Racing Sciroccos

VW Scirocco I GTI: Patrick Simon beim 24h Rennen im Scirocco-

2010-11-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

Mid-Ohio 2010

2010-11-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen Scirocco - Nurburgring 24h Classic 2010

2010-05-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

2010-05-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well, the long winter is finally over and we are getting ready for our first SCCA race of the season at Mid-Ohio on May 22. After some time off I got busy fixing stuff and making improvements to the VW.

First, I traced a fuel delivery problem and replaced the hi pressure pump and filter, then installed the rebuilt 5-speed with the correct 5th gear in it. With the tranny out, I dropped the pan and installed an Ishihara-Johnson crank scraper. I found a head gasket that would give me half a point more compression and replaced the clutch and throttle cables with new ones. I added a belly pan to the spoiler and cleaned up some of the aerodynamics on the grille and air intake and replaced the bogus "tuner" air filter with a real K&N.

I found some places to move some ballast further back, this should help handling and braking. I got a free used fiberglass right front fender from a Vortex member, good for a 5 lb weight saving on each side over the steel ones. And I had the left side fender off to clean up the gear oil from Watkins Glen, so I thought it would be an idea to pull a quick mold of of it so that I could make a matching glass fender in the future. This turned out to be a grand make work project as the fenders are a bit complex with returns and bends. The resulting mold is a bit rough, but good enough to make a part from with a little bit of work. But the paint on the original fender took a beating and had to be repainted. While doing this I decided to paint the black Rabbit GTI fender flairs while I was at it. I think the car looks wider, more integrated now.

We are almost ready for Mid-Ohio, just an alignment check and the sorting out of some spares and equipment. I cant wait to be racing with my old Mini friends again, Keith and Chris.

New VW Club Racing Facebook page

2010-03-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have started up a Facebook page for SCCA Club Racers.

It's the place for anyone who is racing or building a water cooled VW for SCCA Production, IT or GT racing. The intent of the group is to be a place to ask questions, post information, exchange ideas and discuss racing VWs in SCCA Regional and National racing.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=309326556818

Michael Auer - VW Scirocco GTR - Pöllauberg 2009

2010-02-12T09:49:00.001-08:00

Hill climbing in the rain.

Trans Am Scirocco outside the shop in 1976.

2010-02-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

Getting to the bottom of stuff

2009-11-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

Watkins Glen was our last race of the season. I did get back down to the Glen in October to pick up my now repaired transmission from Johannes at the Enduro race. It should be much nicer now with the correct .91 5th and 2nd gear swapped over to a 1.94.

I found a few things with the investigation into the power loss at the Glen. Three of the valves were out of adjustment, this was probably due to the new cam, valves and springs seating, and

the fuel pump's output volume was way down at the bottom of the range listed in the manual. So the valves now have the correct shims and all of the clearances

are back to where they should be and I have a new fuel pump to replace the used one that originally came with the Golf surge tank that I am using.

With winter coming, I have drained the coolant and fuel cell and bagged all of the racing slicks. There is lots to due before next season. I need to find some +.40 1500 pistons and decide if I want to put them in this engine or build up a new block.

It's almost time to get out the shop heater.

2009-10-07T11:18:00.001-07:00

Scirocco 2l, 16V, 275 PS, Start up!

2009-09-29T10:15:00.001-07:00

Another new MkI racer!

For Sale,: H Prod VW Scirocco 1600

2009-09-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

Nationally competitive, has been running Regionally for last year. Won SARRC Championship 2008 this is David Boles former HP Scirocco. The engine was freshened 1 race ago. Trans is good. (close ratio with limited slip), has double adjustable Motons. Tubular front lower control arms with rod ends. Momo seat, 8 Panasport wheels with Hoosiers, 4 alloys with mounted Hooiser rains, full legal fiberglass kit, Electromotive XDi ignition, many more...

Price lowered to price to $7900.00.

Call Louis at 1-888-346-7266 or email at louis@ltbmotorsports.com

Watkins Glen SCCA National

2009-08-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

It turned out to be a very eventful weekend at Watkins Glen.

In the rain at Mosport I was having some difficulty getting 5th gear and spent time between the two race working on the linkage. I also made a new upper stress bar and was looking forward to the large 10 car field with lots of guys in my range to race with.

