G'day Challengers

 

The USFRA held there monthly meeting last night in Salt Lake City and I drove down to find out the latest and the greatest. The best news was scraping of the race course has begun and the salt is looking good. To date, they have received around 75 pre-entries so if you are coming out, be sure you copy the entry form atwww.saltflats.com and get your entry in.

 

When you come to this years World of Speed we will have the 36hp Challenge "Newport Trophy" on display. The trophy commemorates the fastest speed set each year on the Bonneville Salt Flats by a 36hp engine racer going all the way back to 1959 and Phil Freudiger, the first fellow to speed a Volkswagens wheels across Bonneville. Here is a preview of the Newport Trophy.

 

 

 

Ronnie Feitlesen of Arizona is finishing his Speedwell "Pepco" Supercharged Formula V lakester to try and wrest the fifty year old record away from Dick Beith. Dicks speed in 1963 was 129.68 mile per hour in a similarly Pepco powered lakester. Take a look at the progress Ronnie has made below.

 

 

It's beautiful Ronnie and we look forward to seeing you on the salt.

 

A few VW Challenge races have already been held, including the Australian Speedweek where Steve Muller set a new Type 2 big block top speed record of 117.878 mph, the Texas Mile where Greg Silkenson bumped his Ghia's speed up to 140.7 and the ECTA events in Ohio where a new VW racer, Rudy Bahnsen showed up with his Stone Stock 1600 and turned a fast 95.097 miles per hour. His 70 bug is pictured below.

 

 

Another new VW coming to the World of Speed this September is this beautiful Super Beetle powered by a Blackline Racing (formerly called A.C.E.) big block engine. The owner is Richard Luna, who you might remember brought the first Volksrod to Bonneville a couple of years ago.

 

 

A couple of SCTA El Mirage dry lake events have now taken place and Mike Fredman from Arizona went out and got his Jake Raby built Porsche 912 powered 69 Ghia dusty with a top speed of 117.579 miles per hour. I need to share the fantastic photo taken by Stewart Harnick showing Mike at speed across the lake bed.

 

Photo by Stewart Harnick

 

And don't forget, the first European land speed event is going to be held in England in just over a month. The inaugural event will be held in conjunction with the annual motorcycle LSR race at Elvington Air Base. To date, nine VW's will hit the cement and will include Larry Monreals historic Bonneville Ghia, a SSS36 powered belly tanker and this beautiful 55 bug which Hans Mueller-Daum will bring over from Germany.

 

 

 

Walter DeVette from Belgium has been leading the charge to make the European event happen and I would like to express my personal thanx to him for bringing the UK and all of Europe into the truly International 36hp and VW Big Block Challenge.

 

Finally, in addition to the Wolfsburg West Contingency Award outlined in an earlier e-newsletter and the Newport Trophy shown above, do not forget the challenge that has been put forth by the aforementioned Steve Muller from down under. He has issued a Challenge to any VW powered pre 67 splittie bus to take his new 117 mph record away from him. If you can accomplish that task, his company Volksmuller, will send a substantial cash award of a couple of hundred big ones to the US for you to toast your successful effort.

 

Okay, that's enough news for awhile, or until next week, whichever comes first. Everyone enjoy a great Independence holiday and keep thrashing on your Challenge racers. I look forward to hearing about your success across the pond and watching you meet your speed goals in Ohio, Maine and at Bonneville.

 

Until then, may the Speed be with you. And please, keep me up to date on your VW racing effort.

 

Burly

 

Burly Burlile

VW 36hp & BB CHALLENGE
Volkswagen Land Speed Racing Historian
Society of Land Speed Racing Historians
www.burlyb.com