Lots of advise needed!

After having a go at drag racing years ago in a street registered manx i wish to take the plunge again using my 65 Notch as a base car. Was going to use a bug but a Notch would make a change.

This for me is about having some fun and more about having a go than being very competitive. It will also be on a strict budget and use mainly stock parts that are easily and cheaply available. I've always liked the idea of budget racing , something that's alot more popular O/S and see's heaps of folk getting into the swing oif things and having a laugh. It doesn't have to all be turbo's and megabuck motors , well not yet anyway.

I'm undecided on weither it should be road legal or purely for the strip. I know any race car needs alot of money to be running but i still see it cheaper and easier to build a race car (of sorts) than a rego ready car. Not only does it have to comply with all road requirements but then theres yearly rego etc etc on top. Plus i have a nice road car already.

The Notch would basically run as many fibreglass panels as possible , lexan windows , fully stripped , front and rear boot areas taken out , lightened etc.

Motors would be a mix of whatevers available at the time and wouldnt be stokers , just cheap 1600 longblocks on 40's etc. Most of the $$$ would be spent on a good racing box that would last longer. Times wouldnt be shattering but thats not the initial idea , just getting a car out there would be a start!!

It's my understanding that a race car would have to be approved by CAMS , have a cage etc etc . Also i would have to join a club and be a cams member . I'm hoping that if it was CAMS approved i'd be able to enter the odd hill climb aswell.

I have heaps of work ahead of me but want to start off on the right foot and make sure that what i'm building will be okay. This is where i'm going to ask for help and ideas from you lot. I'm going to run this is members rides so if you have any suggestions please use the thread or u2u me. I know little enough about VW's let alone building a race car so any help and encouragement will be gratefully recieved.

Cheers Dan:thumb

Dan, where to start?!
As you said, the tranny is where you will
spend a lot of your budget and that is always the part that
us racers are let down by...so dont scrimp in this dept.
The Notch that you plan to use will be
cool but they are heavy and cool doesn't neccesarily mean
fast. Actually any beetle a couple of years either side of 1960
are the lightest bases to start with and are easyest to get
panels and windows(flat) that are light.
Being that you are going to have limited
HP, all I can suggest is that you run the lowest gearing that
willsuit your rev range after determining your terminal speed
with the stock ratios. Also by using a clutch with only just enough holding power, your trans should have a reasonable
life.
As for engine, the best HP per dollar in
a normally aspirated engine is going to be in the cylinder
heads.Go to the people that produce the results in a
normally aspirated engine...not just talk or turbo
results...hell even a single port will go fast with boost,but
then I suppose that is fun also.
Perhaps some other forum members will
have some input into this topic.

Dannyboy,Money is the big key,Most motorsports cost $$$when becoming competitive,Do your homework and listen to someone with knowledge within the sport .My question to you would be ( What is your budget in Dollars?) Iam sure that some of us will be able to tell you from ther on.JVLRacingu2me if want to talk.

Heads......
Stock replacement $400+
Super race $2000+
That'l cost you more than a couple of ally side plates and a super diff.
Which is all you would need G/box wise for simple bracket racing.

Induction is also a pricey thing.
Just bought another set of new 48 IDA's.$$$$$$

Its aslo pretty hard to have a straight line car set up that can be raced in hill climbs.Unless you dont mind changing suspension and geometry as per which sort of meet you are going to.

Not having a dig,just stating that if you are going to pour some cash into a performance oriented sport,then it works out easier to try n stick to one side of the fence.

Most people use Bugs for the weight reason.Going fibreglass replacements on a type 3 is a good weight saving idea,but the money you would spend in doing so would be better resourced into the drivetrain side of things in an already lighter bug.

Personal choice tho.

Go for it either way i say!

You might want to check this out:

http://www.locashracing.org/locashracing.htm 

Good luck, I would love to know how to go quick on a tight budget but i agree with the above. Weakest link will be the gearbox and dont skimp on heads. I am still a firm believer that turbos are the way to go. Even if its a draw through system, you are still going to make more power for your dollar.
T54

budget....racing.... where do you start?

How's this: Start with a $Five hundred bucks Beetle then do this:

Engine/carbs/fuel system: $10K
Gearbox: $5K
Chassis/handling mods: $2K
Wheel/tyres: $1K
Rollcage: $1K
Seat/belt/instruments: $1.5

It's scary how the 'budget' gets away...


[Edited on 21/6/2005 by VWCOOL]

Im in the same situation, and I have been talking to Cameron Hart
from the volks sporting club about what is the best way to go.

They are having a meeting tommorow nite at Ryde Eastwood leagues,
they are a friendly helpful bunch and would answer all your questions if you turned up.