RIP Der Renn Kafer cup - Photos or stories

[Zach Gomulka]

In response to Jeff68's comment that in the beginning the cars were true street cars is not accurate.

Not all, but many were. Those were good times, even for a spectator like myself.

[bugnut68]

It sucks the class went away, but I've often thought people have unfairly put the blame on Shawn Geers and his beautiful example of the extreme end of what the DRKC could be. The reality is, unless a class is set up with hard-lined rules outlining elements that demand streetability the envelope will always be pushed... especially where heads up racing is concerned.  I think the participation will always ebb and flo irregardless of the rules, at least from my observation. 

But let's face it, VW racing is not exactly a sport with much potential for radical growth, overall, for lots of racing.  This isn't a pessimistic view, but just my honest opinion.  I feel like the golden era has passed, but the sport will always be preserved simply out of the love of the car itself. 

[Mike Lawless]

When we first got involved, our car WAS streetable. 10-1 compression, running mid 13s. But, like everyone, we wanted to do as well as we possibly could, so we upped our game to the level that the top players were at. I'd say that first year, you are correct in that a lot of the cars were streetable. Allen's, Scott's, Troy's, Jiimy's and Larry Mck's among others were street cars. That soon changed. Some stayed streetable, and tried to do as well as they could, eventually becoming discouraged. After the first couple of years, it got to the point to where there was one, maybe two dominant cars.

I always thought it could be revived with a good set of rules. The CLC goes a long way but still allows barely streetable combos in. DOT tires and a 30 mile cruise  would go a long way toward making it so a larger cross section of cars could be competitive.

The major complaint that was most often heard was that a person didn't stand a chance at winning or even placing, so why bother. Unfortunately, strict rules also keeps some away. When rules discussions come about, most want rules that favor their own particular combo. Strict rules also puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the class organizers who need to enforce them. No easy answers for sure.

[John Palmer]

It sucks the class went away, but I've often thought people have unfairly put the blame on Shawn Geers and his beautiful example of the extreme end of what the DRKC could be. The reality is, unless a class is set up with hard-lined rules outlining elements that demand streetability the envelope will always be pushed... especially where heads up racing is concerned.  I think the participation will always ebb and flo irregardless of the rules, at least from my observation. 

But let's face it, VW racing is not exactly a sport with much potential for radical growth, overall, for lots of racing.  This isn't a pessimistic view, but just my honest opinion.  I feel like the golden era has passed, but the sport will always be preserved simply out of the love of the car itself. 

DRKC was doomed long before Shawn built his "bench mark" car.  

Basically, you had race cars, and show cars, and some nice street cars that all competed in the early days.  I define the early days as when the 21 cars showed up for Phoenix BOR.  The thing Mike quickly figured out was it was the best "combined car" that would come out as the winner.  There might have been a nicer show car, or a quicker race car, but The Lawless's car was always at or near the top in points in BOTH show and go and therefore scored the most points.

I don't look at DRKC as a bad thing.  It got a lot of people off their butts and building cars.  We had a lot of fun, and made a lot of friends.  If you look at the names today in P/M, S/C, S/G, P/E, many started, or like The Palmer's did "re-started" because of DRKC.

I don't think it's the promoter's that built the class, it was the grass roots interest of a group of guys with a like interest.    

[Zach Gomulka]

The rules can remain simple. Supplied pump fuel for all racers.

Discuss

[TexasTom]

Zach!
That'd work right up until the first guy pulled in with 1 quart reservoirs mounted as fuel bowl extensions.
 

I can relate a bit ... I found myself with a soured mood when people started changing out their street tires for slicks at the Unlimited Street South race.
My view was it should be street legal and remain that way until someone wins the last race.
It's fine though, I ran a clean race and that's all that mattered to me.
Would've liked having a chance to someday run with the DRKC though.
Over n Out
TxT

[too old for this]

Just a little update on Bill Frost's oval second in line in the photo at Phoenix.... still doing the renn kaafer job in the U.K. gone through a lot of changes,fresh 2276,pro comp box,saw axles,new interior,now running mid 13's(would be a lot quicker without the pussy launches,but I can't afford to break it driven on the street all the time,I love this car,couple pics for whoever might remember it.















 

[mg]

Just a little update on Bill Frost's oval second in line in the photo at Phoenix....  

car looks great.  
way back...at PHX Frost's car was a stunning surprise to me, it looked NEW.
Damon won, he drove his equally detailed car harder, at that time everyone was gunning for Damon.  
PHX pit area, Flying Tomato surrounded by 20 something race/show bugs.  
I like to race more than detail, so I had better be fast.  
PHX shots by ?...  
at least no one was eliminated.  

[John Palmer]

Another DRKC FIRST in the photo of Mike and Troy racing at Phoenix, is that these two cars had the first two DRKC "Bolt-in" roll bars built at RLR.

Troy's was the first , built, but in mild steel, and Mike "upgraded" his to chrome moly.  Ron built Troy's exactly like my sample, but tweaked (improved) the original bar shape to make it easier to bend the hoop with less angles.  It seems like I see this bar design in every serious street bug in So. Cal now. 

