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2010 NATIONAL 36hp LANDSPEED CHALLENGE
(also called 30hp outside of U.S.)

36hp ENGINE/CAR Guidelines

BASIC ENGINE: 36hp (25hp) engine case (block) with stock 36hp cylinder head studs in stock locations(8mm studs O.K.), original VW 36hp head, Okrasa, Denzel and new Wolfsburg West Okrasa replica aftermarket 36hp heads with or without modifications are allowed(no 1200-1600cc or Porsche based heads!). All engine sheet metal, to include a “functioning generator and cooling fan” are mandatory in all engine classes along with stock 36hp or period 36hp aluminum valve covers and gaskets(replica alloy valve covers for 36hp heads are O.K.!). Transmission must be a Volkswagen 4 speed swing(non-synchro or full-synchro)  or I.R.S.  original or modified Bug transmission( five speed conversions and Hewland style transmissions not permissible!). The front end may be lowered using commonly available VW axle beams, spindles or devices “excluding NARROWED axle beams” in ALL classes! Rear sway bars or camber compensators are acceptable and “Moon Disc” style hub cabs when securely installed following USFRA, ECTA, LTA, Texas Mile, DRLA or Verneukpan Speedweek guidelines may be used in ALL classes.
NOTE: Nitrous systems are not allowed in 36hp Challenge cars or 130 Mile Per Hour Club categories ! ! !

                                                                                                                                            CLASSES:

SS (Stone Stock)-Stock 36hp engine with single 28 PCI carburetor with no modifications except VW venturi and jet replacements. Must be equipped with a stock VW style exhaust system and tips, air cleaner, VW Bosch branded distributor and coil(Pertronix Ignitor, full flow oil system and engine balancing are O.K.!). Extractor exhaust systems not allowed!

SSS (Super Stock Single)-Modified singleport 36hp engine with single 28PCI carburetor. Requires any Bosch distributor and coil. No displacement, camshaft, carburetor modification or header limitations.
                                                                                                 
DSS (Dual Super Stock)-Pre 1965 period style dual or single dual throat carburetors systems, using pre-1965 carburetors only, fitted to modified stock VW 36hp cylinder heads or period aftermarket 36hp dual port cylinder heads(or replicas)! Requires any Bosch distributor and coil. Dual spark plug conversions O.K.. No displacement, camshaft or header limitations. Handcrafted intake manifolds are O.K.. Carburetor(s) must be under the deck lid without bumps or scoops.

K36 (Supercharged/Kompressor)-Any pre-1970 mechanically driven supercharger. Requires any Bosch distributor and coil. Dual spark plug conversions O.K..  No displacement, camshaft or header limitations. Dual period correct superchargers are  acceptable.

NA36 (NEW AGE)-Any turbocharged or post 1971 supercharger or non-traditional external engine modifications, carburetor systems using 1966 and newer style carburetors. Nitrous not allowed! No displacement limitations within the stock cylinder head stud locations. Camshaft, exhaust and ignitions systems are open. Exhaust systems on turbocharged New Age bugs can exit through the deck lid and carburetor can protrude through deck lid but must be exposed(no scoops or covers!).

NOTE: All 36hp engines or transmission not fitting within the described guidelines will be eligible for “1” Club recognition.
                 
BODY/VEHICLE-Any year Type 111/113/133 stock Volkswagen Beetle, Super Beetle or Cal Look sedan body with stock VW bumpers(NOTE: Convertible and sliding cloth sunroof bodies require added safety equipment-(i.e. bolt-in 4 point roll bar available from EMPI suppliers- part #3116  ). Type 1 Karmann Ghia and pre-67 Type 2 bodied cars will compete in separate body style only ( one Ghia, one pre-67 Type 2 ) categories and will not be eligible for recognition beyond 36hp Challenge record listings or be eligible for top speed 36hp Beetle records.  All metal body and fenders with all lights, VW bumpers(full width-note “ T Bar” or Cal-Look style bumpers are not allowed), and running boards in place and functioning. Wiper blades & arms, antenna, outside mirrors and license plates may be removed during competition but must be in place prior to and through technical inspection. Interior must include two front seats, rear seat back(bottom portion of rear seat may be left out), headliner and door panels. Deck lid standoffs are not allowed!

NOTE: All VW’s not fitting within the described body and axle beam guidelines will be eligible for “1” Club recognition.

