In 1979.
he he
Found this pic in the archives.
dangerous ·
Aussieveedubbers · VW Drag Racing
BREAKING NEWS: Henry Spicak Goes Supercharged
https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/threads/80715/breaking-news-henry-spicak-goes-supercharged
71-BEETLE-SEDAN ·
They look like small fuel lines for a supercharged engine
dangerous ·
Those are the normal high pressure lines for each nozzle in a mechanical system.
I recall seeing some time cards Henry showed me for this combo.
I think it ran 11.7@117.
From memory, Henry told me it reved to 10,000 real easy.(stock crank).
I think it was 1835?...or perhaps it was 90 pistons?
Was it the red car Henry?
I recall seeing some time cards Henry showed me for this combo.
I think it ran 11.7@117.
From memory, Henry told me it reved to 10,000 real easy.(stock crank).
I think it was 1835?...or perhaps it was 90 pistons?
Was it the red car Henry?
trickysimon ·
Geez. What was done to the crank to withstand 10k?
colin ·
Lots of TEM i would say,
and a little dose of Spicak magic.
Cheers Col
and a little dose of Spicak magic.
Cheers Col
HS618 ·
Wow Dave, That was in 1981 just at the time that group 3 began and the only group 2 class was DD/G @12.5 lbs per cube - no driver included so I has a go at it.I was about a second and a half off the national record which is why it didn't last long
The engine was the 1835 out of the original Ghia
The blower was from the Thornley brothers VW drag bike that they never got round to fitting to the bike
The body was the red oval
The only problem with the engine was the conrod bolts. They kept stretching. The fix was a set of small block chev 3/8 SPS bolts centreless ground to fit the VW conrod. The fit was so tight after the rods were fitted to the crank, the rods didn't come off the crank without destroying the rods. New bolts, rods and it was going again
PS Thanks for the memories and the pic.
The engine was the 1835 out of the original Ghia
The blower was from the Thornley brothers VW drag bike that they never got round to fitting to the bike
The body was the red oval
The only problem with the engine was the conrod bolts. They kept stretching. The fix was a set of small block chev 3/8 SPS bolts centreless ground to fit the VW conrod. The fit was so tight after the rods were fitted to the crank, the rods didn't come off the crank without destroying the rods. New bolts, rods and it was going again
PS Thanks for the memories and the pic.
1303Steve ·
Hi HS
Was it Rick Thornley who ran the VW drag bike? He used to work in the planning department at my local council, i went in to get something approved wearing a VW T shirt and all we did was talk about VWs.
So which oval was the black one with orange windows?
Steve
Was it Rick Thornley who ran the VW drag bike? He used to work in the planning department at my local council, i went in to get something approved wearing a VW T shirt and all we did was talk about VWs.
So which oval was the black one with orange windows?
Steve
polak ·
hahaha, got me there dave, good work... 🤪 great pic, i love looking through all the old stuff, see if u can dig up any more
HS618 ·
Steve, Rick was one of the Thornley Brothers however I don't remember how big an envolvement Rick had with the bike (I'm somewhat embarrased about the memory).
The black beetle (with orange windows) was my first venture into Drag Racing in 1977. It had a roller crank 2180 and ran mid 13's
iI can still remember hammering seized rockers off the shafts on a post at Castlereagh Dragway at the 1977 Chesterfield Nationals. I vowed after that I would never do "open heart surgery"at the track ever again
It only lasted 5 months as a track car before it was sold back onto the street. It is still around sometimes at shows with kidney slot Aunger mags and flaired guards (still black).
Ithink it is still owned by Barry Warne
The black beetle (with orange windows) was my first venture into Drag Racing in 1977. It had a roller crank 2180 and ran mid 13's
iI can still remember hammering seized rockers off the shafts on a post at Castlereagh Dragway at the 1977 Chesterfield Nationals. I vowed after that I would never do "open heart surgery"at the track ever again
It only lasted 5 months as a track car before it was sold back onto the street. It is still around sometimes at shows with kidney slot Aunger mags and flaired guards (still black).
Ithink it is still owned by Barry Warne
Dasdubber ·
I am pretty sure it was Rick (or was it his brother?.....I think it was Rick) that used to sporadically work from the industrial unit next door to my workshop (pest control stuff) - he relived a lot of memories and was always happy to chat vw's - he often asked how you are Henry. He must still be around the area somewhere here on the gold coast as he dropped by a month or two ago.
