With Dak-A-Tak's recent post on the number of Drag Cars in Australia, (which includes over 30 completed competetion cars on the east coast alone), I'm getting somewhat disenchanted with the current VW drag scene.
How many amongst us are dedicated enough to enter the undoutedly biggest Drag meeting of the year? - the Winternationals. Last year there were over 600 entries (and 1 VW).

Are we all that dedicated that only 2 (great) VW meetings a year satisfy our need to race?
Are we scared of competing against other makes of car?
Are we too busy doing other important things on that date?
or is it just too expensive to enter? - yes it is dear to enter, but there is only 1 Winternationals each year.
Let me hear your thoughts
I hope I don't hear crickets again this year!

fingers crossed i'll join u henry.

Good questions Henry. We used to have 4 or 5 Volksies (or more) back in the mid nineties....now there's more cars and only one shows up !!!!!

This year the Winters will be guite close to the VW Showdown, 2 ways to look at that, cars will be ready, wallets not so......

Too expensive and too far away. There are far more enjoyable events to enter locally and interstate like jamboree, nostalgias, test n tunes, track championships and of course the VWMA events. Your car is fairly well sorted so you have a chance of going rounds, but how many others can honestly say that?

I race for fun, and these events are not.
I prefer the relaxed atmosphere and good times of the smaller events now days.

Most of us long time racers have run these events in the past,
and done quite well.
I know that I did for many years, as has Peter Page, Michael Nash and Wally Penboss.

You have to be well prepared, both car and driver,
have a job that lets you take the week away,
which costs in both money and family terms,
and your customer service can suffer if you are self employed.

You should also be prepared, as 50% of racers do, to lose in the first round.

So yes, the costs both in racing, work, family and health are many.

I think it is a little unfair to suggest that NOT entering an event, means a racer may not be AS dedicated.

For me personally it would be simply false economy,
unless I was chasing my 'personal best' due to the superior track and air conditions available.

I think most would agree that anyone who builds, maintains and develops a VW drag car
needs to be dedicated. Even if they only race at the events of their choice.

On a positive note,
if you are after good track preparation, good air,
and the chance to run your best times and speeds,
then, by entering early,
you can get a good discount on what would normally be an outragous entry fee.

There is also the opportunity to set national records at these events,
possible media fame, and respect from other racers.
So if this is what you seek then it may be a good choice.

VVDS did the winters about 6 times in a row in the late 90s

As per above not value for money and too many cars probally only 3 to 4 runs over the weekend

I would love to,but im already trying to figute out how i can manage 2trips to QLD this year for warwick and the jamboree. spending on average 40 weeks a year on the road working and having a young family its a bit of a strugle just to get to the 4 events i do. Having said that i would like to start competing in the WSID track champs next year just to have a go with the big boys and more seat time.

meow.to the pussy cats.
i would say henry is talking more for the sydney cars that never go.ie me.and others.
but what evr floats your boat,me personally love betting the big boys ,
vw racers are easier to pick off rather than the winters guys.heheheeheheh.

I have to agree with Dave and can sympathise with Bens working away from home and family etc but would also add that I don’t consider my car to be at a Winternationals standard. I can however see where Henry is coming from too. Currently there is a good quantity of volksy drag cars and fast streeters around the country yet we don’t see them out to play together all that often. And yes there are a multitude of reasons for this.

From my observations as a part time amateur racer, you tend to get those who are happy to race any meet and those equally as happy to stick to the volksy only events. We have two dedicated volksy meets, Warwick and now Sydney both of which it seems people are happy to travel interstate to attend and both of which are currently well supported. Maybe a volksy class tacked onto one of the smaller meets at Willowbank, Sydney and Melbourne could be a consideration.

We also have the Jambo’s which it seems you will tend to run at your home towns but are less likely to travel interstate to race. After running at my first Jamboree with the NA motor I had a blast running in All Motor. Personally I would like to see this class more than just the Jamborees. There was even an All Motor forum at one time. I’d be happy with a meeting where All Motor was considered a class rather than having to run Super Street. I know those who race at the Willowbank TnTs have a hoot when we all get together.
Good discussion.

Well said! I do want to mix it up with the V8s a bit more. will be looking for consistancey and reliability first

Hi everyone, my first goal was met - discussion on the subject.
If the way I put my feelings across offended anyone - I apologise, as that was not my aim.
The Winters' is a meeting that has such a large spectator and media following, I thought it was a meeting that would achieve relatively high impact for the marque.
My main aim is to get VW's out in front of the broarder Drag Racing crowd to show (Joe Public spectator) that VW's are competitive, quick and as good as any other race car - just look at the calibre of cars on Pete's list
I do agree that a meeting such as the Winters' is tough in regard to costs, time off as well as competition, so what about the QLD and NSW racers each picking a regional (cheap entry) track point score meeting to run as a group?. Discussions could be held on this forum as to which meeting would be suitable to most and to front up in numbers
Please don't think that I am discouraging or putting down the excellent VWMA meetings held in QLD and NSW, but generally VW enthusiasts attend VW meetings.
If you only choose to run the VW / Jamboree meetings that's fine - it's being out there that counts.
I am so proud of the sport and the make of car I compete with, I would like the greater drag racing public to see how far VW's have come in the modern era and are as competitive as anyone else out there. Thoughts?

