181 Drag race car for 2003

181 Racer · Post by **181 Racer** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 5:12 am

Hey All

My name is Conor I live in Surrey in the UK ?

Im a member of the VWDRC - the Volkswagen Drag Race Club in the UK - I am racing under VWSP181 this season ?

I am converting 1971 a ex military type 181 to a drag race car ?

This is the first 181 to be used for out and out racing in the UK - not sure about the USA? Anyone know?

The car is as we speak having its full RAC MSA spec safety cage welded in and I have recently got my gearbox back - now with beetle shafts and a HD side plate and a superdiff fitted ? it was an AK box so has 3.88 R & P

We will be running a 1915cc engine this year with a view to upgrading in the future

I will post some picks soon of the progress to date - you can also check out our website ?
www.bacchusdragraceteam.com

Follow the links for Bacchus VWSP 181

Cheers all

Conor

[This message has been edited by 181 Racer (edited 02-04-2003).]

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 7:29 am

Conor, keep us posted on this project. It sounds very interesting. What weight are you shooting for? The Thing is a heavy car and will take a lot of stripping to get the weight down. Probably get rid of the pan and use a tube chassis? Just a bare body? Definately post photos in our gallery thread when you can. Were curious now about a 181 Drag Racer. Good luck. Bob Ingman

181 Racer · Post by **181 Racer** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 8:24 am

Bob

The car has already been on a diet

loosing lots of metal around the engine bay / and above the gearbox and loosing the reduction boxes has made big inroads into reducing all up weight.

Plus no interior or seats or fuel tank or windscreen has reduced the all up weight already.

Eventually it will run with a flip front and plastic doors, rear wings etc - but thats for the future

although its a metal pan car and will stay that way -

More photos will follow on the web site in the next few weeks - I will flag when their up

Cheers

Conor

Bob Ingman · Post by **Bob Ingman** » Tue Feb 04, 2003 11:00 pm

Thanks Conor. Keep us posted as you go. I want to see this car. I just enjoy race cars no matter what type. Good luck. Bob Ingman

181 Racer · Post by **181 Racer** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:20 am

getting there

more to follow -

Cheers

Conor

dubthang · Post by **dubthang** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:42 am

do you plan to fabricate the flip front and plastic doors yourself? or do you have a vendor lined up for these items? every once and awhile somebody asks about alternative materials for things (fiberglass, carbon fiber etc,) and it would be nice to know if a good source exists. good luck with the thing. there is a drag thing in the states too. don't remeber whose or where though.
-seth

181 Racer · Post by **181 Racer** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:31 am

Hey Seth

John Tritle runs in pro over there in a VW thing - already been in touch with him

Doors and wings are about to be produced over here by a couple of sources that work with plastic / glass fibre -

flip front would be a DIY with skilled help job - make our own mould and then make a first off from there

Not so worried about that at the moment just want to get it finished and get racing

Cheers

Conor