Jump to content

A ride in a Manta 400 with Ari vatanen.


tank152

Recommended Posts

This always puts a smile on my face every time I watch it. Its on the 1983 Manx International Rally in car with Terry Harryman on the pace notes, Vatanen driving his works Rothmans Manta 400. Listen out to Harrymans addition to his pace notes around 2 minutes in!

Tim.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Reggie, yes they certainly were the golden days of rallying, I only managed to get to the Manx International Rally the once and that was in 1986, I think Tony Pond won in his 6R4 that year.

Tim.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the 1982 Manx International Ari was driving an Escort RS, the famous "Black Beauty" prepared by MCD. He got out of phase on a series of crests and had a massive accident which put him out of the rally, again Terry Harryman was his co driver. Afterwards Fred Galagher at the time co driver to the late great Henri Toivonen, asked Terry " when did you know that it was all over and you was going to have a big accident? Harryman replied "scrutineering!"

Another thing I've read was written by another great rally driver Colin McRae in which he describes being a spectator on the 1982 Scottish Rally on a 90 left, where he said you could here the cars approaching and the engine note dropping as the drivers hit the brakes as the car came into view, but at the point everyone was braking Ari changed up a gear and the first thing people saw of him was his black Escort, "Black Beauty" coming backwards at over 100mph , up over a bank and into the trees.

Tim.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the 1982 Manx International Ari was driving an Escort RS, the famous "Black Beauty" prepared by MCD. He got out of phase on a series of crests and had a massive accident which put him out of the rally, again Terry Harryman was his co driver. Afterwards Fred Galagher at the time co driver to the late great Henri Toivonen, asked Terry " when did you know that it was all over and you was going to have a big accident? Harryman replied "scrutineering!"

Another thing I've read was written by another great rally driver Colin McRae in which he describes being a spectator on the 1982 Scottish Rally on a 90 left, where he said you could here the cars approaching and the engine note dropping as the drivers hit the brakes as the car came into view, but at the point everyone was braking Ari changed up a gear and the first thing people saw of him was his black Escort, "Black Beauty" coming backwards at over 100mph , up over a bank and into the trees.

Tim.

Hi Tim,

somewhere in a box of old photo's, I have one that I took of the rear of 'Black Beauty' as she went over the first crest. It was the last shot on the film, as she then crashed! Just my luck eh? I'll try to dig it out, when life allows.

Regards

Reggie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In Clipstone Forest in Nottinghamshire there is a yump known as "Vatanen's Leap" which ended in similar circumstances to the above.

Despite competing in there myself for the last 25 years I'm still not entirely sure which yump it is...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...