Death of the dragster OR Where did all the dragsters go?

[madoski]

People want to see heads-up.  Look at Pro Mod and Super Street.  It may take a bit more effort, but there are ways to keep things competitive aside from bracket racing.  If rails and altereds want to run in index classes, that's fine, but I wouldn't let that limit guys who want to run heads-up classes.

[Marty]

Another issue is that the rules for "pipe racks" chassis have changed considerably.
There are 4 or 5 out west that are still legal and any others will need to be built from scratch or from newer converted V8 cars.

A Dragster class would inject some new enthusiasm into VW racing.

[Joel Mohr]

3.5? Just pick a number that suits everyone..or just call it a "Flat 4" class

[DonPauter]

from a cost/performance stand point I feel this is by far the best bang for the buck... buy-in, maintinance, safety factor are all more favorable with long car race programs. Used V8 rolling chassises are readily available at very reasonable prices and easily adaptable to the current array of aftermarket VW based engines as well as nearly indestructable drive trains. right now the biggest draw back to this type of program seems to be the lack of actual applied theory and experience in what works and lives.
 for decades, in good economic times we've experienced reletively consistant participation with these cars in our sand drag programs where full fields and actual required qualifing rounds are common place. In my mind the parallels of dragster vs promod with regard to safety (consistant controlled passes), ease of maintinance and overall costs lean toward the  long cars.   add to this some limits regarding max boost and exotic fuels and attrition becomes less of a factor might even be a good idea to enlist the 1/8 mile clocks for this class until such time as participation and experience merits change.  

[Marty]

I will be building one within the next few years.
So far I have a motor, a flexplate, and a converter. :-)

I want to go 200mph in a VW before I check out.

[madoski]

Marty, your rail used to be one of the cars I would show up to see.  Hope you're back for good with this one!

[Marty]

Marty, your rail used to be one of the cars I would show up to see.  Hope you're back for good with this one!

Thanks!
I will play with the Pro Mod for next little while and start working on the dragster next year.

[Frallan2]

The day I move back home this thing will be on the strip again in Southern Sweden.
Just for some nostalgic runs when the time is right.
New back half with old nostalgic rear engine, Dave Folts 090 automatic, Autorotor SC 2 liter with Hilborn.
At 900 lbs it should still give some good kick in the butt.

[Hardin Olds]

Brian,

I acquired Larry V's from DKP II club member Jim Kurlinski, in the late 1980's. It was determined that the digger needed a vast amount of reconstruction to be even remotely be considered legal to ever pavement race again. With intentions to "legalize" the digger, I stored it for a number of years. Then the day came and the decision was made to liquidate the digger. I sold it during a Glen Helen sand drag race, to a sand drag racer that lived near Palmdale. I have not seen the digger since and I have no idea to its whereabouts.

Chris Andrews - The Mailman

I used to work (At Hardin Olds) with Gene Van Wilgen...in fact he did the bodywork on my big block Chevy Nova which I used to race at OCIR. I remember when they were building the dragster...wasn't it called "Snooze, You Lose" or something like that?

I also remember them testing the transmission for the umpteenth time at OCIR on a grudge night and it exploded ALL over the finish line...which closed track for a bit....as there was metal fragments everywhere. I was there with my Nova...LOL

I also remember them converting the dragster to sand drag at Riverside...I have pics of it somewhere at Riverside...but would love to see if anyone had any pics. From what I remember...it was brown/orange and maybe a bit of yellow (when it was first built)

I'd love to get in touch with the family...but I don't live in the area any more. I know there was  a son named Larry and a son named Doug (who worked with me for a bit as well) and Gene Van Wilgen who I worked with  (I know he collected BMW Isettas way back then!)

But, here are a few pics that you might enjoy? (sorry for the crappy quality, the scanner just took a dump...so I had to take pictures of pictures)

Larry Van Wilgen's VW at Anaheim Convention Center. I like the "VW's" in the turn signal areas...way before billet was popular! Gene also converted this to right hand drive if I remember right? Gene was excellent with body work and paint....



A Trans Am funny car sand dragging at Riverside...I think Gene had to run against these guys...I know that he was put in a stupid fast class because of the times he was running...




A close up of the Trans Am




Rick Cowles VW at OCIR...racing a Trans Am





And finally the Service Center VW...at OCIR




This is a cool site! Anyone know how to get in touch with the Van Wilgens?

EDIT: I just did some more digging and apparently Gene died in 2003...that sucks. I guess Doug still lives in Garden Grove?

Bruce

[Hardin Olds]

Here's a pic that I found of Larry's black and Doug's blue vw's. Gene was a master with metal... and grafted a split window treatment onto the back of the blue VW!

They are on the far right...and the pic had to be taken when I was working at Hardin...as Doug (on the far right) looked exactly like that then...LOL

[efi67vw]

the old pure hell car is in vegas.