My Salt Dream : VW Karmann Ghia

[wickedwagens]

I am finally starting to make some progress so I figured I would start a build page.  I welcome any feedback or ideas.  This will be my first run on the salt so any help is greatly appreciated.  This was a street car with a 2276cc engine running megasquirt fuel injection.  The plan is to run one of the classic altered classes so all of the fuel injection was pulled out and some cutting has started.  See you on the salt.

[tauruck]

Cool build.

I wish you all the best with your project and if you can't get advice or find help here it doesn't exist.

Welcome. Mike.

[jacksoni]

I don't recall their names but there has been a successful Ghia at the salt for a long time. Engine swap (like a Pinto motor I think). Someone will likely remember and maybe put you in touch for ideas. What are you planning to put you in Altered? Most of the mods fit with front motored cars better than rear from a performance enhancing point of view. As your first (?correct) you might consider running Classic Production first though the Alt record also is reasonable. However, as there is no Fuel Coupe class (anymore) running fuel automatically puts you in Alt so you don't have to modify the car any. Hmm, just answered my own question. Maybe you had figured that out already. Anyway, good luck. Post up things as you go along.

[lvsalt]

 

[Frankie7799]

Glad to see you start a build Mark. Looking foward to seeing you progress along

[SteveM]

I'll have to do some more searching around, but KG's have definitely been used with success at Bonneville.  It seems to me that some of the White Goose Bar members have been involved with such an effort.

I believe that the more common engine swap is to replace the air cooled VW engine with a water cooled VW straight-four in any of the suitable displacements.

[lsrjunkie]

Cool little car! Keep the pictures coming! 

[kiwi belly tank]

Good to see young blood wanting to go LSR-ing with a different vehicle they have an interest in. Good onya Mate!
  Sid.

[wickedwagens]

It was Larry Monreal. 

Beginning in 1976, Larry set more than thirty Volkswagen land speed records with his #57 Karmann Ghia coupe's, some which are still in the record book today. The SCTA/BNI honored Larry with a dedication in the 2010 Speedweek Program that outlined his more than sixty years of Bonneville racing with lakester's, then motorcycles and finally, his famous record setting Karmann Ghia's

Unfortunately Larry passed away this last Monday, April 21st.  God Speed Larry.

[ratpatrol66]

So your starting now and plan to be on the salt in August? Follow Bonneville some tradition and run a flat head or straight-8 Buick. No really have fun with your build and keep us posted!

[jacksoni]

Yes, of course, Larry was exactly who I was thinking of. So sorry to hear of his passing. 

[BobDcuda]

Wicked, do a search on this site for Manifest of Speed and/or Zak Burns.  His Ghia set the record last Speed Week in G/CPRO, don't recall the speed.  They'll likely be back this year, too, running either an F or G motor.  Good luck to you on your project.

[wickedwagens]

Yes, I've kept in contact with Zach Burns.  I've had him send me pictures of his cage and and he has answered a bunch of questions for me.
Seat showed up from Race Day Safety.


The Ultra Shield VS Halo with special order "Bonneville Halo" option meets the helmet requirement nicely and is a piece of art.

[wickedwagens]

Bars going in.

[Gary Perkinson]

Unfortunately Larry passed away this last Monday, April 21st.  God Speed Larry.
[/quote]

Wow...well, it looks like the torch has been passed...your Ghia looks great...good luck....

Gary