Beaulieu’s Simply Ford will mark the 50th anniversary of Ford Escort with all ages of the favourite model taking pride of place at the event in the grounds of the National Motor Museum on Sunday May 6th.
Five decades after the first Ford Escort rolled off the production line, scores of enthusiasts will be driving their cherished examples across the New Forest to park up on the Beaulieu Events Arena at the heart of the rally, which will see more than 1,500 Fords join the diverse display.
From affordable runabouts, to race and rally-winning giants, the Escort has been many things to many people during its six generation lifespan and is still a real crowd-pleaser today. All incarnations of the Escort are welcome to take part in Simply Ford, from highly modified road-burners to original examples.
Rally-goers can see the National Motor Museum’s own 1981 Escort RS1800, the rally car that was successfully campaigned by rallying ace Ari Vatanen and driven to second place in the 1981 RAC Rally. There are even more historic Fords in the museum collection, ranging from the 1914 Model T to the 1986 Sierra RS Cosworth. For more details see the Ford page on the Beaulieu website at www.beaulieu.co.uk/ford.
This year’s Simply Ford promises to be as unmissable as last year’s event, which attracted 3,000 rally-goers. As many as 39 car clubs and owners groups have already booked, with more than 750 vehicles between them. The event is an opportunity for like-minded enthusiasts to meet up and enjoy a day at one of the south’s leading visitor attractions.
Other event highlights will include a strong show of Mondeos, with owners groups including Mondeo Mania, Mondeo ST & ZS Enthusiasts and the Mondeo Mk4 Owners’ Club. Also favourites with Ford fans, look out for examples of the legendary Transit and classic Anglia, as well as performance-orientated machines the Mustang and Focus ST.
Throughout the day, rally participants and Beaulieu visitors can vote for their favourite Ford of the show in the People’s Choice Award. The winner will receive a Beaulieu trophy.
For those driving Fords into Beaulieu to take part in the show, participant tickets are £10 an adult, £5 a child (aged 5-16) if bought in advance online, or £12 an adult and £6 a child on-the-door. All other visitors can buy a general admission ticket to Beaulieu at the standard attraction prices. For advance tickets or more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-ford.
Admission tickets include entrance to all of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum and its collection of more than 250 vehicles, the World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the Montagu ancestral home of Palace House and its stunning grounds and gardens.
Entry is from 9am for rally participants, when the Brabazon Restaurant will be serving hot drinks and breakfast snacks. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu though the Visitor Reception building with a standard attraction admission ticket from 10am.
For more information on the 2018 Beaulieu Simply season and events calendar, see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events or find us on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, on Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or on Instagram @national_motor_museum and join the conversation.
