Beck 550 spyder, AX Candidate? Options

[Joseph Mills]

Looking at some of the specs on this kit made me start thinking how good a candidate it might be for auto crossing.

As far as I know Beck is the only kit that has a hand made tubular frame instead of a VW frame. Maybe that accounts for it's lightweight?

Something around 1200 pounds total! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

We all know that light cars turn corners fast, and with even meager HP it's going to scoot in a straight line.

Suspension... well, maybe that is the bugaboo... Volkswagen. VW's on an autocross course are always scary with their positive camber from the swing axles. Maybe limit the amount of travel? Are there after market handling kits for such? Or additional link systems that bolt up?

Would a kit car be up to handling the torque and twisting forces of AX?

Thoughts? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif)

[DBCooper]

Actually the Vintage Spyders are full IRS rears, much better suited for autocrossing. The problem with all the Spyders is the suspension and tire clearances. We don't actually have any real tire clearance problems with the 914's because you can always flare them and they'll still look true and good. You don't much want to cut up your classic looking $25K kitcar though, so you're stuck with tiny 5.5" wheels, which don't contain 200 hp all that well. At any speed. It's also hard to modifiy the suspension since they won't even accept 2.5" dropped front spindles because of the tire clearance problems.

If anyone's really interested the Beck cars are made in Brazil by Chamonix (www.chamonixcars.com.br - let me know if you want anything translated), and last time I was down there you could buy a used one for US8-10K, about half the price they go for up here. I actually thought about loading up a container with three or four of them. Chamonix also makes absolutely gorgeous 356, Super 90 and Speedster replicas, including a really cool stripped down club racer (the Speedster 356R). I think Beck is beginning to import some of the 356's now, but the explanation a few years ago for why he wasn't was that they were too expensive and he didn't think he could sell many. The detail on those cars was absolutely perfect.