Racing a classic VW Beetle

[Nurburgsingh]

Way back when I were a lad and had more on my ead than just a 'shine'... there used to be a proper Beetle series and IIRC the likes of Mark Sumpter used to drive them.

Is there a series that they would be eligle for these days?

yes it could well be a mix of nostalgia and mid life crisis.

[Muz_Wez]

Nurburgsingh said:

Way back when I were a lad and had more on my ead than just a 'shine'... there used to be a proper Beetle series and IIRC the likes of Mark Sumpter used to drive them.

Is there a series that they would be eligle for these days?

yes it could well be a mix of nostalgia and mid life crisis.

You're right, the 'Big Boys Toys VW Beetle Cup' was very popular in the early 90's, sadly it's now long gone.

As for racing a 'dub' nowadays, well the BARC Cannons Southern Tin Tops has a class especially for the original Beetles (click on the regulations link), but if you're Midlands based it invloves lots of travelling to Lydden, Brands etc. Log onto http://www.rodbirley.com/ & send him an e-mail if you want details/advice.

Another consideration is talk to Richard Culverhouse / Hugo Holder at the Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC) and see if you can get involved in either Swinging 60's (subject to the cars age) or Future Classics. Andy Yeomans (PH = Andy97 I think?!?!) often posts on here.

Hope it helps & Good luck!!

Mark

[andy97]

I am sure that a Beetle would be eligible for the CSCC's "Swinging Sixties", "Tin Tops" or "Future Classics Series". The eligibility for Swinging Sixties and Future Classics is age related, but age of the model, not age of the actual car, so a Beetle that was built in 1973 (for eg) could still be eligible for Swinging Sixties.

Swinging Sixties would probably be the best series for a Beetle, but there is no reason at all why you could not race in any one of the series mentioned.

I don't think we have had a Beetle race with us but it would be very welcome.

All CSCC races are 30 min practice and 40 min races for one or two drivers, with a compulsory pit stop. The club also has a one hour race at Spa every year and car that are pre 1981 also get invited to an annual 300 Km race at the Nurburgring.

CSCC races are good value for money and costs are kept in check. Have a look at the club's web site http://www.classicsportscarclub.co.uk/ and continue to post here or e-mail me if you want any more specific info.

Regards

Andy

[Al Weyman]

I think you would seriously struggle with your choice of car, the things never handled good and the engine is just so untunable within the regs of most championships some will probably argue against this and quote some fancy US drag racing figures for cars that have had fortunes spent on them but a 1200/1300/1500cc air cooled flat 4 engine hanging over the back wheels that puts out such low BHP figures in standard form and a car with poor suspension with a swing rear axle set up will never really hack it as a race car. I think it would break your heart and your wallet and there is a reason why they were never used in period with success unless you happened to stuff a small block chevy unit in the back of course!

[Nurburgsingh]

andy97 said:

annual 300 Km race at the Nurburgring.

Andy that sounds like a deal clincher for me!! is there a link to the last race results for that? would love to know what they do around the ring or Spa

spent most of yeterday searching the web and also found the Beetle Challange which sounds like the one mentioned above run as part of the classics...

[BEP]

There was a Beetle doing the HSCC series at Oulton Park last weekend, support vehicle was a splitscreen nice touch!!

[Muz_Wez]

Nurburgsingh said:

andy97 said:

annual 300 Km race at the Nurburgring.

Andy that sounds like a deal clincher for me!! is there a link to the last race results for that? would love to know what they do around the ring or Spa

spent most of yeterday searching the web and also found the Beetle Challange which sounds like the one mentioned above run as part of the classics...

I've got the link to the timing for Spa in my favourites at home, I'll post it on here later for you.

[Muz_Wez]

For Spa Timing just click and see what you can find for the Bugs around Spa.

[mattsayle]

BEP said:

There was a Beetle doing the HSCC series at Oulton Park last weekend, support vehicle was a splitscreen nice touch!!

Yeah I saw that to! The VW was my car of the weekend! I have never seen a proper one race before

[andy97]

Nurburgsingh said:

andy97 said:

annual 300 Km race at the Nurburgring.

Andy that sounds like a deal clincher for me!! is there a link to the last race results for that? would love to know what they do around the ring or Spa

spent most of yeterday searching the web and also found the Beetle Challange which sounds like the one mentioned above run as part of the classics...

I don't have a link to the Swinging Sixties times for the 'Ring - give the CSCC office a ring or drop Hugo an e-mail at: Hugo at classicsportscarclub.co.uk.

The 'Ring races are at the invitation of the German TR & MG Competition club (or something similar) and they get reciprocal invites to some of our races, including those at Spa.

The CSCC Spa results can be found here: http://www.ris-timing.be/~circuit//summer/2009/ind...

