Meet The Beetles?

Capri · 02-18-2011, 10:17 AM

I remember a bunch of years ago at Pomona, the wind was really bad and there were a couple running then. The 1 went into the traps and the wind just blew the car right over on its lid. He did drive it back to the pits though. Any idea on who that could have been?

Mark Yacavone · 02-18-2011, 05:56 PM

Today at Firebird, Div 7 Opener

The green car set the Nat'l Record @ 10.92. He needs to back it up next..Coming soon

Mark Yacavone · 02-18-2011, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Today at Firebird, Div 7 Opener

The green car set the Nat'l Record @ 10.92. He needs to back it up next..Coming soon

Backed up with a 10.94!

bill dedman · 02-18-2011, 06:00 PM

The real shame was when NHRA decided they'd do away with the turbo class called "AA/MC."

There were several of those little blown Pintos around the countrry and I was lucky enough to get to see a couple of them run.

A couple of Ford factory engineers built what I believe to be the first one and I was at the Gas Coupe and Sedan Nationals at Rockford (or, Cordova, I don't recall which) in about 1978 and the turbo'd Pinto won Modified Eliminator over the vaunted Dave Hutchens-driven Corvette M-P car. That was a hoot! I think it ran low 11's.

Div. V1 racer, Butch Ball built one and got the record with it, somewhere in the tens, I believe... maybe high 9's, can't remember. "Ohio" George Montgomery buiilt one, but I never got to see it run. He never built anything slow...

Buddy Ingersoll bought what I believed to be the original Ford-enginners' car, but improved its performance dramatically, ending up in the middle 9's, I think. Car Craft had a big article on it in the early eighties. He said his biggest problem was getting the flywheel to stay attached to the crank flange; it would shake the flywheel right off the car... LOL! His final method of attachement??? "That's my business." came the reply!!!

I was always hoping that Jim Caughlin would step up from, his S/S normally-aspirated Pinto and build one, because I KNOW it would have been fast, given the outstanding performaance of his carbureted Pinto...

But, NHRA, in its infinite wisdom, took the class out of the rulebook, so, these little rockets, which pullled the wheels on EVERY gearchange, faded into history...

Too bad. Buddy Ingersoll's car ran 135 mph+ with NO water injecton and NO intercooler! Just one 4bbl, on a 2-liter German 4-banger.

Just amazing...

Sorry for the hijack...

Rory McNeil · 02-18-2011, 06:36 PM

Is this a new class this year for the aircooled VWs? We have 3 10 second VW Beetles that race in our local stickshift association, I wonder how close that they are to being S/S leagal. I`m assuming it`s a lbs per displacement class, just can`t see a 36HP factory rating combo running that quick!

Floyd Staggs · 02-18-2011, 06:56 PM

New class SS/VX.

mopacltd · 02-19-2011, 03:29 PM

Anyone remember the names: Gene Berg or Steve Tims? In the '70's these guys were kings of the VW brigade. Steve drove a Karmen Ghia and Gene was in a Bud.

Mark Yacavone · 02-19-2011, 03:40 PM

Chuck , As suspected, Greg Tims, (white Bug) is the son of Steve Tims.
Also , the red Ghia is Steve's 70's race car.
Nice to see something different out there, rather than just SBC powered jelly beans.

mopacltd · 02-19-2011, 03:49 PM

I ran a A/SM hemi Cuda in '77 and '78. It seemed like every race I had to run Steve in the L/G (I think) Ghia. Those days were competetive and fun!

Floyd Staggs · 02-19-2011, 07:43 PM

1st rd SS Doug Gonzales SS/VX against Bill Chafin SS/BX. That will be fun.

02-18-2011, 10:17 AM	#1
Capri Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 171 Likes: 0 Liked 27 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? I remember a bunch of years ago at Pomona, the wind was really bad and there were a couple running then. The 1 went into the traps and the wind just blew the car right over on its lid. He did drive it back to the pits though. Any idea on who that could have been?

02-18-2011, 05:56 PM	#2
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,819 Likes: 2,910 Liked 5,126 Times in 1,954 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? Today at Firebird, Div 7 Opener The green car set the Nat'l Record @ 10.92. He needs to back it up next..Coming soon Attached Thumbnails __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

02-18-2011, 06:00 PM	#4
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? The real shame was when NHRA decided they'd do away with the turbo class called "AA/MC." There were several of those little blown Pintos around the countrry and I was lucky enough to get to see a couple of them run. A couple of Ford factory engineers built what I believe to be the first one and I was at the Gas Coupe and Sedan Nationals at Rockford (or, Cordova, I don't recall which) in about 1978 and the turbo'd Pinto won Modified Eliminator over the vaunted Dave Hutchens-driven Corvette M-P car. That was a hoot! I think it ran low 11's. Div. V1 racer, Butch Ball built one and got the record with it, somewhere in the tens, I believe... maybe high 9's, can't remember. "Ohio" George Montgomery buiilt one, but I never got to see it run. He never built anything slow... Buddy Ingersoll bought what I believed to be the original Ford-enginners' car, but improved its performance dramatically, ending up in the middle 9's, I think. Car Craft had a big article on it in the early eighties. He said his biggest problem was getting the flywheel to stay attached to the crank flange; it would shake the flywheel right off the car... LOL! His final method of attachement??? "That's my business." came the reply!!! I was always hoping that Jim Caughlin would step up from, his S/S normally-aspirated Pinto and build one, because I KNOW it would have been fast, given the outstanding performaance of his carbureted Pinto... But, NHRA, in its infinite wisdom, took the class out of the rulebook, so, these little rockets, which pullled the wheels on EVERY gearchange, faded into history... Too bad. Buddy Ingersoll's car ran 135 mph+ with NO water injecton and NO intercooler! Just one 4bbl, on a 2-liter German 4-banger. Just amazing... Sorry for the hijack... __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 02-18-2011 at 06:05 PM.

02-18-2011, 06:36 PM	#5
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,311 Likes: 317 Liked 1,105 Times in 303 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? Is this a new class this year for the aircooled VWs? We have 3 10 second VW Beetles that race in our local stickshift association, I wonder how close that they are to being S/S leagal. I`m assuming it`s a lbs per displacement class, just can`t see a 36HP factory rating combo running that quick! __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

02-18-2011, 06:56 PM	#6
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 157 Liked 229 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? New class SS/VX. __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

02-19-2011, 03:29 PM	#7
mopacltd Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: yarnell,az Posts: 312 Likes: 414 Liked 124 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? Anyone remember the names: Gene Berg or Steve Tims? In the '70's these guys were kings of the VW brigade. Steve drove a Karmen Ghia and Gene was in a Bud.

02-19-2011, 03:40 PM	#8
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,819 Likes: 2,910 Liked 5,126 Times in 1,954 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? ...The original Jelly Bean Car? Chuck , As suspected, Greg Tims, (white Bug) is the son of Steve Tims. Also , the red Ghia is Steve's 70's race car. Nice to see something different out there, rather than just SBC powered jelly beans. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

02-19-2011, 03:49 PM	#9
mopacltd Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: yarnell,az Posts: 312 Likes: 414 Liked 124 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? I ran a A/SM hemi Cuda in '77 and '78. It seemed like every race I had to run Steve in the L/G (I think) Ghia. Those days were competetive and fun! Last edited by mopacltd; 02-19-2011 at 03:50 PM. Reason: miss typed

02-19-2011, 07:43 PM	#10
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 157 Liked 229 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Meet The Beetles? 1st rd SS Doug Gonzales SS/VX against Bill Chafin SS/BX. That will be fun. __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode