VIC VW Portland

[VWMAT5]

Hi Everyone,

I trust you all had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year break.

Like most things during the January/February period, time gets away, and incredibly, there are only 5 weeks left till entry cut-off and 6 weeks left to VW Portland on February 19th-21st. If you haven't already, then visit www.vwma.net.au for the weekend programme and activities, which includes dune buggy fun on the Friday. There are some conditions and a need to register interest for the Friday buggies, so please see the VWMA website for details.

Thanks goes to Scott Cleary from SouthCoast Raceway and Jamie Pridham from the Portland Dune Buggy club for assisting me with the continuation of the VW Portland weekend. For those unaware, last year the Portland council imposed a restriction on all Sunday drag racing for 2010, largely in response to noise concerns. However, the council were gracious enough to hear the merits of a proposal for making one exception and allowing the all Volkswagen weekend to continue. With support from the local people, the VW Portland weekend was fortunate to be given the nod. This makes the event quite unique for SouthCoast raceway, and I strongly encourage as many VW drivers and spectators to attend the weekend to demonstrate that the VW drag racing community is appreciative of the opportunity to continue with the two day racing format. I know from past years the event has become increasingly popular, so I'm confident that VWMA and the SouthCoast Raceway can continue to host the weekend each year.

For the watercooled guys, I haven't as yet had any entries for watercooled cars for Portland since the inception of the event in 2008. I do have a bracket set aside, and the weekend offers an excellent opportunity to legally hammer your car for two straight days. Pass the word around, and see whether the scene can muster together a few numbers for the watercooled bracket.

See you on the track.

Cheers
Craig

[Oneofthegreats]

G'day Craig.

Thanks for the heads up about this. Its been in the back of my mind for quite some time to enter this & thought I'd look into it.

I know its a 1/8th mile track & from what I've heard people say about it, its an awesome venue with good track prep & condition's.

The $30 Fri night street racing is also a definite winner too. Calder charge double that & your lucky to get in 3 runs!

One thing that is alittle annoying to me is for a VW drag racing weekend is on the expensive side.

I mean the Fri. night event is $30 buck's. Awesome value.

But $150 for 2 days of racing is on the steep side.

Then if you want to race in the shootout its another $70.

If you work it all out for the weekend for the all the entries/racing, food etc its a $300 event & you haven't even paid to get there yet! You can camp which is the only bonus



To me it seem’s like the VW club of OZ are getting alittle bit too greedy!

You can go & race at Heathcote for 2 days & it only costs $100 & its a full 1/4 mile. Its also about the same distance for the Melb./Geelong crew too, so travel costs are roughly the same.



Not even Easternats, Powercruise or even Summernats + other awesome long weekend events cost that much & you get 3-4 days of an action packed weekend & I mean crazy action incl. drag racing!


I'm all for drag racing & promoting VW drag racing & actually have a VW worth racing, but I think I'll go the the massive muscle car, hotrod & custom show at the Melb. show grounds & save my money.



Just my two cents

[Preen59]

Good to see some VW drag events going on.

But, i'm with Tim on this one.....

I'm (obviously) all for supporting drag racing.. And VW drag racing is two of my interests combined, but those prices are pretty steep.

[VWMAT5]

Hey guys,

No dramas with the fee criticism. I'll share some of what is involved when you decide to run a race meet, in this case a weekend for VW drag racing.

Half of the $150 fee goes straight to SouthCoast Raceway and ANDRA. The other half helps (it doesn't cover it all) towards track hire, extra facilities for the weekend and the costs involved in organising 'x' number of people to go racing - ticketing, programming, licence requirements, etc. Sponsors such as Mick Motors and VWMA meet the shortfall.

There's no money to be made with a VW drag racing event, that's why it's taken so long for a sucker like me to step up to the plate. I don't need to run them, but the VW guys and gals enjoy them, the events have gained the VW scene some great exposure and I haven't learnt to say no yet.

No one has to come along, but if you do you will have a great time amongst Volkswagen people and cars, rather than lost in a crowd of muscle heads.