[Nurburgsingh]

Yeah I looked at that but cant see any beetleslisted in the cscc results for spa

[andy97]

Nurburgsingh said:

Yeah I looked at that but cant see any beetleslisted in the cscc results for spa

I did say earlier that I didn't think we'd had a Beetle race with us but they would be very welcome.

[snott]

check out http://www.beetlechallenge.com/ they'll help ya.
i raced my bug for 5 years in the SEMSEC championship, they're great cars to race.
if you need anymore help just mail me

Stu

[Delroyb]

Im hoping to take my beetle out in the Cannons Tin Tops this year.As for un tunable, Formula Vee 1300s put out anywhere up to 120bhp. Ians car that he is racing in the Classics is a 1300 builf by Gac with 130 at the flywheel (twin port heads not singles0. The 2054cc enigne I am running made 157 on the rollers.

Here's my blog http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/other/...
(Down at the bottom of the page)

[Nurburgsingh]

snott said:

if you need anymore help just mail me

Stu

Just tried that and it says you dont allow emails!

I was going to ask you what the running costs are for a season ( ish ) say without any bodywork rebuilds.

I'm trying to get shot of one of my car so that I can get a beetle project on the go, and I've been flicking through my (very) old copies of volksworld and the racing just sounds like a giggle.

[andy97]

Delroyb said:

Im hoping to take my beetle out in the Cannons Tin Tops this year.As for un tunable, Formula Vee 1300s put out anywhere up to 120bhp. Ians car that he is racing in the Classics is a 1300 builf by Gac with 130 at the flywheel (twin port heads not singles0. The 2054cc enigne I am running made 157 on the rollers.

Here's my blog http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/other/...
(Down at the bottom of the page)

Cannons Tin Tops has some pretty modern and sophisticated cars out in it. I know that there is a specific class for Beetles but I would suggest that you'd be better off running in a series with more cars of a similar era and level of technology. Some of the Historic series are very prescriptive about the level of modifications or which FIA Appendix that participants should run to, however.

I admit to being biased but I would suggest that CSCC Swinging Sixties is far closer in philosophy to the Beetle Challenge ideas than the Cannons Tin Tops series, with the added benefit that the CSCC is not just based largely around the SE. CSCC might even be prepared to run a "Beetle Class", too. They do for 60s Lotus cars.

Edited by andy97 on Friday 11th September 11:55

[Al Weyman]

Delroyb said:

Im hoping to take my beetle out in the Cannons Tin Tops this year.As for un tunable, Formula Vee 1300s put out anywhere up to 120bhp. Ians car that he is racing in the Classics is a 1300 builf by Gac with 130 at the flywheel (twin port heads not singles0. The 2054cc enigne I am running made 157 on the rollers.

Here's my blog http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/other/...
(Down at the bottom of the page)

Exactly 1300cc 120bhp and costing an arm and a leg 2054cc and 157bhp a good RS2000 will get way more than that and handle and for far less money. Not knocking you or anything go for it but just trying to say beware as it will cost ya large and I did look into racing one years ago.

Edited by Al Weyman on Friday 11th September 19:22

[timarnold]

Nurburgsingh said:

Way back when I were a lad and had more on my ead than just a 'shine'... there used to be a proper Beetle series and IIRC the likes of Mark Sumpter used to drive them.

Is there a series that they would be eligle for these days?

yes it could well be a mix of nostalgia and mid life crisis.

What about the FunCup? OK they are not really Beetles, they are a centrally mounted single-seater spaceframe chassis with an Audi/VW 1.8 petrol or 1.9 TDi in the back, with a plastic Beetle body on them. You can buy a car and run it yourself, hire a car or just buy a seat in one. It's great value for money because they are endurance races from four to seven hours in the UK series, and there's the annual Spa twenty-five hours too. 2009 Promo video on Youtube.

Edited by timarnold on Saturday 12th September 09:11

[Spydaman]

Not quite a Beetle but I've been using my Beetle-based Spyder in hillclimbs for the last couple of years. It's mostly standard under the body but still seems to go well for what it is. Might be worth thinking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJkif39AkZs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jemMpiditH8&fea...

[G40motorsport]

I revived the Beetle racing in the guise of the Beetle challenge, you can run any model Bug not just the swing axle cars they are now all welcome. The regs allow for some very open mods compared to the old Beetle Cup days.

Series registration is £15, BARC South East Membership is £50 the entry fees are £180-£210 for 1 qualy and 2 races.

A full set of tires costs £230.12p inc vat & delivery to your door.

Currently the cars have there own class within the Tin Tops series but we should have 13 cars ready for next year, the idea is to get our own series of races reminiscent of the Beetle Cup.

For the last round @ Brands we hope to field 9 cars for the class.

The cheapest way out is to buy an ex Cup car, cars have been available from £500 needing work.

All the regs entry form etc etc are found here
http://www.beetlechallenge.com/race-series-info/re...