This is one of my favourite all time You Tube vids . Haven't watched it for a while and now very sad to learn that Simon is no longer with us. What a fantastic driver ...
A seriously skilled man who braked with his steering and steered with his feet.. Died in his element.. Just like his favourite powerplant, a true 'warrior' RIP brother..
Tam Mcrosin ....Ari Vatenen......Bojon Wieldagard.....Colin Mcrae.....Sir Roger Clark....Frank Kelly....Jimmy Mcrae...Ken Block.....Hannu Mikkola.....Jhua Kankkanann....the list of fabulous Escort drivers is long and colourful 👍
Block will crash escort. He can go so fast only in directed and many times trained scenes! In rally and even country cross he is weak. Latvalla or McKinley are best drivers while he is an actor.
Tam Mcrosin you couldn't be more wrong I know everthing about those old escorts they were my era and I had loads of them and built class C Thunder saloons in my youth but yeah your right....block is only good after 15 takes, he cant cut it on real rallyes......🖒
Eire agri most of us...the vast majority of men on the planet don't have the talent to do what he did with those cars. The guys who disliked it are just assholes who refuse to give credit where it's due.
4:33 - That moment when Simon went SO HARD, that his 4 wheel power drift momentarily becomes a 3 wheel drift, because he torqued one front wheel off the ground !
RIP Simon....A true god among men in the Irish Hill Climbing scene!! Unlikely we will see another talent like that in the foreseeable future!! Everytime i saw that escort on full lock, sent shivers down my spine!! A tragic loss!! :(
Hoping you meant Jimmy - not that arrogant twat of a son of his who killed 3 innocent people. Richard Burns was far better than McRae Jnr but rarely gets a mention.
Always mentioned this drivers ability when in the appropriate company. His driving ability was outstanding! Never realised that Simon had passed away, until watching this video tonight. Good Bless and rest in peace.
Kieser Mitchell I was at a local rally a few weeks ago and a fella we knew said that "don't you love seeing the Escorts and the old cars up the arse of those WRC cars" and it makes you think rallying can't be without a couple of 70's cars stuck in just for a bit of fun and sideways action... I leave with people to comment on what they think..
Motorsport Ireland deeply regrets that competitor Simon McKinley of Naul, County Meath, has passed away following injuries received in a tragic accident that occurred at the Clare Motor Club Hillclimb today Saturday 25th April 2015. As a mark of respect the organisers, Clare Motor Club, have cancelled the remainder of the event. Motorsport Ireland and Clare Motor Club extend their heartfelt sympathy to Simon’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very sad time.
RIP Simon, A talent taken away to soon, Never got to see Simon in action but as the above video shows this guy had talent. Thinking of your family & many friends at this time.
That's one Angry White Escort, I loved driving my seventy one two door, thank you so much for footage and link, I will definitely subscribe, cheers my Brother
Of all the videos on this youtube, i come back to this one time and time again. The first minute of this is just spellbinding...the control...the precision.....on the edge but in control. RIP Simon
Yes he was twice Connaught Competition Engines Irish Hillclimb & Sprint Champion driving his Lant Single Seater in 2010 and 2011. He occasionally comes out in the Escort and also his Cinquecento. He appears in most of the video reports on my channel VantagePointVideo
I'm getting on a bit,I've been there, seen it and done a fair bit of it ! and this man was probably the quickest and most skilfull driver I've ever seen in a 2wheel drive car ,and is very sadly missed.
Why is this Guy not very widely known....... How many other people do you see driving with such commitment .... Guy is an absolute master let alone his ginormous balls of STEEL
He is fairly well known in the circles of Irish motorsport.That said, I think he only placed second or third in 2007. So, yeah, there's someone madder than him out there. XD
peaweedea agreed, his name should be in every houshold that knows rallye. That being said...if you ever get the chance to talk to a truly talented driver...one who races for the love of driving & not for big $$ or fame...they'll be the first to tell you that they don't feel they have big balls. When the car is set up right and the two of them (car and driver) are meshing well together...there's no "need" for what we see as balls. It comes natural to the driver. This was told to me by an old man when I was a teenager. It may be absolute bs...but the man was some bigtime xc snowmobile racer here in the 70's and knew some of the rally greats...and that old man believed every word of what he was telling me.
2023 and this is still one of the best. RIP Simon
No electronic or digital nannies to assist -- pure analog, pure skill, pure commitment!
Pure steel balls
This is one of my favourite all time You Tube vids . Haven't watched it for a while and now very sad to learn that Simon is no longer with us. What a fantastic driver ...
RIP Simon. A pure talent.
Brings a tear of happiness to see an old escort being driven as hard as that 👌👌🤗
Driven like they were supposed to be... still got goosebumps!
A seriously skilled man who braked with his steering and steered with his feet.. Died in his element.. Just like his favourite powerplant, a true 'warrior' RIP brother..
He could do things in an escort no other person could. RIP to a true hero of motorsport.