We paddocked with Chris Kopley and Ned and Linda Beman were in from Oregon to help.

As first race group we were on track early Saturday. Things were working well when I went for 5th on the pit straight and it wasn't there. I finished the lap and came in. Johannes came over to help me check out the linkage and we decided to pull the 5th gear cover off. The oil that came out looked like metallic paint. Opening up the cover a bit it was easy to see that the teeth on 5th gear had been cleaned off and apparently liquified.

We were already half way to getting the tranny out so we thought that there might be a chance to get the spare 4-speed in before the afternoon session. This was only my second transmission change on a VW and things took a little longer than expected. When group one went out, we still had to adjust the linkage and put oil in it, so we took a break for lunch.

Just after the qualifying session the sky got black and the wind picked up. The forecast was for afternoon thundershowers and it was spot on. The rain started coming in sideways from the west and everyone hung on to a canopy pole. In an instant our 10x20 was in the air and tumbling over my trailer. It landed in the road, Theo and I ran over to stop it from lifting up again and damaging someone's car. I undid some joints and we ran back into Chris' trailer completely soaked.

The trailer was dry and in about ten minutes the sky started to lighten up. The rain stopped, the sun came out and the rest of the day turned out to be pretty nice. Good thing because we all had a lot of stuff to dry out.

Ned and I finished up the car and I drove it around the paddock roads. Other than the locked diff trying to snap my wrists, everything seemed OK.

Sunday morning I went out for the warm up to figure out shift points and to remember how to drive the welded diff.

A couple of laps in, I got a big cloud of smoke in the left hander out of the boot. I came into the pits, Ned took one look at the left front and said, in that Ned way, "You got a problem". The tire and left side of the car was covered in gear oil. Back in the paddock I found the drain plug missing. Johannes had suggested filling the tranny from the speedo cable hole so I didn't put a wrench on the drain plug. Stupid, we should have checked it. Theo got to work cleaning up the tire and car. We took a plug from the 5-speed and filled it up again. Time was short for going to the pumps so Chris gave me some fuel to top up the cell.

I was gridded pretty close to the back but there were about 5 HP cars right in front of me. Howard Gerstein was starting his GTL Miata from the back as usual. Howard walked by and I asked him where he wanted to pass me. Ned said that with such a large field that the green will come out while we are still going into the last turn. Howard had a radio and would know the green was out before me, "So just follow him". It's great to have a crew chief with you.

So that's what I did. On Ned's advice, I followed Howard out of the last turn and down the pit straight. I passed Gib Stine's Bugeye, Dave Hammer's Rabbit, Ray Santomo's Golf and was on Chris' Mini bumper going up the esses. The first 5 laps were pretty wild. We were running in a train, Ray was all over the back of my car. He passed me, I drafted and passed him, Dave stuck his nose in and more passes were made back and forth. I was thinking that this is a lot of fun but I don't know if I can do it for the whole race.

Ray got in front and Dave was filling my mirrors. On lap 6 the car just went off song. Nothing big, it just lost 15% power and took longer to rev up. Dave got by and I couldn't do anything about it. I backed off and watched the oil pressure and water temps. They looked OK so I ran for the finish. It was a disappointing way to end the weekend after all that work and good racing on the start.

So now we have all that lovely gear oil to clean up and a 5-speed to fix. I'm a bit more worried about the power loss, it was almost like a switch was pulled, it was that sudden.

I'm not sure where we will race again; The Fun One? Great Pumpkin? Prod Fest? It all depends on how repairs and work go through August and September.

Mk1 Sciroccos at Nürburgring

2009-07-23T21:12:00.001-07:00

There are more than new Sciroccos running in the Nürburgring 24 hour. It is such a cool event, check these Mk1s.

Sciroccos at 2009 Nürburgring 24-hour

2009-07-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

source: Volkswagen Motorsport

Wolfsburg (24 May 2009). The Volkswagen Scirocco cars powered by natural gas and petrol engines superbly mastered the world’s most difficult circuit marathon, the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring, by clinching two class victories.

