Kalahari Desert Speedweek

[Barry]

To get 200 on the pan you'll need to be able to do somewhere between 220 and 240 on tar....

[eben]

Just don't go there with your Honda Insight

[Dazz]

Did he or she survive that?

[vw59beetle]

Don't pussy out Wernher - it IS about the speed....LOL

I hear you

[eben]

Did he or she survive that?

Yes he was fine.... the car, not so much..

[Wentzel]

Ouch Eben do you want me to skip speedweek? Glad he's ok.

So much for the 200 km/h Barry. Is it the sand's resistance that slows you so much? Guess I will be aiming for 160 and join Wernher for the 100mph club.

[Barry]

Ouch Eben do you want me to skip speedweek? Glad he's ok.

Pretty scary. There hasn't been any major incident at Speedweek. Yet. It is going to happen sooner or later, and as much as I like the pretty relaxed turn-up-and-run approach they are going to need to look at the safety/scutineering side. There was at least one vehicle there last year that was pretty dodgy.....
That said if you get sideways that much (and it seems a number of guys were spinning out) and hook a tyre, you are in for a ride of note!

So much for the 200 km/h Barry. Is it the sand's resistance that slows you so much? Guess I will be aiming for 160 and join Wernher for the 100mph club.

Not sure Wentzel but I think it is more the lack of traction - there is a certain amount of 'slippage'. Different for different vehicles, but it affects everyone.
LSR is different to just about every other form of racing in that weight is your friend.
It also seems that wider tyres are a definite hindrance.
I must also say that although it takes getting used to, you need to be smooth with your inputs and 'white knuckling' will only make things worse.....


That said, the issues become more of an issue as speeds go up. At around the (Imperial) ton you'll be ok, and it doesn't change much up to 200. As you start pushing through that I expect it to become exponentially worse...

[Tony Z]

also, people might want to look into longer chassis or narrower front ends.
A wide short chassis is great for stability when cornering, but the way it was described to me was that you need to envisage your tyres footprint when you are spinning out of control. If your tyres are wide apart and you have a short chassis, then when spinning your footprint resembles a square, so the car doesnt really know where to point. If you have a long narrow chassis, when you spin out, the car will naturally want to point itself in the direction of travel.
Which is why dragsters are normally long and thin, and the cal-look scene guys all narrow their front ends

I hope this makes sense

[Barry]

...which is why I cut up my nearly complete roadster 4 months before last year's event to add 10" to the wheelbase....


What Tony is actually telling you to do is to add a beam extender...and while you're at it throw away the mudguards and give your Bug a roofchop to deal with that pesky wind resistance...

[Tony Z]

its also a reason that I would be very weary of doing a high speed run in a beetle without a roll cage
Its one thing screaming up to 180 on tar, but on gravel, I'll be a little worried.

[Wentzel]

I have been thinking about installing a roll cage but never got so far and will have to get hold of a proper spec sheet or diagram etc. Not sure if i really want to take that step just yet so I will rather take it easy

[Bugger]

I `ll Start a Tread dedicated to the Bug I am building to take to Speedweek this year

I am Lucky as I Managed the Mile high Club first time out last year

My biggest concern with the Beetle is when you turn sideways you will roll as the back wheel wants to fold in and that will cause a Dig inn

I am working on some plan to eliminate wheel travel sililair as the Cuircuite Racing guys use

[36hplandspeedracer]

If any air or watercooled Volkswagen powered racers will be racing at the Kalahari, please PM me with your email contact info, type of VW and if possible a photo of your racer so I can add your effort the the Volkswagen Land Speed Racing History.



Thanx..............................Burly Burlile Mendon, Utah, USA

[36hplandspeedracer]

Creating a T64 from scratch is an expensive and time consuming process. Here is the latest photo from Bruce Cook and his crew showing the car is now resting on the chassis, windows and frames installed. Plans are to have the car ready to race in 2015 and take it to a ECTA meet in Ohio for preliminary test and tuning. And hopefully set a new 36hp Challenge Unlimited top speed record.



Stay tuned for more photos as the project proceeds...........................

Burly

[36hplandspeedracer]

Did he or she survive that?

Yes Dazz, he survived quite nicely due to teh presence of an excellent safety cage. Banged up, but back racing this year......................................Burly