February Calendar Car – Greg’s Mk1 Escort Hot Rod

February’s Calendar Car is a full-blown oval racing Mk1 Escort built to race hard and put on a show. Competing in the Speedworth Classic Hot Rod series, Greg Moore’s bubble-arched monster is loud, raw, and unmistakably built for battle. It was one of the standout cars on my Classic Ford Show club stand last year — and once you see it, you understand why.

February Calendar Car – Greg’s Mk1 Escort Hot Rod

The February feature in the MH 2026 Calendar celebrates one of the most character-packed Mk1 Escorts you’ll ever see — Greg Moore’s Speedworth Classic Hot Rod.

Built as a tribute to a car once raced by Greg’s brother, this Escort carries genuine motorsport heritage. The original machine was famously sponsored by John Coghlan of Status Quo, and this modern interpretation keeps that legacy alive while delivering full-throttle oval racing action.

This is not a show car — it is a purpose-built hot rod racer.

Bubble arches stretch over wide steel wheels, the interior is fully stripped and fully caged, and a hot Zetec engine paired with a straight-cut Type 9 gearbox delivers brutal, race-ready performance. Everything about the car reflects its function: maximum aggression, minimal compromise, and the durability required for wheel-to-wheel oval combat.

Covered in sponsor decals and carrying unmistakable oval-track attitude, the car looks as wild as it performs.

It was proudly displayed on my Marcus Hayes club stand at The Classic Ford Show last year, where it stood out as one of the most unique and talked-about cars on display — and easily one of my personal favourites. Cars like this represent the raw spirit of grassroots motorsport: built in workshops, raced hard, and supported by passionate communities.

Greg has also very kindly offered to run a Petrol Head Style decal on the car, something I’m incredibly grateful for and a perfect reflection of the shared enthusiasm that keeps classic Ford racing alive.

The design featured in this collection captures the Mk1 Escort exactly where it belongs — on track, mid-action — with a Mk2 Escort in pursuit to complete the classic oval racing scene. It’s a snapshot of noise, speed, rivalry, and tradition.

Oval racing hot rods have always embodied the essence of accessible motorsport: loud, aggressive, and thrilling to watch. This Mk1 Escort represents that culture perfectly — a machine built to race hard and put on a show every time it hits the track.

For those who understand the appeal of grassroots racing, classic Fords, and purpose-built competition machines, this car needs no explanation.

It speaks through noise, speed, and presence alone.