All I can say it "It was a lot of fun1".
The Big-Z was unique on MN events and for years everyone had said that despite winning really rough events like Safari, it could never be competitive on twisty tarmac. Kevin proved them all wrong and I have to say that the way he handled that unweildy car was awesome. It suited his personality, and mine as well maybe.
I always knew, and I think Kevin did as well, that if he had changed to an RS1600 he would have had many wins. In fact, before we got the 'Z' Kevin built a LHD RS1600 with a really good engine. We took it out on the Shenstone Rally, an MN Event, the day it first turned a wheel and at first petrol we were winning by a couple of minutes. However, it was really really rough in the second half and Kev had to preserve the car for the RAC International 2 weeks later, so we settled for 4th. That was in 1972.
Kevin always said he would rather finish right near the top in the 'Z' than win in an Escort. To me it was a great experience at the right time in my life. By 'the right time' I mean that I was running my own business and could take time off for testing and for events.
I still speak to Kevin and we have laughter about those days. Very few people ealise what MN events were like, how competitive it all was and how in order to win you simply had to make no driving or navigating errors all night.
Great times!