Cheers
Craig

[Preen59]

No one has to come along, but if you do you will have a great time amongst Volkswagen people and cars, rather than lost in a crowd of muscle heads.

Cheers
Craig

I mean no malice in what i said. And i understand it isn't cheap. I was involved in Kart Racing for 12 years...

I'll most likely be there as i've planned to come down for a bit over a week for SEDF and stay for the drags and the muscle car show the following week..

Sorry but i don't understnad the Musclehead comment? I'm involved in both sides and i don't really consider either crowd to be a bad bunch of people.. At the end of the day, there's going to be SOME tossers no matter where you go.

[VWMAT5]

Even the V8 crowd that I sometimes mix with are happy to be called muscle heads - they wear it as a badge of honour! Go figure.

At major open meets, the VWs are pushed to the back paddock, along with every other competitor who is not top billing. That's the way it is I guess. At Portland, the VWs are top billing - makes for a nice change.

[whiteVR6]

Will be heading to this event
Racing the VR6 again

im really hoping some more watercooled cars turn up so im not out numbered again!

[whiteVR6]

Hey guys,

No dramas with the fee criticism. I'll share some of what is involved when you decide to run a race meet, in this case a weekend for VW drag racing.

Half of the $150 fee goes straight to SouthCoast Raceway and ANDRA. The other half helps (it doesn't cover it all) towards track hire, extra facilities for the weekend and the costs involved in organising 'x' number of people to go racing - ticketing, programming, licence requirements, etc. Sponsors such as Mick Motors and VWMA meet the shortfall.

There's no money to be made with a VW drag racing event, that's why it's taken so long for a sucker like me to step up to the plate. I don't need to run them, but the VW guys and gals enjoy them, the events have gained the VW scene some great exposure and I haven't learnt to say no yet.

No one has to come along, but if you do you will have a great time amongst Volkswagen people and cars, rather than lost in a crowd of muscle heads.

Cheers
Craig

You do a great job Craig your efforts are really appreciated maybe not by all but certianly by some

[VWMAT5]

Hi Everyone,

Two of Australia's most fervent VW drag racing enthusiasts, Rod Penrose and Mike Kristen, will again light up the tyres at VW Portland for 2010. As well as being huge supporters of the Oz straight line racing scene, (and excited that a VW only series is now running successfully in Australia), both Rod and Mike set the bench mark for performance and craftmanship. Rod will front with his ever reliable and quick 1968 Chop Top Bug, while Mike will once again shake the ground with The Twins Ghia. Also joining the blown ranks will be Darren Hobson in the re-birthed Cranky II! The sight and sound of these three cars alone will impress the Portland locals.

Honour for the first official entry to reach the VWMA inbox is shared between Paul Kennedy and Jeff Sable, both from South Australia. Only a cyber beat separated their official receipt.

There are only 3 weeks to the entry cut-off date of February 12th, and if you are intending to race, I would appreciate an entry as early as possible to facilitate the paperwork. The Friday dune buggy activity also requires an expression of interest to me by the same date for catering purposes.

And yes, the Tappet Cover Racing will be held on the Saturday night in the SouthCoast Raceway club rooms.

Cheers
Craig

[VWMAT5]

There are now only three weeks to go to the event and two weeks until entry cut-off. If you are intending to compete, please visit http://www.vwma.net.au and either complete the entry form online or post in a hard copy (there is a PDF version available).

This year, thanks to Rod Penrose and VWMA, there are a number of additional cash incentives up for grabs.

1. Most Points - $150. Points are allocated for such things as round wins, best ET, fastest MPH, extra competition entry (Friday night Street drags, Chicago Shootout), best presented, etc. Last year Andrew Clarke from SA was the Portland points winner, as well as going on to win the series points competition for both Portland and Warwick.

2. Most Improved - $150. This is based on your overall performance for the weekend, and takes into account whether you are a rookie, class competing in, type of vehicle, etc.

3. Fastest Rookie - $150. Any class over the weekend.

4. Each Class winner is also awarded free entry to VW Warwick in October - Fastest 8, VW Aircooled, VW Watercooled, Specials, and VW Bodied Other Engine.

