9 second '51 Split Beetle

When it comes to full-on turbocharged VWs, Northern Europe seems to have an abundance of very, very fast cars. The likes of Leif Nystrom and Haakan Lundgren, both Swedes, have been dominating the drag race events in Scandinavia with blisteringly quick low nine- and even eight-second passes for some considerable time. Perhaps it's the long, dark winters that confine the Nordic types to the garage, or maybe it's an ingenious gene pool that helps create some fantastically well conceived race cars, but one thing is for sure: the drag race scene in Scandinavia is thriving.
Take the Scandinavian Cal-Look Classic (SCC) held at Norway's Gardermoen Raceway, for example - last year there were in excess of 10 nine-second turbocharged VWs present, most of them home-built to an incredibly high standard. Such was the buzz about this event and the possibility of witnessing so many great cars in action that it was impossible for me not to attend - and boy, am I glad I did, for it was a truly incredible experience.
Having been in contact with Stian via Internet forums and emails, I was keen to see his car in the flesh. I knew it car was going to be something special. No, make that mind-blowing, especially to a petrol-head like myself.
My first impressions of the car did not disappoint. In fact, that would be a considerable understatement, for I do recall I didn't speak much for first 15 minutes, so taken was I by its detail and craftsmanship. Beneath the very subtle veneer of matt-green paintwork is perhaps one of the best-conceived racecars I have seen in a long time. Wherever you look, you are rewarded with detail after detail, with functionality very much the ethos of this racer. Quite simply, there is no clutter - no hanging wires or unnecessary junk to impede the driver from his task of obliterating the quarter-mile. If a racecar could be described as being clean-shaven, then this Bug meets this analogy perfectly. It is simple in its design and execution, yet brimming with ingenuity, technology and artisan-like workmanship.

For the full story on this car make sure you pick up a copy of the May 2009 issue of VolksWorld 

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