Dzintara Volga

helgi · 11 May 2011, 19:30 (Ref:2878916)

As you can see from my avatar I like that car. GAZ-24 Volga. It was a prestigous sedan but at the same time it was known as Taxi-cab. And when taxi-drivers went to the ring....

Some short video (note the number of spectators)

Some photos at racinghistory.lv

Race track

Note: I do not know much about this event. I only like that Volga. One of the last true Volgas. The last I think was GAZ-3102, but it didn't race.

ensign14 · 12 May 2011, 06:35 (Ref:2879097)

Would be interesting to see a Volga with modern tech...

helgi · 12 May 2011, 14:33 (Ref:2879335)

Some years ago GAZ desided to produce a Chrysler model under Volga brand. It all went wrong. Today there're no more Volgas. It has such a wonderful 2,4l engine with shouting exhaust system... In a year or two GAZ will produce a Mercedes commercial van and one of its modifications will be called Volga. What a shame.

Some photos of Volga 3110 prepaed for winter track
Witer track racing (or ice track in this case, no so exciting as speed is lower than on snow).

helgi · 12 May 2011, 21:30 (Ref:2879626)

As for this year Dzintara Volga, there's a possiboloty that a team from Nizhnii Novgorod will go, but all the info will be able only after annual meeting of GAZ 21 and 24 owners at NRing.

rogerwills · 22 May 2011, 17:16 (Ref:2883991)

My Volga will be out this weekend at Brands Hatch in the Masters Historic meeting. It is a 1959 GAZ Volga M21. We have a lot of fun with it including winning the best team at the Goodwood Revival last year.

helgi · 28 May 2011, 13:30 (Ref:2887091)

Hallo, rogerwills! How it went at Brands Hatch?

There was a meeting of M21 and 24 owners at Nizhnii Novgorod. They were discussing an opportunity of participation in Dzintara Volga. But no news.

helgi · 27 Jun 2011, 09:23 (Ref:2906713)

I've managed to post some questions to Vadim Bakhanov, who raced Volgas. He's now working at Nizhnyy Novgorod race track and has almost no free time, so I don't know how soon I'll get answers.

helgi · 10 Dec 2011, 15:03 (Ref:2998065)

A race track near Nizhnii Novgorod to host a first round of "Amber Volga" ("Dzintara Volga") 2012 cup.

helgi · 18 May 2012, 19:49 (Ref:3076232)

Dzintara Volga at Nizhnii Novgorod next week-end. And I'll miss it. Was hoping to get there but no luck. Now just listening the engine from here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJOir...layer_embedded

helgi · 28 May 2012, 18:41 (Ref:3080726)

Here they are! Beauty Volga in sports :

More images at the official site of Nizhegorodskoe Ring.

**chunterer** · 31 May 2012, 11:38 (Ref:3082504)

They kind of look like a stretched Mk1 Escort crossed with an Opel Diplomat!

Not bad looking in race trim I have to say?

Alexander Matveev · 5 Jun 2012, 18:50 (Ref:3085776)

A couple of my own pictures from last year's Dzintara Volga event at Bikernieki, Riga. September 18-19, 2011.

They don't only race Volgas there, but also classic RWD Ladas and historic formulae (F3 and Easter that raced in USSR, mostly from 1980s). Among the participants there were some HAIGO drivers.

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Unfortunately, not sure I will be able to visit any Dzintara Volga event this year. Already missed the weekend in Nizhniy Novgorod a couple weeks ago and no certain plans on a main meeting in Riga.

helgi · 7 Jun 2012, 21:58 (Ref:3087178)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

They kind of look like a stretched Mk1 Escort crossed with an Opel Diplomat!

Not bad looking in race trim I have to say?

That design is a bit American. And the car itself was just a dream for usual engieer or teacher. Very dificit - it's hard to describe in terms of market economy. But it was a taxi cab. And no cars were made for racing. Some of those which entered races were combined from several old taxi cabs. And I've heard a story that one of the first roll cages was made from defect Izhevsk gun barrels.

Alexander Matveev · 8 Jun 2012, 05:28 (Ref:3087294)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Matveev

A couple of my own pictures from last year's Dzintara Volga event at Bikernieki, Riga. September 18-19, 2011.

What was I thinking? These are from 2010! Time flies!

Alexander Matveev · 8 Jun 2012, 05:34 (Ref:3087295)

Quote:

Originally Posted by helgi

But it was a taxi cab. And no cars were made for racing. Some of those which entered races were combined from several old taxi cabs.

You mean, no cars were produced for racing? As on taxi stations those production taxi cabs were still modified.

helgi · 8 Jun 2012, 07:10 (Ref:3087320)

I mean there was no works team or support as some Lada drivers had. Everybody had his own recipe how to prepare a car. And it's very interesting to know how they actually did it. Engine and suspension settings, for example.