front engine notch

Anyone know anything about this car. Looks like an interesting set up. I wonder if it is a vw engine.

it looks like a vw engine in the picture, if you look close you can see the cylinder head on the right of the photo, would be a cool ride..

Lack of radiator also would make it seem like an aircooler

that is so dam kool

thats so dam weird? why in the front?
tail shaft is a design flaw !. lol

Probably to stop larger wheelies and also much more room up front.

Great looking notch, looks like a US car big $$$$$.

Engine in the front, auto with a strong diff makes lots of sence to me.

also more airflow to turbo being at the front

trannys would last longer too. Looks like a well set up car the way it launches off the line

Not to mention a rather large snail....

Anybody know what times etc??

front engined cars are faster than rear engined when it comes to the big end of drag racing. the quickest rear motor sedans (beetles) are doing low 8s at the mo and we think that is fast. similar sized front engined cars are doing 7s. it's all about weight transfere.

ER no they aren't. Top Fuel is the fastest drag car category and they have the engine in the back.

ttriebler wrote:ER no they aren't. Top Fuel is the fastest drag car category and they have the engine in the back.

I think u will find that pete is talkin about sedans not rails!

JVLRacing wrote:

ttriebler wrote:ER no they aren't. Top Fuel is the fastest drag car category and they have the engine in the back.

I think u will find that pete is talkin about sedans not rails!

And besides... aren't Top Fuel cars actually mid engined, with the engine sitting forward of the rear axle ???

Wouldn't be surprised if the engine on a Top Fuel car sits about the same distance forward of the rear axle as what it does in a normal front engined, rear wheel drive sedan...

JVLRacing wrote:

ttriebler wrote:ER no they aren't. Top Fuel is the fastest drag car category and they have the engine in the back.

I think u will find that pete is talkin about sedans not rails!

Yep. Rails/top fuelers are mid engined, which btw makes a big difference as you add more hp. Even top fuelers lift the front wheels off the line, which is why VW drag cars have such issues with wheels as the speed comes up.

http://www.oceanstreetvideo.com/download1.html

Scroll down the page. Listen to what Ron Lumus says about Chris Bubetz pro turbo car pulling 9s and you'll see what I mean.

Quite right you are, Top fuellers are mid engine as opposed to rear engine, silly me was busy thinking about 'in relation to driver'.

Getting back to the OP talking about front engine, then that's actually not the ideal location (although very awesome) If you use the drag racing analogy again, look at Nitro Funny Car v Nitro Top Fuel. Same motors, same power, same clutch and diff (no gearbox as they are direct drive).

Nitro funny cars are front engined and top fuellers are mid engined. Nitro funny cars typically run 0.3 sec slower than top fuellers. So does that mean the ideal engine location for weight transfer is just in front of the drive wheels, so the weight is transferred onto them on launch?

I guess that makes the Porsche Boxter the ultimate drag car...???? Hell I would LOVE to turbo the bejezus out of one of those things....

ttriebler wrote:Getting back to the OP talking about front engine, then that's actually not the ideal location (although very awesome) If you use the drag racing analogy again, look at Nitro Funny Car v Nitro Top Fuel. Same motors, same power, same clutch and diff (no gearbox as they are direct drive).

Its restricted by class.... Much like Rodney's (Penrose) new car.... It's closer to a Sedan ('doorslammer') spec machine, which is restricted by such rules as opening doors with internal and external handles, full suspension with at least one shock per wheel... These rules also stipulate engine placement.... Front or rear only.... Driving the rear wheels.... No mid mounting is allowed.... Also.... As stated earlier, by others.... Transmissions and other related driveline components are stronger than VW parts, cheaper to replace and easier to source....

It makes perfect sense if you playing in the big sandbox.

And besides... aren't Top Fuel cars actually mid engined, with the engine sitting forward of the rear axle ???

Wouldn't be surprised if the engine on a Top Fuel car sits about the same distance forward of the rear axle as what it does in a normal front engined, rear wheel drive sedan...

Fuellers actually run the engine pretty close to the rear axle, even closer than the alcohol dragsters as they dont run a transmission, only the clutch can, cannon and coupler. Looking at my (miniature!) funny car it definatly has a lot more tailshaft than any of the fuel dragsters I played with.
The advantage dragsters have is hooking in the early part of the run, mainly due to the flexibility of the chassis which funny cars lack. Funny cars have better aero at the top end though.

What has this got to do with VW's though? Sweet F*&^ All!!!

I posted this to the UAC site and got a few answers about the car. It seems that the car has some issues with going to the right when launching and such has hit/scuffed the wall at least once. It also spun at the top end from a combination of aggressive breaking and a bump in the track. As more details come up I will post them. Nothing seems to be recent so the car may be siting gathering dust at this moment. Try the site:

http://www.ultimateaircooled.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php

great site for the West Coast drag racing world (some East coast stuff gets discussed).

heres a video of this notch it as at 2:33 in.