The Cal-look Lounge

Was speaking with Alan Fore over the weekend and we were talking about really well turned out racecars as he loves show as well as go. I was commenting about how amazingly detailed Rathbones racecar was and then wondered WTH is Rathbones car? Saw it at Volksworld again line 4 years ago but have't seen it on track in close to a decade????

Honestly that's exactly what i was thinking last week...one of the very first "highly detailed" dragcars overhere in europe ,did chek it out at the gates of Santa Podd like 13 years ago now i guess...was it 2000 or  2001 not sure...damn we live fast :D

Really sad that this car was not raced more often...Is John still running his business?

Only a few cars have this level of detailing,performance wise can't say what it ever ran...Only thing i remember it had a W-140 camshaft in the engine  ::)

have a nice weekend !

Steve

taken in January of this year  ;) 8)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/19507_10151392245276628_1326594239_n.jpg)

Last I heard John shut up his race shop and wet back to being a employed welder/fabricator for another company.

I can't recall Johns quickest time but I think it was low 10's, the Engine was a pull through turbo motor that was originally in a rail owned by Lyle Berniklau.

Details Peach is it coming back out?

As far as I heard,  the cage / chassis did not meet MSA specs but I do not have confirmation of that.

This was a while back and it was fixed as at Volksworld 2009 it had the chassis fixed the mendeola i and had gone to a EFI turbo system, but not seen it out since!

Did not know that. There yer go :)

Bernie, I'd heard something similar, but that it was a single rogue tube with slightly thinner wall that had snuck in - unfortunately it was the main hoop as far as I know so would basically require cutting the car in half. I'd also heard more recently that it had been fixed and the Mendeola had been fitted at the same time, so hopefully we'll see Jon out again soon.

The car has had a new chassis and is just waiting on a wiring loom, and final fitout, but John also knee deep in diy at the moment. He's hoping to be out for drag day 2014, i took the above photo and have a bunch more, I'll root them out and post them up.

I remember seeing the car in primer at Volksworld. A big inspiration to me to want to build a full on race car even back then.

Great news its coming back out
Lee

Can't beat a good detailed VW race car  :)

You can, and I did, in my scruffy street car  :D 

Hi Jon R  ;)

I remember that well, put it on the trailer and went home after that.

I don't remember seeing it but he's apparently run an an 8.80!

http://www.protonownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=10211

I thought he was full of shit but obviously not, he may have been faster than Paradise given the year. 165mph, respect to that!  :o

 :)

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3ce06b3127ccef423131ebbbf00000030O08QcNWLZm4aA9vPgo/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00004830615820131027164859662.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)

Think the 8.80 comment is to do with a Subaru powered car the Jon had some involvement with ;)





We heard from Jon a couple of weeks ago, regarding some parts for his engine,  he's certainly had a lot going on over the last few years and I'm sure we'll be seeing him and his car at the track next year :)

It would be good to see Jon out next year.

Thanks Tom, that was the one, it was the 1st time it really lifted the fronts wheels up high as well, and the weekend of my 1st 10s :) 

I agree with Bernie, it will be good to see the car back out again soon Jon 8)

cheers Richie

 8) 8) ;D

Not Half,,,,as soon as possible, priority's? whats more important, DIY or racing?  ;)

DIY finished and parts ordered.................. ;)

Great news...  8) 8)

in think the car is for sale now.

henk!!!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1578626

 ???

That would be a real shame

Richie

That IS a shame...

Wow that's a turn up for the books, what a car if only I had that lottery win, this is another piece of UK VW Drag Racing history!

Witnessed it running today, was very cool to see
Go to our club fb page to see some vids as Jon and the guys blow off some very old cob webs
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004087821061&tsid=0.22064234386198223&source=typeahead

Maybe someone more I.T. literate can embed

Ready for next week then ?

ps. I can't see any video from your link

You tease  ;)