Date:         Wed, 31 Mar 2004 07:40:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Harold Harper <smugboys@INTRSTAR.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Harold Harper <smugboys@INTRSTAR.NET>
Subject:      Re: On the issue of Drag Coefficient, etc.

I have an '82 Westy that I bought about 6 months ago and has not been my
daily drive for several reasons, but my usual daily drive ('90 Subaru Justy)
is out of service for about a week causing me to drive the Westfalia. Last
week during windy weather I noticed that it steered with difficulty and I
attributed the problem to the wind as someone else on the list posted. But
for the last couple of days I have driven the Westy in almost no wind
conditions and noticed that the front wheels feel very light while steering.
What brought this post up was the post by Joy Hecht of Tuesday, March 30 in
which she commented on steering problems with her Westy with the boat on top
which she attributed to the wind. But in looking at the profile picture of
Joy's Westy without the boat on top on her web site (her latest entry) it
appears that her Westy shows signs of a slight "squat " in the rear as if
she, like me, carries a lot of "stuff" under the rear seat which could cause
the Westy to be tail heavy or otherwise out of balance. I should note that
my driving involves no additional passengers nor do I have an aux. battery
behind the driver's seat as added ballast up front. Any comments about
finding the center of gravity in a Westy, or such comments re handling
problems?

Harold W. Harper
2868 Beatty's Bridge Road
Atkinson, N.C. 28421-9372
(910) 283-1232