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Bench Racing; Building a Class 11 VW Beetle

Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
So my wife LOVES old Beetles, she learned to drive in one actually. She has mentioned that she would like to have a stock 60's Beetle to drive around.

Today we were talking about VW's and she mentioned the idea of a very lightly modified offroad-prepped Bug. My mind jumped to a Class 11! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_11

Here's the SCORE rule book for Class 11. - http://score-international.com/raceinfo/rule-book/car-buggy-classes/class-11/

Now I don't know that I have the time to actually race, but like the idea of tinkering with a offroad prepped Beetle. Personally, I'd prefer one that was more built up, like a Class 5 car. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_5 But perhaps I can work on the wife and get there eventually.

I'd love to putt around UT/CO in something like this and eventually drag it down to Baja and explore with it. I did run a Poker Race down in Baja in a vehicle sporting stock VW drivetrain, suspension, etc. I think I have an idea of what I'd be getting into! It would be really fun to put together a team of friends and perhaps race in the BOR series locally?
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
jeeper said:
The only thing that video inspired was for me to call my chiropractor!

But on a serious note, I think this could be a very fun idea!
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Yeah, for sure! I think a HIGH QUALITY suspension seat and a set of real good shocks would be wise upgrades. The stock suspensions on these things are great for bouncing around offroad, but they are very limited. A decent set of tires will go a long way, too.

I think this wouldn't be as hard on your body as racing a dirt bike! :D
 
Noahfecks

Noahfecks

El Destructo!
Location
Glenwoody Springs, CO
In concept it sounds like fun, and it would be the least expensive way to get into a racing series. But then I remember my visceral hatred of anything VW. Then again, you have already gone over to the darkside with the Jeep
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Noahfecks said:
In concept it sounds like fun, and it would be the least expensive way to get into a racing series. But then I remember my visceral hatred of anything VW. Then again, you have already gone over to the darkside with the Jeep
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I'm with you on hating VW's.... but this is one thing they excel at.

Jeeps are awesome, how long has it been since Toyota built anything with a solid axle in the States? :cody:


BlackSheep said:
How about a 1970 Beetle with a baja body kit?
View attachment 124077
Click to expand...

I like it!
 
Gravy

Gravy

Ant Anstead of Dirtbikes
Supporting Member
Location
The Land Northward (Bountiful), Utah
I've had about 3 or 4 of these (bug based thingies).
I'd build a swing axle vs. IRS because they're much more durable. But bugs (when you're hard on them) break like it's their job. I've sheared a crank keyway and welded it back together on Rusty Nail. We've sheared drum keyways. Thrown about 9 million belts and Jon even overheated one so bad it lit on fire and burnt to the ground at the dunes.
If you look back at a Peterson's readers' rides from like 15 years ago me and Jon took a VW buggy up Potato Salad haha. They said we were the first 2wd to make the hill. We called it the Doom Buggy.
We even built one with a supercharger. The stock solex carb is way easy to tune and reliable but a Weber will give you a little more power.

Bugs are fun, but I swear I wrenched on those things at a worse ratio than rock crawlers.
 
Noahfecks

Noahfecks

El Destructo!
Location
Glenwoody Springs, CO
Greg said:
So my wife LOVES old Beetles, she learned to drive in one actually. She has mentioned that she would like to have a stock 60's Beetle to drive around.

Today we were talking about VW's and she mentioned the idea of a very lightly modified offroad-prepped Bug. My mind jumped to a Class 11! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_11

Here's the SCORE rule book for Class 11. - http://score-international.com/raceinfo/rule-book/car-buggy-classes/class-11/

Now I don't know that I have the time to actually race, but like the idea of tinkering with a offroad prepped Beetle. Personally, I'd prefer one that was more built up, like a Class 5 car. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_5 But perhaps I can work on the wife and get there eventually.

I'd love to putt around UT/CO in something like this and eventually drag it down to Baja and explore with it. I did run a Poker Race down in Baja in a vehicle sporting stock VW drivetrain, suspension, etc. I think I have an idea of what I'd be getting into! It would be really fun to put together a team of friends and perhaps race in the BOR series locally?
Click to expand...

Have you given this anymore thought? I bet you could find a nice class 5 chassis for a reasonable price
 
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