The Scirocco GT24-CNG with innovative EcoFuel technology of Vanina Ickx (B), Peter Terting (D), Klaus Niedzwiedz (D) and Thomas Klenke (D) won the category for vehicles with alternative powertrains (AT) and finished 17th overall, outperforming numerous more powerful cars. The petrol-powered Scirocco GT24 of youngsters Jimmy Johansson (S), Florian Gruber (D), Nicki Thiim (DK) and Martin Karlhofer (A) achieved a remarkable 15th place and Volkswagen's third consecutive victory in the class of cars with two-litre turbo engines (SP3T).

Altfrid Heger (D), Cheng Congfu (CN), Carlo van Dam (NL) and Franck Mailleux (F) finished third in the SP3T class and 20th overall, the CNG-powered Scirocco of Volkswagen Executive Board Member for Technology Dr Ulrich Hackenberg (D), Bernd Ostmann (D), Peter Wyss (CH) and John Barker (GB) finished as the runners-up in the AT class. The fifth Scirocco of Carlos Sainz (E), Dieter Depping (D), Wolfgang Kaufmann (D) and Patrick Simon (D) retired after a strong showing due to an accident that was no fault of theirs on Sunday morning.

Volkswagen with Scirocco R debut

235,000 spectators lining the legendary Nordschleife in perfect weather not only witnessed an extremely thrilling 24-hour race but also the world debut of the new Scirocco R, the most powerful version of the sport coupe with a 265-hp engine. The Scirocco R presented itself to enthusiasts in a motorcade around the roller-coaster in the Eifel along with the Race Touareg with "Dakar” winners Giniel de Villiers (ZA) and Dirk von Zitzewitz (D). The many guests rooting for the Volkswagen team at the "Ring” included actors Erol Sander and Mark Keller.

Needless to say, VfL Wolfsburg's winning of the German Football Championship was a major topic at the Nürburgring as well: Before the start to the 24-hour race Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Carlos Sainz and Kris Nissen wished the VFL team well in a live transmission to the stadium and a short time later sent their congratulations on Wolfsburg's triumph by pit board messages and from the cockpit.

Sciroccos at Nelson Ledges

2009-07-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

I just realized that the header photo of the Trans-Am Scirocco in the late 70's is also taken at Nelson Ledges. Pretty cool to win there again 30 odd years later.

Nelson Ledges and Mosport SCCA races

2009-07-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

A victory at Nelson.

Theo and I travelled to Nelson Ledges Ohio in May for the SCCA National, setting up in the paddock with my Mini racing friends, Ted Phenix and Chris Kopley. It was just like old times.

Over the winter we prepped a new head and cam to move the engine closer to full Production car specs and I was very eager to see how it would perform. With more power and torque, the Scirocco was much more fun to drive. After feeling out the car and track in the first session, we were able to edge out Debbie Lafond's Honda Civic for the pole position in HP in the afternoon qualifying.

The weekend's only problem surfaced in the Sunday morning warm up. The transmission was stuck in first and would not budge. After disassembling the shift linkage and with encouragement from Ted and Chris, we got it out of gear and fueled up in time to make the grid.

I planned to start off in second avoiding first gear, but on the start I was in fourth instead of second and had a very slow launch when the green flag came out. Ray Santomo's VW Golf got by me and Debbie was on my bumper. I quickly sorted things out and set chase on the Golf. It took over half the race to catch him and I slipped by on the inside going into turn one. The Golf and Honda were always in my mirrors, but we hung on for a very satisfying first win.

A few weeks later at Mosport, things did not work out as well. The two Midgets of Ron Bartel and Dan Collishaw were way out front in a class of themselves. One of my Scirocco mentors, Johannes Krause, was third and I was a slim 15/1000 of a second behind him with Dave Hammer's Rabbit another second back. With some fresher rubber on the car, it looked like I would be in the middle of a fun 3-way VW battle.

Race day dawned sunny , but soon after the warm up black clouds rolled in and the rain started. We put our "rain" tires on, which are really an old set of hand cut intermediates. The track was very wet and the rain constant, this was a day for full rains.

I moved ahead of Johannes on the start and held it to Moss Corner. As soon as we got through 5C, Johannes pulled out and powered by me up the straight on his fresh Hoosier rains. A few laps later and Dave went by, there was nothing I could do as the rain was heavy. After a full course yellow and restart, it was clear that I had nothing to gain and drove to make the finish without bending the car.

