As we enter the 99th year of racing on the storied Bonneville Salt Flats the 36hp and VW Big Block Challenge continues to grow. This year Europe joins the Challenge with an event to be held near York in England, Australias Speedweek has been rescheduled to the drier month of February and the new ECTA track at Wilimington, Ohio has proven to be an excellent venue. With the growing popularity of classic Volkswagen's competing in the Challenge, the full competition series of land speed events sanctioned by the S.C.T.A./B.N.I. has now added small displacement classes for European cars to their "Classic" categories making our little air cooled four bangers competitive again. The "Speedfather", Dick Beith, still holds two 36hp class records after a half century has passed and Tom Bruch's 126.236 mile per hour run at the 2011 World of Speed remains the fastest a Bug powered by a 36hp based engine has ever traveled.
R.K. Smith from Hot VW's Magazine was again on hand to cover the 2012 World of Speed and magazines from around the globe including Super VW (France), Kafer Revue and VW Speed(Germany), VW Classicand Air Mighty (Belgium), Air Cooled Classics(Australia), Ultra VW and Volks World(England) have all "told the story" of VW land speed racing ovet the past year. Additionally, the new non-36hp Super Stock Single Big Block (SSSBB) category is attracting racers who like to do more hands on creating of speed! For details on the VW Challenge, both 36hp and Big Block, contact Burly Burlile using the email link below. Challenge rules, the 2013 Schedule and current records are all available through this e-address as is the VW Challenge free e-newsletter to keep you up to date on all things VW and land speed racing. And be sure to take the time to view Duncan Charltons great video of Greg Silkensons 2011 World of Speed journey that can be found at http://tinyurl.com/d623kkw .
The 36hp Challenge is now entering its eighth year of racing with categories covering Bugs, Ghias and pre 67 Type 2’s along with a new Lakester category and a category that will compete for Unlimited 36hp Challenge honors. Categories for Big Block 40hp, 1600cc and T2/4 based VW's also receive recognition!. There is also the 36hp Challenge's “1” Club, essentially an “outlaw style” wide open challenge where the only real rules include a 36hp engine case, at least two wheels and a goal of exceeding 100 miles per hour. “1” Club safety regulations must meet the added requirements of those specific safety rules which are determined by the sanctioning body for the type of racer presented for inspection. Safety regulations are not regulated or determined through 36hp Challenge guidelines, only the classification of the Volkswagen for 36hp Challenge recognition. The “1” Club is unique unto itself and allows any 36hp based car to qualify by just being fast.
The object of the 36hp Challenge is to encourage you to help your 36hp powered Volkswagen hit as high a speed as possible over a minimum course of a standing start mile. The new LTA course in Maine is one and a half miles in length and those wishing to build your VW to full USFRA/SCTA/BNI racing specs have a three mile course available to them on the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats. The Australian event also has a minimum three miles of acceleration available and like the U.S. long course cars, require added safety equipment due to potentially higher speeds.
For specific class rules,this years schedule and current 36hp speed records, contact Burly at burlybug@comcast.net .
