#VW BEETLE CIRCUIT RACER DRIVER#
I’ve got a front-wheel drive, watercooled, not-quite-as-powerful and slightly heavier one” says Cowland, preparing the first of many Racing Driver Excuses we’d hear during the day. “Drew’s got a rear-drive, aircooled, light and powerful car. With both Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars presenters owning old VWs, what better opportunity to see who is faster (or, the loser might counter, who has the faster car) in the white heat of competition? We’re not here to compare paint jobs though. It’s always looked after me, and I’ve always looked after it.” The rivalry builds Photo: Barry Hayden Since then the presenter has raced it in various series including the VAG Trophy and Production GTI, plus taken it around the ‘Ring and more. Originally built and raced with a friend, Cowland had “a bit of a to-do at Paddock Hill bend” around 13 years ago and bought the car for a bargain price. If I can get into the 15-16 second range, I’ll be happy.”Ĭowland’s steed is similarly mixed-use. “Changes for today are… zero!” says Pritchard. With the car recently running flat out at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting, surely there have been a few tweaks for this new, somewhat hilly and rather shorter environment? Pritchard points out its twin 48s, highlights its straight-cut gearbox and Quaife diff, and notes a suitably powerful braking setup with Type 3 rear drums and front discs hidden inside the drums. With a 2007cc flat four from engine builder Ian Clark – running unspecified power, but enough to be competitive at Goodwood – that’s no great surprise. They’re from a 356, so I can get enough torque in them, because the rear wheels were coming loose and the rear brakes were falling off…” “It’s got two Porsche parts on there: the two rear hub nuts. “Everybody says, ‘Oh, it’s got a Porsche engine’, but it hasn’t” he says.
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