Congratulations to Johannes and Dave who had close battle for the whole race and turned faster laps in the rain than the two Midgets!

July 11 we are off to Watkins Glen were there is an 8 car HP field entered including a rematch between the three VWs.

Getting ready to race

2009-05-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

With my son Theo, we took the Scirocco to Dunnville at the end of April to test with the VARAC group.

The car has a new head/valves/springs/cam, more compression and few other small mods that make a big boost in power. It was much more fun to drive and ran all day with no problems. Work has shifted to final prep for our first race of the year at Nelson Ledges, Ohio. I have not raced at Nelson since 2001 in the Mini and am really looking forward to it.

Tom Davey 3 Time GT3 National Champion

2009-03-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO won GT3 in 1980-81 and 1982. Picture taken at Summit Point national 1980.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27666849@N04/2946111466/in/set-72157605942449051/

Ex Boles HP Scirocco for sale

2009-03-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

For Sale, VW Scirocco 1600. Nationally competitive, has been running Regionally for last year. Won SARRC Championship in the hands of Dale Covington. This is my former HP Scirocco. The engine was freshened 1 race ago. Trans is good. (close ratio with limited slip)
Has double adjustable Motons. Tubular front lower control arms with rod ends. Momo seat, 8 Panasport wheels with Hoosiers, 4 alloys with mounted Hooiser rains.

This is a fresh great driving race car and probably the best deal on the market today.
$7500.00
$10,000 with Haulmark enclosed 20 ft.trailer
321-254-1344 (David Boles)
321-480-7575 (Dale Covington)

Volkswagen Racing Cup Scirocco revealed at the Autosport International

2009-01-28T09:17:00.001-08:00

Nurburgring 24-hour race - Lexus LF-A and VW Scirocco

2008-11-26T11:41:00.001-08:00

Scirocco build.mov

2008-11-26T11:10:00.001-08:00

A languishing ITC Scorocco is transformed into a SCCA H Production racer over four years. From Georgia to Wakins Glen via Mid-Ohio and Etobicoke.

Vw Scirocco 16V

2008-09-29T20:13:00.001-07:00

VW Race Scirocco - 24hr Nurburgring 2008

2008-09-21T18:08:00.001-07:00

Hans Paulitsch at Bergrennen Wolsfeld Hill Climb 2008

2008-07-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

So that's how you shift...

2007 SCCA H Production National Championship race

2008-07-18T07:15:00.001-07:00

Don Barrack's Scirocco briefly has the lead.

Watkins Glen National

2008-07-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

Going on track at Watkins Glen

After running the SCCA National at Mosport two weeks ago, we headed to Watkins Glen NY for the 61st Glen National. The weekend produced mixed results for us. The Scirocco ran well all weekend other than a small transmission leak that we fixed with the help of fellow racer Johannes Krause. Race results were a little disappointing with a 5th place finish in the pouring rain. There are some gearing and engine options to consider before the next event.

Scirocco wins June Sprints

2008-06-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

Bob Kelly won the H Production class at the 2008 June Sprints at Road America in his Mk. II 1.8 Scirocco.

1977 Nurburgring

2008-06-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Jagermeister Scirocco at Nurburgring during the 1977 European Touring Car Championship. 1st in Division 2.

Volkswagen 24-Hour Race Scirocco

2008-06-16T08:18:00.001-07:00

Sciroccos at Nürburgring 24-hour

2008-06-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

May 26, 2008

The new VW Scirocco GT24 finished first and second in class at the Nurburgring 24 hour race.

24 Hour story

2008-06-02T08:49:00.001-07:00

In contrast to the new Scirocco factory racing effort is the original Scirocco factory car. This German Touring Car Scirocco was dispatched to the US to race in the Category II class of the Trans-Am Series.

2008-05-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Just awesome. 16 valves, close ratio sequential shift.

VW Scirocco at SMP

2008-05-26T08:49:00.001-07:00

Shannonville, May 23, 2008.
We went to our second test day at Shannonville, this time with the Thousand Islands Z Car club. After running all of the morning sessions, trying out different settings, the transmission linkage broke in the first run after lunch.

The new 5-speed close ratio will go in before the NY Region national at Mosport.

