My Experience Drag Racing

[calvinater]

Thanks for the videos guys.

Looked like a lotta fun.
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"Albatross"!

[frenchroast]

Update: 10/9 came off the calendar but 10/23 is still on. I am currently planning on making 10/23.

Rustavenger, did you get your 1600 in?

[67rustavenger]

[stevemariott]

[stevemariott]

Went to the Friday night drags last night.

Frenchroast and 67rustavenger, my previous weekend plans got cancelled, and fearing rains in the coming weekends (bringing the end to our racing season), I decided yesterday afternoon at the last minute to go. My apologies for not sending you both an invite.

I made 7 passes, all in the 13s. I left at a lower RPM and dropped my time to a 13.60. I dropped my tire pressure a bit and managed a 13.53.

It started to get cold (low 50s in a Manx), so I made one more pass - a solo run. Saw the red light in the opposite lane, which threw off my RT, but ran another 13.53.

I think I can drop a little more time by dropping my shift RPM a little. That's my next tactic. Carbs and jets could use some tinkering.

I beat up on a couple of V8 cars on slicks, which was fun. Lost badly to a couple of modern hotrodded (11 second) Audis. Had a good time in any case.
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1963 Manx copy
1968 Bus

[67rustavenger]

Dude! You should have text me. I'd have come out and watched. Along with keeping M company.

What was in the left lane here?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2223859.jpg

I'm pretty sure that I'm done for the season. There are a few things that need attention on my 67. As you know!

We'll reconvene the Saturday night peashooter race series in the spring time!

Any of you locals, as well as out of towners, are more than welcome to come join us in our peashooter race adventures here in Portland.
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[frenchroast]

I'm still on for the 23rd weather permitting and will text you all if I can get to a Friday nighter. Might make a main jet change but my focus next time out will be on consistency.

[stevemariott]

Thanks 67rustavenger! M would appreciate that I'm sure.

That was a lowered mid-2000s Subaru of some sort - I didn't see exactly what it was.

[ccowx]

Well, just for grins, I took my "sweep the garage floor for an engine and put it in my rat bag project" and my friend's cell phone app and see what I can do. And before someone poo poo's my cell phone app, I live in the Yukon and that is the only option for a 1/4 mile for the next 800 miles any direction!!

So, the result of my one and only run was.........21.7@61 mph!! Pathetic. But consider the following:

The beetle is a 1970 standard sedan, abandoned in a hedge since 1989, with new tires and brakes, and nothing else. Two people, both well north of 200 pounds.

The engine? 1835 DP with stock end pieces, CB center section, original Solex carb with 28.5mm venturi, 8.5 compression, 1-3/8" header, Engle 100 cam, stock heads, 1.1 rockers, stock early 70's super beetle SVDA distributor(lighter springs, all in 3000 rpms) and nothing else. This engine has done years of service in a Westy and leaks oil like a sieve and has about 3/32" end play. No effort to dial it in and one run.

That was cheap fun.....

Chris

[NJ John]

Does it usually feel peppy on the street? Because, that’s a stock beetle time. It’s probably the app. That combo could be anywhere from 17 down to 16’s in some cases.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[ccowx]

On the street it does feel fairly peppy, considering. It is pretty sporty in 1st and 2nd, but settles down to normal for the rest. My guess is that it would hit the 16-17 second range pretty easily. To repeat, ONE run, NO prior practice, TIRED engine, NO serious tuning effort, TWO heavy guys in it, no tach, etc, etc.

I have spent considerable time on the drag strip with V8 cars but this is my first attempt at a performance VW. This was just a quick and dirty way to have a bit more fun before the snow truly flies around here and I wanted to be able to get a feel for tuning and make sure everything worked, ie thermostat, manifold heat, etc. By next summer that engine will be freshened up and and I am expecting right around what you suggested, NJ John.

Thanks!

Chris

[67rustavenger]

[NJ John]

And make your one heavy friend stand at the curb while you test. Lol
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage