Its amazing how the weight can add up with the various additions.......I remember weighing my hillclimb car (832kg) and wondered where all the weight was ! Rollcages, swaybars, braces etc all add weight 🥲
I reckon the ragtop is close to 1000kg's........the rear subwoofer box weighs in at 43kg alone !!!!!
Just gad a really great day hillclimbing, so figured time for a bit of an update for the season.
The engine tinkering and weight reductions began paying off basically straight away - times very consistent and car very drivable but still sharp. I've missed quite a few events due to travelling for work, but a deal had made with my boss meant I'd get the big events at least.
👍
Queensland Hillclimb Champs in June was unfortunately a wet track, so although ran solidly and grabbed 2nd in class it wasn't a real test of things.
Racing at Valla beginning if Aug she ran flawlessly - managed to crack the 2 minutes several times (prev best 2:01) and grab 2nd in class behind Glen Torrens who had been trading times with all day.
Leyburn Sprints at end of Aug was a bit of a challenge with belt and pulley problems and a missed run as a result, but once sorted was all good and on song. Weirdly felt fast but about 0.8 behind my previous best. Looking at logs afterwards have decided it was all down to the driver... basically just being too timid and braking too early on a couple of corners really hitting my speed on the straights.
Warwick was going to be the real proof - pre Jezzi's diet my best for the 1/8th was 10.20, so my aim was to get under the 10 sec mark. First run Driving Miss Daisy clocked 10.24 and second run 9.98... Job Done !!! Best run was unfortunately my final run racing where I broke out with a 9.65 on a 9.70 dial in... losing by going too fast just seems nuts to me !!!
Running the numbers afterwards things now line up nicely for weight, hp, 60ft, ET and mph so pretty happy that am getting at least closer to driving her properly.
Finally this weekend just gone - hiillclimbing on a dry track for a change got a chance to really stretch her legs. Cool air good for power, but cloudy skies meant a cool track not so great for grip. I'm pretty timid for the sight in run and usually about 2 sec or so off the pace, but something just clicked and logged a 51.95 which was only 6/10ths off my best ever. 2nd run lowered my best by 8/100ths to 51.21 and then run 3 smashed it by almost half a second...my new PB a 50.85 !!! Run 4 overdrove slightly for a 51.55 but then final run backed it up with 50.94 incl a balked shift... definite proof the sub 51 time wasn't a fluke !!!
😀
Now I'm unfortunately on that long list of people at Mt Cotton trying to crack the 50... some take years to do it, but hey - it seems I have a combo that wants to get there so it should be fun at least !!!
😎
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Cheers for positive comments guys - I'm stoked, and quite a few questions at work yesterday of why the stoopid big grin.
Always been said that VW's kind of get into your blood, and racing 'em just even more so !!!
😉
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Heh heh - thanks Pete... got any particular tune in mind ???
😂
Jezzi's been on another bit of a mini diet ahead of the final event for the year yesterday - saved just on another 13kg, mainly due to a lighter weight battery and box, fancy pedal pads back to grip tape, different fuel filters and a few other little things.
13kg doesn't sound much, but difference immediately noticeable - better turn in and so apexing the corners nicer, which helped me lower my PB by another .10s down to a 50.75.
Got some good vid's too:
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Pretty happy with progress for the season - now it's time to start cooking up the next round of off-season tweaks and see if can crack a 49 !!! 🙂
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Join a car club - get car peeps
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'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
Good to hear you're back into it Marcus... definitely better idea to be turning spanners than spectating !!!
It's my girlfriend Kelly taking the video, and yup - she's copped just a little bit of sh!t about that comment so far, so I'll just add you to the stirrers list Craig.
😉
The funniest thing is she was trying soooo hard to not say anything... you should hear some of the earlier videos !!!
😂
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'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
Hahaha, its funny some of the stuff you catch on video; my Mrs is usually paying out my car when I'm not around!
Looks good though would love to get out to Mt Cotton
Sides wrote:Good to hear you're back into it Marcus... definitely better idea to be turning spanners than spectating !!!
It's my girlfriend Kelly taking the video, and yup - she's copped just a little bit of sh!t about that comment so far, so I'll just add you to the stirrers list Craig.
😉
The funniest thing is she was trying soooo hard to not say anything... you should hear some of the earlier videos !!!
Yesterday was another Test & Tune at Mt Cotton... basically a chance for people to sort their cars leading up to the Queensland Hillclimb Champs in 2 weeks time.
For me it was another chance to for some fun, and to proof some of the tweaks have been making.
First run was the usual sight-in deal... 2nd run track still cold, but then from 3rd run just kept chipping away repeatedly lowering my PB.
6th and Final run... 49.90 seconds... woohoo !!!
😀
My mission for the year was to get into the 49's... might have to rethink that one a bit now...
😉
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'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
Nah - not for me unfortunately Daimo... date clash with the Sprints series I'm running in out at Stanthorpe.
🙁
My next China trip might be getting moved, so tempted to run the Grafton round in June...
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
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'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
Nah - not for me unfortunately Daimo... date clash with the Sprints series I'm running in out at Stanthorpe.
🙁
My next China trip might be getting moved, so tempted to run the Grafton round in June...
Grafton round is on the June long weekend, Heath, Christine and myself will be racing. Its a good little track you would love it. Entry is via the Grafton Sporting Car Club with online entry.
awesome effort to crack a 49👍
Thanks for comments guys - as can imagine I'm totally stoked !!!
Grafton lookin more and more a possibility for me... fingers crossed.
😀
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Join a car club - get car peeps
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'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
Yeah, nothing major to report really... she's been running strong, times steadily improving, and really only minor tinkering going on.
The "parts accumulating" stage is underway for the next phase, just that work, lack of time and lack of shed space/organization have been getting in the way a bit...
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps
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'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
Heh heh - first in my plan is to get out of the freezing cold of Toronto, Canada and back home to the warmth !!!
🙂
Chris - currently have Advan A050 Soft's, but they're 18 months old, pretty low on tread, and really a bit past their prime now. Will probably go with the same again tho I think.
Nathan - current engine will go into another car, and then a fresh build for Jezzi... DPR 72mm crank, 94 Wiseco's, 044 Super Pro's, Pauter O3E8, and CR in the realm 11-11.5:1. Of course will be staying dry-sumped and Haltech'd same as current setup. Nothing TOO fancy, just maybe a extra few ponies/torque and maybe even rev's to help close the gap to a couple of Escort's I come up against pretty regularly.
👍
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps
My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
