After seeing the Warwick drag weekend I have to get involved in this!

I have a 63 bug that would make a great donor drag car.

My question is this...
...What are the different classes + associated specs for the different classes within drags.

This bug would be racecar only, not registered so modifications will begin small/cheapish + grow with my skill level over time.

Any suggestions or guidence would be great. I have raced cars before although this was circuit racing not drags.

Jason :thumb

Hi Jason,
There are many variables and options within Drag racing,
depending on how fast you want to go.

But the easiest way is to run your streetcar.

Most of the bigger tracks like Willowbank and WSID will enforce rules,
that are the basis of a saftey regime(sp?) developed by ANDRA.

Lately I have found at Willowbank, that if your car is unregestered,
they want you to have a vehicle log book and tech inspection.
(but this is not required in the ANDRA rule book until you run 10.99).

Ring ANDRA in Adelaide and get them to send you a rule book ($25?),
and see if there is a class that suits you.
There is a Sport Compact rule book(more $), and a conventional Dragracing rule book.
These contain classes and saftey rules.

The faster you go, the more rules and saftey needs are applied.
But in general, things are pretty straight forward unless your car is faster than 10.99.

How fast are you hoping to go?

Hi Dave thanks for the info so far.

How fast do I want to go well, I used to own Henry Spicak's red oval (+ later Peter Richards owned/raced it with the name 'Flying Flea') which by the time I bought it was back on the road and used as my daily driver.

I put a 2180 with dual 44idf webers into it and it was bloody fast and a huge amount of fun to drive! I never ran it down the strip although I did race a mate in a new CV8 Monaro and by the time I changed into 3rd he was well and truely in my rear vision mirror, he was very unhappy to say the least.

So I think they run around the 14sec 1/4mile mark. So as I my old daily driver ran quicker than this I would be thinking at least a 2332 or I do have a 2ltr type4 that I could get built up I know in the states they are pulling big horsepower and a tonne of torque out of 2270 type4. So if I can get it into 12sec I would be happy as a staring point.

With any engine I run what is your thoughts on running methenol? I know when Henry used to run the oval in the early eights it was a 1916 methenol injected and it had run 12.1 @ 106mph with less than 2.0ltrs!!!

Is it hard to build an engine to cope with the way methenol burns? I know it burns cold so I guess I could get rid of alot of tinware etc.

Let me know what you think,
Jason

Running in the twelves should not pose too many problems with regards to ANDRA rules,
but get yourself a rule book anyway, to enlighten yourself to the rules and regs regarding safety.

Methanol requires as much as three times the volume of fuel than petol type fuels,
so has all sorts of reqiurements with regard to fuel supply pumps and lines.
And the fuel is quite corrosive so requires regular maitenence of the fuel system.

The engine its self can remain largely unchanged, but it is generally accepted that compressions of 14:1 are required to make the most of it.
I have used as little as 9:1 with good results, and 15:1 and above, returns very little for the work required to acheive it.

For a new racer, the use of hi octane pump fuel is a good place to start, because it is easy to use from a convenience standpoint,
and upgrades to other petrol based fuels (like Avgas and VP) can be made with minor if any, changes to jetting.

As an example, Morgan and Macca Smith run their Brown bug into the low 12's with pump gas(N/A).

If I were to start racing again from scratch,
I would funnel the majority of my funds into the best tranny I could afford.
Even if it meant running a stock engine for a while.

Thanks Dave you have been heaps of help, I'll take it all on board and get myself a good trans, I take it the reason for this suggestion is to maximise reliability?

Thanks again Dave, if I can get myself to be half as good as you both in racing and as a vw mentor, I'll be over the moon!!!

Jason

[ Edited on 10-11-2006 by jason1957 ]

Jason, normal drag racing brackets that run at Willowbank ,the classes are Super Street ( 10.99 to 12.99) and Super Sedan is for quicker cars .Plus you have sports compact events ,test-tunes ,street meets ,and now vw drag event (warwick ). So ! you could race as many times as your pocket will let you! Plus interstate as well !
Race car ,make it lite wieght .Better on parts and need less horsepower to go fast. With-out sounding pusshy ,I have the old choptop Madness bug for sale (car sale section )
Racing petrol fuel isn't cheap ( 20 ltrs $140 )but uses little amount off ,good octane for no motor damage,easer to run and set up!
Need any help , give any of us a call !Maybe come out to our next meeting !!!! Rod Richardson and I are heading out at the end of the month ( test-tune )

Sweet! Which track and when are you doing a test n tune??? I'll be out for sure (as long as I'm not working)!!!
Thanks for the advice it will all come in handy when and neven before I get a car on the track!!!
You guys are great thanks again.
Jason