PRE-RUNNER - JULY

WHAT IS A PRE-RUNNER?

THIS SERIES OF ARTICLES IS FOR THOSE VW BAJA OWNERS WHO ARE READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF THEIR VEHICLE. THIS MONTH I WILL TELL YOU WHAT A PRE-RUNNER IS AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR. IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS I WILL COVER MANY OF THE DETAILS OF TURNING YOUR STREET BAJA INTO AN OFF-ROAD MONSTER CAPABLE OF HITTING THE TRAILS HARD, AND I MEAN HARD! IF YOU FOLLOW THIS SERIES AND TAKE ALL OF MY ADVICE, YOUR VW WILL BE ABLE TO HIT AN 8-FOOT HIGH BUMP AT 60-80 MPH AND SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE! IT WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU FROM SERIOUS INJURY IN CASE OF A ROLL-OVER.
BUILDING A PRE-RUNNER IS NOT A JOB FOR THE AVERAGE WEEKEND MECHANIC, YOU WILL NEED A WELDER, A TUBING CUTTER, A FISH-MOUTH CUTTER, A SAWZ-ALL, PLUS A VERY GOOD SELECTION OF HAND TOOLS AND THE SKILL TO USE ALL OF THESE. THERE ARE RACE FABRICATION SHOPS SUCH AS MY SHOP "OASIS VW" IN MOST MAJOR CITIES THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF BUILDING YOUR CHASSIS FOR YOU IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS OR EQUIPTMENT YOURSELF. THERE ARE STILL MANY PARTS THAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF... SO FOLLOW ALONG AND GET READY TO FLY!

WHAT IS A PRE-RUNNER?
PRE-RUNNERS ARE BASICALLY "DE-TUNED" RACERS, BY "DE-TUNED" I MEAN THAT THE COMPRESSION RATIO IN THE MOTOR IS KEPT AT A REASONABLE LEVEL (8:1 OR LOWER) TO INSURE RELIABILITY.
BEFORE A DESERT OFF-ROAD RACE THE RACE ORGANIZERS MAKE MAPS OF THE COURSE AVAILABLE. THE RACE-TEAMS WILL TAKE THEIR (USUALLY STREET-LEGAL) PRE-RUNNERS TO THE COURSE AND "PRE-RUN" THE COURSE DRIVING AT A MODERATE SPEED LOOKING FOR DANGEROUS AREAS, PLACES WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PASS, AND GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE COURSE IN GENERAL. MANY RACERS WILL RUN THE COURSE SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING.
MANY VW BAJA OWNERS (INCLUDING MYSELF) HAVE TAKEN THIS IDEA OF A "STREET-LEGAL" RACE CAR TO HEART AND BUILT DAILY-DRIVERS BASED ON A RACE CHASSIS. I HAVE A 1957 OVAL-WINDOW BUILT TO SCORE AND SODA CLASS 5/1600 STANDARDS, THIS IS MY RACE-CAR AND MY PRE-RUNNER. WHEN I'M NOT RACING IT, I TAKE OUT THE 1600cc 11:1 COMPRESSION RACE MOTOR, INSTALL AN 1835cc STREET MOTOR, POP IN THE WINSHIELD, HOOK UP THE LIGHTS, AND HIT THE STREETS AND LOCAL TRAILS! THIS WHOLE PROCESS ONLY TAKES A FEW HOURS! IN THIS SERIES I WILL BE TELLING YOU HOW TO BUILD A PRE-RUNNER VERY SIMILAR TO MINE, IT ISN'T CHEAP AND THERE ARE NO SHORT-CUTS, BUT THE THRILLS THESE VEHICLES CAN BRING YOU WILL BE WORTH THE SWEAT AND MONEY!
IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THEY HAVE OFF-ROAD RACING EVENTS YOU CAN CONTACT THE RACE ORGANIZERS AND GET THE MAPS (USUALLY THEY ARE FREE) OF THE RACE. PRE-RUNNING IS OPEN TO ANYONE AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MEET SOME OF THE RACERS... JUST STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING!

NEXT MONTH I WILL GIVE YOU A MATERIALS LIST, POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OBTAINING THEM, AND WE CAN GET STARTED!
IN THE MEANTIME PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO JUMP OR DRIVE THE TRAILS FAST WITH YOUR AVERAGE BAJA, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WITHOUT THE PROPER SET-UP, NOT TO MENTION THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY BREAK PARTS ON YOUR BAJA! BE PATIENT...
UNTIL NEXT MONTH... KEEP ON BUGGIN'

FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES E-MAIL ME AT:
dirtbugz@oasisvw.com
OR CONTACT ME BY ICQ # 18583378