New Beetle Cup Race at Road Atlanta

by: Karen Tyler

BRASELTON, Georgia – The New Beetle Cup Race at Road Atlanta (www.roadatlanta.com) came to an exciting end of its second run in North America on Saturday, September 30^th.  The previous race was held at the Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada.  This race was part of the American Petit Le Mans Series that included in the weekend the Speedvision World Challenge, Barber Dodge Pro Series, Women’s Global GT Series, US Formula 2000 and Star Mazda.

The New Beetle racecars themselves are in one word  AWESOME!  A transverse mounted 24-valve V-6 engine generates 204-hp at 6,300 RPM’s. These small bundles of fuel are running on Pirelli 285/625’s mounted on 1 B” x 9” O.Z. Superturismo wheels which means that it can, under the right circumstances (the interstates of Atlanta not being one) and if given the right space, go to 135mph. My mind gets boggled at the thought of how much money it would take to get mine to be even remotely close to that.

This was my first time at Road Atlanta for an actual race so I didn’t know what to expect. There were a lot of people; many who once I began to talk to them had no clue that a New Beetle race was even going on that day.  I arrived at approximately 9am and made my way to the very back of the track along with many curious others to the VW Pavilion. As a New Beetle driver I was allowed the privilege of parking inside the VW Pavilion and was highly impressed with the exhibit that VW had provided. All of the VW Corporate milling about were very nice, dressed in great VW merchandise and excited about being there.  The main tent showcased all the New Beetle Cup racecars along with an area to purchase VW and Cup 2000 merchandise (yes, they got A LOT of my money). Famclub.com provided their New Beetle to gawk at (complete with music video screen in the trunk) and posters, postcards, hacky-sacks, and other various items that were passed out. A play station was set up to provide entertainment and trial games of the Beetle racing video game complete with steering wheels.  The next tent was a Hospitality tent with tables, chairs, refreshments and a great deck for everyone to stand and watch the race later that morning. Outside the tents were many custom New Beetle’s on display and even a stand to rent roller blades so that we could cover the expanse of Road Atlanta quicker and easier. Of course, I’d rather drive my New Beetle.

From what I could tell most people were impressed with the cars themselves. VW doesn’t usually have a presence at Road Atlanta events so crowds were converging around the VW Pavilion. Promptly at 10:30am as the onlookers waved and took many photographs the New Beetle’s rolled out onto the track led by a Florida Sheriff’s funky holographic purpley-goldish-tealish New Beetle with eyebrows. This particular car and many others can be seen at www.sevwc.com. The race being only 30 minutes long we knew we wouldn’t get much action but a lot of “New Beetle satisfaction.” The start/finish line was clear on the other side of the track so it was literally days before I knew who won the race but it was obvious from the three wrecked New Beetle’s that someone had gotten a little squirrelly and traded paint. I had to check my info to make sure Dale Earnhardt wasn’t racing; but then again, ‘rubbin is racin’ right? The wrecked cars of Hurley Haywood, Stephen Cox and Perry King (finishing 18^th, 19^th and 20^th respectively) caused the race to end under caution but we didn’t mind. It was all in fun anyway. All the cars then filed back into the VW pavilion so that we could get autographs and pictures with the drivers and the cars. It seemed that Tim Allen (finishing 17^th) of Home Improvement fame was the most swamped with autograph seekers but I’m sure only because he was visually more recognizable. Racing stars Hans Stuck, Jack Baldwin and Bill Adam finished 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd. 

Atlanta area VW dealers created a special charity event to support the Shepherd Center in conjunction with the New Beetle Cup.  For every VW sold in their dealership during the month of September the dealers contributed $100.  A check was presented for $100,000 after the race to the founders of the Shepherd Center which is the nation’s largest catastrophic care center specializing in the treatment of people with debilitating injuries and disorders.  

Maybe in the future we will see more of the New Beetle Cup. Personally, not only would I like to see more of it as in a longer race but more races. Of course, I wouldn’t mind being out there on the track participating myself but we all have our fantasies. I could even be the first woman New Beetle Cup Champion.  Look out Mr. Stuck!  Here I come in my 2000 New Beetle GLX, aka “Hi Ho Silver”.

Coming Soon - Karen gives us the scoop on her VW Club Drivers School - the fun and frolic but most important of all, the driving skills taught.