Rich getting right for once at york.

http://contour.com/stories/79658/embed?map=true

Club Prospect Gaz Thompson's new ride

You may remember Gary and his old ride, an awesome 67 Bug - he is a former full member of the club who had to sell his car on (it now resides in the hands of another club prospect, Matt Webb, who we need to talk into getting the 67 onto the strip!). While he may have lost his 67, he never lost his enthusiasm and his input and attendance at many club meets was always welcome. The GREAT news is he's just become the proud owner of this fine late looker.

It was built many moons ago stateside, and was imported into the UK in the early 90's. It sports many interesting features, not least of all the 2110cc flat four hanging out back! Gaz is hoping to get out to the strip as soon as possible with the car, although UK weather being what it is time is running out for an opportunity to run a club qualifying time this season. Fingers crossed he makes it, if not there's next season!

If you know Gary, you'll also know what a clean freak he is, and he's already started prepping the car to his high standards. I'm sure you'll agree from the last two shots that this is a fine looking cal looker.

BEATIFUL CAR GARY!

Another new member, another new board!

We'd like to give a warm welcome to Lee Appleby, and his beautiful 1914cc RHD 1970 Karmann Ghia, to the club, Lee's pb is 15.9 seconds, and is currently building a NOS injected 2276 ready to hit the strip again next season!

WELCOME TO THE CLUB LEE.

Action 2010 Pic's courtesy of Julian Robinson

Rich lighting em up.............

Steve Launching hard on his way to a new PB.............

Lisa doing her thing..............

John "wheels up" Walklett.............

NEW ET BOARD, DETAILS

Well as you can see we have a newcomer to the board, Paul Dipple who has slipped right in at number 8, having run an excellent 14.3 with his 2387cc 1966 Fastback. Paul isn't resting idle now he's on the board though, and has made big changes already - he's sold the fastback and has started to install the setup in his Notchback, which, equipped with a Type 1 linkpin front end should be lighter than the fastback and see him deeper into the board next season. Congratulations Paul!

Another addition to the board, although not a new member, is John Walklett, with his 'other' car, a show standard 1965 Right Hand Drive original UK Type 1 Karmann Ghia. The car runs a 2185cc Type 1 motor, based around a high quality Scat 78mm crank. Johns gone back to carbs on this one, and has posted a very impressive 14.5 second ET - amazing when you bear in mind how heavy these ghia's are in comparison to a bug. Two places on the same board? Some might say that's greed, I think everyone at the RENNWAGENS would agree its DEDICATION.

A number of personal bests of RENNWAGEN members were posted at VW Action, with an incredibly impressive 12.6 ET from Richie Moss in his high mileage ;) 65 bug. This is on carbs, no nitrous, no turbo in a car that is used in all weathers and driven hard for many many miles, usually to the track and back.

Steve Milward thrashed his previous pb, ran at DDII a few weeks back of 14.5 with a 14.2 - a full second off last years time! Unfortunately Steve's weekend didn't end on a high note, with some gearbox issues putting paid to him hitting his 'Thirteen'. Steve's put a huge amount of effort into this car, transforming it from a restocal car into the street warrior it is now, and his 14.2 is a worthy result for the blood sweat and tears that the resto Cal Gods (who he's clearly offended!) have demanded from him...

John Parton had an uphill struggle getting his car to (and from!) VW Action, with an oil cooler failure the week before the show leading to a full strip down to check for damage. Still, his efforts were rewarded with a pb, knocking 4 tenths off his previous best with a sweet 14.4 pass.

Other notable timse from the weekend were first of all John 'Sako' who ran a 17.7 in his mexi-cal look bug. The car runs a 1600cc motor, with a 110 cam and a set of twin 40IDF webers. John's building a 2110 for next years fun and games, and if he can wring a 17 out of a more or less stock 1600 I'm sure we'll be seeing him climb the board pretty quickly!

Also Lee Appleby in his Beautiful metallic grey Karmann Ghia, who has previously run a 15.9 in his Ghia, was back on the track after a few years hiatus, and ran a 16.2 - this was with his current 1914, a JMR built motor that has served him well for a number of years. Over the winter however Lee will be building up the pile of parts he has collected into a 2276 stomper, so we're sure to have not one, but TWO Karmann Ghia's on the board before long. Well done Lee!!

One final thing, I know a number of Rennwagen members were helped enormously by the club prospects who turned up to help shove cars around the pits, tow cars to/from the track, the odd bit of spanner work and spot in the burnout box etc. - an excellent display of team spirit! NICE WORK GUYS.

