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 KOM123
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 05:13 PM |
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My debut at the Drags.
Ask me six months ago if I would take my Kombi in the drags and I'd have said "No way, I'll leave that to the serious racers". I'd never have put
money on that one night I'd end up at Wicked Wednesday, the quarter mile drags at Western Sydney International Dragway. Then in February, Darren got
the ball rolling to organise a social night at the drags in a fun and non-competitive (we'll see if this holds true next time!) environment.
So this peaked my interest and as a few others decided they would go along to, I got swept up in the wave of excitement and anticipation of something
different, maybe something that would not happen again. I thought to myself, what's the worse that could happen? Smash the Kombi, break the engine,
my wife kills me, can't afford to get it fixed if it breaks....
All those "minor" negatives (haha) paled in comparison to a chance to go down the dragway.
So that was it, I committed myself to the cause of fun and lunacy. As the day approached, so did the nerves. For many of us it would be our debut at
the track with a myriad of unknowns waiting for our arrival.
Well the first official debut came and went as a few showers that evening (well early afternoon) caused the cancellation of the event for safety
reasons. Very disappointed we were but not wanting to lose the momentum of something great about to happen, we immediately concurred that it had to be
same time, same place the very next week!
During that week, I must have dreamt every night a different scenario of what would happen. Don't get me wrong, these were not dreams of grandeur and
glory, they were more along the lines of stalling it at the start and blowing up the engine!
The afternoon of the big event was here before I knew it. I picked up the kids from school and dropped them home before heading out to the track. I
looked in the back of the Bus and pondered over the two kids seats still in the Kombi, the two double folding seats on the floor, the two toolboxes,
the bag of kids toys, the boogie board, the subwoofer, the spare parts and other assorted junk and tried to work out if it would be worth the effort
to take it all out before heading off. I then stood back and looked at the 3 metre roofrack and the sunvisor, scoffed and thought to myself "who are
you kidding, you're not Schumacher!" so it all stayed in and off I headed to make my debut.
At the track it was busier than a bricklayer in Bagdhad. There were rev-heads and cars everywhere. The looks of shock and amusement at the convoy of
Kombis was great! Throughout the night many owners of other vehicles came and looked over the Kombis and Mike's Beetle and were quite happy to have a
good chat. Lots of positive comments about how good it was we turned up for some fun and they even mentioned our motley crew a few times over the PA
system.
After looking at the queue to get scrutineered and then to line up it looked like it was going to be a slow night. It was pretty busy since the week
before had been cancelled due to the weather and you could see many of the drag regulars there to get their fix for the week.
Down to business and the first run of the night. I'd taken in all kinds of advice from various experienced parties. Watch the revs, do this at the
start, change gears like this etc etc etc but like a goldfish, I only seemed to retain the information momentarily and then all was forgotten. I
remember approaching the start line and thought I was going to choke myself. I was that dry in the throat and couldn't swallow because I had the
chin-strap on the helmet done up too tightly!! Loosened it off and it was alot better.
My first opponent was a guy in a fancy looking Skyline of some description. I think he almost nodded off waiting for me to line up the Bus properly at
the start. Ok here we go, watch the Christams tree lights, oooo look at the pretty colours....oh yeah green means go!! And off I take and head down
the strip, the Skyline rear lights already two distant specks on the horizon. Who cares though, I'm having fun!! Nearing the end of the track and oh
bugger, the generator light has come on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0NcsEFnOHg
The dread of telling the wife that'd I'd broken something came over me like a heavy blanket as I eased the Bus back down the return road to the car
park. Collected my time sheet and looked....20.339!!!! I'm stoked, came here expecting 23s or 24s so very elated!! Things couldn't be
better...*voice in head "remember the generator light*...doh! Parked the Kombi and with wisps of smoke coming out the rear vents. Open the engine lid
to find....a shredded fanbelt!!!! Yay nothing serious and I have a spare in the back anyway.
