DUDE

1969 Volkswagen Beetle - "Dude's Beetle" (Dude's Beetle Website)

The car started out as my daily drive, but over a four year period turned into an all out race car! I have raced for four seasons now, and in 2007 I came runners up in the VWDRC Pro Championship! In 2005 I also managed 3rd in Sportsman, and won the APIRA Pro VW championship in 2006. The car has progressed massively over the years, starting off with a stock 1600cc engine, progressing to a larger 1914cc engine, which finally had nitrous fitted to it. My best ET to date is 11.82 at 115mph at Shakespeare County Raceway!

The car is pretty much home built by dude, but many people have helped along the way, including Phil from Autobodyworxs, Cardiff-Aircooled member, Raceshack, Stateside Tuning, and many many more! Thanks all so much, I couldn't do it without you!

Although this year I've had a year out, Dude plans to come back in 2009. Although nothing is confirmed yet plans are to come back with a different motor (maybe turbo!), with an aim to run into the 10's!

Specs

1969 Beetle. Pre 67 fibreglass flip front; race weight fibreglass doors; rear removable wings and engine; plexi glass windows. Paint by Phil at Autobodyworxs. Lowered at front and stock height at rear. 8 point roll cage by Jim Smith at Cotsweld (rear bar, door bars and window net, tied into frame forks, and beam). Single drivers bucket seat with 5 point harness; aluminium door and quarter panels; custom gearbox hatch (allowing full access to gearbox); Autometer monster tach, oil temperature and pressure gauges; drilled handbrake and pedals. Ercho race weight wheels (4.5" at front, 6" at the back). 6" M&H Racemaster slicks. VW disc brakes at the front; rear Type 3 drums at the back. HURST linelock. Rhino gearbox with all BERG internals, close ration gears, aluminium spool, and short race axles. Jazz racing fuel cell. Holley black fuel pump.

1914cc engine (built by Jim at Stateside Tuning) with 48hp of nitrous; 130 Engle cam with straight cut gears; 69mm balanced, counterweighted and 8 doweled crank; Magnum 044 heads (39mm intakes and 35.5mm exhaust) with dual HD valve springs (ported and polished by JMR); 48 IDA carbs; Phoenix 1 5/8 merged header exhaust with stinger; SCAT H beam rods; lightened flywheel; KEP 1700lb clutch; standard rockers on Autocraft bolt up shaft with swivel foot Porsche style tappets; Phil Barker (of Autobodyworxs) custom made breather box. Twisted Sanity nitrous control system. Dynotune nitrous fogger injectors. NOS solenoids.

1989 T25 Bus - "The Nun Bus" (The Nun Bus Website)

The Bus was formally owned by Nuns who used it as there daily drive! Obviously god wasn't on there side as they managed to put many dents and scratches in it! However, it is a really good motor and has towed the race car to many meets, as well as attended many shows! UPDATE: The bus is soon to be lowered, and fitted with bad ass BRMS, as well as a cheap as chips tacho to match the rest of the bus!

1958 Ragtop Beetle (Restoration Thread)

I've always liked early small windowed ragtops, and when my chance came to own one Ijumped at it! I originally brought a 63 ragtop but it was a wreck, and all that could be salvaged was the roof! However another fairly solid roof 63 shell then came up for the right price, so I brought it and begun doing all the welding needed (not surprisingly!. The plan was to make the car solid and then chop the goldie roof section in. However, about half way through the welding marathon, a very solid 58 bug (original heater channels) came up at the right price that couldn't be refused. The 63 went to make way for the 58!

Once the car was in the garage, the first thing that was done was that the Goldie Ragtop from the 58 was skillfully grafted in by both Dude and Phil at Autobodyworx. Although the car looked initially solid, a fair bit of welding is needed to get it rock solid, and Dude is working his way through this as we speak! One side and the front is now completely done, and the car has been turned around to begin working on the other side. To follow Dude's restoration of the 58 see the thread on the Cal Look Lounge forum (click here for link to this).