IS 5/1600 a dieing class

[harleys dad]

Made the decision, started to work on one yesterday, I would say if your torsion housing is breaking out I would seriously question the way the cage is supporting it. Done rite it should not break!

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[Wilson]

I'm going to keep working on it. I was going to build my own cage but being so far up north there is no hands on help . So I will have a good cage car builder do the cage and I will take it from there.

So how could I get it done in Mexico? Could I take a pan and body down there with out any problems?
What about getting it back? The one I'm working on is titled to me.

I also talked to a builder in Paldale and some others who did my bumper on my 5/1600 per runner (play toy) I need good but cheep.

My best bet would be to find a caged 5/1600 body that is tagged legal cage with score and others.

I'm practicing with my other 5/1600 look a like (when finished) so I have some seat time off roading a Baja type bug I know its not exactly like my 5/1600 will be but its all I got for now.
I hope all my years of off roading dirt bikes to quads and 4x4s and every thing else should be a big help I been playing in the dirt from the 70's. If my car don't bust I will win. So you guys look out
Really I want to win but win racing other 5/1600's it not fun to win if your the only one there. So I hope to see all you at the race when Im finished.
Thanks to every one here you all been a big help.


Brian

Hey Brian,

That's a really "pretty" off road drive! I hope that's not what you're expecting a race course to look like!
Here's a little bit of this years San Felipe 250 and Baja 500 (and it's not the ugliest stuff I could find!!):

[01_el_tiburon]

Made the decision, started to work on one yesterday, I would say if your torsion housing is breaking out I would seriously question the way the cage is supporting it. Done rite it should not break!

3 cars, all with microstubs and bypass shocks, different builders, positions, etc.. Either bad tubing from different vendors or too much stress ?

[bonehead1]

class 5/1600 and class 11 are alive and well in mexico, long live the bug!

[Sampeter]

3 cars, all with microstubs and bypass shocks, different builders, positions, etc.. Either bad tubing from different vendors or too much stress ?

Is the GAS that you use... LOL

[SDHQ SERENA]

5/1600 class will always be around, I havent even hit a desert race with my new car yet, but I have already formed a bond with a few 5/1600 racers, that is why the class will always be around is the people in it, no doubt the economy has taken its toll, but everyone gets out when they can whether it be with their car our just out support other racers

[harleys dad]

3 cars, all with microstubs and bypass shocks, different builders, positions, etc.. Either bad tubing from different vendors or too much stress ?

I am certainly not dissing any builders at all, the speeds with Micro-bypass are so minimal from non micro-bypass it hardly makes a difference. Yes the ride is much better but the average speeds have proven over the years to be about the same where ever 5/1600 cars are raced. They certainly are not so much faster to start making cars bust apart where they didn't before. when done rite I have found with the stock housing which is still supposed to be in the car not replaced with chromoly will not bend or break out of the car. I think some of these builders had better start reading the rule book because it for certain does not allow the rear torsion tubes to be replaced with chromoly only allows the housing to be supported With over 35 years racing Vw based cars from 1975 to today and 5/1600 from 1977 to 2005 I have yet to have a housing bend or come out of my cars. The beginning of the rule for 5/1600 states QUOTE this class is a stock production class and all components must remain stock except for those modifications allowed herein. QUOTE Cr42 floorboards. Serial numbers are required on the floor pan NO ALTERATIONS TO PAN ALLOWED except for heating, bending or cutting of pan 1 inch to allow for tie rod clearance and cv joint clearance. Frame head may be changed from late to early or early to late. Now where does it say you can put any kind of chromoly torsion tubes??? Only now does it say the front beam can It certainly does not say it in the rear suspension rules! The torsion comming out is not due to bad tubing, only bad placment. The entire rollcage should be in the car to suport the torsion housing and front beam. I have seen so many cage desings that do neither but sure have a lot of tubes. Again I am not dissing anybuilder, but I do question them putting chromoly torsion housings 120 wall or 250 wall! when it does not allow it.

[Motelcambodia]

Hey Brian,

That's a really "pretty" off road drive! I hope that's not what you're expecting a race course to look like!
Here's a little bit of this years San Felipe 250 and Baja 500 (and it's not the ugliest stuff I could find!!):

I been following all your videos and any other I could find keep them coming, Yes I know what I posted is just Sunday drive compared to real racing. The Baja Bug in My videos is far from even a pre runner only the motor is done. So I been taking it easy until I do some more suspension work to it. And a cage and real seat belts. I been on some more gnarly stuff but not on video I been holding the camera with my hand until I get my cage and camera mount.
My other 5/1600 build is ready for the cage now Just checking on where and who to take it too.
This is what Im expecting a race to be like

or this



I like all the videos posted here thaks guys,
Im more excited then ever to finish my 5/1600 now, If only I could win the lotto.

Thanks to all

Brian

[Ramsey_ElWardani]

Dave is dead nuts on - no 4130 torsion housings. People have to quit cheating, intended or unintended - read the rule book before you build! And fix all those illegal Frame Heads, one inch clearance for rod ends is all that is allowed, not cutting up the whole pan for power steering ram clearance because you were to lazy to do it the non-cheater way. This is what kills classes.

I am certainly not dissing any builders at all, the speeds with Micro-bypass are so minimal from non micro-bypass it hardly makes a difference. Yes the ride is much better but the average speeds have proven over the years to be about the same where ever 5/1600 cars are raced. They certainly are not so much faster to start making cars bust apart where they didn't before. when done rite I have found with the stock housing which is still supposed to be in the car not replaced with chromoly will not bend or break out of the car. I think some of these builders had better start reading the rule book because it for certain does not allow the rear torsion tubes to be replaced with chromoly only allows the housing to be supported With over 35 years racing Vw based cars from 1975 to today and 5/1600 from 1977 to 2005 I have yet to have a housing bend or come out of my cars. The beginning of the rule for 5/1600 states QUOTE this class is a stock production class and all components must remain stock except for those modifications allowed herein. QUOTE Cr42 floorboards. Serial numbers are required on the floor pan NO ALTERATIONS TO PAN ALLOWED except for heating, bending or cutting of pan 1 inch to allow for tie rod clearance and cv joint clearance. Frame head may be changed from late to early or early to late. Now where does it say you can put any kind of chromoly torsion tubes??? Only now does it say the front beam can It certainly does not say it in the rear suspension rules! The torsion comming out is not due to bad tubing, only bad placment. The entire rollcage should be in the car to suport the torsion housing and front beam. I have seen so many cage desings that do neither but sure have a lot of tubes. Again I am not dissing anybuilder, but I do question them putting chromoly torsion housings 120 wall or 250 wall! when it does not allow it.

[harleys dad]

I thought I would throw a little more gas on the fire, how can cars with micro stubs with all the travel they have have no camber while maintaining stock vw geometry. I will answer, they cant Hmmmm stock geometry would make all look like over exagerated swing axels! So which is legal?? The non micro stub car with straight wheels(non camberd) or the micro stub car with non camberd rear wheels? It says it clearly in the rule book while maintaining stock geometry. Stock geometry would certainly have the drivers side camberd more than the passenger side! It seems a little odd that it says you can change the pivots to any manufacture but everybody misses the part where it says in stock location while maintaining stock geometry! There is no way around that one, these are the things that kill a class because some who follow the rules have a hard time racing against people who ignore the rules of the class. Wonder why 5/1600 has gotten so small? here is some reasons