Bench Racing; Building a Class 11 VW Beetle

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
So my wife LOVES old Beetles, she learned to drive in one actually. She has mentioned that she would like to have a stock 60's Beetle to drive around.

Today we were talking about VW's and she mentioned the idea of a very lightly modified offroad-prepped Bug. My mind jumped to a Class 11! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_11

Here's the SCORE rule book for Class 11. - http://score-international.com/raceinfo/rule-book/car-buggy-classes/class-11/

Now I don't know that I have the time to actually race, but like the idea of tinkering with a offroad prepped Beetle. Personally, I'd prefer one that was more built up, like a Class 5 car. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_5 But perhaps I can work on the wife and get there eventually.

I'd love to putt around UT/CO in something like this and eventually drag it down to Baja and explore with it. I did run a Poker Race down in Baja in a vehicle sporting stock VW drivetrain, suspension, etc. I think I have an idea of what I'd be getting into! It would be really fun to put together a team of friends and perhaps race in the BOR series locally?
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
The only thing that video inspired was for me to call my chiropractor!

But on a serious note, I think this could be a very fun idea!

Yeah, for sure! I think a HIGH QUALITY suspension seat and a set of real good shocks would be wise upgrades. The stock suspensions on these things are great for bouncing around offroad, but they are very limited. A decent set of tires will go a long way, too.

I think this wouldn't be as hard on your body as racing a dirt bike! :D
 

Noahfecks

El Destructo!
In concept it sounds like fun, and it would be the least expensive way to get into a racing series. But then I remember my visceral hatred of anything VW. Then again, you have already gone over to the darkside with the Jeep
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
In concept it sounds like fun, and it would be the least expensive way to get into a racing series. But then I remember my visceral hatred of anything VW. Then again, you have already gone over to the darkside with the Jeep

I'm with you on hating VW's.... but this is one thing they excel at.

Jeeps are awesome, how long has it been since Toyota built anything with a solid axle in the States? :cody:


How about a 1970 Beetle with a baja body kit?
View attachment 124077

I like it!
 

Gravy

Ant Anstead of Dirtbikes
Supporting Member
I've had about 3 or 4 of these (bug based thingies).
I'd build a swing axle vs. IRS because they're much more durable. But bugs (when you're hard on them) break like it's their job. I've sheared a crank keyway and welded it back together on Rusty Nail. We've sheared drum keyways. Thrown about 9 million belts and Jon even overheated one so bad it lit on fire and burnt to the ground at the dunes.
If you look back at a Peterson's readers' rides from like 15 years ago me and Jon took a VW buggy up Potato Salad haha. They said we were the first 2wd to make the hill. We called it the Doom Buggy.
We even built one with a supercharger. The stock solex carb is way easy to tune and reliable but a Weber will give you a little more power.

Bugs are fun, but I swear I wrenched on those things at a worse ratio than rock crawlers.
 

Noahfecks

El Destructo!
So my wife LOVES old Beetles, she learned to drive in one actually. She has mentioned that she would like to have a stock 60's Beetle to drive around.

Today we were talking about VW's and she mentioned the idea of a very lightly modified offroad-prepped Bug. My mind jumped to a Class 11! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_11

Here's the SCORE rule book for Class 11. - http://score-international.com/raceinfo/rule-book/car-buggy-classes/class-11/

Now I don't know that I have the time to actually race, but like the idea of tinkering with a offroad prepped Beetle. Personally, I'd prefer one that was more built up, like a Class 5 car. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_Class_5 But perhaps I can work on the wife and get there eventually.

I'd love to putt around UT/CO in something like this and eventually drag it down to Baja and explore with it. I did run a Poker Race down in Baja in a vehicle sporting stock VW drivetrain, suspension, etc. I think I have an idea of what I'd be getting into! It would be really fun to put together a team of friends and perhaps race in the BOR series locally?

Have you given this anymore thought? I bet you could find a nice class 5 chassis for a reasonable price
 
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