Not long left of the season now.... anyone up for a spot of RWYB'ing?

VW Action, NEW ET BOARD!

Jamie Palmer's 73 Bug

Nearing Completion in readiness for this weekends Drag Day, and a much anticipated show down between this car and Richie Moss in his 65, who believes he can snatch Jamie's place on the ET board this weekend.

Watch this space to see who wins out!

Apparently Mr Palmer hasn't done this for some time.

Oh yes he's actually washing it.
unfortunately it wasn't completed in under 15.99.
Hazel will be so proud.

Only a few weeks 'til Drag Day

RENNWAGENS Summer Beach Party

Yet again, the RENNWAGENS summer party will be taking place in Woore although this year, it’s at The Falcon Inn.

For those who were at last year’s do at The Swan, you will remember what a ball it was.

It’s a similar kind of script this year too - hog roast, outside 'Tikki' bar etc.

As an added bonus, for those who want to stay over we have permission to sleep in our vans (or cars) on the car park* - Bonus!!!

Its happening this Saturday the 17th July, and all are very welcome.

Cheers
Jamie

*No noise after pub closing hours as its a residential area.

THE NORTHERN RUN

the NORTHERN RUN.... Drag Day @ York Raceway, 7th & 8th August 2010

Shaping up to be an excellent weekend, with a wide variety of awesome cars attending, including the WILDBUNCH nostalgia V8 racers, a good showing of our friends from Scotland heading down in force and the laid back friendly atmosphere of the York raceway track. The Air Cooled Eliminators will be hosting the event, and if any of you have ever met the guys & gals from the North you'll know how welcoming & friendly they are.

Again, Pro Wagen have kindly put up a £150 shopping voucher for the quickest car of the day, and a Gene Berg sweatshirt fail award (but who wants to win that, right?!).

Racing is restricted to aircooled VW's, the quicker the better!

York opens at 6pm the night before the meeting starts... for camping and a few beers so that would be friday the 6th, or saturday 7th from 8am

A weekend pass with a full TWO days of racings racing in 3 classes - A.C.E. Sportsman, and RWYB is £85
Weekend camping but with racing on one day only is £65

This includes entry fee to the track, PDRC membership and an IOPD race license.

Please note cars are scrutineered, but it would have to be pretty bad to fail (ask me how I know hahahah)

For old times sake....

And because he was taking the piss last night.... I give you...

RICHIE 'I'M POINTING THE WRONG WAY' MOSS!

Rennwagen fun in the sun... 23rd June Club Meet

What better way to enjoy the evening sun than in a Hot VW....

A great attendance with some great cars, with notable new faces on the block in the form of a few prospects, John in his late looker 1990 Bug, Lee in his immaculate Karmann Ghia and Fast Eddie (Dave) in his mental Single Cab Split.

It was also nice to see along the black looker (ex-James Clay cal looker from the early 90's), and loyal club advocate Phil in his slammed two tone bug - the first Bug Phil has had on the road in a decade.

Regular street warriors Richie Moss and Steve Milward are vying for most driven club car of the year, both showing what Hot VW's are for - being driven! And judging by the burnouts, being driven hard at that.....

note to Rennwagens & friends... Bug Jam club camping tickets are being booked on Friday 2nd July and all tickets paid for by then. If you want one, mail rennwagens@live.co.uk

Also, this weekend (Sunday 27th June) is Manzo's Potteries Custom & Classic car show, and we are displaying there as a club. If you can bring along your car to the display to support the club, the organiser, and the extremely worthwhile charity it supports - the Donna Louise Trust - please make the effort - we will be meeting in the Burger King car park in Hanley, Century Retail park, ST1 5QQ at 9am on Sunday, before heading up to get a spot. We won't be hanging around at Burger King, as we need to be up to get a good spot (first come first served) as early as possible!

RENNWAGENS M.I.A.

Roll call for those building their own RENNWAGEN, or those who are working hard towards full membership, we can't wait to welcome you along guys, the sooner the better! Keep at it, a great many of you are SO close to full membership after a lot of hard work:

MARK PALMER

JAMES CORNES

PAUL DIPPLE

GAZ THOMPSON

MAT WEBB

JAMIE WETTON

LEE PALMER

CHRIS LOVATT

GARY PRIEST

STEVE PLANT

VANESSA WALKLETT

ANDY WAIN

SAM WARD

MATT LAWTON

Remember that we are all here to support each other, if you are struggling with an aspect of your build don't keep quiet looking at a pile of parts...

As 'Reg' would say.... 'Solidarity, brothers!'.

