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Nice find Chris. Thanks to people like your good self, I now have more records of past events than ever before.

In both of those rounds, those are some remarkable times when compared with cars which were more regarded as performance cars; a VW Beetle thrashing clubman cars and supposedly hot saloons like XU1s should have merited more attention than it got in the press of this time. Either that Beetle was suspension-tuned to a remarkable degree or Greg has giant cojones; possibly a combo.

Peter, back then - and possibly even now - a 'racing' VW Beetle was considered a bit of a joke. Some people even hated them...especially when beaten by one!

For me, it was mainly about beating Minis.

Hi

I think I was there that day with my finance. Greg is a good steerer but also understands how to setup a car.

The same car went on to compete in a sports sedan series at Amaroo Park and was a giant killer and upset Evan Green the TV comentator who was a Mini fan to the point where he would cutoff his co comentator if he mentioned the VW.

Steve

Quote:

Originally posted by HappyDaze Peter, back then - and possibly even now - a 'racing' VW Beetle was considered a bit of a joke. Some people even hated them...especially when beaten by one! For me, it was mainly about beating Minis.

Guess what, Mac...you've got 'em worried. A Beetle going quicker that much more 'sophisticated' cars does not go over well !! Keep up the good work, mate.

I was invited to run my Sports Sedan at a Porsche Club super-sprint at Oran Park, years ago. There was a lot of sniggering, and joking going on about my Beetle, but mostly I was completely ignored.

There were highly-worked 911s, with transporters, multiple sets of tyres, pit crews, etc. Guess who had the last laugh, when my Beetle turned in FASTEST TIME OF THE DAY ?

It puts a smile on my face every time! Love the fact we can mix it with the big boys!

I just love hearing about this sort of stuff

Coulld you tell us more about your red beetle Greg? What engine combo it had, gearbox, suspension setup?

Basically a '69 Super pan & body, with fibreglass front & back sections, made from patterns by the late Bruce Butler.

!968cc engine, with 48 IDA Webers - 169hp @ 7500rom. Steve Carter would know more about the engine 'internals' than I would.

Managed to dig an old Hewland 5-speed out from under Ted Proctor's bench, and used a 40hp c&p...no LSD.

Turned the rear trailing arms 90 degrees, and made 'uprights' out of them. Fabricated top & bottom 'wishbones', and used Beetle driveshafts. Fiat discs.

Did similar at the front, using the Beetle sub-axles AND DISC BRAKES ! I didn't like it, but I fitted a MINI rack & pinion.

13" Mawer wheels, with old slicks, scrounged from Steve Masterton [off his Capri Touring car}.

Cheers, Greg

So it was IRS rear too? So the rear was effectively a double wishbone rear, did you still use standard torsion bars?

The rear was supported by coil-over Spax shocks...no torsion bars. Fully adjustable, with R & L thread rod-ends.

Good day Greg- have you been to Victor Harbour yet?

Next weekend, Gary.

Good luck then "Pierre"

Merci beaucoup.

Das ist sehr gut.

Yeah, same to you fellah...