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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
Comments: To: Don Williams <williams@fire.biol.wwu.edu>
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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