Tam Mcrosin ....Ari Vatenen......Bojon Wieldagard.....Colin Mcrae.....Sir Roger Clark....Frank Kelly....Jimmy Mcrae...Ken Block.....Hannu Mikkola.....Jhua Kankkanann....the list of fabulous Escort drivers is long and colourful 👍
Jari Matti Latvalla as well:)
This is just best balanced rwd rally car ever!
EugVR6 you put Ken Block in their! You clearly know nothing. go watch fast and furious or something.
Block will crash escort. He can go so fast only in directed and many times trained scenes! In rally and even country cross he is weak. Latvalla or McKinley are best drivers while he is an actor.
Tam Mcrosin you couldn't be more wrong I know everthing about those old escorts they were my era and I had loads of them and built class C Thunder saloons in my youth but yeah your right....block is only good after 15 takes, he cant cut it on real rallyes......🖒
The men who have disliked this video, is the men that could never achieve what he has achieved with a car. R.I.P Simon.
+Eire agri So according to this, pretty much everyone had to dislike this video...
Eire agri most of us...the vast majority of men on the planet don't have the talent to do what he did with those cars. The guys who disliked it are just assholes who refuse to give credit where it's due.
It was probably the guys who turned up with f3000 single seater and get their arses kicked
this is a real car driver. Thanks for your passion.
R.I.P.
+Garage Latino What do you mean RIP?? Please say he hasn't been killed??
Yes, killed in a single seater race car.
5 Years gone today. Legend in the car; gentleman outside. Rest in peace good friend !
4:33 - That moment when Simon went SO HARD, that his 4 wheel power drift momentarily becomes a 3 wheel drift, because he torqued one front wheel off the ground !
RIP Simon....A true god among men in the Irish Hill Climbing scene!! Unlikely we will see another talent like that in the foreseeable future!! Everytime i saw that escort on full lock, sent shivers down my spine!! A tragic loss!! :(
Shear poetry in motion 👍🏾
I'm addicted to this vid; it's inspirational.
Sad you're no longer with us Simon.
RIP
RIP Brother. Keep it sideways :(
John Aston
RIP
That white escort. RIP Simon. True legend.
Absolute god, up there with Roger Clark and McRae, R.I.P you legend.
Hoping you meant Jimmy - not that arrogant twat of a son of his who killed 3 innocent people. Richard Burns was far better than McRae Jnr but rarely gets a mention.
Always mentioned this drivers ability when in the appropriate company. His driving ability was outstanding! Never realised that Simon had passed away, until watching this video tonight. Good Bless and rest in peace.
Just amazing driving...wish I'd seen more when he was still with us.
This brings tears of joy in my eyes!
NOW, THAT'S WHAT I CALL DRIVING. Pure talent & absolute bravery.
R.I.P. Simon. Even Colin Mac would've been impressed.
I miss Simon McKinley, for me the best MK2 driver. He has always driven at least 10-20% above the limit, just pure control of the vehicle!
At my age I have seen all the greats on tar in Irish Rallying, this lad was the best!
That's some serious car control and commitment! What a legend.
He must be going through a set of rears every stage!
Classics like this put new cars to shame
Kieser Mitchell I was at a local rally a few weeks ago and a fella we knew said that "don't you love seeing the Escorts and the old cars up the arse of those WRC cars" and it makes you think rallying can't be without a couple of 70's cars stuck in just for a bit of fun and sideways action... I leave with people to comment on what they think..
i second that! fuck all that clever electric stuff, man and machine is what it counts!
What's amazing is a 50+ year old chassis, keeps up with much newer rally cars over certain stages.
This is a sad day.. what a loss, RIP Simon, my thoughts to his family...
Motorsport Ireland deeply regrets that competitor Simon McKinley of Naul, County Meath, has passed away following injuries received in a tragic accident that occurred at the Clare Motor Club Hillclimb today Saturday 25th April 2015.
As a mark of respect the organisers, Clare Motor Club, have cancelled the remainder of the event. Motorsport Ireland and Clare Motor Club extend their heartfelt sympathy to Simon’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very sad time.
RIP Simon, a truly brave and talented man. Those were my favourite hillclimbs - wish I could have seen you in action.
RIP Simon, A talent taken away to soon, Never got to see Simon in action but as the above video shows this guy had talent. Thinking of your family & many friends at this time.
That's one Angry White Escort, I loved driving my seventy one two door, thank you so much for footage and link, I will definitely subscribe, cheers my Brother
He made that car dance his tune, and for that we are all grateful. RIP big man.
Unbelievable driving skills. R.I.P.
Define: balls-to-the-wall
Answer: McKinley and his Escort
Without a doubt
I can smell that escort from here, thru the phone, scorched rubber and talent and just absolute awesomeness in that vid sweet mother of god
What a superb piece of driving and what a superb car. Both legends.
