My first car...

When I first got that car, it was white, had a totally different front end and basically, it was in a very sorrowful state. That was way back in December '97. Now, let me tell you a little history about this beast and then I'll tell you about what I actually did to it...

This car was originally bought for racing and rallying way back in 1978 (obviously not by me). The owner/driver was completely new to it all, and the first two years were vary hard for him and he just didn't get anywhere within the competions he entered. He put that down to experience and thought he'd get success soon enough. But, he did not. He decided to 'fake' the car for a lower model within the Escort range. He changed the colour, the front end and got rid of all the RS2000 tell tail signs on the car. He then entered a competion with this 'new' car, the judges called his bluff and he got heavily fined and his race license taken away. He sold it to someone else. From here until I got the car, I don't know much about it, nothing worth telling anyway.

The first thing I did to it was change the suspension. Both of the rear shock absorbers were leaking and the front ones didn't look to good either. So I changed the lot. I totally rebuilt the engine with performance parts, new exhaust system, the proper RS2000 alloy wheels, good tyres, added a car alarm and sprayed it blue. I drove it around for a while, scared the shit out of myself and passengers a few times too! I remember once I had 'Del (see the more about me section) in the car. I think I was taking her home, I really can't remember for sure. But anyway, the road was wet but it wasn't actually raining. It was a little country lane which had a lot of corners, some pretty sharp. I was coming out of a corner and I felt the back end sliding away. So, I applied opposite lock on the steering wheel to try and correct it... and the back end then swung the other way! That was it. The car was spinning out of control and there wasn't much I could do apart from pray. As it slowed down a little, I managed to get control again. It got pretty hairy for a while there.

The next thing I did was put in a CD player, an Amplifier and four speakers. It sounded cool. I was going to put a Bass Cannon in the boot ('trunk' to some of you) but I thought better of it. I also upgraded the car alarm and got an engine immobilizer. I was also going to to put electric windows and central locking in it... but my bank account wouldn't allow it.

Another hairy moment... with Tina (my girlfriend at the time) in the car. We were going down a main road, a dual carriage way. It was dusk, it was snowing lightly with a lot on the road itself. Tina decided she wanted to change the CD. She was messing around with it, trying to get it to work. So I changed it for fear of her messing up the settings and stuff. I had to take my eyes of the road. I looked up and there was an animal in the road, I think it was a fox. I swerved to avoid it. I wasn't going fast and due to the road conditions, the car spun. So again, the car was doing something I had little control over. Although I wasn't going fast, and due to the severity of the swerve, it was spinning at an immense speed and with a steel barrier on one of the sides of the road, it was pretty scary. There was no way I was going to get control of this one. The car eventually spun off onto the grass by the road, and it was then I got it back.

About two months after that, I decided I had to sell it. I needed money and this was the only way I was going to get it. It was a hard decision to make because I loved that car, had some great times in it. To digress for a moment... I was giving an 'advanced' driving lesson to 'Del. There is an old airfield not too far from here and owners let people mess around with their cars on there. I actually taught her how to execute the perfect hand-brake turn and how to do a doughnut (when you just spin the car round in circles). It was there that I did a timed standing quarter mile. A local competion was being held and I entered. My 1/4 mile was just over 16.5 seconds and 0-60 in 9.2 seconds... overall, I finished 4th in the competion. Considering both those times beat the manufacturers standard specs... I was really proud. My modifications had proved their value.

Anyway, I had to sell. I sprayed it yellow and put the RS nose cone back on. And a few weeks later, it was sold for a hansom profit. It was a very sad day, one which I will remember for the rest of my life, seeing it drive off with me watching and not being able to do anything. A few days later, he had it professionally valued and according to them, he paid more than he should have done. He was on my back for a few weeks but he gave up when I politely told him to f*** off. I see it around town sometimes and its easy to tell he isn't looking after it the way I did. The last few times I saw it, one of the tail lights was broken and two dents in the side. It makes me feel like crying. I gave it all the love and care I could... and he just treats it like dirt. I have since tried to buy it back but he won't sell it. That is what hurts the most. He won't look after it and nor will he let anyone else.� One day, I may get it back. But there are always other RS2000's to love and care for.