[2manytoys]

Maybe in the new year a cross between the DRKC and the CLC will emerge. Great idea, the morph from the original intentions and what it became led to it's end.  I would love to see a class similar thrive in 2012.

[bilboa2]

I really like the seats, door panels on the greenheart oval car. breather reservoir cool too. Green heart cars are cool...bill

[OC1967vw]

Maybe in the new year a cross between the DRKC and the CLC will emerge. Great idea, the morph from the original intentions and what it became led to it's end.  I would love to see a class similar thrive in 2012.

-86mm limit-crank size
-94mm limit-cylinder bore
-normal aspiration only
-no turbos
-no fuel injection
-no nos
-48mm limit-carb bore:single barrel per cylinder
-44mm limit-carb venturi per barrel

-stock case stud pattern
-44mm intake valve limit

-30 mile cruise-up/back
-no slicks-race or dot
-treaded conventional street tires only
-pump gas purchased on cruise day-tank sealed
-front/rear bumpers-full-as factory installed
-front license plate
-current state registration and proof of insurance for current year

-3 ET brackets: 12.00-12.99/13.00-13.99/14.00-up
-1 overall top eliminator

-steel fenders
-steel hood/decklid
-bumpers optional-race day only
-passenger seat optional-race day only
-stinger optional-race day only
-fan belt optional-race day only

real vintage street racing 1969
pick your street track: Nabiscos or Kimberly-Clark

[too old for this]

I really like the seats, door panels on the greenheart oval car. breather reservoir cool too. Green heart cars are cool...bill

appreciate that,both for the car....and the club

[OC1967vw]

Your ATF was the car Buddy Hale built.

Man, those were the days. They may not have been running deep 11's or 10's, but they were true blue street cars. I remember everyone was excited about building a car for DRKC!

exactly. Zach, you hit it on the head

[John Palmer]

No Rules, No Judges, it's too hard to find somebody that wants to run it!  Street tires would save the transmissions. 

Just run a "dial-In" elimination, and then a "Spectator vote", and call the "top points" car for the day the Top Eliminator Winner!

Seems to me that if there really was any interest in this type of class then there would be 10 to 15 cars still running the BOR class now, but I don't see it.

[OC1967vw]

No Rules, No Judges, it's too hard to find somebody that wants to run it!  Street tires would save the transmissions. 

Just run a "dial-In" elimination, and then a "Spectator vote", and call the "top points" car for the day the Top Eliminator Winner!

Seems to me that if there really was any interest in this type of class then there would be 10 to 15 cars still running the BOR class now, but I don't see it.

Both good points, John. Peoples choice judging during set period of time on race day morning.  Bracket racing/dial in time like the days of old at old Irwindale, Lions, Ontario, and OCIR.

[58vw]

agree

[So.Cal.Life]

   Simplicity = More fun = More participation .....

[Gary Justus]

   Simplicity = More fun = More participation .....

Perfect! ~ I said it then.

[WCB Hitler's Hot Rod]

DRKC ain't shit without super squishy pistons......stir'n the pot.   

[58vw]

thats funny...another class that would be cool to see again

[OC1967vw]

thats funny...another class that would be cool to see again

havent been on for several days. Played with a set of simple rules that reflects just my opinion of what the class would look like for us old timer enthusiasts. The bottom line is to keep it simple. For those of us who remember, it will bring great memories of saturday night street racing behind kimberly-clark and cruising whittier blvd. will post next week.
happy new year

[Dan Ahrendt]

DRKC my favorite racing series was so great ...but off

[rick m]

Mike,

I remember those days! Love your Ghia. In fact, I went to Eric Vaughn on your recommendation to have my late FUCHS narrowed from 6" to 4 1/2" for my chop top street car.  I enjoyed the simplicity of the class and all that participated in the first one we held at Phoenix. Miss seeing everyone for so long!  The good thing is I got my Diabetes under control and take no insulin anymore...after 10 years.

Rick Mortensen

[Fritter]

I loved the DRKC.  It and DKP inspired MANY cars to be built, and kept hot rodded VW enthusiasm alive.   

[Rick Meredith]

DRKC was a great concept but unfortunately, when you get egos on the line... things get competitive.

The cars became something that was too much race car to drive everyday and too much show car to be drag raced.

It would be neat to see something similar but more limited so the cars would be more all-around street cars.

I know DRKC participants that either quit because they didn't want to make their car into a race car or because they took their car to that next level, no longer could enjoy them and wound up selling them.

[Troy Palmer]

First DRKC was at LA County Race Way in 1999!

[draven898]

since i live in las vegas and was showing up on race day how would you enforce the 30 mile cruise rule ? just asking 

[Dan Ahrendt]

Thanks for sharing the good old times. There was at the time a official rulebook ?

[volkskris]

since i live in las vegas and was showing up on race day how would you enforce the 30 mile cruise rule ? just asking 

quite simple. you do the cruise from the dragstrip back to the dragstrip with the whole group. some unanounced checkpoints will make shure nobody cheats.