A unique VW Portland trophy is also awarded with all categories, including runner-up.

Cheers
Craig

[VWMAT5]

Hi All,

There is just over a week left until entry cut-off for VW Portland 2010. Entry forms can be found at www.vwma.net.au and can be completed online or posted to VWMA PO Box 3551 Loganholme Qld 4129.

This year gate passes, weekend information and the official programme will be available from me at the track on Friday at the VWMA trade stall. In previous years driver entry packs had been posted out prior to the event, however, this sometimes led to misplaced passes, etc, so I'm trailing this method for 2010. Gate staff at SouthCoast Raceway will have a competitor and crew list at the entry to the track to allow you access when first arriving. After that you will always need to have your weekend passes with you.

Mike Adi and the Goggomobil Supercharged Dart return for 2010, so if you missed the pocket rocket jelly bean last year, don't make the same mistake twice. Andrew Ermel is also set to defend his Fastest VW 8 crown, and rumour has it that a few more ponies have been found over the Christmas / New Year break.

Volkswagen Group Australia have come one board for VW Portland 2010, and full details of their involvement and participation will be revealed next week. A special thank you to David Brown, Trade Parts Manager VGA, for making possible this exciting development.

I'm in Melbourne this weekend (yes, driving to Melbourne twice in the same number of weeks - bonkers is the word you are looking for!!) to attend the first VW Watercooled show, SE DubsFest. I'll be promoting VW Portland at the show, so if you are in attendance and would like to know more about the drag racing weekend, particularly for the Watercooled bracket of racing, please come and see me at the VWMA trade stand.

See you on the track.

Cheers
Craig

[VWMAT5]

VW Portland - Extra VW Activities

As part of the VW Portland drag racing weekend there are a number of other VW activities on offer:

1. On the Friday there is dune buggy activity with the Portland Dune Buggy club;

2. A street parade and display through the Portland CBD and onto the foreshore on the Saturday morning;

3. VW Tappett Cover Racing on the Saturday evening;

4. Sunday Show'n'Shine at the track, judged by VWMA, with several categories and VW Portland trophies

All the information on these extra activities and the weekend of racing can be found at www.vwma.net.au

[WABIT]

im there craig! who wants to make a trip out of this? ive got spare seats, we can camp on site to save costs!!!

dom

[VWMAT5]

Hi All,

This is the final week for entries to VW Portland 2010. Entry forms can be found at www.vwma.net.au and can be completed online or posted to VWMA PO Box 3551 Loganholme Qld 4129.

As mentioned last week, Volkswagen Genuine Parts has come on board for VW Portland 2010 as a sponsor for the weekend. Thanks goes to David Brown, Trade Parts Manager for Volkswagen Group Australia, for making this possible. Information about Volkswagen Genuine Parts will be available at the VWMA trade stand and in the latest issue of VWMA.

Ross Freestone and Hounddog will make their debut Portland appearance for 2010. Ross had some minor issues at Warwick which have now been sorted, and he is looking forward to putting down some quick passes. Other interstaters making the trip include Peter Page (Qld), Chris Holland (NSW), Morgan Smith (NSW), Ryan Heymans (NSW), Rose Merrett (NSW) and Sebastion Nadjer (NSW). This year also sees a healthy watercooled bracket competing, from early Mk1s through to late model Audis. Matt Gardner, well known for his commentary at the Vic DOTVW has managed to have his early Mk1 finished and ready to give the 1/8th mile a blast!

Tappet Cover racing will again be held in the SouthCoast Raceway club rooms on the Saturday evening. Entry is free, and open to all ages. Rules and regulations regarding racing and building your Tappet Cover can be found on the VWMA website.

See you on the track.

Cheers
Craig

[76micro]

Hi Everyone

I have paid my entry for Portland and cant wait.

I took my bus last year and this event was one of the main motivations behind our Mk 1. The Golf is totaly stock, so if you are worried about not having a quick car dont. You will have a ball no matter what.

If you dont want to have a go then just come down and see what I am on about.

By the way, Great show last Sunday.

Cheers

Matt