Ben,

Very interesting. I too found that 95 seemed to be some sort of invisible
wall. However, once breached, things picked up again. I think it may be
something sort of similar to the turbulence an aircraft can experience
immediately before going supersonic.

Cheers,
Bruce
Sub-Sonic (for now)
motorbruce@hotmail.com

>From: BenT <syncro@gmail.com>
>Reply-To: BenT <syncro@gmail.com>
>To: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@hotmail.com>
>CC: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>Subject: Re: 101 MPH Vanagon!
>Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 22:39:36 -0700
>
>i routinely go 115mph in one of my non-VW powered vans. i did seem to
>hit an aerodynamic threshold at around 95mph. the old manual mirros
>typically gave me notice by reaching their holding threshold and
>slamming on the sides of the van simultaneously. i have fixed said
>problem by installion a pair of unpowered power mirror assemblies.
>
>i routinely race past hopped up little import cars. though i must
>admit that the prospect of a huge brick flying by them is probably
>what  causes them to accidentally release their foot from their
>throttles.
>
>benT
>http://members.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.html
>
>
>On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 18:16:05 -0500, Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
> > Howdy All,
> >
> > As of last Wednesday, I successfully completed my first 1,000 miles in
> > Project Vanagon (Vincent) since I installed the '87 Porsche 3.2 liter
> > Carrera engine and G50 transmission. Over the weekend my buddy, and
>Porsche
> > Master Technician, Steve came over, and we (mostly Steve) adjusted the
> > valves. I still need to do an oil and filter change, but that should
>happen
> > in the next couple of days.
> >
> > Anyhow, today I had to drive down to San Antonio to take care of some
> > business. That gave me my first extended trip in the van, and it was on
> > fairly straight, although frequently congested, Interstate 35. On the
>way to
> > San Antonio I was able to achieve 101 MPH in 4th gear (the G50 'box is a
> > 5-speed). I would have kept going, but I had to slow for traffic. For a
> > brick, 101 isn't too bad.
> >
> > On the way home, I had a couple more opportunities to let Vincent
>stretch
> > his legs. Once again I got him up to 101 mph in 4th but had to slow for
> > traffic. The greatest achievement of this second top speed run is that
>it
> > was uphill, into the wind. Vincent was still pulling hard and
>accelerating
> > in 4th as I went uphill. Once again, I ultimately had to slow for
>traffic.
> >
> > I have a set of South African Big Brakes, but I haven't installed them
>yet.
> > I did, however, realize one additional braking characteristic of the
> > Vanagon: if you lift off the throttle at 101, the van itself acts as its
>own
> > aerodynamic brake. Man, once you are off the gas things things slow down
> > FAST.
> >
> > I wish that traffic had been a little bit lighter so that I could have
> > gotten up a bit more steam and seen what Vincent would do in 5th. All in
> > all, I can't complain. 101mph in 4th, uphill, into the wind makes me
>happy
> > for now.
> >
> > By the way, I feel very confident that the indicated speed was accurate.
>I
> > have had my speedometer calibrated. In addition, I went through a
> > construction zone that has one of those portable radar trailers that
> > displays your speed. At that time it displayed 73mph, exactly what was
> > showing on my speedo.
> >
> > Once I got closer to Austin I did have one of my first stealth
>encounters. A
> > silver Honda with all sorts of decals and a huge can hanging off the
>back
> > passed me. Traffic was light enough at that point that I was able to
>thread
> > my way up to him and take him by surprise. I don't know what was going
> > through his mind, but I'd like to know what he was thinking.
> >
> > Now I need to make arrangements to get some dyno time.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > motorbruce@hotmail.com