My personal Rabbit diesel landspeed record

[MrDave]

1982 Rabbit Pickup with ALH TDI

200kph / 124mph @ 4500 rpm

(175/70/13s, 3.42R&P, 0.71 5th)

I had to get somewhere quick...


4500 rpm is just 200 rpm shy of the TDI's redline.  I'm quite sure I could've made it to redline, but I was buzzing along at 16-18psi on the boost gauge, and I've heard bad bad things about these VNT-15 turbos at high boost levels above 4000 rpms, so I chickened out for that extra 200rpm/10kph/6mph.

Test performed on a secondary highway in rural Alberta with zero traffic.
I may risk my safety, but I won't risk the safety of others.


-Dave

[BlackTieTD]

saw that on 'the other forum'.

nice numbers dave.

i was hoping to put up some impressive top speed numbers of my own but i doubt i'll reach 200km/h. shooting for 180km/h with the 1.6TD.

[VWRacer]

Not bad, Dave! The WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD for a G/DT (1.5l - 2.0l diesel pickup) is 129 MPH!

[MrDave]

Not bad, Dave! The WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD for a G/DT (1.5l - 2.0l diesel pickup) is 129 MPH!

Wow.


I mean, wow.


I could do that.


Quite easily, too.


taller tires,  autotech's 020 3.32 R&P, my 3.16 02A....


I could do that.


What's the proceedure for that?  Hit the salt flats during some official racing week or something?   Might be a nice vacation....

Nice relaxing drive there, set a record, nice relaxing drive back....
("You didn't trailer your vehicle here?  You drove your car to the flats?  You drove it down from Canada?!?")


-Dave

[VWRacer]

I agree that you could probably do it, Dave. Lose some aero drag (lower the caddy, remove the mirrors, smooth front end, add cap over bed, etc.), and run to max RPM and you'd almost certainly go over 130.  To set a new record, you have to beat the old record by 1% or more on 2 runs within 1 hour of each other. The current G/DT record is actually 129.665 MPH, so to set a record your two runs would have to average 129.665 + 1% = 130.962 MPH...call it 131 MPH. The nearest place to you that I know of for setting land speed records is Bonneville Salt Flats just off Interstate 80 in extreme western Utah, near the town of Wendover.

You can see the (unofficial) diesel land speed records by clicking on the records link here. There are links to all the major sanctioning bodies on this page, as well. Be sure to read their rule books, as safety is paramount. Racing is usually done in August and September.

And yes, full points for coolness are awarded to those who drive their steeds to the flats.

[BlackTieTD]

go for it dave! you already have the cap  :lol:

[MK3 GTD]

man, do i need your gear ratios, i've hit 200 kph with my AAZ MK3 Golf but i was sitting at around 5500 RPM with 175/70R13s (alloys off my rabbit)

[MrDave]

man, do i need your gear ratios, i've hit 200 kph with my AAZ MK3 Golf but i was sitting at around 5500 RPM with 175/70R13s (alloys off my rabbit)

Yeah, the 3.42 020 R&P is made of unobtanium.
Oddly enough, though, there is 3.48 or a 3.40 or something which was
used in the early Dodge Omni.   If you didn't know, the early Omnis used VW engines and 020 transmissions....


So for a quick calculation:
02A TDI transmission, 3.16 final drive, 0.72 5th gear, yeilds a redline velocity of 223 kph, or 139mph.

But I'd have to locate the 5th gearset from an 02A CHA tranny.
The stock 5th gear for the CTN (what I have) is a 0.76, which yeilds
212kph or 131mph @ redline.

Though, 5000 rpm would take it to 140mph.

Keep in mind the aerodynamics of a Rabbit more closely resemble a brick than a high speed salt flat racer.


-Dave

[fspGTD]

man, do i need your gear ratios, i've hit 200 kph with my AAZ MK3 Golf but i was sitting at around 5500 RPM with 175/70R13s (alloys off my rabbit)

Yeah, the 3.42 020 R&P is made of unobtanium.
Oddly enough, though, there is 3.48 or a 3.40 or something which was
used in the early Dodge Omni.   If you didn't know, the early Omnis used VW engines and 020 transmissions....


So for a quick calculation:
02A TDI transmission, 3.16 final drive, 0.72 5th gear, yeilds a redline velocity of 223 kph, or 139mph.

But I'd have to locate the 5th gearset from an 02A CHA tranny.
The stock 5th gear for the CTN (what I have) is a 0.76, which yeilds
212kph or 131mph @ redline.

Though, 5000 rpm would take it to 140mph.

Keep in mind the aerodynamics of a Rabbit more closely resemble a brick than a high speed salt flat racer.


-Dave

Go for the record Dave!  

If a little more speed is all you need, you could put on some 185/70/13s too and go from 23.19" diameter to 23.74" diameter.  That would get you another 2.5% (3mph) with no change in engine RPM.

PS - maybe you can remove your tailgate for better aerodynamics.

Edit: do you have A-pillar fairings?  They are supposedly good for reducing the drag coefficient by 10+%!  Factory pieces, bolt on perfectly too I might add (assuming you've got the rubber-gasketed front window not the urethane-bonded style.)

[MrDave]

The pickup has a cap on it, currently.
The cap will stay till I can get my bodywork done (it's been siliconed on by the previous owner)

As for the pillar flarings, I don't have a set,  but I figure that alot of aerodynamic issues can be fixed with duct tape...

As for tires, I was kinda thinking of stepping down to 155-80-13s.
Narrower, less rolling resistance, that sort of thing.


You know, and getting those cool smooth hubcaps.


The whole concept seems incredibly odd.
Basically, the record is so low that anybody who was willing to put even a little effort in could set a new record.

'course, it would be kinda cool to be able to claim that my daily driver, besides being an obscure 20+ year old VW Rabbit Pickup, gives me 50+ MPG, can go over 1200 kms on a tank of fuel, and is the current world land speed recold holder...

-Dave

[VWRacer]

Exciting, isn't it...? :wink:  

And I just took a look at the G/DS (diesel streamliner 1.5l to 2.0l) record, which is where my CSR would fit in...and it's just 145 MPH. Heck, I've already calculated that my car can reach 125 on the 3/4 mile-long main straight away at Thunderhill in its high downforce setup! Take the wing off and put in a 10:31 R&P, and 150 MPH is certainly within reason.

Don't get distracted, Stan. Don't get distracted... :roll:

[cheng]

c'mon you know you want it!

not too much of a distraction :wink:
and just think of the bragging rights!

the sponsers would be lining up to have their logo next to your " WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD  HOLDER" blazing forth from the side of your car!

[VWRacer]

Oh...don't think it hasn't crossed my mind!

Off to Laguna Seca...back Sunday night.

[fspGTD]

Good luck at Laguna Seca Stan!  Are you racing the Sports Racer with the GTI engine?

[VWRacer]

No, Jake. I was engineering for one of the teams that I do that for. This weekend is a 4-day break for me, so I am hoping to get my CSR track-ready then.