Encountering Setbacks
As race day was fast approaching, the team scrambled to get the car up and running. At a time when they planned to be testing the vehicle in the desert, they instead found themselves removing fragments of a blown turbo from the intercooler. Somehow a rag was left in the air intake, and when the engine was started, it met with the compressor wheel. On another occasion, the Mendeola-MD4S transaxle's shift rails bound up during testing. So instead of dialing in the suspension, Tony and the crew were back in the shop working on the drivetrain. The final setback was how the Baja 1000 race ended for the Greasecar Motorsports team. After driving 130 miles trouble-free, a malfunctioning ECU brought the car to a stop. So it was up to the three chase vehicles, which also run on vegetable oil, to come to the rescue.
Overcoming Setbacks
Through it all, the guys were able to overcome the glitches and prove their main point-that a diesel engine powered by pure vegetable oil could compete in off-road racing. It was unanimous, according to everyone who drove the TDI-powered car, that it was a perfect combination of engine and vehicle. The torque was incredible and the fuel economy was even more outstanding, considering the diesel was averaging fuel economy figures in the high teens, whereas the gas vehicles were only getting about 6 mpg. This benefit allows for fewer pit stops and less fuel weight for the car to carry. With a new computer installed, the Bug is ready for the 2009 season, as Greasecar has decided to continue sponsoring this one-of-a-kind race car.
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 This is what happens when...  This is what happens when you leave a rag inside the air intake. |  Shaun Dunbar is a builder...  Shaun Dunbar is a builder and driver for the Greasecar team. This was an exciting day since it was the first time the freshly painted body met the chassis. |  This blower brings fresh air...  This blower brings fresh air to the driver's helmet. |
 The front suspension is based...  The front suspension is based on the old Volkswagen setup, although instead of leaf springs, this car relies on coilover springs and shocks with remote reservoirs. The front has 13 inches of suspension travel and the rear has 16 inches. |  Tony Steingraber is the crew...  Tony Steingraber is the crew chief and has a lot of experience with desert racing. His day job also prepared him for building race vehicles since he works with heavy-duty trucks and airplanes. Looking through his shop, we found trick aluminum fittings and electrical components made by Honeywell, which work great in desert buggies. |  Talking about setbacks, pictured...  Talking about setbacks, pictured is the space where the turbodiesel is supposed to sit. The team was busy working on the engine and transaxle at a time when they wanted to be testing in the desert. |