The idea of teeing everyone up to bomb an event with VW's is great. Along those lines who else is coming out to run full throttle friday at WSID this week?

Agree with you Henry. In a non VW surrounding you stand out big time and people will take the time to stop and have a look at your car and ask a myriad of questions. I have watched it for years at Jambo helping Pete and Rod R. People from the general public are genuinely intrigued by a fast VW. They cannot believe how quick they can be with an engine so simple and in some cases low tech as well. And if you are there in numbers then it just attracts a bigger crowd. All motor at Jambo is one such place when you see VW's really hold their own and win against rotaries, Honda's etc etc some of which are making a lot more HP!! As long as you qualify for the bracket and you are consistent then you stand every chance of winning.

I know Troy is planning on running his car at big events like winternats and while its a costly excercise thats where sponsorship comes into play. Remember a fast VW attracts attention and if its got a business name on it then sponsors are getting their name out there amongst the public for sometimes a realatively cheap outlay in advertising terms. If you dont ask you'll never know!!

I didn't enter the Westerns here this year coz the bike is still broke, but also to be honest I have become a bit jaded with the deal nowadays. I'm there to have fun, catch up with mates, and show off with them a bit, I couldn't give a rats about trophies anymore. I'm with DB, I WISH we had some regional tracks, 1/8mile preferably, to rock on down there, share stories and BBQ sausages with racers, fans, kids from god-knows-where LOL m and every hour or two for the day drag out the old hotrod whatever out of the dirt pit bay and pin it's ears back. Over here we don't have anything like it, and I can't wait for the (please, please, please?) regional tracks at Collie, Wongan, Wanneroo to get up. I will still have a go for a Tree every year (this year is the first time I hadn't raced for over 20 years running.........), but to be honest it's more for me than anything else, it's the only thing that has eluded me all these years, I have had my titles and wins except for that.

I expect that most guys who race these little things are similar to us in age and outlook, and that's why you don't see them very often at the big meets. My favourite racing memories of all come from Canberra, Heathcote, Ravenswood, even Amaroo. No big-arsed shiny shit to gather dust when you win, but the best way to spend a sunny weekend in the world.

As opposed to racing in Super Street for a Tree at one of these meets, where half the racers there hide what's under the bonnet.......even though it's bracket racing not Indexes. Bloody hell, you can't even talk about the weather in case they think you are asking for jetting info! LOL I mean crap, if you live in the bush and can't discuss the weather or the crops when you go out, what the fuck else is there?

Hi Modnrod - sorry, I don't know your real name, but this post was not meant to be a "me" post
After all these years of running VW's and seeing the calibre of current VW Drag cars, it was meant as a nudge to get some of these cars in front of a wider audience whom I know would appreciate the uniqueness of the cars and the performances they achieve.
The social aspect is also there in open meetings and I have made some "unique" friends in the V8 circles in a variety of brackets
If racers choose not to compete in the wider circle of Drag Racing, that is OK also, but seeing the consistency of some of the VW's, they would be competitive at these meetings
As Dave said in a previous post, half the field loses in each round and I don't want the VW community feel that they aren't quick, consistent or good enough to compete in these open meetings
The rest is up to them....

Henry all good ! I do see what you mean . There are leaders and follows . To race at other events I think you have to like drag racing in general , and follow the sport with passion & Interested in what is going on in the sport ..
The Drag Car List idea , I hoped at first it may pull the VWMA events a bigger entry No's , then may flow on to a larger event (vw drag nationals ) or other andra meetings with more vw competiters competting in .

My own racing has slowed for manys reasons , but still get excited when , thinking about racing againts my fellow vw drag mates .
So taking racing a little less serious these days BUT I would love to travel to more regional tracks through out Australia .

Helpers ( friends ) on race day is another issue for some of us to , family & life has taken over from them helping out on race day .

I do think if afew of us start racing at local track events , more will follow the leaders .
At the moment I would just like to see more of the guys that haven't been racing to late ( no names ) get out and have fun , instead of trying to be the quickest or trying to rotate the earth in one day .

I think this a great subject for us to all talk about !!!!

One racer heading out this weekend , super sedan

http://www.showticksecure.com/willowbank/VenueNet/_uploads/FCKeditor/file/ent...

Quite a few big name racers testing this weekend too!!

I see that the entry list for the 2013 Winters has
Michael Nash, SS/C in Super Sedan,
Henry Spicak in SS/T, Super Street,
and Neil (Wally) Penboss, CC/OM in Super Compact.

http://www.showticksecure.com/willowbank/VenueNet/_uploads/FCKeditor/file/ent...

Also I see Michael listed for the test and Tune on the Sunday the 2nd.
With the "Dino" Day this saturday the 1st June,
it should be a good couple of weeks of drag racing and HP action!

http://www.showticksecure.com/willowbank/VenueNet/_uploads/FCKeditor/file/ent...

CC/OM is a 9.2 index... Got some new tricks up his sleeve?

There is a reason behind his madness!

you are spot on the money there dave!
hav a weekend of racing and action for no real outlay .(in theory)
as well as pittin in group 2 pits.
over 100 super sedans, odds not sogood.

Yes it is expensive to enter but you don't have to have the fastest car, just be consistent with your dial in times and you can still have a good chance at a win

Im heading over and going the Friday and Saturday... First time at a flat dragstrip, cant wait !!