Finnish 'Race Taxi' project

rjes · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 4:16 pm Post subject: Finnish 'Race Taxi' project

Check out Henrik Tallbacka's Finnish 'Race Taxi' Subaru powered T25 circuit racer project
http://www.vwkd.co.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=43

The photo gallery http://www.ratataksi.com/en_index4.html in particular is very interesting as they are posting lots of details of everything they are doing.
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hege · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:32 am Post subject:

Actually, its Bogeyracing's project, so I can't take credit for it.

We're three guys building it, and started dreaming about it about two years ago when we found out that you could put a powerful engine legally into a T3 Bus. "Wouldn't it be a shocker to see a T3 on a race track keeping up with real sports cars like Porsches and Skylines?!". Making a lightweight van was the idea when we started, and since it has progressed to a car with enough seats to take your friends for a (fast) ride. The car will also be used for racing.

Engine will be a ej20t and it will be mounted to a 5spd LSD gear box with an rjes bellhousing.

The car will have big brakes, coil overs, FIA roll cage etc. etc. and will be fully race prepared. We have already done most of the lightening work, and the weight for the race ready car will be approximately 1200kg.

Testfitting the subaru engine.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free.

Henrik
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T3 Race Taxi

illzlee · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject:

thats quality. i've fancied a silly quick van since we were at the nurburgring this summer.......

me driving a 21 turbo, passed very quickly by a 1990's 911........then cue us both getting passed even quicker by a slammed black t4 transporter braking hard into a bend then dissappearing into the distance! the 911 gave up trying after that Laugh Out Loud

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sven · Jedi Guardian Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 814

The T3 really got potential. It's easy to make bad-ass-stiff and the design is so... eeh... 80's-ugly! Damn I really want a T3 double coupe!!! Happy

I always thought they were ugly, but then my friend air bagged his pickup (double cab) and it turned out to be one of the absolutely coolest vans I've seen. And now I can only think of one, lowered, with a Passat, T4 or T5 turbo diesel. Must have one...

hege · Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject:

A silly quick van was our starting point, but making it also look good has become a high priority.

As a race car the T3 really hasn't got much potential. But we will try our best and drive it hard to keep up with other cars.

I posted our project on the Finnish drifting forum a couple weeks ago, and you can imagine their reaction. They thought Volvos or older american cars were weird cars to build drifters from...

We have decided that the first event for the car will be ice racing at 16th February. Then we should get some in car footage. Only 2½ months to finish it, yikes!

The project has also progressed nicely, a lot more has been done than we thought, and some interesting changes are coming, hopefully soon...

Most of what has been happening can be read/seen in our blog: http://racetaxi.blogspot.com
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T3 Race Taxi

hege · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject:

The car is almost ready and it's time for the car's first public presentation at the biggest car show in the nordic countries. As I'm writing this the car is being transported there, and the response from people who has seen the car has been amazing.

A pic from yesterday:

Haven't started the engine yet, but all that it should need is a shortened oil pick up tube, some oil, water and fuel. The brake and clutch lines aren't drawn yet, and the brake adapters need some tweaking. The car will hopefully be running in a couple weeks so we can start testing.
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T3 Race Taxi

rjes · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject:

Hello Henrik,
I think you must have had a lot of late nights to have got it so finished compared to the pictures you sent me a couple of weeks ago! Congratulations - I hope the American car show goes well.
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Regards,

Richard,

R J Engineered Solutions
Quality Subaru Powered VW Components
www.rjes.com

sven · Jedi Guardian Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 814

Is it going to be at Customs?!

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

Looking good Happy

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jp · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject:

dada da da daaa I'm lovin it Grin

I'll get my coat...
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illzlee · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject:

shoud go like white lightning!

i'll get my coat... Laugh Out Loud

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'79 Bay running citroen 1.9td and phat tyres!

hege · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject:

The car moved on it's own for the first time this weekend, I posted a video on youtube to witness it Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ERq75JhXY

We got a new guy on our team, Erno. I got the opportunity to be data engineer for a team running four Porsche Cup cars, so spare weekends to run the race taxi will be scarce. Erno will be bringing the car to this summer's events, and we will be very busy testing and tuning the car to get it up to speed. The deadline for the car will be a local car show, so we have one month to get the car finished.
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T3 Race Taxi