Little Red Rooster
The most senior member of the VWDRC still racing, Keith Gadenne, started in the
"street" class in 1992. Little Red Rooster is the culmination of 8 years of
gradual development. There've been low points; I can remember Keith's engine
"letting go" in a big way, but he bounced back winning the "super street
class at "Bug Jam" in both 1997 & 98. The "Little Red Rooster" team show the
qualities that make for a winning combination both on and of the track.
Keith's wife is a 100% behind her man. Simon (crew chief) puts in that extra
input, that's necessary to fine tune any winning racecar.
Year 2000 got off to a terrible start
for 'Little Red Rooster." Team Boss Keith Gadenne fell, seriously braking his
arm. Complications have meant an MRI scan. Hopefully Keith is on the road to
full recovery. The team should be out testing at the Santa Pod on 25th June
RWYB in anticipation for the BUG JAM.
Starting with a stock VW
floorpan, the ball joint front axle was narrowed 6ins. To the rear the standard
gearbox mounts were discarded in favour of Gene Berg solid mounts, raising
the gearbox 1.5ins, pre 1967 axle tubes connect to adjustable spring plates
through 27mm torsion bars and type 2 bump stops. The 1973 shell features one
piece flip front, glass doors with lexan windows, running boards, 3ins over
stock rear wings and deck lid are also glass fibre.Beneath the 'W" bootlid
lies the industrial end, starting with a type 1 gearcase,welded gusset plates
retain the 3.88 ring and pinion, fixed to an aluminium spool which connects
to Henry's (heavy duty) axles, 4.11 1st gear, 2.47 2nd, 1.70 3rd and 1.31 top. Quality
FTC gears and mainshaft select using Liberty pro-rings. The Rooster's wake up
call starts with a clearanced VW case spinning a lite-weight Scat flanged
86mm crankshaft, Carrillo con-rods moving J+E 94mm pistons slide in Auto-Craft
barrels topped off with superflo cylinder heads; The tried and trusted dual 48
IDA Weber handles the air/fuel ratio; Crank trigger in conjunction with an
MSD distributor work in harmony, with an MSD 6-AL ignition to bring this
2400cc motor to life. For the 2000 season Little Red Rooster have now fitted a NOS system
in conjunction with a modified ignition.
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