Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 15:06:07 -0500
Reply-To: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Speed
In-Reply-To: <4.3.1.20051121111413.021f0c50@fire.biol.wwu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
How fast if you factor in the time change?
On 11/21/05, Don Williams <williams@fire.biol.wwu.edu> wrote:
> Westfalia ---85 1.9 stock waterboxer
>
> 195 MPH top speed. I live in Bellingham and can make it to Seattle (90
> miles away) in about one-half hour, if the traffic is light. Glad you
> asked----as a Westfalia owner, speed has always been a top priority in my life.
>
>
>
> Bruce Nadig schrieb:
> > Howdy All,
> >
> > As some of you may know, I recently relocated from Austin, Texas to
> > Seattle,
> > Washington. Unfortunately, this was largely due to divorce.
> >
> > However, I had a wonderful opportunity for reflection, introspection, and
> > even some fun on my cross-country drive in my Vanagon from Austin to
> > Seattle
> > (trip report to come shortly).
> >
> > Now for the irresponsible part. I know that this is a very politically
> > incorrect topic, but what the heck? Out of curiosity, what is the top
> > speed
> > you have been able to achieve in your Vanagons?
> >
> > Please respond with speed and type of engine configuration you
> > achieved that
> > speed with. Also indicate if you were driving a passenger van, camper
> > version, or Syncro. I'm interested in everything from the early
> > air-cooled
> > motors, all the way up to the crazy engine conversions. While I'm mostly
> > interested in speed achieved on flat roads it might be interesting to see
> > what a Vanagon can do on a seriously steep downhill stretch.
> >
> > For me, I have an '87 hard-top passenger GL. My engine is a 3.2 liter
> > Porsche 911 Carrera motor and Porsche G50 5-speed. The Vanagon is
> > equipped
> > with Bilstein shocks and H&R lowering springs. I have no spare tire or
> > tire
> > carrier up front, so that probably hurt aerodynamics a bit. I had the van
> > loaded (but by no means overloaded) as I moved cross-country. I was
> > using my
> > new Garmin c340 GPS (highly recommended) unit as an honest measure
> > because
> > the speedo just isn't accurate over 100 (I've even had my speedo
> > calibrated
> > to the Porsche wheel/tire combination I am running).
> >
> > In Arizona on a cool, sunny morning I was able to achieve an honest GPS
> > verified 125 mph. This was done on flat, straight pavement with excellent
> > visibility. That speed was done in 4th gear. I discovered that 5th
> > gear is
> > strictly for economy. The van would always go faster in 4th than it
> > would in
> > 5th.
> >
> > Later in Washington I tired another couple high speed runs, but I had
> > some
> > aerodynamic issues (see upcoming trip report). During the Washington runs
> > the best I got was 115 mph. I can easily believe that my aerodynamic
> > issues
> > cost me at least 5 mph. Who knows where the last 5 mph when?
> >
> > Anyhow, let's hear from ya'll. How fast? What configuration? Bring it on.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Bruce
> > motorbruce@hotmail.com
> >
> >
>
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