Down side to having a boosted VW...

[nbuscemi]

I discovered last night one of the few downsides to having a turbocharged VW.

As most of us know there are many shades of turbocharged vehicles. Some of them are crazy, over the top, drive-train destroying, tire screeching, neck breaking, fast cars. Others, like mine are clocking in at just over 100bhp and are just fun little street cars. Last night at the drag strip I was placed into the Sportsman class along side Mustang GT's, Corvettes, and other serious sports cars. To say the least, there was NO FREAKING WAY a 100hp 1600cc Bug was going to hang with those guys. I asked the powers to be to drop me down a class (Bandit Class) and they said "No!" I didn't argue with him since he was basing his decision against the other turbocharged Beetles that were there, of which were making will over 300hp. Besides, the rules clearly state any aftermarket power adder will put you into Sportsman Class. I politely said "OK, thank you..." and called it a night.

Moral of the story... Well, there isn't any. I just wanted to share with you guys what happens when you build a turbocharged Bug that isn't like all the other turbocharged Bugs.

-Nick-

[Ol'fogasaurus]

While I didn't have a "puffed" engine I did have a fun street car that, because it was an engine swap (a 331 cu in Cadillac w/4-speed hydro in a '54 Studebaker lowboy Champion coupe [Champions were 6 cylinder cars]), I was put into a class D Modified Production which meant modified 409 Chevs and other modified GM cars in that class) that was not competitive like you were. Not much fun if there is only the chance of inning unless the other person breaks something and then you really haven't won. Add to that the electronics that let others leave and run within .001 of dial in which blows the whole gig.

Enjoy yourself on the street, its better and safer not to get too power hungry anyway .

Lee

I used to go to the track on "Play Days" which were test and tune days when big deal events were going on at other tracks. Still, there are some who want to race for cash .

[rubenski]

I would be afraid to go on the track, there arent many in the whole country anyway...

I think I would push the car to hard because I'm a whole different driver when I make a little pull on the streets with like say a big bmw next to me.

I enjoy making some pulls on roads I know and where it's ''sort of safe'' to do.

[buguy]

There is only one thing to do my friend. Time to crank it up!

[nbuscemi]

There is only one thing to do my friend. Time to crank it up!

This was my first instinct, however I'm already going as fast as my budget will allow. Im happy with the way the car is now. Reminds me of the early Porsche turbos: hit the gas and nothing..... nothing.... nothing... and then all of a sudden POWER!!!!

Im just irritated at how closed minded the track rules are. I'd prefer being classed based off of a qualifying lap, much like bracket racing.

-Nick-

[buguy]

Yeah that is weird how they do it.

[Clonebug]

You should have run it down the track if you didn't.......who cares how you do against other cars......you want to see what you get for a base run and then work on improving it.
A stock bug runs a 1/4 mile in about 18-20 seconds if I remember correctly.......you can see how you do compared to that.

The light and the launch has a LOT to do with your 1/4 mile times...work on those two and you can pick up a lot of time once you get that perfected.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Yeah that is weird how they do it.

If you consider how things have changed since drag racing got started; the NHRA ASSN started in '51. Lakes cars were in the early 30's and are still going on plus road racing in the pre-'teens (1900 starts the "Teens") along with other forms of racing like horse racing . Once $$$ got involved (car companies for example) things really did change and the little guy with few bucks was soon lost out.

I agree with Clonebug that you probably should make a couple of passes:

1) just to see what its like

2) and to see what you and your toy can do.

Also, abusing your toy drives upgrading to keep things from breaking... again addictive.

The only real problem with that is that drag racing, like anytype of racing, ON A TRACK is addictive. i don't condone street racing as too many people get hurt with many of them were/are not directly involved.

Lee

[nbuscemi]

You should have run it down the track if you didn't.......who cares how you do against other cars......you want to see what you get for a base run and then work on improving it.
A stock bug runs a 1/4 mile in about 18-20 seconds if I remember correctly.......you can see how you do compared to that.

The light and the launch has a LOT to do with your 1/4 mile times...work on those two and you can pick up a lot of time once you get that perfected.

I did in fact make a few practice passes before the actual race started. Car ran as expected. I knew there was a problem when I couldn't hang with the Bandit Class cars. I raced a mostly stock Focus ST (FWD turbo) and he pulled about two car lengths. Friday Night Drags, the event I was attending is done street race style. No lights, no time slips, launch on a hand drop. First car across finish line wins, other guy is done for the night. I would have been eliminated first round.

I know I sound like a poor sport, but a wise person once told me "You gotta know when to hold'em and when to fold'em."

-Nick-

[andy198712]

Should really be based on power to weight ratio shouldnt it? Yeah okay some people will lie but hey...

[Ol'fogasaurus]

One advantage to testing on a race track is it there is a "problem" then there is help right away.

If you have seen the original "Greese" movie the race scene starts with a flagger which is pretty much true (the racing wasn't like that as far as I knew but we did hear stories about the illegal racing in CA drainage area though). The way they did it where I lived was both cars would stage with the flagger making sure they were "toeing the line". The starter put tip of the flag (on a stick) on the button for the "tree" then the flagger would point to each driver in turn to say "are you ready" and they would nod and the RPM's came up. Then he would suddenly raise the flag up as to say" "get the "H" out of here, someone else behind you wants to go . Before the tree got started the flag itself was it.

There were classes but I don't remember how they were originally derived other than the number of cylinders and goodies added/done.
I think times had something to do with it but then... there were those who held back... isn't there always a few.

There was a guy I knew who would sit at the finish line during the timing sessions (he was part of the club that was putting on the race so his time for fun was limited). I asked him why once and he said it was to see who was doing what time wise. He had a '50 Chev couple with a 6-hole-r in it with three single barrels for carburation and "three-on-the-tree". If the guys he was running against were fast/quick then he would add the 2 additional single barrels (and yes 5 carbs: the front and rear carbs were slightly a head of and behind the engine on the intake manifold.) he had to go a bit quicker. Even back then there were "ways".

Test and tune day are good learning day for a new un-tested rig and to enjoy yourself by looking at what others have done... and learn.

Lee

I added somethings I had forgotten.

[nbuscemi]

Speaking of learning!

I spent all morning in the garage trying to chase down a problem I noticed since the races Friday night. Car would idle and cruise no problems, but heavy throttle and or under boost the car would fall on its face and misfire, and boost was about half of what it should be. I started with basics, spark plugs, valve lash, etc... Then I moved on to a compression test. Cyl 1 and 2 where good (120psi) and went to test 3 and 4 and noticed that the bracket holding the injectors down was loose, allowing the injectors to wobble around.

Long story short, I fixed the issue and now the car runs like a sewing machine again! Pretty sure this happened on my first blast down the track. Im glad I figured out the issue, but now I'm irritated that I probably would have done alot better racing if all 4 of injectors were actually bolted to the engine.

-Nick-

[buguy]

At least you didn't burn your car to the ground!

[nbuscemi]

Yeah, In hind sight if I would have kept racing I would have torched cylinder 3 and 4. I just finished putting this engine together and the last thing I want is to ruin it. So maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I was placed in a class that i was too slow for.

-Nick-

[madmike]

Only down side is "Cop's"
Nick time to build that big Motor a go kick some A$$