Has to be the best car ever. Performance and Style is amazing, they should start to create that model again cause its so much better than all the latest cars in the 21st century
Looking at it...I would say it is set right for forestry conditions. Living in South Wales I see them nearly every week end. Really nice to see the MK2 in America! This is the Best Rally car ever.....you just cant take that away from it! Ken Block doing what he does best! Great Driving and Great Video!
This is a video about the beauty of Ford Escort and the driving skills of Ken Block. I don't understand why he is critisized for not being Colin McRae, Tommi Makinen, or Sebastian Loeb .
Don’t ever try to tell me that the Ford Escort Mk2, in rally/drift/gymkana package isn’t a car that will make the hair on your neck and arms stand up and put a smile on your face that no one could ever erase! Great video, thanks for sharing Mr. Ken Block, you earned it!
Its always good to see a mk2 in action, even a modernised one. However the sheer width of the road makes it a whole lot easier...sweeping bends and smooth surfaces make good pictures. I think this is a modern take on history rather than a re-enactment of the glory days of rallying. Long live the Mk2 Escort!
I remember this race being that its held right by my family's auto repair shop on backroads and trails and they still do it today. I also remember it really well because the one bay of our shop was rented out by Ken's camera crew for photos of the car, never did see any photos though lol
I don't think he thought it would be a cakewalk. If you watch interviews with him before the wrc, he had very modest expectations. Considering how good wrc drivers are, I think his ability to remain in the top 10-20 is pretty impressive. I expected him to do much worse.
Lot of nasty jealous comments on here. Really, people, stop dissing the guy. He's got a mk 2, driving how it's meant to be driven, give him a break. They'll always be someone faster, who cares? All these comments just show how envious and bitter they get when they can't afford a BDA, BDG, or Millington of their own.
i have done club style rallycross in my wrx before. around 60 to 70 mph sideways in mud and gravel on street tires. that is exciting in it self. 100 mph in a old escort twin cam is a experience not to be missed.
They ranged from about 1.1 to 2.0L. most of them mere kent pushrods except for a few special models. The RS1800 got a cosworth BDA, the 2L (australia) and the RS2000 got the 2.0L pinto OHC, and the RS mexico got a 1.6L Pinto OHC. :)
Check out some of the Irish rallies where these RS Escorts are still campaiged regularly. Roads & tracks are one third the size of the ones old Ken's on here.. so no big deal for Ken, its just great to see an almost 40 year old car cut the rug like that!
nice vid .I had a mk 2 escort 1600 GT engine out of a capri 2" straight through exhaust ,twin choke weber carburetor strenghtened front and rear springs ,sporty high back seats hahahaha those were the days .
I'm from Quebec, the french province of Canada (so I talk french, but doesn't matter for you, I can write english pretty well). Ken Block cames here at the Mecaglisse Center with his Escort on the rally section of the center, but finally, he did not participated to the competition, because his alternator hose blew up during the practice. To see him, write this: mecaglisse ken block
having watched a lot of ken block videos lately with his mk2.all ending up in haters.people need to understand that here in uk and europe the mk1/mk2 escorts are legends as in us you have dodge charger rt/mustang fastbacks chevy novas etc.everyone has there own opinion of the particular car or model they love,this is fine.im just happy ken block is enjoying his mustang and escort.driving them flat out having fun and gettin paid for it.what a great lifestyle that must be.!
The Mk2 Escort was mainly available in UK, main land Europe and Australia. A nice 2 door costs between £5000-10,000 ($7500-$15000). However, full historic Gp4 type cars like this would be closer to £80,000 ($120,000) or more. This is probably a 2litre 16v BDG on carbs or inj these produce around 260-270bhp at the flywheel and rev above 9000rpm. They are very expensive so a lot of rally boys use the cheaper GM 16v engines or the 240bhp Honda S2000 engines instead.
My only issue with ken block is that he went to WRC and get a feeling he thought it was going to be a cakewalk, he underestimated the sport and overestimated his own abilities. BUT BUT BUT I love the guy, he is a brilliant "gymkhana" driver and he should come to england and have a go at auto testing, see what he thinks of that!
based on the yb..which is based on a pinto block so half related..series 1 millington (2.4) had ported etc. yb head. series 2 (2.5)is all cast by millington so you could say loosely based on a pinto!
@cefnonn That's how front engined/rear wheel drive rally cars go around corners. Watch some footage from the 70's and 80's. It's called a 'Scandanavian flick' to turn left you start to steer right then quickly turn left, this brings the rear end around (oversteer) and was an easier way to negotiate bends in wintery conditions, hence the name. It's probably a lot harder to do than how I described, me not being a rally driver.
Gotta Love the MK1 and MK2 Eskies, the best ever rally car ever, then there is also the even older MK1 Lotus Cortina that would be in third posisition for the greatest FACTORY rally cars ever... although the Datto 1600/Bluebird/510 was pretty good too
I am sure Ken Block is crying at night because of all these negative comments.....He has a money-stuffed bed and pillows, and a box of tissues made out of 100 dollar bills to wipe his tears. Ken Block, tear it up bud. You are an excellent driver, and a shrewd, well-respected businessman.
is the millington not based on a pinto 2.0 and uses the yb head... if your a euro check out the esslinger 2.7L miget engine sohc 360hp based on a 2.3 ford pinto
Nice old British car (somewhat modified!) but the back always wants to swing out on the bends. The centre of gravity is too near the front. Am I right?
@demonxboy I think you'll find its Perth actually! MK2 still winning Mull Rally in the hands of Calum Duffy and Alistair McRae won the McRae stages in a MK2 a few years back against ex-WRC cars. If I had £60k to spare it would be top of my list!(maybe a 6R4 also)
@123bullin i have driven mk2's before. powersliding comes to you naturally like with other rwd cars, turn with throttle and opposite lock e.t.c so have you ever driven a mk2 or anything rwd? if you had... you would agree with me, they are easy to drive!
Im with you both Colin McRae was a great driver then so was Richard burns, its still a good vid any vid with a Mark 2 escort being driven well has my vote.
I never knew the dude had taste. I've only seen his Subaru (a boy racer's car) & a new Fiesta (granny's hatchback) so it's good to see a Mk2 Escort (a man's rallying machine) doing that kind of stuff. In fact, I've got a Canadian contact who likes Ken Block & he says that Escorts suck. He'll have second thoughts I guess
@carcrazygti Yeah but if you listen closely there's no turbo. I doubt it'd be worth putting in the non turbo cosworth engine, as thats more or less a modified pinto anyways. Usually if they put a cosworth engine in its the turbocharged version, however, I could be wrong (probably not!!)
Awesome, but he should increase the trottle respons so he can utelize better trottle controll over the bumps. That way you can get more speed by reducing the tirespinn over the bumps. It's a different technique driving a FR car fast and a 4WD.
@drbl52 The millington was 2.5 litre, but the rest of your point was duly noted. Guess it depends where abouts you hail from, as I was always told the Pinto was the most common in Ireland at least, but you could be right, next time the WRC comes to Ireland I'll pull Mr Block out of the ditch he lands in and ask him!! Haha
RIP Ken. A true legend ❤
Kb43ver!
Has to be the best car ever.
Performance and Style is amazing, they should start to create that model again cause its so much better than all the latest cars in the 21st century
I'm sure there are a lot of people who like NASCAR, but this takes real driving skill in my books
Looking at it...I would say it is set right for forestry conditions. Living in South Wales I see them nearly every week end. Really nice to see the MK2 in America! This is the Best Rally car ever.....you just cant take that away from it!
Ken Block doing what he does best! Great Driving and Great Video!
This is a video about the beauty of Ford Escort and the driving skills of Ken Block. I don't understand why he is critisized for not being Colin McRae, Tommi Makinen, or Sebastian Loeb .
Hes not neither of them, but he is a legend in our hearts. We truely miss him
I miss you man you were my hero and still are
Don’t ever try to tell me that the Ford Escort Mk2, in rally/drift/gymkana package isn’t a car that will make the hair on your neck and arms stand up and put a smile on your face that no one could ever erase! Great video, thanks for sharing Mr. Ken Block, you earned it!
This specific car matched with this style of driving is art.
Its always good to see a mk2 in action, even a modernised one. However the sheer width of the road makes it a whole lot easier...sweeping bends and smooth surfaces make good pictures. I think this is a modern take on history rather than a re-enactment of the glory days of rallying. Long live the Mk2 Escort!
I remember this race being that its held right by my family's auto repair shop on backroads and trails and they still do it today. I also remember it really well because the one bay of our shop was rented out by Ken's camera crew for photos of the car, never did see any photos though lol
Dam this is great footage RIP KB43VER
I don't think he thought it would be a cakewalk. If you watch interviews with him before the wrc, he had very modest expectations. Considering how good wrc drivers are, I think his ability to remain in the top 10-20 is pretty impressive. I expected him to do much worse.
I love watching these old cars in full flight, Ken does a good job here.
The sound of this car is beautiful!
you have to give this guy props for appreciating the history. And for driving the crap out of that car.
Lot of nasty jealous comments on here. Really, people, stop dissing the guy. He's got a mk 2, driving how it's meant to be driven, give him a break. They'll always be someone faster, who cares? All these comments just show how envious and bitter they get when they can't afford a BDA, BDG, or Millington of their own.
i know right :( ken is also an awesome driver
this is so sickk that escort sounds amazing
Love the noise that car makes.
Nothing sounds like a carb.
i have done club style rallycross in my wrx before. around 60 to 70 mph sideways in mud and gravel on street tires. that is exciting in it self. 100 mph in a old escort twin cam is a experience not to be missed.
They ranged from about 1.1 to 2.0L. most of them mere kent pushrods except for a few special models. The RS1800 got a cosworth BDA, the 2L (australia) and the RS2000 got the 2.0L pinto OHC, and the RS mexico got a 1.6L Pinto OHC. :)
Check out some of the Irish rallies where these RS Escorts are still campaiged regularly. Roads & tracks are one third the size of the ones old Ken's on here.. so no big deal for Ken, its just great to see an almost 40 year old car cut the rug like that!
totally agree... he still has more driving talent than most of us could ever dream of.
Do you think you would have a chance in the Donegal rally???????? MK2 Mecca
Whoa, cool Escort! My dad used to have Mark1 when he was kid. I wish I'd see that...
Would love to see this again in the same place just with a audi quattro
Well this may happen now
best rally driver + best rally car = AWESOME!!!
nice vid .I had a mk 2 escort 1600 GT engine out of a capri 2" straight through exhaust ,twin choke weber carburetor strenghtened front and rear springs ,sporty high back seats hahahaha those were the days .
I'm from Quebec, the french province of Canada (so I talk french, but doesn't matter for you, I can write english pretty well). Ken Block cames here at the Mecaglisse Center with his Escort on the rally section of the center, but finally, he did not participated to the competition, because his alternator hose blew up during the practice. To see him, write this: mecaglisse ken block
if you guys like this you should check out some footage of the irish tarmac,we just love the mk2's here
I wish I could find a road like that in germany to push my mk1 to the limit :D Escorts Are the best!
Yep totally Agree 100% had a '79 RS2000, boy could that baby handle
Nice to see a old mark2
The MK2 Escort is one kick-ass car. Sounds like she's got webers too!
Gotta love the sound of a BDA at full tilt!
amazing skills as usual Mr ken block :)
Nice filming.
having watched a lot of ken block videos lately with his mk2.all ending up in haters.people need to understand that here in uk and europe the mk1/mk2 escorts are legends as in us you have dodge charger rt/mustang fastbacks chevy novas etc.everyone has there own opinion of the particular car or model they love,this is fine.im just happy ken block is enjoying his mustang and escort.driving them flat out having fun and gettin paid for it.what a great lifestyle that must be.!
yes ari another epic driver
When are you coming back to the Catskills?!? Sorry I missed this last year. You ROCK!
The Mk2 Escort was mainly available in UK, main land Europe and Australia. A nice 2 door costs between £5000-10,000 ($7500-$15000). However, full historic Gp4 type cars like this would be closer to £80,000 ($120,000) or more. This is probably a 2litre 16v BDG on carbs or inj these produce around 260-270bhp at the flywheel and rev above 9000rpm. They are very expensive so a lot of rally boys use the cheaper GM 16v engines or the 240bhp Honda S2000 engines instead.
@Hoonigan Racing Division You guys need to put Ken in the seat of a Group B RS200. :D
My only issue with ken block is that he went to WRC and get a feeling he thought it was going to be a cakewalk, he underestimated the sport and overestimated his own abilities.
BUT BUT BUT
I love the guy, he is a brilliant "gymkhana" driver and he should come to england and have a go at auto testing, see what he thinks of that!
Hell yeah. Rock that RWD!
based on the yb..which is based on a pinto block so half related..series 1 millington (2.4) had ported etc. yb head. series 2 (2.5)is all cast by millington so you could say loosely based on a pinto!
Ken has a classic Escort?! Sweet.
Damn, This Grand Turismo gameplay graphics are just getting better and better! :P
Look at all of you, Ken is a fantastic driver, he may not be a legend but he'll beat all of you with one hand behind his back.
Escorts are badass as hell :D
Just appreciate the video for what it is , beautiful..
Dude Mk2 are sooo badass!
Rally fords are amazing!!
@WhatTheFproductions its normally a plate type LSD in Mk2's for rallying
lovely,just lovely
@cefnonn
That's how front engined/rear wheel drive rally cars go around corners. Watch some footage from the 70's and 80's. It's called a 'Scandanavian flick' to turn left you start to steer right then quickly turn left, this brings the rear end around (oversteer) and was an easier way to negotiate bends in wintery conditions, hence the name.
It's probably a lot harder to do than how I described, me not being a rally driver.
