Desert Dingo Racing

Author: Jim

The car
Class 11 is limited to pre-1983 Volkswagen Beetles and allows for minor modifications to the engine, transmission and suspension. You can buy a race-prepped Class 11 for $7,000, but truly competitive cars cost quite a bit more. As one racer told us, “The secret to winning in a stock class is to be as un-stock as possible.”

Here are stats on the car, which, at various times, has carried the numbers 1101, 1102, 1107 and 1146. It is currently 1107:

Model — 1969 Volkswagen Beetle
Engine — Air cooled, four cylinder
Horsepower (est.) — 72-76
Compression Ratio — 10:1
Displacement — 1600cc
Top Speed — 75 MPH (downhill w/a tailwind)
Transmission — 4 speed manual
Fuel — 110 octane race fuel
Fuel cell — 15 gallon front mounted
Front/Rear Suspension — Bilstein prototype “Ensenada” race package
Chassis — Standard reinforced VW chassis
Body Length — 153 inches
Body Width — 65 inches
Height — 65 inches
Weight — 2,150 lbs. – fueled
Gear Ratio — 3.80 to 0.88:1
Wheel Base — 94.5 inches
Wheels — Steel 15″ x 4.5″
Front/Rear Brakes — Drum w/brass-lined brake pads
Front/Rear Tires – Vary by race course
Front clearance — 14 inches
Rear clearance — 13.75 inches
GPS – Lowrance 5200C
Radio – Rugged Radios VX2200 VHF mobile radio and an RRP660 intercom
Sat comm – Prototype satellite communications system from EMS Sky Connect w/a backup Iridium phone
Tracking – Mandatory IRITrack GPS unit (for Baja 1000 only)

Suspension:
- Front axle tubes may be cut, rotated, re-welded to increase ground clearance or front torsion adjusters may be installed
- Shock tower may be gusseted and supported but gussets may not extend more than 2” above the torsion tube
- Stock front spindles and trailing arms must be retained
- Any rear suspension torsion bars, spring plates, and torsion bar adjusters may be used and installed
- Rear torsion tube may be supported only by that tube meeting a part of the roll-cage
- Lower shock mounts on 1969 and older models may be shortened by no more than 1.5”
- Only one shock absorber per wheel is allowed.
- Cooling fins and resevoirs are allowed
Engine and Drive train:
- Must be of VW Type 1, 1600cc components and dimensions
- Cylinder heads must be single port
- Stock carburetor must be used, with maximum venturi size of 24.10 mm.
- Must use stock fan shroud
- Air cleaner may be of any manufacturer and any size; location is open
- Transmission must be a stock Type 1, four-speed Bug
October 8, 2015
VORRA Fallon 250

Crusty’s hauler is resurrected.

We wanted to put 1107 through a shakedown in preparation for the this year’s Baja 1000 and those of us who weren’t at Burning Man ran VORRA’s Fallon 250 race. Technically we got first in the Class 11s, but since we were the only one running, it doesn’t really count.

Basically between now and November we’re focused on race prep for the 1000. (And a couple of other things we can’t talk about 🙂

September 23, 2015
Meet 1107B

Volkswagen of America contacted us to inquire about having 1107 on static display in Detroit later this month and in Washington D.C. as part of Red Bull’s Global Rallycross races. (As you know, 1107 and a VW raced by some guy named Tanner Foust both appear in Forza Horizon 2).

So I called Romy and “Can we do this?” and he said “No way, the car’s in a million pieces getting ready for Vegas 2 Reno.” Ok, so I get that.

So I call my dear friend Cyrus Roohi of GFP Motorsports, who raced the Baja 1000 with us back in 2013 and we make a deal to have his car (which is in one piece) as 1107 and have it go on display. He was like “Hell yeah!” and VW of America was like “Let’s do this!” Our sponsor Mad Media, which did the design for 1107’s wrap fired off the digital files to Pure Graphix in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Lifetime LED Lights shipped Cyrus a 30-inch and a 13-inch light bar to complete the look. The awesome folks at Bilstein are also helping us out with some new shock housings. (Thank you all very, very, very much).

1107B was buttoned up earlier this week and loaded on an automobile shipper on Wednesday headed for Detroit. 1107B will be on display at the Detroit Global Rallycross race July 25-26 and then in Washington, D.C. on August 15. Once the races are over, VWoA is dropping the car back off at Cyrus’s place, though it’s street legal and he could probably drive it from the DC display if he were so inclined.

There may be more in the works…

Here’s more photos from the wrap session.

July 22, 2015
Desert Dingo on NBC

We got knocked out of the race when we were hit from behind at this year’s Mint 400, but we did make the July 12 NBC coverage of the race. (That’s us in the background).

Seriously, it’s amazing the helicopter can even keep up with us when we’re pushing 70 horsepower

This happens a lot. Thank you Josh and Matt Martelli and everyone at Mad Media for including us in the coverage.

The NBC show also included some of LeRoy Wickham’s photos from his 1967 record-setting off road trip from Las Vegas to Lake Tahoe that was the inspiration for the Mint 400.

This is them arriving at Lake Tahoe in the two Koyote off road buggies.

July 12, 2015
The band

Crusty was celebrating the 10th anniversary of him having a stroke and invited a bunch of us over to his place for a little party. This was the first time most of us have been together since the Mint 400 and it sort of had the feeling of a band getting together for the first time after taking some time off after a long tour.

1107 is now in Carson City and Romy, Jenn and Crusty are taking the lead on getting a few things done that we’ve been meaning to do for years. We’re shooting for Vegas to Reno but our main goal for this year is the 1000.

Got something interesting in the works. Should be able to announce it in a few days.

I think we might also be getting a cameo in the Sunday, July 12 coverage of the Mint 400 on NBC – 11:30 a.m. Pacific / 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.

It’s amazing the stuff you find around Crusty’s cabin.

July 3, 2015