Cheers
Al
Cheers
Al
1303Steve ·
Hi
I found some horrible photos of Henry at Castlereigh with black Oval.
Steve
I found some horrible photos of Henry at Castlereigh with black Oval.
Steve
polak ·
great pics steve :P
GooNoo2180 ·
Henry,i too ran a vw powerd bike in those days{oh so long ago} Sam originally rode it,but opted out after disagreements with Jim who owned the bike,Rick, youngest of the three,started riding,then later Peter Osterio,rode i'm prety shaw with a blower on it,think i have a photo ? cheers pete
GooNoo2180 ·
Doh,sorry Henry,Steve, its PeteMuhm ,
1303Steve ·
Hi Peter
Good to see you on here, anybody who rode those bikes had big gonads.
Henry's photos in latest ZOOM as well.
Steve
Good to see you on here, anybody who rode those bikes had big gonads.
Henry's photos in latest ZOOM as well.
Steve
GooNoo2180 ·
Yea taken me awhile to get up to speed with all this stuff,allways was a bit slow ,explains maybe why i built n rode a Hilborn injected 1835 vw dragbike at age 20. Thats when i met Henry, I pulled the bike apart IN 78 an sold henry the injection.
vw54 ·
Pete
nice to see you one here u have some stories to tell
nice to see you one here u have some stories to tell
GooNoo2180 ·
Yea those days at castlereagh were great days allright,henrys cars were allways imacullant,as u all know, allways people looking around it,or under it trying to figure out why it went so quick for a vw
HS618 ·
Pete, My memory is hazy, but I thought that the Thornley bike dabbled in nitro (low percentage) rather than a blower especially when Peter Oz rode the bike.I think that's where the injection went.
As far as the Ghia and beetle goes,I think I just confused them (mainly into red-lighting).The fun part (not really) was giving some of the V8's and 6 cylinders a head start due to the lopsided records at the time. How times have changed. The only thing that hasen't changed (as I found out recently) is the comradery, friendship and compassion that true racers have toward each other
As you can see, I finally found a photo worthy of a avatar
As far as the Ghia and beetle goes,I think I just confused them (mainly into red-lighting).The fun part (not really) was giving some of the V8's and 6 cylinders a head start due to the lopsided records at the time. How times have changed. The only thing that hasen't changed (as I found out recently) is the comradery, friendship and compassion that true racers have toward each other
As you can see, I finally found a photo worthy of a avatar
polak ·
indeed you have Henry! thats a brilliant shot! bit small but looks like it was at WSID? no chance of posting a bigger version to drool over? 😂HS618 wrote:Pete, My memory is hazy, but I thought that the Thornley bike dabbled in nitro (low percentage) rather than a blower especially when Peter Oz rode the bike.I think that's where the injection went.
As far as the Ghia and beetle goes,I think I just confused them (mainly into red-lighting).The fun part (not really) was giving some of the V8's and 6 cylinders a head start due to the lopsided records at the time. How times have changed. The only thing that hasen't changed (as I found out recently) is the comradery, friendship and compassion that true racers have toward each other
As you can see, I finally found a photo worthy of a avatar
cheers adam
HS618 ·
Adam, in regard to posting pictures, I'm not that good with technology- it taken years to get the first one up. Maybe some of the guru's on the forum could advise/help. It's better in real life from the driver's seat
polak ·
pretty straight forward Henry, click on the new reply tab, then at the bottom of the page you will have a grey "browse" button, click that...... a window will pop up, then select the picture you wish to upload from whichever folder you have it saved in..... then just hit "post reply" as you normally would......hope that helps.... also i dont doubt its more fun from the drivers seat, but for some of us, atleast for the mean-time, the pictures help 🤓HS618 wrote:Adam, in regard to posting pictures, I'm not that good with technology- it taken years to get the first one up. Maybe some of the guru's on the forum could advise/help. It's better in real life from the driver's seat
HS618 ·
How's these? - hope they turn out
HS618 ·
tried it - didn't work sorry
HS618 ·
Another, that will do for now
HS618 ·
last one
GooNoo2180 ·
Thats for sure Henry...........I like it a lot ! Will dig out this photo
polak ·
brilliant Henry!!! good work.... great pics, did Matt take those? launches very nice, pretty straight for a car still running a pan, but i guess this isnt your 1st drag bug 😂 rear shot is my favourite, looks fat! 1st pic is great too, looks like you have a massive grin on your face too 😁
trickysimon ·
Mmmmm fuchs 👍
vassy66T1 ·
Fantastic Henry!!! Getting it nicely wound up and unleashed ... 😉
GooNoo2180 ·
Great photos Henry,first time i have seen your new car,fantastic,drag racing sure has changed,but as you say the freindship between racers is the same,my closest freinds iv'e met drag racing,and as vw guys are,good to see you back out on the track.