NEW ET BOARD

Most are non movers apart from two new EXCELLENT pb's which both repesent milestones on the board:

Lisa 'The Shmoo' Donlon powered her Deluxe camper to being the quickest on the board in the Type 2 field having knocked a full 3 tenths off her previous pb earlier in the season down from 16.8 to 16.5.

Rich Moss stormed into the 12's with a 12.8 - currently the quickest naturally aspirated car on the board. Rich ran the 12.8 on slicks, but managed to dip into the 12's on his street tyres - a long held ambition for him and a huge acheivement for any car, let alone a street driven one at that.

Other noteworthy ET related mentionables, but unfortunately not qualifying for the offical ET board one way or another are:

Steve Milwards 61 cal looker running a 14.0 - unfortunately Steve was on baby duties with his newborn Son Eben when the racing was taking place, so driver duties were grudginly (not!) taken on by Jamie Palmer who stepped into the breach. Steve's previous 15.2 was run while the car was far from complete, and Jamie's 14.0 pass will likely translate to a mid 13 in the hands of someone unafraid of wringing the cars neck.

Hazel Thomas has turned in some immense racing this year, culminating in a pb of 14.71 so far in her Subaru powered 61 ragtop bug. Unfortunately for the Rennwagens Hazel will be working away for some time in the USA. We wish you all the best for your trip Hazel, but don't get TOO used to the sunshine!

From the Archives

As we are in June, seems apt to delve into June 2008 archives

John's 56 Cal looker update

John's 56 is really taking shape. John's plans for the car are rooted in the tradition of Cal-looker Renn-Kafer Cup.

Imagine.......A car of this quality and hunting 11secs on the 1/4 mile!!!!!

The pictures below are of the car recently returned from VWJava, and really do not do justice to the truly show quality paint work. The colour? - Strato Silver as per the car's birth certificate.

Potteries Custom and Classic Vehicle Show 2010

The Renn-Wagens will be on display at Manzo's show 27th June 2010.
Come and say hello.

Charity Auction in aid of Donna Louise Trust

Drag Day 2010.

The UK Cal-Look Drag Day is organised be Renn wagen Jamie Palmer and Peter Roberts (Funkenblitz & JG54). This years event was held at Santa Pod on the weekend of 22nd/23rd May 2010.

This event is intended to be for the quickest aircooled car’s in the country . No sheds, no stockers, no queuing among a load of buses, this is for 15.99 second and quicker bugs, KG’s & Type 3’s and is the perfect opportunity to test and tune your car along with other aircooled gear heads. The benefit of running it on the Peak Performance day (Sunday) is there is a limit of 100 cars that run on the strip, plus it’s a FULLY prepped track to actual Race standards, so you get a good number of runs in on a very well prepped, sticky track - unlike the average RWYB event.

What a weekend!

I'd first of all like to thank all those that attended, both on the strip and the many that came along to show support for their buddies racing or just take in the closest thing to a weekend at a californian drag strip you're likely to get over here in the UK. The variety of cars on display ranged from the excellent cal lookers from the JG54 stable, to the hardcore racers of the DKR along with one or two quick cars from another club (err.... THE RENNWAGENS!!!) that meant an excellent field of real street cars from the UK.

There was some amazing close racing between Andy Searle of the DKR and Renn Wagen John Walklett vying for number 1 spot on the day. In the end it was Andy who won out, taking club honours home for the DKR guys. He beat John by 6 thousandths (thats right, thousandths!) of a second with a 12.152 over a 12.158. Unfortunately Johns last run (the 12.158) was completed on 3 cylinders, with an accompanying BANG over the finishline. Initial investigation points to a torched head - hope the damage is limited to this John, fingers crossed.



Back on the highs, fellow Rennwagen club member Richie Moss has been knocking tenths off his times each time out this year, with the aim of running a 12 on his street radials before he moves onto stickier rubber. Well he finally managed it yesterday, sneaking in with a 12.9, before changing to slicks and getting a 12.8, his new pb.







For Jamie Palmer the opportunity to get back on the strip in a car even though his own is still in pieces was fantastic - thanks to Steve Milward for the loan of his pampas Green 61 cal looker, Jamie says he's sorry he knocked a second off your pb Steve. For sure Steve will be in the thirteens in it next time out. Thanks also to Jamie's brothers Lee & Mark for towing the car down to the Pod as well and there help over the past couple of weeks getting stuff together for the weekend.





Again, thanks to everyone for showing up, we all know the effort involved in just getting to the track, I hope you had a good time.