/ 11-14 JULY Goodwood Festival of Speed Goodwood Motor Circuit www.goodwood.com/motorsport/festival-of-speed/ AUGUST 4 AUGUST Fords at the Castle Caldicot Castle www.welshford.com/fordsatthecastle 11 AUGUST Ford Fair Silverstone www.fordfair.co.uk 18 AUGUST Simply Ford Beaulieu https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-ford/ 23-25 AUGUST Silverstone Festival Silverstone https://www.silverstone.co.uk/silverstone-festival-2024-sign 24-25 AUGUST Gravity NEC, Birmingham gravityshow.co.uk SEPTEMBER 22 SEPTEMBER Ford Fest Mallory Park www.fordfestshow.co.uk *CHECK BEFORE YOU GO! While all dates and details were correct at the time of going to press, we urge you to double check info with event organisers before heading off!…

EVENT REPORT BICESTER SCRAMBLE WHERE BICESTER HERITAGE WHEN APRIL 21ST Bicester Heritage is a brilliantly strange place. The increasingly popular Scramble events draw in a hugely diverse crowd of automotive enthusiasts, from all manner of scenes and eras and proclivities, and it’s this encouragement of diversity that led to a situation whereby we found ourselves stood between a Series 1 RS Turbo and a Countach 5000 S, overhearing a couple of middle-aged fellas discussing which one they’d prefer to take home. You know what? It wasn’t an easy decision for them… For the second Scramble of the year, the organisers pulled out all the stops to ensure that this was the biggest and best one yet. Sure, the cars that are allowed into the inner sanctum of the historic brick…