BeetleJuice ·
Lovely looking bug...Luv the yellow and the polished fuchs!HS618 wrote:last one
I remember seeing the blown red bug at Surfers years ago along with Keegan & Thorton.
I think it may have been the Winter's?? I think I have some pic's buried somewhere?
CP
TICK ·
i like the old car
polak ·
great shot Luke, thats diggin out the old archives :P hmmm wheels look familiar 😀
HS618 ·
Luke, I like all the drag Volkswagens I have built and raced, some have been more sucessful than others.
The "grey" one (originally Porsche Guards Red) was the quickest and most sucessful.The body was painted, trimmed and donated by the Perrott Brothers. All the signwriting and stripes were cut out of Contact Paper (vinyl) using a scalpel and overlayed each base by Fred Perrott- I wonder if that method will ever catch on?
Before it was totally finished, it was towed to Adelaide (untested) for the Nationals. In fact the wiring was finished in the motel carpark in Adelaide.
After its first pass, I was coming up the return road at Adelaide International Raceway (AIR), I noticed a lot of people cheering and giving me the thumbs up. I thought Gee, these Adelaide people are friendly and kind towards a new car. After I recieved the time card I realised why, the car had done 2.5 tenths under the national record on its first pass - go figure. That car eventually got the blower in the first picture. If I can dig them up, I will post a picture or two of the "grey "car if yo like
The "grey" one (originally Porsche Guards Red) was the quickest and most sucessful.The body was painted, trimmed and donated by the Perrott Brothers. All the signwriting and stripes were cut out of Contact Paper (vinyl) using a scalpel and overlayed each base by Fred Perrott- I wonder if that method will ever catch on?
Before it was totally finished, it was towed to Adelaide (untested) for the Nationals. In fact the wiring was finished in the motel carpark in Adelaide.
After its first pass, I was coming up the return road at Adelaide International Raceway (AIR), I noticed a lot of people cheering and giving me the thumbs up. I thought Gee, these Adelaide people are friendly and kind towards a new car. After I recieved the time card I realised why, the car had done 2.5 tenths under the national record on its first pass - go figure. That car eventually got the blower in the first picture. If I can dig them up, I will post a picture or two of the "grey "car if yo like
HS618 ·
Going through the archives and I found some of the buggy at Eastern Creek many years ago (hope they turn out)
HS618 ·
They both didn't fit on the same post. Can anyone please tell me how to post multiple pictures on the same post - Thanks
1303Steve ·
Hi Henry
Hope this helps, I think you can only attach 5 photos.
Steve
Hope this helps, I think you can only attach 5 photos.
Steve
polak ·
fantastic pics Henry, just looking at the black and white pic, any chance that they are the same wheels and tires iv got? btw iv still got the jig for drilling those holes... lol taking my time, i need to buy a big drill bit.... u dnt need it any time soon do u :P
HS618 ·
Adam, yes, they are the same wheels. I hope there was an unusual point shaped yellow drill bit that was with the jig.
polak ·
yes, the yellow drill bit is there, i dont know what its from though, i worked out the locking pieces for the jig and the taper bit for the stud holes but the big yellow drill bit seems to be too big for anything on those wheels.... i compared it to mikes wheels as they have the two holes drilled between the wheel bolt holes and yeah, too big.... unless im having a blond moment, i cant work out what its for.... its roughly 26.8mm in diameter.... maybe it got mixed up in the bag accidentally.... but no matter, the more i look at the wheels, the more i like them without the holes drilled anyway.... so ill see how i go... if i decided im going to keep them the way they are ill give the jig back next time at the track or something 🤓 cheers adamHS618 wrote:Adam, yes, they are the same wheels. I hope there was an unusual point shaped yellow drill bit that was with the jig.