Date:         Tue, 23 Apr 2002 20:32:11 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Stann <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
Subject:      Re: VANAGON DRAG RACES!......which is actually a faster
              Vanagon....th              e 1.9L timed at 5 degrees BTDC or the
              2.1L.......is there a              noticable dif ference?
Comments: To: "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> I'm in So Cal and would like to know if anyone has any experience with
> competitive driving between the 1.9L and the 2.1L.......
> My 85' Westy w/ low compression on two of the cyl's still does 70 mph on
the
> flats......and will keep up with any vanagon, except when
> we come to a significant hill....that's when the low compression really
> shows.......

I 'raced' an '89 Westy with my Westy.  The '89 had tiny, and worn, 185 R 14
tires while my '85 not only sits about two inches higher, it also wear
gumball 27x8.5R14 tires.   My 1.9L does have advanced timing and the '85 is
a 'weekender' Westy, while the '89 is a full conversion.  We were both at
about 60 traveling up a slight incline and floored it at the same time.  The
'89 slowly, and I mean SLOWLY, inched ahead of me.  The smaller tires and
the 2.1L has gave it an advantage in that run.  The '89's engine revs
noticeably better with seemingly higher power at upper RPM, while my 1.9
just doesn't seem that eager to rev.  This was true before I put the larger
tires on and advanced the timing.

Keeping the above in mind... I recently took a trip south to the beach.  My
Dad was eager to drive the Westy, while I drove his new PT Cruiser, aka PT
Looser.  I locked the cruise at 80 MPH and the Westy kept up admirably never
getting very far behind.  About 100 miles later when we stopped at a gas
station, my dad asked why I didn't go any faster.  Hmmmmm....

Chris,

'85 Westy.