So my own personal pit crew (thanks a million guys) gets me back up and running in time for the second run. This time at the line up I'm alot more
relaxed but also a bit apprehensive as I don't carry two spare fanbelts! I'm pitted against the quiet assasin Nik in his 66 panel van. Move up to
the water mark where they do the burnouts and one of the official is smiling and waving his hand madly in a circular motion. "No mate, I don't want
to do a burnout" I try and communicate through helmet and windscreen. Again he smiles and the hand goes around in circles. "No mate, I don't want
to do a burnout" I say again protesting. This time he comes around to the side of the car and says...."Mate wind your window up!!" and laughs. I'm
sure under the helmet he couldn't see my face was redder than a baboon's backside. Thank God he was on the opposite side to my trusty digital cam
taking video! And we're off and racing and Nik pulls ahead but I'm thinking age before beauty and let him take the glory! Nothing breaks this time
so back to get the time sheet...20.224!! Again very happy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiNu7Ep7PjE
So the third and final run for the night is delayed with a burn-out comp in progress. VWs represented by a Passat which by the way ran a nice 16s
during the evening. Some of those guys (and girls) are insane! Plenty of overheated engines, burst tires and driving on rims.
Back for the final race and I'm up against another Lowlight. Ah the dragway never looked better! Off we go and it's a tight run and the skill of
Jeremy gets him across the line by a length and a half (at least) and as we return back to the car park I can't wipe the smile from my face on what a
top night it has been. The smile is permanently etched in for the night after collecting my last time sheet....19.954!!!! Oh yeah, you DA MAN!! A
member of the sub-20 club!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_GD8RXZp-o
Everyone had a fantastic time and I encourage everyone to come along next time they hold a night like this. Steve ran an impressive 17 something in
his '67 and think everyone was pretty much grouped within 3 or 4 seconds all night so definitely room for improvement.
Thanks to Darren again for getting this up and running and thanks also to the guys who came along to spectate and enjoy the buzz and fun.
Oh by the way did I mention I got a trophy???? The inaugural Kombi Rescue drag trophy which I think was awarded for big engine, slowest driver!!!!
Here's a pic below along with the remains of my fanbelt.
See you all on the track next time. Now back to the Cars game on my Playstation 2 for more practice!!!
P.S. you can find and buy some official trackside photos (samples below) at Badger
Photography http://www.badgerphotography.com.au
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pete wood
A.k.a.: figure itout
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 05:53 PM |
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goodstuff mate, I've been meaning to do the same in my buggy for ages. BTW, what motor was in that Passat?
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dangerous
A.k.a.: Dave Butler Muffin Man
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 06:16 PM |
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MAN!
Excellen write up.Glad you had a ball!
Love the curtains in the yellow beast.
| Quote: | Originally
posted by westi
That's mad Alan.
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VWCOOL
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 06:35 PM |
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Good yarn, glad you had a great night, I'm looking forward to getting back out to the drags later in the year, too
Pay your debts, CxxT
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rob53
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 06:37 PM |
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Great post! Sounds like a fantastic night.
Thats not rust, it's ah ... orange primer ... yep that's what it is ...
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VWMA Editor
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 06:42 PM |
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Looks like I should expect a few more Kombis at Warwick this year. Aaron and Wayne won't feel so lonely. Good show guys!
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Stanley
Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 07:36 PM |
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From one beginner to another...It's bloody good fun isn't it?
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t2
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stop taking life so serious
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| posted on March 30th, 2007 at 08:44 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Stanley
From one beginner to another...It's bloody good fun isn't it?
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it was the best minute of driving i have ever done , 3 runs each around 20 seconds best of 19.0 happy with that ,maybe next time i wont look like this
after i stuff it up :jesus
gravity wont get you high
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KOM123
Custom Title Time!
Smiling Assassin
Posts: 1164
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| posted on March 31st, 2007 at 12:19 AM |
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Must have been good fun I'm still smiling 
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frenzix
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on March 31st, 2007 at 07:39 AM |
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Here's the link to dsk , with other vids too of the splits dragging .. http://www.dsk.com.au/dsk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3734&start=30
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 Bizarre
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The artist formerly known as blue74l
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| posted on March 31st, 2007 at 08:43 AM |
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The yellow one is Super Steve's (aka sick68)
Runs a Del'd 2.0L
BLOODY nice car.
I went out there with Steve and the Holzl's before round new year and had a ball.
Buggers didnt take a pick of me though. Only took pics of people in the pan - and being a newbie.......
Have to go again soon
Futue te ipsum!!!
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