Tag Archives: Roush

The Truck That Jack Built – ROUSH Nitemare F-150

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After graduating with a Masters in Scientific Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University in 1966 Jack Roush, born in Covington Kentucky, went to work for Ford until 1970 and after a short spell with Chrysler set up his own engineering business which was to become Roush Enterprises.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Roush teamed up with Wayne Gapp to build up a successful Drag Racing team G & R High Performance in Livonia, Mich which amongst other vehicles built a $25,000 150 mph ’73 Ford Pinto pro stocker powered by a Cleveland V8 driven by Ken Dondero and a pro stock Maverik driven by Wayne Gapp called “Juana Taxi”.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Building on his success on the Drag Strip Roush entered a partnership with the German Ford tuner Zakspeed to build successful road racing vehicles for Ford in the Trans Am and IMSA GT Series.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

In 1988 Jack entered the NASCAR arena with a young Mark Martin and since has survived two aeroplane crashes, in 2002 and 2010, while Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch won back to back Cup titles, in 2003 ans 2004, for Roush. Matt also won two Daytona 500’s in 2009 and 2011. In the second tier Nationwide Series Gregg Biffle (2002), Carl Edwards 2007, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr 2011 and ’12 have all won driving for “The Cat in the Hat” as Jack is affectionately known. Gregg Biffle also won the 2000 NASCAR Craftsmen Truck Series in a Roush F-150.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Along side all his racing success Roush Enterprises has produced all manner of performance parts under the Roush Performannce banner and in 2004 Jack introduced the first in a trickle of limited edition Roush Mustangs known as the 440A.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Following the release of the 2007 Black Jack Mustang Roush Performance turned it’s attention to a limited edition truck based on the 2007 11th edition standard cab F-150 with the flaredside bed.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Just 100 2007 Roush Nightmares were built and so far as I can tell from the head light cluster and rear wheel arches the example seen here, at Thruxton last year, is one of them. In 2008 a second series of 100 Nightmares was built with less chrome in the head light clusters and larger flares on the rear wheel arches.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Along with the performance enhancing Roushcharger™ the 445 hp 5.4 litre / 329 cui V8 features 3 valves per cylinder, bespoke intake manifolds, intercooler, radiator, and air induction system. The vehicle is fitted with an electronically-controlled speed limiter which restricts the top speed to 105 mph.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Options included the decorative hood scoop, Roush sport lowered suspension, locking lug nuts, GPS and NASCAR inspired rear spoiler seen below.

ROUSH Nitemare F-150, Thruxton

Available only from ROUSH-authorized Ford dealers beginning June 2007, the ROUSH Nitemare cost $41,750, comparable to a discounted Dodge SRT 10 performance truck, and was covered by ROUSH’s industry exclusive 3 year/36,000 mile warranty.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Truck That Jack Built” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 9.2 litre / 563 cui chain drive Mercedes. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Genk Cosworth Part 2 – Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4

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The forth and final incarnation of the Sierra Cosworth was built to overcome the short comings of 2wd in Rally competition which since the introduction of the Audi Quattro in 1980 had became dominated by four wheel drive machines. 12,250 of the Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4’s were built in Genk, Belgium.

Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4

The Cosworth 4×4 was timed to coincide with a minor facelift to the Sierra range in 1990, powered by either 224 hp Cosworth YBG with catalytic converter or YBJ motors, without the converter, coupled to a Ferguson patented all wheel drive transmission. The road going variant is distinguished by the return of the bonnet louvre’s seen on the first two RS Cosworth variants and discreet 4×4 badges on the front wings. Note also the return of the Sierra RS Cosworth name to the boot / trunk lid as on the original 3 door version.

Sierra RS Cosworth 4×4

Unfortunately due to it’s size compared to the competition which included the pint size Lancia Delta & Mazda 323 hatchbacks and Toyota Celica Coupé, all with four wheel drive, none of the four Sierra RS Cosworth variations ever won a World Championship Rally, though Francois Delecour managed a couple of 3rds in Monte Carlo and Spain driving the Cosworth 4×4 in 1991..

