Someone replace my wife with a duplicate (who wil let me race)

jhelgesen · 06:37 AM

Sitting at dinner last night, told the wife I was wanting to build a Formula Vee car. I expected a HECK NO, but got a just as long as you pay for it first.

I was stunned! This opens the door for me to DE with the 912-6, woo hoo! Roll cage and helmet, here I come.

And if anyone knows where to find plans for a formula vee chassis, please let me know.

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

Very nice!

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

what's a forumula vee?

VincentVega · 01-07-2004, 06:42 AM

Basically a vw powered formula car....

jhelgesen · 01-07-2004, 06:48 AM

Yep, this is what I want to play with. Maybe autocross it, etc.

Zeke · 01-07-2004, 07:53 AM

I think your 911 will be more fun. FV's are a very dangerous and squirley class to race in. Ah, but you said AX, that's better.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

isn't there a formula porsche somewhere?

flat six on a similar chassis?

could be fun , might need wings though

jhelgesen · 01-07-2004, 08:08 AM

My other option could be to build a early bug to a road racer, put it in vintage class, or autocross it. Reason for leaning toward the VW stuff is I have access to plenty of parts to play with.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by jhelgesen
My other option could be to build a early bug to a road racer,

Tom

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

That's my wife, and I want her back.

project935 · 01-07-2004, 09:23 AM

John,
Check out this thread to find out more about VW Bug racer(s);

Miata's

Let me know if you need any tips/advice.

jhelgesen · 01-07-2004, 09:32 AM

I'll take all the tips and advice I can get!

Looked at the pictures of the silver and the white car, look like fun.

What year/model bugs are they. I've got a 69 bug with ball joint front end at my disposal, and might know where I could get a 71-72 super easy. Not sure if I would need the strut front end or not.

campbellcj · 01-07-2004, 10:40 AM

I think I would lean more towards a Formula Ford (FF) or one of the SCCA Sports Racer cars if it were me...but it ain't

Right now I am "cleared for takeoff" on basically any autox/DE/TT events but the jury is still out re. wheel-to-wheel. The other night I started carefully explaining to my wife about some of the costly safety eqpt/mods that remain on my car (around $4K or so) to be fully legal for all major race orgs, and as safe as it's ever gonna be.

There was essentially no response...I am not sure how to read that???

JackT · 01-07-2004, 10:48 AM

Be careful. Something may be up. She may be reeling you into a trap.
Your X-mas credit card bill is probably about a week away from coming in.

project935 · 01-07-2004, 12:20 PM

John,
Balljoint front ends are fine - most of the bug racer's I've seen are. There are some good upgrade torsion-leaf springs or coilovers that can be added to stiffen up the suspension (and it's legal within the rules).

I think a few are Super's, but its not the norm. No reason why you couldn't run one within the rules. Most people haven't tried it I think.

I think all the bug racers I've seen are IRS cars ... can't remember seeing any swing axles (too radical rear camber when lowered)

I think the white bug is a '69 (Bill Snively's car). He has added a lot of Type3 axle and driveline parts because they are a bit more durable. The trans ratios are better too. He runs a balljoint front end with lowered spindles and adj ride height.

My silver bug is a '73. Full cage, reinforced pan, gutted interior, fuel cell. Stock balljoint front end w/poly bushings/adj ride height/disc brakes. Rear suspension is stock Type1 IRS w/drum brakes/adj ride height. Stock Type1 trans (needs better ratios), 1600 dual-port w/cams/valvesprings, CW crank, and higher CR (about all the rules allow). We can port heads, but can't upsize valves.

Dual 45 (max) Webers are now allowed as well as rear disc brakes. A well-tuned engine should be around 100-110HP - should make a much better racer now. Performance heads or EFI are about the only other upgrades that might be considered in the future, but are a couple years off. They want to keep the engine size around 1600cc to keep the costs cheap.

The bugs (VW Sedan class) race with Miata's (Spec Miata) on-course at the same time. Before the rule change, the fast VWs would spank the Miata's everywhere except for top end speed - now hoping to out run them.