BIG SMILE
BIG LIKE
man and machine in perfect harmony. fantastic driver/car.
the best driving i've ever seen on youtube
How an escort mk2 should look and be driven!.....RIP Simon!.
great Video and one of the best Driver,i have seen
Oh just came back to watch one of my fave videos on youtube and saw the comments =( RIP Simon
Of all the videos on this youtube, i come back to this one time and time again. The first minute of this is just spellbinding...the control...the precision.....on the edge but in control. RIP Simon
Poetry in Motion... RIP
One of the most talented drivers I've ever seen, dosent seem to back-off at all, even when at point of no return-superb (RIP) 'tarmac terrorist!'
RIP, never forgotten, drove flat out and at 100% all of the time
Yes he was twice Connaught Competition Engines Irish Hillclimb & Sprint Champion driving his Lant Single Seater in 2010 and 2011. He occasionally comes out in the Escort and also his Cinquecento. He appears in most of the video reports on my channel VantagePointVideo
fantastic touch and throttle play. epic and a pleasure to watch.
Just watched it again with the beats turned up, its absolute awesome!!!
Mr. McKinley has balls !!!
Very nice video !
Thank you.
Extraordinary skill. Thanks for capturing it!
Go Hard or Go Home ..... and Hes Going Hard
Thanks for the new extended version like many others ive caned the original video over many years and its still bloody shocking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rest in peace Simon , cant believe your gone. Thoughts are with your family and friends.
This is one of the best vids on UA-cam! What a driver =-D
Now that's a sound I could listen to all day great video
Rip pure motorsport ledgend
Master of his art. Brilliant.
I'm getting on a bit,I've been there, seen it and done a fair bit of it ! and this man was probably the quickest and most skilfull driver I've ever seen in a 2wheel drive car ,and is very sadly missed.
The sound from this thing is orgasmic
More like EARGASMIC!!
Why is this Guy not very widely known....... How many other people do you see driving with such commitment .... Guy is an absolute master let alone his ginormous balls of STEEL
Because he does it for fun. Not fame. Not fortune.
He is fairly well known in the circles of Irish motorsport.That said, I think he only placed second or third in 2007. So, yeah, there's someone madder than him out there. XD
peaweedea agreed, his name should be in every houshold that knows rallye. That being said...if you ever get the chance to talk to a truly talented driver...one who races for the love of driving & not for big $$ or fame...they'll be the first to tell you that they don't feel they have big balls. When the car is set up right and the two of them (car and driver) are meshing well together...there's no "need" for what we see as balls. It comes natural to the driver.
This was told to me by an old man when I was a teenager. It may be absolute bs...but the man was some bigtime xc snowmobile racer here in the 70's and knew some of the rally greats...and that old man believed every word of what he was telling me.
thanks for that simon.. never forgotten.
thanks for re uploading this in higher resolution. that escort defies belief
Epic video it was on the limit everywhere... Great driver !!! subbed
never tire of watching this what a driver
No co-pilot. no assists. The work load he must of been putting into that beast of a car to keep it on the road. Real driving.
fucking hell, that is quick....
Has to be the best sound ever!
RIP Simon!
rip my friend, it is always a joy watching you dance
He was some driver sorry to hear of his death..definitely the best mk2 video on YT
Awesome car, awesome driving and awesome clip!
This Video: Still the best thing to ever come out of the Internet
Great driving....lovely car 👍
Just amazing, fantastic!
This has to be THE BEST driving I have ever seen..
Fantastic job on the re-mastering!
Great, I love the Escort MK2 sound...
Fearless savage ,I have never seen such ability. First time seeing this .... Sad to hear you are not with us anymore
Absolutely Brilliant entertainment... so sad too... thank you.... 😢❤️
What a great car control, fantastic video ...
Pure joy to watch.
RIP FOR THE BEST DRIVER . YOU WILL BE FOREVER IN OUR HEART
The car & driver are absolute Legends..
Ah rallying.......Because football, golf and tennis only require 1 ball.
True dat
minislayer2010 this isn't rallying - this is sprinting and hill climbing
MrVoss94 that's true no co driver
And this, two big ones.
minislayer2010 . Very funny!
2.4 Connaught Warrior 305bhp, 234 lb.ft of torque
man o man can this dude wheel'em f--kn awesome 👍👍 cheers 🍻 Robbie Renalson Gold Coast 😎
i love it , before computers , we needed a maniac behind the wheel
One of the best Sprint drivers in the UK for sure!
He not from the UK he’s Irish
Now that is serious car control
BEAUTIFUL...
love this guys style of driving
simply perfect
rest in peace Simon, I couldn't believe it when I read it :( he died doing what he loved
From there on yes, the driving around those chicanes was amazing
My word now that's a driver.
RIP Simon ... We lost another Legend today!
In my head, this is how I drive to work every day on my Astra 1.6🤥
best ever for all time, RIP Simon
Fantastic
Thanks for the great vid, considering Simon's has no co driver and hes that committed. The man has balls of steel, exciting to watch.
would you get anyone to set next to him???
Steve Clark His wife does, in competition .
That's why he's so quick. He's desperate to get to the finish as the seat is not big enough to be comfortable for balls that size.
Rip simon...what a driver always flat out...
Rest In Piece...