Project VW Fox: Did Our Lemons Race Car Survive Its First ChampCar Endurance Race?

Chris
Update by Chris Tropea to the Volkswagen Fox project car
Sep 11, 2020

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Our Volkswagen Fox project car, built on a Lemons budget, sported a tired Jetta engine from the junkyard and a four-speed manual that effectively made the car slower.

Then we found ourselves with the opportunity to race at a ChampCar event at our home track at Daytona. The Fox may have been at least somewhat suitable for Lemons racing, but it would need help before it could run in with ChampCar.

In order to handle the high banks at Daytona, we did the only sensible thing and added more power to the little Jetta engine with the help of Techtonics Tuning. The last step before we could race at Daytona? We had to remove our signature front and rear wings. Yes, they looked cool, but they wouldn't be allowed at a ChampCar race.

So, just how well did our $500 budget race car with added power and reduced downforce do at its first ChampCar Endurance race at Daytona?


Perhaps not surprisingly, we blew up the engine.

Don't let that lead you to believe that we had a bad time, though, as extended GRM family member Jesse Spiker had the chance to race at the famed Daytona International Speedway for his first time. Sure, our Volkswagen Fox is down, but that doesn't mean it out for the count just yet–and enjoy the video.

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Comments
noddaz
noddaz GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
9/9/20 6:18 p.m.

Well now.  What is next in store for the beleaguered Fox?

Has GRM found a car that is less race worthy than an old Camry?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Tom Suddard
Tom Suddard GRM+ Memberand Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
9/9/20 7:32 p.m.

Right? This stupid thing is cursed.

There's a dead donor car in my yard. But I won't spill all the secrets until the next video. 

Honsch
Honsch New Reader
9/9/20 7:59 p.m.

The correct motor is an ABA, or a W8 if you're feeling spicy. 

They should both bolt to a B5 Passat transmission...just sayin'

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/10/20 2:20 p.m.

In reply to Honsch :

I vote spicy.

ChrisTropea
ChrisTropea Associate Editor
9/11/20 9:29 a.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Or maybe just half spicy

 No photo description available.

Honsch
Honsch New Reader
9/16/20 11:06 p.m.
ChrisTropea said:

In reply to Colin Wood :

Or maybe just half spicy

 No photo description available.

If you want a six, you go with the Passat V6 so you don't have that legendary VR6 racing reliability.  I once watched a team swap three VR6 motors at one Lemons race.  All three ventilated the crankcase.

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