[Greg Urrutia]

Most of you here are close to Van Day. Remember his "Under Pressure" Dragster?
He has owned the dragster for about 15 years. The previous owner had set many records in this machine posting numbers as good as 6.80 in the 1/4 mile. It has a Pauter Big Block, Hillborn Injection, and runs on alcohol. Van has only had the dragster down the track 12 times.
Well rumor has it the dragster will reappear this year. A deal has been struck and a new partnership has been made. Mellow Insanity Racing and Van Day have teamed up to parade the dragster in the very near future. Chad Axford will handle the driving chores. Dad Wayne will be the Crew Chief and Mechanic/Tuner. I will see the dragster this weekend at Sacramento Raceway. The dragster will be recert this Saturday.
This is exciting news and sure to be the next "Buzz" in the VW Drag Racing scene.
With the likes of Dean Nilson, Jerry Matsko, Steve Phillips, and now Chad Axford in the mix, the "Orange Curtain" Fast VW's will be put to the test with these cars coming out of the north.

ps I will post pictures this weekend

 

[Brian Watts]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!

Love more and new (at least new to the track lately) cars!!

When are they coming Sat the 19th?

 

[Greg Urrutia]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!

Love more and new (at least new to the track lately) cars!!

When are they coming Sat the 19th?

Yes, Sat the 19th. This will be for cert only. My understanding is that the chassis will need to be upgraded to todays spec. Wayne will go thru the engine to freshen things up. Heads will go out for inspection and a "tune-up".

 

[Dominick Luppino]

Is this the same Van Day that was escorted out of the Las Vegas Bug O by the track officials and was told never to come back? I saw the whole thing happen and I was shocked!

 

[Brian Watts]

Is this the same Van Day that was escorted out of the Las Vegas Bug O by the track officials and was told never to come back? I saw the whole thing happen and I was shocked!

Probably! LOL ;D

Ok Dominick

Story please .............?

 

[Rich Duncan Jr]

Dominick
That is the same Van Day. I was helping him in his pit that day and I did not hear the call for his class to come to the staging lanes. If I remember it right, Hobi showed up late to the staging lanes as well because he did not hear the call. I have known Van since about 1980 and he has sometimes been hot under the collar for one reason or another. I saw him at the last BOR and he is showing the signs of age. It was also nice to see his old race car 1 HI DUDE racing again.

This is a picture of 1 HI DUDE back at one of the early BOR.

 

[Brian Watts]

Anyone have a photo of Under Pressure?

Or any background info on who built it and owned it before Van?

I have never seen that one

 

[Dominick Luppino]

Dominick
That is the same Van Day. I was helping him in his pit that day and I did not hear the call for his class to come to the staging lanes. If I remember it right, Hobi showed up late to the staging lanes as well because he did not hear the call. I have known Van since about 1980 and he has sometimes been hot under the collar for one reason or another. I saw him at the last BOR and he is showing the signs of age. It was also nice to see his old race car 1 HI DUDE racing again.

This is a picture of 1 HI DUDE back at one of the early BOR.

Just like what was said above, I was in the tower and couldn't believe what I was seeing, the even dumber move was when he was flying back down the return road and was not stopping for the track officials that were waiting for him. He was lucky that throwing him out of the event was all they did after that stunt

 

[Brian Watts]

Dominick

know anything about the UP dragster?

 

[Dominick Luppino]

Sorry, no.

 

[Brian Watts]

Thanks anyway!!

Somebody will know

 

[Rich Duncan Jr]

Dominick

know anything about the UP dragster?

Brian, I will give Van a call tomorrow and see if he has any pics or info about the car he can send.
Rich

 

[Brian Watts]

Is it still named "Underpressure" ?

That name gets used allot!

Anthony Vaughn had a turbo bug named that back in the 90s I think?

And now you have Tywon, Bernell and the rest of the "Under Pressure" Racing Team

 

[Greg Urrutia]

Anyone have a photo of Under Pressure?

Or any background info on who built it and owned it before Van?

I have never seen that one

I have only seen the Dragster once right after Van bought it. It is definately named "Under Pressure". He debute it at a "Good Guys" show in Vallejo. For the life of me I can't remember the previous owners name, but he was pretty well known. I am going to go thru my old pics today to see if I can find anything.

I only posted the limited and previledged information I have here as an exclusive for the Unlimited Aircooled Forum. I only did because I know there is a select and trusted audience here. No one mentioned to me that they wanted to keep things under wraps, but I would hate to have someone think I let the cat out of the bag. If anyone talks to Van.....please don't use my name as the source.

 

[Greg Urrutia]

Is it still named "Underpressure" ?

That name gets used allot!

Anthony Vaughn had a turbo bug named that back in the 90s I think?

And now you have Tywon, Bernell and the rest of the "Under Pressure" Racing Team

I was a little confused when I saw the "Under Pressure racing Team" name being used. I thought it was the re-emergence of the dragster. I did a Google on Under Pressure....guess it is quite a popular name.

 

[Rich Duncan Jr]

Greg, I think I will just call Van out of the blue and let him tell me about the car if he wants to. I don't want to stir up any problems.
Sam was telling me he thought the name was Pressure Sensitive. I think I have only seen this car once and don't remember much about it.
More to follow.

 

[Greg Urrutia]

G. I think I have only seen this car once and don't remember much about it.
More to follow.

C'mon Rich, I'm chompin' at the bit. I know there is lot's of history on this car.
One of my teamates, Brian saw the dragster in 2001 at Van's shop parked along side Van Again 2, and One High Dude when he bought the original Van Again car seen here at the Grand National Roadster Show

 

[Brian Watts]

Clean car!! where did it go?

Thats Brian with the red buggy now right? why did he change from this bad bug?

 

[Greg Urrutia]

Clean car!! where did it go?
Thats Brian with the red buggy now right? why did he change from this bad bug?

The red car originaly was built by a guy in Oregon,...Bamburg. It started as a Baja Bug and then morphed into a Drag Bug. Van got in from Bamburg and paraded it around for a few years.
Brian bought it from Van in 2000 and we went through it, had it painted and Brian raced it for the next few years. He ran a best of 12.18 @ 118mph. He always thought the car was a handful. It scared him one time too many and he decided to sell it and take a break from racing.
It was bought by a doctor in Modesto. Since the last change of hands it never ran the number again. It was partially repainted again after it was hit by the dually truck that towed it. Apparantly the driver failed to set the parking brake and the truck was left in neutral. It rolled down the driveway and slammed into the car and pushed it into the house.
We last saw the car at Bug-In 32. Not sure if it is still being raced.

At Battle Of The Imports - Famoso Raceway circa 2001

 

[16sec65]

Yea, If I remember correctly, it was purple and named "Pressure Sensitive". ??? Might have read it wrong I guess. Either way, good news! I dont know if its good news having Chad driving. I've seen the way that kid drives. Honestly, and I think Greg will agree with me here, other than Van, I wouldn't want to see anyone else driving that thing other than Chad. Somehow, times have changed since when we use to race our bikes @ BOR and I would always beat him. Chad took me out in sportsman after I won the previous one. Kid's got some talent. Good luck bud.