There was this beetle. Set a record 26.72.


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greg4

Luving the pics....

How long did you race this sports sedan Greg before it got retired??

Was it still IRS Mac struts?

Do tell us roundy round racers some more things about this beast

Yeehaa

Great photos, how does that time compare now?

How competitive?
We have 2 sets of records, 1 for championships and one for club days. The club record is now 26.51 set in 2003 with a fiat. The championship record is 25.92 set in 1997 by an escort. So yeah car would be a front runner even today in under 2litre sports sedans.

A quick street wrx or evo lancer will do those times.

In improved production 1601-2000cc I have 26.67 for Grant Cook in 1998. But then I also have the current class record as 26.95 by a Craig Torrens in 2006. (???). Heath Campbell has a 27.08 in 2010, Col Mayman 27.03 in 2011

In sport sedan 2001-3000 Wayne Penrose has held that record 24.45 since 2001.

Jeff Unwin would also have some quick times up there but they are outside the range of the results that I have. The notchback has done 27's.

My fastback 28's. My kombi best 29.05. My big block Polo tsi did 34.44 a few months ago. Could have went a bit faster probably a high 33 but I was wearing my beige cardigan instead of the red one.

And Ruth Pobjoy to this day holds fastest lady record 25.65 in 1998 driving the open wheeler.

All recent results and a few older ones (including full results from the event these pictures are from) are available on our website. http://wscc.org.au/results.shtml.  I've probably got a few other results that can be uploaded too, one day.

One other day I'll get them into a database so there will be online searchable results on names/dates/classes etc. One day.

Thanks Chris.

They changed the classifications of the Imp Production class a few times (2E Road Reg, 3J Imp Prod etc), that's why you have a few records listed for that class.

In 1998 my fastest run was a 26.8 something, but cookie put together a fantastic last run to set the record at 26.67.

16years have past and that record is still the quickest VW Improved prod time ever set

Not 2 decades, but 35 years ago, Minis were virtually un-beatable in the under 2 litre Sports Sedan class........or so everyone believed.

It was like 'a red rag to a bull' for me, and that's why I wanted to put those little buggers in their place - behind a VW Beetle.

One thing to consider when comparing times with 1979, is the many improvements to the track since then.

Any plans on taking No8 for a run up the track Greg ?

Would be great to get photo's of you running the track now, taken from the same spot as 1979

Not a bad idea, Craig. I'll ask Chris about doing just that.

Maybe I'm not as 'sharp' as back then [I'm 73, not 37 ], and getting all 4 wheels off the deck at 'The Fork' seems a bit daunting now....but hey, why not ? You're only young once.

Not to mention tyre technology has changed since 35 years ago too!!!!!!

I dont think there any extra speed in the track. The surface looks pretty good in those 80's pics.

Today there is a join right on the start line (we had to patch it) that cant help with launching the car, the surface is quite bad from the start to the fork (we've asked council to keep it in mind when they do their yearly throw money away resurfacing any road possible to exhaust the annual budget)

The first turn to the fork is quite bumpy in a faster stiff car. I never noticed it in my street cars when delivering officials lunches, or even on my blistering 34 second polo run. But when I drove a vtec/mini sports sedan (sorry Greg) up there I was scared. This year we cut 2 patches on the left just before you turn into the fork. 2 bumps appeared out of nowhere and were dangerous. The patches are as smooth as you could probably expect but they are there none the less.

Early 90's the track was resurfaced from the fork to the finish but there is a hump before the esses and the right hander going in is off camber slightly. Dont know if those features always existed.

But most definitely cars are quicker. Tyres, fuel and engine technology have definitely come a long way.

If you didnt have make/model loyalty and all you wanted was to do a 26 you wouldnt bother with building a beetle sports sedan these days. So much easier with 4wd. A near standard golf R does 26s all day. If thats too much money a wrx or Evo will do that without much effort. Even a cheap import 2wd silvias will do it without going too crazy. Old datsuns with FJ20s dropped in them go too fast. If you're easy on the clutch they will go for years and when you finish racing just put the spare back in the boot and drive home. Even dead standard v8 commodores do 28s and 29s all day long with 3 year warranty.

My wet dream fantasy is a twin engine Mk1 golf that screams like those german quad throttle euro hillclimbers. I'd be happy to do 28s if I could make that music.

Unfortunately there are no available spectator areas up there anymore. You can only take photos from the start line or the fork. Back then you had a barbed wire fence to protect you so you were OK. Now you have all those armco barriers and tyre wall protections you cant stand there. And the farmers wont let people in their property anyway because if you fall over a cow patty you might sue them.

Just read the thread, what a good one.
Greg you were truly a pioneer racing a Beetle in those glory days, chasing and beating the mini,s and all others.
Huntley is the only (IMHO) old fashioned Hillclimb course left in the State Series, it,s fast a little rough in places, and has consiquences if you have an off.
It scares the sh#t out of me everytime I race there. Craig Torrens time of 26.95 is a stand out effort considering what he had to play with.
Below is some footage of the 2011 State event, I am at the 2min 40sec mark. To give you an idea of speed you,ll hear me change up into 4th gear before the fork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=XDMnZ8IkZog 

Cheers Col

In 2012 we had police laser radar set up pointing down the hill from the fork.. Tim Edmondson hit 196kmh before going out of scope.

More...

http://youtu.be/sAfmDso9cKM 

http://youtu.be/MScdC9lLKak 

http://youtu.be/PDWvLq7l8JY 

http://youtu.be/AQDKEQrQefw 

http://youtu.be/PSic62WwZSE 

http://youtu.be/nqWiM2oq8oY 

What were some of Gumley's times Chris?

He still has the clubbie outright record 19.99 set in September 2000. He held the championship record from early 90s and over the years had lowered it down to 19.47 in May 2000. In Sept 2012 Tim Edmondson took it in a Gould with 18.54, it is the only time ever in the 18s though several times under the 19.47.

The Wortmeyer SCV was built and developed in backyards of Wollongong powered by a supercharged kombi engine. The Gould with its Indy Car derived V8 was imported from the UK where it holds pretty much every hillclimb record.

Another car we forgot is John/David Spinks. It was a good looking black car that did 27s and maybe a high 26. But they rolled it one day and that was the end of it. They then built a mid engined sports sedan, not sure what times it did. Will try and find it. And Ruth Pobjoy and Mark Primmer had beetles also. Baah back in the 80s/90s every car was either a mini, torana, escort or a beetle. There's probably quite a few we've missed.

Jeff's (Jo's) car is pretty darn slow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE0z3rmCVKI 

mad veedub drivers

Quote:

Originally posted by PAZZAN mad veedub drivers

Foot to the floor through the first corner, foot to the floor through the fork on 2 wheels, lift off close your eyes through the esses so you dont get scared, foot to the floor to the finish. You only have to hold your breath for 28 seconds. Easy.

For me, the most spectacular [scarey?] bloke to watch was Gary Cosser, driving 'Old Jack's SCV.

What were the specs on the motor ?

From memory, 48 IDAs, 74x92, Powertune built the motor, so Powertune heads so most likley 40 & 35 valves

Sounds about right, Steve. I think comp. was 10.5 : 1, and it developed 169 HP @ 7000 RPM, running on 100 octane Avgas.