Dick Beith's 1961 36hp Bonneville Record.wmv von Ralf Becker

Big thanks to Burly Burlisle for supplying the VHS original of this film clip taken from a period documentary entitled Men, Salt & Speed and to Kevin Wiggins for making the digital conversion. Dick Beith is still around and like a few other 1960s VW trailblazers is still very competitive at 74 years. The year after this 1961 video Dick developed the first aluminum center-riveted to steel rim wheel, simulating the famous American Mag Torque Thrust, five spoke. His company, The Wheel Center became one of the largest aftemarket wheel makers in the world which allowed Dick to own and race a car at Indianapolis in the mid-seventies. His current project, the Competition Coupé will be built to full SCTA/BNI specifications allowing him to race on the longer three mile Bonneville course and will be powered by a supercharged, 1450cc 36hp engine. The 36hp Challenge record he is planning to beat his is own 129.100 speed set in 1963 with a blown Lakester and the Bonneville class record he hopes to break is 148 miles per hour (H/BFC).