Volkswagen Scirocco - Design Interview (Part 1 of 2)

2008-05-17T19:57:00.001-07:00

Joe Camilleri's test day

2008-05-15T13:47:00.001-07:00

I thought that I'd catch up everyone who has offered encouragement, information or received parts for me on the status of my HP Scirocco project.

After four years of a bare shell up build, it's almost finished! On Friday night my son Theo and I loaded it up and on Saturday we headed to the Dunville, ON test track to run a practice day with the vintage club VARAC.

Getting started was not an easy task. After some usual first time probs with the trailer, like no working lights, we loaded up the car and the van. Earlier in the week, the trailer got new tires and wheels and the van got new brakes. On our first attempt to roll the car on to the trailer a ramp popped up and pierced the spoiler breaking off a brake duct. Sigh... the perfect new car just lost its cherry. A few rivets and some racer's tape later, we were ready to go.

We got to the track with no problems, unloaded without doing any more damage and went out for the first session. The plan was to do a few slow laps and come in to look for stuff; leaking, spraying, rubbing, falling off, smoking, burning, rattling around, etc. Nothing. Car was bone dry so we went back out.

The welded diff is a bear to drive at low speed. I was getting used to it and the track but screwed up a slow turn by going too slow (gas on to turn) and pushed off to the outside of the track and smashed up the spoiler in the same spot and dented the fender. Merde.

After taping it up we went back out four more times, each session getting faster. On the last session I flogged it and was the fastest car on track among a mixed bag of vintage racers (944s to MGAs). Steering with the throttle is fun once you get used to it, but it's very tricky at low speed. (I have a 5-speed with an LSD that needs a rebuild to go in later.)

I can't really say how fast it is, it certainly doesn't have the torque of my old GT5 Mini or that coming-on-the-cam-here-we-go feel, it's more of a momentum car. The O2 sensor seemed to be out of its range so maybe it's running too rich, I have to look into that. The track was too small and tight to compare to any that we race on. Handling was OK, turn-in and brakes were good. The temps and oil pressure were all fine, all we did was check tire pressures, wheel torque and put some gas in. I must say that I am really amazed at that. I decided to not mess with things and get maximum track time.

I have to do something with the gas pedal, it's too low and makes heel'n toe hard sometimes.

All in all, it was a good test. I got comfortable with the car and remembered how to pack the van and go racing after six years off. Besides bodywork, there's some work to do on the trailer. It needs all new wiring for the lights and brakes, I have to install a controller in the van and fix the trailer fenders and tie downs.

I haven't decided which race to go to first. Mosport in June makes some sense but it would be fun to go where there are some cars to run with. If a lot of cars are going to Nelson at the end of the month we may go there, if not there's a test day at Shannonville that same weekend. For sure we will be at the Glen in July as my crew chief Ned is flying in from Oregon to help out. He already has his room booked at the Lodge.

Thanks to everyone who helped me get this far, I hope to see you on track soon.

Joe

For anyone interested, the whole story is here: http://gallery.mac.com/joecam06#100008

New Scirocco goes to Nurburgring

2008-05-15T13:32:00.001-07:00

Europe is waiting in great anticipation for the new Volkswagen Scirocco which will hit showrooms this autumn. Before that time comes Volkswagen wants to underline the following point, that the Scirocco is not just a revived icon but a revived icon that can hold its own in the Green Hell. After all, thats where most VW enthusiasts will take their new Scirocco every chance they get.
Yesterday VW took the Scirocco race version to the Nurburgring for the first time, after being tested at the Spreewaldring and Oschersleben track in April. Volkswagen factory driver Dieter Depping was the lucky person to lap the (in)famous track in Germany.
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen said: "The new Scirocco was in its element from its very first lap around the Nordschleife. The car also ran perfectly on this unique and difficult track. Now it's a just a question of preparing the three Scirocco perfectly for the race. After all, the 24-hours is a merciless test for man and machine.”
The three race Sciroccos will enter the race, the first driven by Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers and Dieter Depping, the second by Jimmy Johansson, Thomas Mutsch and Francois Verbist and the third by Nurburgring legend Hans-Joachim Stuck, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg and Bernd Ostmann.
In preparation for the 24 Hours of Nurbirgring the three teams will have a chance to practice at the four-hour endurance race at the Nurburgring in VW Golf GTI R-Line's this saturday May 10.
Source: Volkswagen