Date:         Mon, 21 Nov 2005 11:18:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Williams <williams@FIRE.BIOL.WWU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Williams <williams@FIRE.BIOL.WWU.EDU>
Subject:      Speed
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

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
 >
 >