NOTE: All 36hp Lakesters, Formula Vees, Streamliners, Dragsters, Chopped or Sectioned VW’s, Buggies, Baja Bugs, Kit Cars, Trikes or other “race” cars that pass their respective sanctioning bodies safety inspection procedures will be eligible for “1” Club recognition.                                                                                                                             

SAFETY EQUIPMENT (contact each respective sanctioning body for latest 130 MPH CLUB( or equivalent ) rules and race dates before you plan on competing!).
Basic Minimum guidelines(36hp Classes only!):
1.      2 point seat belt(USFRA only! ! !) for cars BELOW 100 M.P.H.  ( VW’s above 100 M.P.H. will be required to have 3 point seat belts( see http://www.saltflats.com/ ).
2.      3 point seat belt(ECTA, LTA & TEXAS MILE only! ! !) http://www.ecta-lsr.com/ (NOTE: Austrailian and South African sanctioning bodies require additional safety modifications-consult their inspectors and guidelines for specific information!).
3.      Full face helmet with visor/shield designated Snell 2000 or newer ( NOTE: The acceptable Snell approval date is changing to ‘Snell 2005’ beginning in 2011. If purchasing a helmet for 2010, a Snell 2005 helmet is recommended!).
4.      Dual (2) throttle return springs.                                                                                                          
5.   Excellent condition “S” rated tires (to 112 mph!) inflated to 50 pounds with hub caps and trim rings removed( H rated tires required if speed exceeds 100 mph!). Properly fitted Moon Discs hubcaps are allowed (Plus they look great!).
6.   Metal valve stem caps AND metal valve stems!
7.   Overall sound and safe vehicle, licensed and insured for street operation. You must     
      present both your current state drivers license and vehicle insurance card during        
      tech  inspection ! ! !                             
8.   Sanctioning body specific membership and entry fees.
9.   “NO NITROUS” or alcohol may be used for fuel. Race gas &  high octane pump gas is O.K.
      ( Revision-E-85 pump gas is NOT ALLOWED ! ! ! ).
10.  Fire extinguisher “securely” mounted inside passenger compartment.
11.  “ALL” loose items inside passenger compartment and trunk must be removed (including      
        spare tire and jack).
12.  Battery must be “secured” to floor pan with permanent stock or improved fixture.                                                   

                                  

           2010 INTERNATIONAL 36hp LAND SPEED CHALLENGE

                                    ( TOP SPEED RACING )

 

Last year we forecast a banner year for the 36hp Challenge and the competitors that came out to race and spectate in 2009 made the prophesy come true with numerous new records set and reset. Challengers experienced vehicular tradgedies and personal triumphs. Record 36hp speeds were set on both the east and west coasts and the groundwork was laid for 36hp Challenge racing to begin in Australia and South Africa. 2010 is the year everything comes together!

 

The 36hp Challenge is now entering its sixth year of racing with five categories of classes; four Bug and one Ghia. A bus category is on the books but has not yet had a top speed posted at one of the sanctioning bodies race courses and a new Unlimited 36hp category( a.k.a. ‘ the “1” Club’ )will recognize efforts to beat the all time top speed of 129.100 miles per hour set in 1963by Dick Beith in a Pepco supercharged 36hp Lakester. Last year this new and separate form of recognition called the ‘ “1” Club ‘ was added and is essentially a wide open challenge where the only real rules include a 36hp engine case and four wheels and a goal of exceeding 100 miles per hour. “1” Club car safety regulations must meet the requirements of the sanctioning body where the car is being run and those specific safety rules are determined by the sanctioning body for the type of racer presented for inspection. Safety regulations are not regulated or determined through Challenge guidelines, only the classification of the Volkswagen!. The “1” Club is unique unto itself and allows any 36hp based car to qualify for special recognition by just being fast. As in years past, production bodied bugs of any year will again be competing for the special vintage trophy presented to the fastest 36hp engine Beetle at the end of the racing season.

 

The object of the 36hp Challenge is to encourage you to make your 36hp powered Volkswagen go as fast as possible over a minimum standing start mile. The new LTA course in Maine is one and a half miles in length and those wishing to build a car to full USFRA/SCTA/BNI racing specs have a three mile course available to them. Both the Australian and South African Speedweeks also have minimum three miles of acceleration available and like the U.S. long course cars, require added safety equipment due to potentially higher speeds.

 

Of special interest in 2010 is the return of the godfather of 36hp land speed racing after a fifty year hiatus. Dick Beith, the very first person to ever set a land speed record in a Volkswagen and who still holds the record for the fastest vintage supercharged 36hp powered VW Beetle is assembling two new cars with plans of racing at the USFRA’s September World of Speed event on the Bonneville Salt Flats. One car will be a production bodied Beetle and the other a full SCTA qualified chopped competition coupe based on a Volkswagen bug.

