Friday, 7 January 2011

Steve Milwards Grumpy Bug update






A few mods are currently being carried out to Steve Milwards 61 bug, with the aim of making the car a bit more user and track friendly - a problem anytime any of us have stepped near the car with a spanner has been skinned knuckles and the realisation that to carry out any service work on the engine requires an additional six knuckles per finger, or lady like dainty hands and fingers such as are possessed by our very own Peach (although the only tool he gets his hands near is..... well I'll let you guess the rest).

So he and Rich (I suspect it will have been Rich while Steve gritted his teeth and kept his eyes closed) broke out the grinder, and took off the valance and two sections of inner wing. A couple of the excellent quality Hooky's HiPacs have gone and and some careful cutting with the grinder see's an almost invisible removable valance.

Work has also commenced on fitting a cage complete with frame horn braces, so look out for more updates here soon......


Monday, 3 January 2011

A visit to Richie Moss' Driveway





A few invaders to his drive space.... Jamie Palmers 73 2276cc turbo bug, Steve Milwards 2165cc IDA equipped cal looker and a surprise visit from Matt Webb in his 67 2276cc cal looker, along with Richies Single Cab project in the garage made for an eyeful for locals... shame his 12 sec 65 bug and 1776 Ghia Coupe were not on hand as well!

Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Friday, 10 September 2010

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.


Tuesday, 7 September 2010

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.............

Monday, 6 September 2010

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!

Sunday, 1 August 2010

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!


Monday, 19 July 2010


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.


Monday, 12 July 2010

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.

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

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)

Thursday, 24 June 2010

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!



Monday, 14 June 2010

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!'.

Friday, 11 June 2010

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!



Saturday, 5 June 2010

From the Archives

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

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

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.