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 

goodstuff mate, I've been meaning to do the same in my buggy for ages. BTW, what motor was in that Passat?

MAN!
Excellen write up.Glad you had a ball!
Love the curtains in the yellow beast.

Good yarn, glad you had a great night, I'm looking forward to getting back out to the drags later in the year, too

Great post! Sounds like a fantastic night.

Looks like I should expect a few more Kombis at Warwick this year. Aaron and Wayne won't feel so lonely. Good show guys!

From one beginner to another...It's bloody good fun isn't it?

Must have been good fun I'm still smiling

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 

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