This is the best video you’ll see regarding car stuff today anywhere. The footage was taken by a TV crew at Bonneville in 1961 and it is a truly cool profile of racer Dick Beith and his little hot rod VW bug. Through the course of the interview we learn that Dick is a shop teacher from California who drove the VW to the salt with his pals. The engine has been extensively modified internally and a blower has been added. Not any blower mind you, a freakin’ chain driven Pepco blower! In fact, he tells the TV guys that he and his crew (his friends) have been struggling with blower chain issues during the event and they’ve gone into town for parts. Everything about this rules, even Dick’s Champion Spark Plugs shirt!
As we find out, the VW is locked in pitch battle with a Volvo for the speed record in their class of E/Touring Sports. Does Dick get the record? Does the little VW crack the 100mph barrier? Watch a find out. You’ll see the profile as well as Dick launching off and running down the salt. When we say launch, we mean launch. The guy gets after it hard when he is given the GO sign. The little VW sounds all kinds of pissed, too.
This is truly awesome footage from beginning to end. Wonder where Dick Beith is now and we wonder if he still has that haulin’ VW?
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE VINTAGE BONNEVILLE VIDEO FROM 1961 – IT RULES!
I take it most of you guys are on holiday – which explains all these old videos…