Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

Back in the days when air cooled engines were still being mass produced in automobiles, most vehicles, auto and moto alike, had three or four speed transmissions. The Japanese changed that in the 60s with their 5, 6, and 7 speed moto gearboxes, at the same time they gave to the world mass produced overhead cam engine tech, too. But today transmission technology allows us to use 5 or 6 speed gearboxes in any ratios we want for the pushrod vintage stuff as well, so the fact an air cooled pushrod engine can't usually rev to 9000 or higher rpm is no longer relevant.

Here's a terrific example.

This outlaw VW Bug is sporting a naturally aspirated 1776cc VW Type 1 engine. A very hotly built Type 1 dedicated to racing, but yes, naturally aspirated nonetheless. It runs 10.9 sec at 119mph in the quarter mile.

How? That hot little air cooled engine is mated to a Hewland 6 spd sequential transaxle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiEk_sE ... A&index=10

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
I beaver raced V/W but knew several guys that did. They always did good.