By John Doonan
We all dream of the day when we come across the perfect specimen for our next race car. For some of us it comes in the form of a co-worker’s beater as it sputters into the office lot. For others it may be the nose of a car that sticks out the end of a barn we spot as we scream…
This is one of the coolest things I've ever read, especially 'cause they're beetles 
This article was in the very first issue of GRM that I ever bought.
What year did this appear?
This is from the January 1998 issue
Ed Higginbotham wrote: This is from the January 1998 issue
Yep. If you click the link to read the full article, you'll get the issue info.
Welcome to our vault.
Interesting: I've been reading GRM longer than I've been driving RX-7s. I bought my first one in the spring of '98.
(it was that, or a new 2.5RS, but dammit I wanted a four door and it was only available as a 2 door)
Knurled wrote: Interesting: I've been reading GRM longer than I've been driving RX-7s. I bought my first one in the spring of '98. (it was that, or a new 2.5RS, but dammit I wanted a four door and it was only available as a 2 door)
Pretty sure RX-7s were only available as 2 doors as well...
I liked that. Thank you.
I have seen more and more bugs getting dusted off and getting back on the road the last few years including buses going 50 in the slow lane on I5. It used to irritate me.. now I'm charmed.
Look at those racing porsches.
Okay, here's an idea. Why aren't we funding Civic class? Fifth and sixth gen Civics, power-to-weight equalization through ballast, 200TW tires, and upgrades limited to an oil cooler, coilovers, sway bars, pads, and discs. Including a cage, seat, harness, and fire extinguisher a 96 Sedan built to spec would be around $5k. On RacingJunk, the average Spec Miata is somewhere around $9500, so there very well could be a sizable market for a sort-of "Civic Spec."
Bought my first issue of Grassroots when it was still Auto-X, then lost track of it (no pun intended) for a year or two. Remember that the issue that introduced me to Grassroots had a comparo between the 240Z and the 240SX.
As a former owner of a 69 bug, I am always interested in beetle articles. Just this week I found a Love Bug on a local Craigslist.
As one who still races with MCSCC I knew a few of the drivers mentioned personally. Sadly a few are no longer with us.
Everyone enjoying these throwback articles?
And yes, the author is the very same John Doonan who's currently the president of IMSA. 
Taking notes on how I can make my Beetle look cooler and perform a better.
I lnow this is super old bit figured I would chime in. There is a dude Rob up in Pennsylvania that has a bug all done like these that he hillclimbs. It is freaking awesome and hands down the loudest car I've ever heard. When we would run pagoda and dureya I was always down around the start because I was the safety truck guy and when he would pull up I'd have to go around and get all the parents to cover their kids ears. It made the guys running stock cars sound quiet. I'll have to see if I can dig up some pics of it.
VWs also ruled NHRA in the early 70s ,
NHRA kept changing the class rules so that VWs would not beat Detroit , but the VWs always figured a way around them .
if you want to see some fast Bugs , check out KaferCup in Europe
Plus there are VW Bug "Fusca" races on YouTube from Brazilo
There was a very quick Beetle at the Put-In-Bay Road Race this year - piloted by Greg Limber. Lots of fun to watch!
Photo credit Susan Novak Byrnes
In reply to RonnieFnD :
A friend had a street rail with a very hot 2276 and a megaphone exhaust. It was the loudest street car I've ever heard. Makes my lungs feel like they're rattling in my chest.
Long ago and far away we would trek to Blackhawk Farms, set up camp and watch these VWs and Volvos tear around the track. It was a time before most of the readers of this magazine were born. And, it was a blast.
In reply to the staff of Motorsport Marketing :
I don't need to zoom in.....I have the magazine in my archives....
G_Body_Man said:Okay, here's an idea. Why aren't we funding Civic class? Fifth and sixth gen Civics, power-to-weight equalization through ballast, 200TW tires, and upgrades limited to an oil cooler, coilovers, sway bars, pads, and discs. Including a cage, seat, harness, and fire extinguisher a 96 Sedan built to spec would be around $5k. On RacingJunk, the average Spec Miata is somewhere around $9500, so there very well could be a sizable market for a sort-of "Civic Spec."
Not sure about the $5K estimate, but otherwise, this is just the old Improved Touring race class, but limited to civics.
Did those VW classes allow for the Karmann Ghia bodies variants? Better aero on those....
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