Update for 2004

Most events were held at Oran Park in Sydney, which in the early days was a distance of 850 feet, which means nothing to anyone.

In or around 1993 I convinced the NSWHRA to reduce the track length to a standard 1/8 mile 660 feet, so as the times would be representative to other tracks around the world.

In the early years of this trophy the STREET REGISTERED rules were vague to say the least. Jeff Unwin from Hellbug, and Gene Berg discussed and determined the rules as such. These have and will be published each year prior to each event.

NO CORRESPONDANCE will be entered into.



Gene Berg Fastest street Registered VW

1/4mile = 440 yards or 1320 feet

1/8mile = 220 yards or 660 feet

all speed reading have been converted to MPH for similarity

Canberra action 13 Mar 1989 1/4mile 13.60 @ 99.4mph Joanne Smith

VW Nats 14 Apr 1990 850ft 10.16 @ 86.04mph Jeff Unwin

ClubVW day 1 Dec 1990 850ft 10.03 @ 87.37mph Jeff Unwin

VW Nats 1 Apr 1991 850ft 9.78 @ 90.18mph Paul Zanello

Club VW day 7 Dec 1991 850ft 8.77 @ 79.71mph Richard Holzl

VW Nats 18 Apr 1992 850ft 8.69 @ 83.33mph Richard Holzl

Willowbank jam 7 Jun 1992 1/4mile 14.12 @ 95.54mph Lance Adam

VW nats 12 Apr 1993 850ft 11.14 @ 79.01mph James McKinnon


3 JUNE 1993 TRACK LENGTH ALTERED FROM 850 TO 660 FEET 1/8 MILE


Club VW day 27Nov 1993 1/8mile 8.92 @ 76.60mph Jeff Unwin

VW Nats 2 Apr 1994 1/8mile 8.76 @ 78.32mph Keith Haeusler

Willowbank jam 1994 1/4mile 13.18 @ 103mph Jeff Unwin

VW Nats 15 Apr 1995 1/8mile 9.10 @ 74.78mph Keith Haeusler

Willowbank jam 1995 1/4mile 13.35 @ 100.4mph Craig Paton

VW Nats 6 Apr 1996 1/8mile TBA

Willowbank jam 1996 1/4mile 12.82 @ 102.76mph Craig Paton

VW Nats 17 Apr 1997 1/8mile 8.65 @ 77.98mph Mike Kristen

VW Nats 11 Apr 1998 1/8mile 8.95 @ 74.56mph Jan Cook

VW Nats 3 Apr 1999 1/8mile 8.74 @ 74.25 Craig Torrens

VW Nats 22 Apr 2000 1/8mile 8.60 @ 80.35mph Leigh Harris

VW Nats 14 Apr 2001 1/8mile 8.56 @ 74.65mph Leigh Harris

VW Nats 30 Mar 2002 1/8mile 8.80 @ 79.66mph Leigh Harris

VW Nats 2003 not run

VW Nats 10 Apr 2004 1/4 mile 12.91 @ 106.77mph Leigh Harris

VW Nats 22 May 2005 1/4 mile 13.76 @ 98.71mph Sebastian Najder


[Edited on 20-4-2004 by vw54]

[Edited on 20-4-2004 by vw54]nn[ Edited on 25-9-2005 by vw54 ]

that was a damn fast time by leigh. congrats

I have 3 questions

1) The award is the fastest street car. Is this by time, or by speed?

2)Is the trophy awarded to the fastest/quickest run on the day by a car that meets the above conditions? Or, is it awarded to the fastest/quickest car in the eliminations?

3) With the TBA's are they still being decided? Or are they not being awarded?

66 fastback

to answer your questions

1 In Drag Racing elasped time or ET is the winner... not speed.

2 the trophy is awarded for time in Racing conditions only, I will add the rules to below.

3. TBAs 1999 is now fixed, and 1996 i know is Paul Muller, but i dont have his time card as he left before the trophys were presented.

Gene Berg Drag racing trophy rules

The Gene Berg Trophy is a perpetual award, presented to the driver of the FASTEST ROAD REGISTERED VW. As there may be some confusion over exactly what is a "road registered" car, the following rules have been implemented.

1. The best time will be counted, in racing only, not practice.

2. The vehicle must be RTA or equivalent registered. That is the chassis and engine numbers must match up with the registration papers, sticker and plates. This can be checked by the scrutineers.

3. The cooling system must be intact. The cylinder tin, fan housing and fan must be fitted, although the fan belt may be removed for a run.

4. The vehicle must run on pump petrol, for example leaded super, or standard or hi octane unleaded. No exotic chemistry allowed.

5. Street tyres must be run .No drag slicks are allowed. Road tyres must have a minimum of 1.5 mm tread.

6. Fitting of the rear seat and rear seat belts is optional but both front seats and belts must be fitted.

7. Fibreglass mudguards, bonnets, whale tails and spoilers are allowed, but the body and doors must be factory steel.

8. No perspex windows are allowed, all windows must be glass.

9. The spare wheel must be fitted for safety reasons.

10. Exhaust design is unlimited except that it must meet the track noise requirements.

11. Vehicles for this class must be able to be driven on the street in the normal manner. If scrutineers are in any doubt, you may be required to complete a 15 km drive, on a freeway at 110Kph.

can some one please post details of the leigh harris car, and craig was this your white hillclimb car:beer

If you pick up a copy of VW trends you should be able to read up on Leigh's car.

CYA, CT

Well finally after waiting for the run sheets from WSID we have worked out the Berg trophy winner Sebastian Najder

Cool! What's Sebastian got?nn[ Edited on 26-9-2005 by VWCOOL ]

I do own a golf but wasnt racing it at the time . I was meant to be racing a supercharged r32 but was having immobilizer issues in the morning . I ended taking out my girfriends Audi s3 . Although a late model car it was driven to the track , raced and driven home . Complete interior , spare tyre and trims . It runs a high boost Giac chip with GFB diverter valve . Everything else is stock . It was weighed there at the day at 1535kg with me in it . Future mods include 3 inch straight through exhaust , phonelophic spacer and a bit of lightening . Taking it out on 12th again to see how close it can run to a 12 second pass . Just remember that this is my G/F car . My car is slowly being built for the 2007 Pro sport FWD series . I'm probably going to try and get my old bug built up for next year so I can run in all motor .

And also I'll let you guys know there is going to be some tough watercooled cars out there for next years nationals . Hoping for a couple to run into the 11's

What's in the Bug? Also be nice to see a water-cooled V-Dub running some good numbers too!nn[ Edited on 26-9-2005 by Craig Paton ]

How about removing the two stickys on this and the suspended post. With no drags occuring at the nationals, these are no longer relevent. Time to move on.

I can't wait til i can get my sleeper going...