How did you get into VW Drag Racing?

[volksguy]

As for me....i can honestly say that no one but my self and a few words from my brother got me into it. Ive loved VWs for a long long time, my dad had a 1965 Bettle when i was growing up and i remember him taking us to school and church in that thing. I always wanted that car, and i told him that when i begin to drive, i want the bug. He wrecked it with me in it. Some lady turned into a shopping center driveway from the middle lane right infront of us, we slammed right into the side of that damn ford.
I dont remember being hurt, but i sure was mad that the car got totaled. Eventually when i turned 14 my dad bought me my first bug from one of his coworkers...71 Super Beetle. After that i was hooked!
I built my first engine (stock 1600) when i was 15 in my room on a dining room table just by looking at an old article in a VWTrends issue that pretty much showed you step by step how to do it...Ran great. I then began rebuilding VW engines and selling them to make $$. I got tired of the 1600s so i decided to build a 1835 which at the time to me it was a huge engine, that sucker was awsome after that i built a few bigger engines for people and made the $ to do something for my self, i went strait to building my 2387cc race engine which was just for my street car i had at the time, but my brother said...Why dont you build a race bug, i liked the idea, and the rest is history, here i am now doing what i like, and enjoying life.

[Jim Gillum Racing]

I started organized drag racing in 1963 crewing on a 1963 AFX Plymouth.  In 1978 I bought my 1973 KG and drove it around for a few years but was starting to get bored with it.  Then one day my daughter comes home and says she doesn't want to go to college anymore.  Ka-ching, I suddenly had some extra bucks.  Started buying parts for my KG and have been racing it since 1984.

[jfhbuilder]

Went to Bug-Out 57 ( In Wash, DC every year).  Watched the VWs run down the strip and was amazed.  Dragged by V8 buddy up there for Bug-Out 58 and he got hooked.   Had my show car at the time (Ghia) and needless to say I'm currently working on the "fast" car now (Notch).  Anyway, the folks at our home strip are still trying to make heads or tails of my buddy's Bug.   Just like myself, they had NO IDEA that VWs could pull such low ETs.

[so67vw]

I've been around racing and street racing all my life.... My Uncles and cousins all compete in some sort of auto of bike racing.... It just happens that my Father was never there but I was lucky to get the passion of VW from him...   

[toysandprojects]

I had a vw befor a license , squareback   I would have killed to go faster. must have been anatural. always had atleast 1 vw and always will. currently 3.
3digitracer
steve

[BadDogRacing]

I found the keys to the car! 

[Bad Bug Two]

My parents tell me that back when I was an infant they were at a drive in and accidently dropped the speaker on my head....   

[edwin]

that's simple.. because at that time I cant buy a honda.. :p

[hot73vw]

Been drag racing non-VWs since '79.  About '85 I went to Sunshine Dragway in St. Petersburg, Fl and saw a turbo Bug that launched really hard and ran in the 5s (1/8th mile).  It was the fastest car out there, even faster than the V8 econo rails.  I bought a '69 Beetle and did some minor hot rodding with it, kept it about a year and went back to my V8 pursuits.  In '96 I got back into Bugs and built another "warmed up" '73.  In '99 I saw a '73 at Orlando Speedworld run in the 12s (Mel Bellwood's Mellow Yellow), one of the fastest NA street cars out there.  By the middle of 2000 I was running my '73 down the track and going to races out of state.  The '73 got a 1915, Berg 5 (Mel's old trans) and some IDAs, and went in the mid 14s.  Last year I picked up a '67 and I've managed to get it to the mid 13s, but fuel cost, work and other priorites have kept me a little side-lined this year.  I did manage to finish 3rd in the Silver Dollar Street Challenge, though.

[QuickKafer]

...still waiting

Scott Faivre

[Zach Gomulka]

Not too long after I bought my '67 I decided that I wanted to put some dual ports on it, I got all the parts, tore the top end down, started assembly, then the headstuds started to pull! Doh! Built up a new 1600 since I had already bought the cylinders, but fitted a c/w crank, lightened flywheel, a 110 cam, and the same Claudes Buggies dual single barrel "Webers" that used to be on the family bus years ago. I drove it down to Speedworld (AZ) for the 1999 year end race. With a slipping stock clutch and not having full throttle (crap homemade linkage), my first ever pass was a 18.78! My foot was shaking as I pressed the brakes! I made it all the way to the Semi's, where I raced Turbo Bob, thats when he had the 2165 n/a motor. My friends kept telling me how good a racer Bob was, I was scared crapless! Got to the line and I red lit BAD, handing the win to the much more deserved racer.
Many modifications to the car and the motor led to 14.8s with that 1600...