| [ Total Views: 2783 | Total Replies: 11 | Thread Id: 112446 ] |
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 pete wood
A.k.a.: figure itout
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| posted on May 14th, 2017 at 07:58 PM |
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Yesterday's khanacross - Cataract Park
Been MIA on the AVD for a while. Had a negative experience with a few bozos and gave it a miss for a few years.
Anyhow, this is old TIN-KDF oval beetle. I've been working on the car in the mean time. Everything mechanical and electrical has been
rebuilt/replaced on the car. Hans Klaack built me a healthy 1600 and Dangerous put together a nice late 1300 SA box with the right bits. I've been
trying to get back to club racing but a few persistent issues have stopped me. Frustration got the better of me on thursday arvo and I entered a club
khanacross. I spend most of thursday and friday nights putting sump guard/bash plates/sheilds etc on the car. Some still need a little fettling. I was
particular paranoid because I've got a deep sump, oil filter and coolers under the car and didn't want to rip fittings off. The front plate is an
old speed hump sign. 
Cataract is just out of Appin, so an hour's drive for me. That went well enough beyond the smell of old oil burning off headers and the like. When I
got there I was the third RWD in a field of 30 cars. The next youngest car was a datto 1600. A few people were wincing at the thought of me thrashing
61yo VW around. Made me smile. No doubt a few VW people will be equally horrified. 
The fastest thing there was a Mitsubishi Mirage with an FTO V6 and EVO brakes/suspension. It's a crazy rocket and probably won. The Datto was next
fastest but had issues all day... which is what happens when you forget to refuel (seriously).
I was a bit concerned about how rough it was. Turned out we were racing on the smoothest parts of the property. Having said that, the recce run showed
me there were fist sized rocks everywhere. My front beam with adjusters wound right up still only leaves me with about 4" of front clearance. 
Unfortunately, as the day progressed, the track got worse and worse. I really had to pick my way around. However, I had no dramas with racing at all.
The car was a great to drive and I drove it harder than I ever have. Even on the recce run I found I could throw it around easily enough. By the end
of the day, I was Scandinavian flicking into lots of corners and powering out quite sideways. In some spots I could throw it around in the 3rd gear. I
was pretty awesome. Keep in mind, the suspension is stock aside of spax adjustables on the back and a camber compensator. Heck, the rear wheels have
about 1deg of POSITIVE camber! Here's a few pics that another club member took on his phone.
I've got some rally tyres that fit the back of the car, but I raced on my street tyres to try and avoid issues with understeer or not enough front
ground clearance. I was actually running 30/40psi front rear! I figured it was more important get the hang of the car and keep it out of the trees.
The only real issue I had was the front end washing out in the tightest sections of the track. We had hairpins stacked on hairpins in soft, chopped
up, sandy soil. I also spent the whole day working on handbrake adjustment before it started to work properly. I need to look at that.
So anyway, I'm really stoked. I have some more tuning and repairs to do, but I'm really keen now to sort the front end out. It's narrowed about 2"
and that creates headaches beyond the lack of ground clearance. So a stock beam is going back in. What I'd really like to do is build a rose joint
front end something like Happyday's old track car. Love to get some specs on that.
Then it's more khanas! 
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KalgoorlieGreg
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| posted on May 14th, 2017 at 10:07 PM |
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This is so awesome! This is the inspiration I'm aiming for with Frank, my 66. I don't like the slammed on the ground Bugs. Plenty of red gravel
roads around Kalgoorlie that I'm going to explore once Frank is ready.
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beetleboyjeff
A.k.a.: Jeff Walsh
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| posted on May 15th, 2017 at 02:37 AM |
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Good one. :-)
From your ole' mate Jeff
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wombatventures
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| posted on May 15th, 2017 at 06:55 AM |
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Good to see you back Pete.
Looks and sounds like you had a good comeback to racing.
I'm hoping to set up our topless Superbug so that we can do a bit of racing and fun driving. Khanacross sound like my kind of day out as I've always
preferred dirt.
Good luck with the remodifications.
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hellbugged
A.k.a.: Daimo Pell
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| posted on May 15th, 2017 at 11:57 AM |
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 vw54
Super Administrator
Always Waiting 4 Friday
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| posted on May 15th, 2017 at 12:35 PM |
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Good to see you back Pete
That bug is TOO good for the dirt save it please
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pete wood
A.k.a.: figure itout
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| posted on May 16th, 2017 at 05:22 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by wombatventures
Good to see you back Pete.
Looks and sounds like you had a good comeback to racing.
I'm hoping to set up our topless Superbug so that we can do a bit of racing and fun driving. Khanacross sound like my kind of day out as I've always
preferred dirt.
Good luck with the remodifications.
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It's lots of fun. Just be aware, your roll bar might need looking at by a club tech person. Also, you might need to race with a full face helmet and
the soft top on the car to make sure you don't get hurt by sticks/branches in the event of an off.
vw54, if these guys can do this...
http://www.endurorally.com/pages/the-peking-to-paris-motor-challenge-2016
I reckon 12 minutes (total) of me on a dirt road will be fine. Can't be any worse that someone driving the car 3500km with the suspension bottoming
out on the chassis. 
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vw54
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| posted on May 16th, 2017 at 06:34 PM |
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| Quote: |
I reckon 12 minutes (total) of me on a dirt road will be fine. Can't be any worse that someone driving the car 3500km with the suspension bottoming
out on the chassis.
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Pete some nice accessories on that car especially the side trim
get a 68 or later car for the DIRT
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 Bizarre
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| posted on May 16th, 2017 at 07:10 PM |
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Good stuff Pete
Drive to enjoy
Futue te ipsum!!!
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mactaylor
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| posted on May 17th, 2017 at 01:37 PM |
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Great stuff pete! Car looks great!
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123
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pete wood
A.k.a.: figure itout
23 Windows of Awesome
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| posted on May 18th, 2017 at 08:56 PM |
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Just got the results today...
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/16ad950019a13a835e30e7f94/_compresseds/bf90ba53...
Third last.
The second run was where I was fastest. After that it got rough and I had to be more careful. Also goes to show I need more grip, more spine and more
suspension. Which is pretty much what I already thought. 
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Jak Rizzo
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| posted on May 19th, 2017 at 10:53 AM |
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that is so awesome Pete, well done
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