04 Nov Gettin’ It On So. Cal. Style
Now this is how a VW happening is suppose to roll!
On October 31st Rancho was ground ZERO for the Scott Faivre/German Pride produced, CB Performance, “Dyno Session in So.Cal.” Held the day before, and in close proximity to, BugOrama 2009, access to the awesome Cox Performance mobile chassis dyno attracted the “BIG BOYS” as well as others looking to get some verified hp and torque numbers.
With such a gathering of drag racing’s best on board, Sam “Our Man” Shackelford, owner of Rancho, seized the opportunity to put on a world class open house at the new Rancho complex. Local VW buffs and die hard enthusiasts from as far as Europe and Japan were welcome to walk through the entire facility and chat with Rancho technicians. Many noted that they were totally caught off guard by the immense size of the complex, scope of in house capabilities and sanitary work environment.
Thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of Rancho’s own Mike Herbert his rockin’ wife Susie, and Candy Larsen from JPC Race Cars, Dyno Day at Rancho emerged as just the type event our industry needs more of. Simply put it was pure FUN. Dyno Don kept the crowd in stitches with his unique, often adult, ramblings between dyno runs while burgers and buns, both kind, made for a picnic type atmosphere. The parking lot looked more like a car show with some of the Southland’s finest street machines. Something that didn’t escape the eagle eye of Hot VW’s editor Bruce Simurda. Always nice to see Bruce mingling with the crowd. His editorial direction and dedication to detail has provided unwaivering support and credibility to the entire industry.
Staging lanes, snaked directly through work station within the Rancho building, putting vehicles on full display and allowing prying eyes to get up close and personal with both the cars and owners. One of the most astonishing displays, and certainly a crowd favorite, was the amphibious truck driven in by WATERCAR Inc. from Huntington Beach. This jaw dropping ride is nothing short of mind boggling and for skeptics it was accompanied by a non-stop video of the truck in action. Kinda looks like a Dodge body but the engine is a built LS1, backed by, what else, a Rancho built Mendeola. And it’s no joke. WATERCAR’s amphibitruck is capable of speeds well in excess of 100 mph on land and 60 plus on the water. And yes, while on the water you can actually open the doors, get out, take a swim or ski, and then open the door and get back in! Do I hear “chick magnet at the river”? Check out the videos on our site.
Dyno participants were placed in one of 3 classes: “Pump Gas 91”, “Naturally Aspirated” and “Forced Induction”. Ken Clement took “Forced” honors making 282 hp, while the top Big Dog in both “NA” and “91” went to Robert Kong’s immaculate Ghia with a stout 221. Entrants in these classes split a substantial cash purse and other prizes.
As a special attraction, and just to make certain no one in the City was sleeping in, Rancho sponsored “Great 8” exhibition runs. This class is made up of the world’s quickest, most powerful VW’s. To the crowd’s delight a pair of the Baddest of the Bad were on hand. The Lauffer family from VW Paradise made the trek with Madson’s awesome Ghia. Securely strapped in place, Kris dropped the hammer hard, blistering the rollers with 767 hp and 701 lbs torque! I mean dude! WDF? Hot on Lauffer’s’s tailpipe was Eric Calabrese’s immaculate Red Baron.
The day wound down with trophy and cash presentations followed by a huge collection of raffle prizes. Those holding winning tickets walked away all sorts of goodies provided by event sponsors including: CB Performance, AirHead Parts, Weddle Industries, FAT, MOHR Performance, DPR Machine Shop, JayCee, Engle, Bugpack, LAT Racing Oils, DK Machine, Rimco, Bugorama, BMD Pulleys, Cip1.com, Auto Craft, EISParts.com, Bustoration, Ron Lumas, EMPI, Latest Rage, Pacific Customs, M-Spec, So Cal Imports, Web Cam, Brothers VW Machine, Mike and Susie Herbert, Outback Steak House, and Dubber’s Toy Box, MST. Class sponsors include: Rancho Performance Transaxles “Great 8”, Old Speed “Naturally Aspirated”, VWturbokits.com “Pump Gas 91” and VW Paradise “Forced Induction”.
German Pride, Rancho Performance Transaxles and each and every individual in attendance really managed to put something special together with Dyno Session in So. Cal. We’re hoping it was just a glimpse of things to come. Thank you all.