@seaneyallen that's not the YB for sure, I guess it might be an ecoboost same as in the fiesta
Gotta Love the MK1 and MK2 Eskies, the best ever rally car ever, then there is also the even older MK1 Lotus Cortina that would be in third posisition for the greatest FACTORY rally cars ever... although the Datto 1600/Bluebird/510 was pretty good too
THANX FOR THIS PLS UPLOAD MOR BOSS
I got a question, do they lock the rear wheel diff or just put on a normal LSD for rallying? I'm pretty sure it's not open judging by that vid.
KEN BLOCK IS A DRIVER !
I am sure Ken Block is crying at night because of all these negative comments.....He has a money-stuffed bed and pillows, and a box of tissues made out of 100 dollar bills to wipe his tears.
Ken Block, tear it up bud. You are an excellent driver, and a shrewd, well-respected businessman.
is the millington not based on a pinto 2.0 and uses the yb head... if your a euro check out the esslinger 2.7L miget engine sohc 360hp based on a 2.3 ford pinto
Nice old British car (somewhat modified!) but the back always wants to swing out on the bends. The centre of gravity is too near the front. Am I right?
the escort is the all time best rally car ever
love the escort it is so cool
@TheChoada because the chassis was designed 15 to 20 years before all wheel drive became mainstream on road cars
@demonxboy I think you'll find its Perth actually! MK2 still winning Mull Rally in the hands of Calum Duffy and Alistair McRae won the McRae stages in a MK2 a few years back against ex-WRC cars. If I had £60k to spare it would be top of my list!(maybe a 6R4 also)
you only show the good and no errors
My first car was a MK2 Escort, 1100 Popular with 41HP lol
I want to buy this one from Ken.
yes the mk2 Escort is one of the most succesfull rallycars ever, if not the most of them all.
@code255 maybe you're right, his driving style may not be the fastest, but anyway this driving style is adequate for this beautiful, good car.
@123bullin i have driven mk2's before. powersliding comes to you naturally like with other rwd cars, turn with throttle and opposite lock e.t.c
so have you ever driven a mk2 or anything rwd? if you had... you would agree with me, they are easy to drive!
dobrze wymiata :)
pozdro dla wszystkich polskich fanow Kena ;)
it would be VERY interesting to see how Block handles a monster oldschool 600hp group B rally car
A real mans rally car!
im kinda shockd to see ken in a mk2
full respect the mk2 is a rally legend,mcraes was just awesome
Can I use some of this in my video?? :D
Nice video and nice drive :)
Im with you both Colin McRae was a great driver then so was Richard burns, its still a good vid any vid with a Mark 2 escort being driven well has my vote.
I never knew the dude had taste. I've only seen his Subaru (a boy racer's car) & a new Fiesta (granny's hatchback) so it's good to see a Mk2 Escort (a man's rallying machine) doing that kind of stuff. In fact, I've got a Canadian contact who likes Ken Block & he says that Escorts suck. He'll have second thoughts I guess
@Mrbikertomtom
I used to own a 1600 Sport Mk2 Escort in the early 80's, there was a fun motor, what i wouldn't gave to have that car now!
Best rally car!
NOBODY beats a talented Irish MK2 driver :P
Hi would love to know what he's running under the bonnet as it sounds awesome 😉
Sounds like the escort engine but tuned
+James Day millingtonengines.co.uk/sales/pre-owned-engines.html
What a RWD MONSTER! Is that Ken Blocks personal rally car?
my fave rally car!
i wish I could do this! It looks so fun!!!
@carcrazygti Yeah but if you listen closely there's no turbo. I doubt it'd be worth putting in the non turbo cosworth engine, as thats more or less a modified pinto anyways. Usually if they put a cosworth engine in its the turbocharged version, however, I could be wrong (probably not!!)
Hells yea !! go the escort
Good to see him in a real car.
escort mk2....lengendary
Awesome, but he should increase the trottle respons so he can utelize better trottle controll over the bumps. That way you can get more speed by reducing the tirespinn over the bumps. It's a different technique driving a FR car fast and a 4WD.
The best comment I have read for years.
@carcrazygti More than likely RS2000, 2.0l Pinto engine was the most common for MkII rally cars.
He definitely knows how to drive a MKII Escort!
omg ... I want this escort !!!!!!!!
@cefnonn - Partly, the fact it's rear wheel drive is a big factor too...
Is it 4wd? I guess it is.
Love this!
@drbl52 The millington was 2.5 litre, but the rest of your point was duly noted. Guess it depends where abouts you hail from, as I was always told the Pinto was the most common in Ireland at least, but you could be right, next time the WRC comes to Ireland I'll pull Mr Block out of the ditch he lands in and ask him!! Haha
Yup I agree , Ken should stick with this escort.
would this b a 1.6L?
Good Driver Good drive Good car EXCELLENT!!