This is my Skoda Rapid 136 affectionately known as Nadezda (this is a Czech name meaning hope - Nadia)
My track day weapon of choice for £50. I bought this from an ex-Skoda Dealer in St Ives in 2004. It was sat but he didnt want to Scrap it!
Currently running 16.99 for a 1/4 mile with just a turbo (8psi boost) and 14.4s for the 1/4 with the turbo and 50 shot of nitrous.
The car runs LPG only and has suck through carburetion. It has a turbo strapped on and a dose of nitrous. No major engine mods or anything.
This is at Curborough in 2004. I had just got the car and already it was on track. 1289cc, Jikov Carb, ABSOLUTELY STANDARD.
After driving it about I put a Webber replacement carb and started looking at ways to go faster. I didn't do anything for a couple of years, just pulled out the interior ( It had been owned by a smoker so STANK) and fitted some rover part leather seats as well as some 4 point harnesses.
In 2006 it was suggested we did the Staples 2 Naples banger Rally - so ok we took the Skoda 1500 miles to Naples in Italy through proper mountain passes and stuff. Then ALL the way back home. We ran on the Autoroute at a steady 80 and never missed a beat in 3000 miles over some serious twisty mountain roads. This was lots better than many of the cars that didnt even make it to Italy.
The
Finish in Castle Volturno Italy, Me, Monkeh and John on the right.
In 2007 I started to drag race the car at Santa Pod. I started to mod the car, looking at turbos and such. We didnt get an entry to the 2007 PPC Challenge but this sparked the idea.
In 2008 we entered the PPC Challenge but had issues with the turbo so relied on nitrous for our increase. We were running 21 seconds NA for a 1/4 and got this down to 19 seconds.
Carrying on modifying the car we we got the turbo working blowing through the Weber carb. This had all the jets removed and holes blocked up so it was only a throttle body.
At the 2009 PPC Challenge we blew the competition away in the 1/8 mile drag race by quite a margin. However the sticky track day tyres and LSD was what won the day on the handling course (a lap of Curborough sprint track) And yes apparently you can purchase and fit LSD and R888 tyres to your car for less than £1000 I DONT THINK! But this was on the re-run after the disastrous attempt at Mallory
At Mallory I had a few running issues so only came 11th in the Autotest.
The track session was fun but I melted the tyres - and this caused issues at the rerun! However - track sessions are not for racing but some insisted and having a bike engine special in the same session as you takes some of the sparkle off the lap and having a Saab race you kills the rest!
In 2010 I entered Santa Pod Street challenge - CC1526
We were running 14.6 regularly with a PB of 14.4 although she did backfire occasionally blowing off the boost pipes. But she would also run a 16.5 without nitrous.
We were having clutch issues so fited a 3 puck ceramic from Helix. THAT fixed the clutch issues and welding the 3rd gear cog in fixed the gearbox issue.
In the PPC challenge that year we certainly didnt come last but had a backfire that set the insulation alight! I also blew 2 pistons but just kept on going. The engine is definitely tough, REALLY tough! Many cars that showed in the results had actually failed and were on the trailer. The results were skewed as many people used a borrowed car to set a handling time. As their car wasnt used then they should have been dropped from the results!
In 2011 We havn't run in the street challenge as the Rapid caught fire on the A14 and had to be rebuilt. We managed to get to the PPC CHallenge but only ran low 16's. The new turbo is off a volvo and we need a proper manifold not our 'conversion' as well as other bits. We are running in the Fueltopia Barrel Sprint and havnt done too badly!
This was the damage - all the intake, nitrous, LPG kit and turbo were wrecked so needed replacement - not as bad as it may seem. The cause - a broken pipe on the LPG system. We cannot figure what actually set it alight.
There are plans to fit a BMW LSD (modified of course) to provide some limited Slip and a better exhaust manifold.
Rebuilt with a new LPG kit and Volvo turbo. Nitrous is hidden but still there!
There is a lot to do for 2012 and lack of money never helps!
I am building a new manifold as well as working on the differential so the car will drift better.
But at the moment - lets get some sills welded in!