1988 Volkswagen Scirocco 16v Turbo - Kotch Roccet

In the world of automotive clichs, we've probably heard 'em all. What can go wrong will go wrong; blood, sweat and tears; there is no I in team. Well, maybe we don't hear that last one so often but we can all relate to their meaning because there is a lot of truth in them.

Some people can relate more than others. Take Carl Kotch, for example. He's owned this Tornado red Scirocco 16v turbo since '97 and had his share of triumph and tragedy during that time.

Back in '97 he chose the car over a customized Corvette - an odd choice, some might say, but Carl knew what he wanted. "My Dad restores classic Corvettes," he began, "but I've always been into Porsche, Audi and VW stuff. I remember he got mad at me when I was 15. He was asking me what car I wanted because he had a Corvette for me, and I told him I wanted a VW."

Carl originally hoped to find a Mk1 GTI but a local dealer received a trade-in on a low-mile Scirocco from an elderly couple, and Carl swooped on it. "The car was a really nice, original example. It was my daily driver for college, but then it snowballed. I used part of my student loan to order Euro bumpers and headlights. That transformed the car and then it was one thing after another..."

Carl shaved the notches left in the rear pan after the US bumper was removed, and the stock grille was replaced with a badgeless version. Clear corners were also installed to match the Euro headlights, while a shorty antenna and single-wiper kit rounded out the simple but effective changes. Sensibly, the Karmann-built coupe retains its factory 16v body kit.

After running BBS RX wheels for a time, Carl chose a classic set of 16" BBS RS wheels, shod in 215/35 Toyo tires. Avo coilovers brought the Skyrocket back down to earth and the car under control.

It was around this time that the car was photographed for another magazine, but much to Carl's dismay, the feature never ran. It's the dream of most hardcore enthusiasts to score a mag feature because it validates all your hard work. There may have been a few tears spilt, but rather than sell the car or become bitter about the stillborn feature, Carl kept working to make his Scirocco even better.

GT35R Turbo

"I decided I wanted to go faster, so ended up fitting a nitrous kit. I took it to the drag strip and ran maybe a 13.5 first time out of the box. But that just got the bug in me. I didn't want to worry about a bottle warmer or bottle pressure though. I just want power all the time. So I removed the nitrous and told myself I was going to build a budget turbo kit," Carl chuckled. "I laugh about it now because it's ridiculous how impossible that was."

Knowing how hard he'd be on the car, a built bottom end with 9:1 forged JE pistons, Eurospec Sport H-beam forged rods and ARP hardware would ensure reliable quarter miles. The head was ported and polished, too. And Techtonics heavy-duty valve springs plus Schrick 268/272 cams help the engine breath and stay together at the 8200rpm rev limit.

The turbo kit was built piece by piece, starting with an AMS tubular-style cast manifold, onto which he mounted a Garrett GT35R ball-bearing turbo. A Spearco intercooler was custom-built and Carl worked with Ben Cook Racing (BCR) to create a 3" downpipe and exhaust system.

What start with nitrous has ended up as a built motor with custom turbo kit and 505whp

An unusual choice, BCR specialize in sprint cars but the proof is in the parts: "They're amazing with TIG welding and stuff like that," Carl enthused. "[They] did the intercooler plumbing, the intake manifold and fuel rail." The log-style intake manifold is Carl's own design, incorporating a 65mm Mustang throttle body for maximum flow.

Everything about this motor is big, so the fuel system uses a 1000hp XS Engineering fuel pump, which feeds 1000cc Precision Turbo injectors through Aeroquip lines and a Paxton fuel pressure regulator.

The task of igniting the C16 race fuel is left to an SDS EM3-E standalone engine management system plus an MSD 6AL ignition box with a two-step rev limiter.