Hunt for ongoing needed parts continues. One of the main goals in this Bus build is to use as many recycled, saved, garage sale, and swap meet pieces as possible. Keeping our pact, as we did with our first Shasta Bus (The Mushroom Bus), we hope to construct another top contender for the race to Shasta City.
Lessons learned form out first assualt, we will build a faster, stronger, more comforatable, and lighter vehicle than last year. With the help of fellow VW fanatics (Brian Watts, Rich Duncan, Doug Colley, and most recently Corey), we have a jump start with six months to go. Last year we obtained a Bus and started to outfit and modify it just two weeks before the event. This year we have the luxury of time.
Our goal is to set a new record by smashing the existing record of 10 hours in a convincing fashion. Although it's not really a rally or a race for that matter, our involvement has brought a new competitive feel to the event.
Veterans of this event have almost ten years of experience under their belts. When they heard a team of accomplished VW Drag Racers were in the mix, the smack talk started.
"Those Drag Race guys have no idea what they're in for!". "They are totally out of their comfort zone!", and when we showed up with our tire chains already installed...."Those guys are Pussies!". The teasing, albeit in fun, was relentless. We stared to second guess ourselves about being chained up. Being Newbies at this event, and I for one not much of a fan of cold weather, we started to think maybe we were in over out heads.
Well the tables quickly turned as we raced away from all the ill prepared "experts". In the most demanding conditions ever experienced during this event, we made a name for ourselves beating the next team into Shasta City by over 3 hours. Not bad for three guys that more at home taking a trip a quarter mile at a time.
Our original plan was to purchase a Bus each year, run Shasta and then sell it on ebay. Last years bus went for big bucks when we sold it. Not only did it pay for the trip and all the expenses, but it left us with a decent profit.
The Bus for this year I aquired from Brian Watts. Like last years Bus, this one has a certian Magic to it.....a certain Mojo. I can't really explain it, but if it takes us on another memorable, exciting journey, and safely gets us back home, I will then be able to put it into words. We may have to change our original plan of buy, race, and sell. This one may be a keeper!
I will have more pictures to share as the build continues.