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Genk Cosworth Part 2’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Genk Cosworth Part 1 – Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth

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The second generation Ford Sierra Cosworths were all built in Genk, Belgium, with new 4 door bodies that were introduced with the 1987 Ford Sierra facelift, in Britain the 4 door Sierra was known as the Sierra Sapphire.

Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth RS, Brands Hatch

The Sierra Saphire RS Cosworth was positioned at the top of the Sierra performance tree, powered by the original 204 hp version of the Cosworth YBB motor, though with suspension set to favour comfort over over performance handling as in the original 3 door Sierra RS Cosworth.

Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth RS, Donington

Despite losing the wild appeal of the original Sierra RS Cosworth the latter Sapphire’s performance did not really suffer with the road going version being independently timed by Autocar rest to 60 mph 5.8 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.4 seconds up, to 100 mph in 15.8 seconds and with a top speed of 143 mph.

Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth RS, Brands Hatch

Unlike the earlier Sierra RS Cosworth and RS 500 evolution the Sierra Saphire RS Cosworth was built for Right Hand Drive and Left Hand Drive markets. Confusingly the LHD variant of the 4 door Cosworth was simply known as the Sierra RS Cosworth as had the original 3 door RHD version. From 1988 to 1989 around 13140 examples for both markets were manufactured.

Mark Hales is seen driving the #12 at Brands Hatch, Mark shared this car with ABBA drummer and sometime Grand Prix Driver and Truck racer Slim Borgudd to victory in the Willhire 25 hour race at Snetterton in 1989. Steve Monk is driving the #13 at Donington to a fourth place finish in a race won by Mark Hales while David Shead drives the #15 Bristol Street Motors Sierra Sapphire Cosworth RS at Brands Hatch.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Genk Cosworth Part 1’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Turbo Toni – Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

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On the 22nd September 1982 Ford of Britain launched it’s replacement for the much loved conservative Ford Cortina to an unsuspecting public. Project Toni, designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Quément, was unveiled as the Ford Sierra to a fair amount of public myrth and ridicule in the absence of much acclaim except in Ireland where the Sierra won the 1983 Semperit Irish Car of the Year award.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Fishguard, Wales

While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the mechanical operation of the car much of which was inherited from the final incarnation of the Ford Cortina Mk 5, the styling, which was similar to the well received US Ford Probe, had been pushed a bit too far in the quest for aerodynamic efficiency leading to nick names for the Sierra like ‘the blob’ and ‘Salesmans Spaceship’.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Snetterton

Fortunately it was the salesmans fleet market which saved the model from sinking faster than the Edsel. The #3 above was an early leader in the 1987 Willhire 24 Hour race at Snetterton driven by Graham Scarbrough and David ‘Jess’ Yates who is standing with his back to the camera on the right.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Brands Hatch

In the spring of 1983 Stuart Turner head of Ford Motorsport Europe devised a plan to put Ford at the top of the new Group A saloon car championships which were run nationally and internationally in Europe. Above the #6 is driven by Graham Davis at Brands Hatch.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Donington

In the spring of 1983 Stuart Turner head of Ford Motorsport Europe devised a plan to put Ford at the top of the new Group A saloon car championships which were run nationally and internationally in Europe. Above the #24 is driven by Peter Sugden at Donington and shared with Roger ‘Willhire’ Williams in the 1989 Willhire 25 hours at Snetterton.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Brands Hatch

Lessons learned from Roush Racing in the USA and Andy Rouse in Britain with XR4Ti racing programmes were incorporated into the suspension while a reworked Sierra 3 door body designed by Lother Pinske was developed which featured a distinctive ‘tea tray’ rear wing deemed necessary to keep the rear wheels on the ground at speeds in excess of 186 mph.

5045 Ford Sierra Cosworths were manufactured in 1986, enough to qualify for International Group A and national Group N racing, in only three colours, all with a grey interior and with the only options being central locking and or electric windows. The racers seen here were all prepared to the lower state of tune Group N spec for the national Uniroyal and Firestone production car championships.

Keith Maxted is thought to be the driver of the #32 Goodyear Sierra RS Cosworth seen at Brands Hatch on April 23rd 1989, if you know different please chime in below.

My thanks to Alan Cox & Gregor Marshall at The Nostalgia Forum for their help identifying the drivers of the four racers.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Turbo Toni’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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