Just realised I haven’t done an update in a long time!! Maybe that's a good thing for you guys!!
Following the Volksworld show I was delighted to be invited to have the Car featured in Volksworld Magazine.
Although it took a while to organise due to certain things we finally did the photoshoot in an abandoned warehouse in Weston-Super-Mare in August. Thank you to Jon from Thru-A-Lupe Photographic for a massively enjoyable photoshoot and for taking some great photos.
Well 3 months later and the feature has finally come out in!! Not only did I get the December issue, but I also got the front cover!!
To say I am pleased with the feature is a massive understatement! I am over the moon happy with it! It's amazing!
Thank you again to Jon from the amazing photos and Mike Pye for doing such a great write up.
Now the car was always built to be raced therefore it was great to finally get it on the strip at Santa Pod at VW Action in August. Straight off the trailer on the Saturday I was running 14.4's, and managed to run these times pretty much consistently all day. However at the end of the day I discovered that the car had only been running on half throttle all day. :-s
Although it was bloody expensive I decided to enter the car for Sundays Peak Performance session, and I’m pleased I did as I ran a 13.6 at 96mph! Not only was I over the moon with the time, but it also meant that I had also final ran the times for entry into the club that I had been aiming to get into for years, The Der Kafer Rennfahrer (DKR) VW Drag Racing Club (Cars must run sub 15's). The throttle is still not full adjusted so hopefully there are quicker times to come.
Grinning like a loon. Does it show I’m pleased to be back in the driving seat!!
Finally got my DKR Stickers!
After running a PB in the strip I thought my weekend couldn’t get any better. However, the typical British weather was showing signs of setting in, with rain looking imminent, so I thought I might as well enter the car into the show and shine. In typical ‘Dude’ style I nearly miss the cut off time for entry!
It was great to have the car in show and shine as there were some great car there. It was also nice to have a bit of a rest after a busy racing weekend! When they announced that the car had won the prestigious award of 'The most Beautiful VW in Europe' I was ecstatically happy, and still can’t quite believe it! Thank you so so much!!
Yes I look awful!! And again I’m smiling like a loon!
So honoured to get this trophy.
Racing at Pod I noticed a few small issues with the car (Not bad considering it had never been driven in anger before!).
Firstly I noticed that the car was squatting too much, even to the extent that it was scuffing the sump nuts! Now I know the best way to solve this would be to upgrade the torsion bars. However, the car is a street car, so I wasn't keen on making it to firm. Thus I decided to fit some 13 point protect adjustable shocks. These can be set at rock hard for the track, and turned down for on the street. They also look great!! I will keep you informed on how well these all work out.
Another small issue I had been meaning to fix for ages was the throttle cable routing where it comes out of the tunnel. Even as standard (see below) on a pre 67 car the throttle cables do not run through any tube. Add in a later gearbox, it actually runs on the case. I’ve even seen it cut into gearbox cases!
Anyway here’s my solution.
Simply because I had access to some scales, I decided to weigh the car. Was very happy with the weight as it only 816.5kg overall (1800lbs exactly!) and has pretty much perfect 50:50 Left to right balance, and a nice 60:40 front to back weight.
One final thing I have been wanting to do for ages, but have never seemed to get around to it, was to fit the personalised shifter handle which I had got in the states from Bergs during a once in a lifetime trip. Well after some issues with the line lock button, I finally got the excuse I needed to fitting it, my ‘Dudes Beetle’ shifter handle!!
This year has been an amazing year. Not only did I get to take the car to the Volksworld Show and VW Action, as well as running some respectable times at the dragstrip, but I also got to take the car to the NEC Classic Motor Show where I was invited to display it on the Meguiars Showcase Stand.
For those that have never been to the show, it is a truly amazing show, where you can find any make or model of classic car you can think of, from priceless racecars to ‘back to the future’ Delorian’s.
There was even a copy of John Lennon’s Rolls Royce!
Here’s my car next to a stunning Capri.
I got a really nice set of engraved glasses for attending the show.
And here's the car that won the Meguires Showcase Stand Concourse competition. Not only was the car stunning, but the standard of detailing was amazing! A well and truly deserved win.
And a random selection of the other cars that were on display throughout the show.
So that it, a update, I hope your still awake!!
Dude
The Cal-look Lounge
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