 

FLASH ! ! !

 

Two new racing venues have just been announced for the 36hp Challenge racers, one on the west coast called ‘ the Mojave Mile ‘ that will be run on the 12000 foot runway at the Mojave Spaceport located in Mojave, California. This venue will be run on asphalt at an altitude of 2700 feet. Contact information is listed below and their second event will be held September 25th and 26th of this year. The second venue is located in Florida near Miami near sea level and runs on March 14th at the Dade-Collier Airport and is called the Top Gun Run. Additional events are planned for late fall with schedules to be announced.

 

 

Below please find sites to gather more information on land speed racing, spectating, the 36hp CHALLENGE and “1” Club. If you have any questions, please contact me at burlybug@comcast.net or call 435-752 4359 after 7pm (MST):

 

Vintage Speed information…………………www.TheSamba.com/forum  @Vintage Speed 

General Land Speed Racing Information- www.saltflats.com and ALL related links!

USFRA………………usfra@saltflats.com                            Utah-West Coast & Canada

ECTA………………..kturk@ecta-lsr.com                            North Carolina-East Coast

LTA………………….loringtimingassociation@gmail.com   Maine-North East Coast & Canada

Texas Mile…………www.texasmile.com                           Texas-Mid America

DLRA………………..http://www.dlra.org.au/                    Australia

AVWSA….…………..http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/      South Africa

MOJAVE MILE………http://www.mojavemile.com             Southern California/Nevada

TOP GUN RUN   …….http://www.topgunrun.com              Florida-South East

36hp CHALLENGE..www.burlyb.com

“1” Club…………….http://www.ultimateaircooled.com/landspeed.html

 

 

INTERNATIONAL 36hp LAND SPEED RECORD HISTORY
(as of January 10, 2010)
__________________________________________________________________
NA36 Record and TOP OVERALL 36hp  BUG SPEED
2009………106.514 mph   74BUG                Tom Bruch/Gaylen Anderson    Bonneville
                     New Age S/P Bruchrasa 1378cc   Turbo
__________________________________________________________________
SS Record

2009………73.492 mph      58 BUG             Allen Leggett                            Bonneville
                     Stone Stock 1192cc
 
Stock 36hp Volkswagen  Factory Top speed  68.00 mph  1192cc  at sea level
 _________________________________________________________________
SSS Record
2009.............90.203 mph    74 BUG             Bruch/Anderson                      Maxton,NC
                     Super Stock Single S/P 1415cc
 _________________________________________________________________
DSS Record
2009……….103.056 mph  60 BUG           Justin McAllister/Chip Birks    Bonneville
                      Dual Carb S/P 1621cc
 
1960………77.107 mph***  58 BUG             Dick Beith                                Bonneville
                     Dual Carb Homemade S/P 1192cc
----------------***the ORIGINAL Volkswagen Bug Land Speed Record-----------
_________________________________________________________________
K36 Record

1961………101.296 mph    56 BUG             Dick Beith                               Bonneville
                     Pepco Supercharged  S/P 1282cc

 
GHIA 36 Record
2009……..101.163 mph   59 GHIA              Richard Troy                        Bonneville
                   Dual Carb/Denzel   1598cc

UNLIMITED 36HP Record ( All “1” CLUB participants AND 36hp Challenge participants qualify for this category!)
1963………129.100 mph     Lakester(Pepco)Dick Beith                         Bonneville

Other Significant 36HP Speeds

1967………109.572 mph     56 Porsche(Okrasa)Tom Bruch                  Bonneville
1949………120.110 mph     39 Type 64 Berlin/Roma P.Muller               Autobahn,DE   

Note: Bonneville is located at 4210 foot altitude (Utah)
          Maxton is located at 210 foot altitude (North Carolina)
          Goliad is located at 164 foot  altitude (Texas)
          Loring is located at 743 foot altitude (Maine)
          El Mirage is located at 2840 foot altitude (California)

         Mojave Mile is located at 2700 foot altitude(California)

          Miami is located at 100 foot altitude(Florida)

          Lake Gairdner is located at 397 foot altitude (Austrailia)
          Verneukpan is located at 2887 foot altitude (South Africa)

 

Record Validation: All speeds must be recorded using the land speed racing santioning bodies timing trap! Speeds recorded with a speedometer, GPS unit or radar gun cannot be recognized.