Z06 is right in the hunt with the GT3s and GT4RSs

[Datawiz]

Had practice today, and my multi-time national champion is sandwiched in between a GT3 and a GT4RS and followed by more GT3s and another GT4RS. It's about time Corvette brought a real car to compete with the Germans. Videos to follow tomorrow, but now that I have the alignment on this car, it's MENTAL. :yesnod: Co-driver within 3/10ths of fastest GT3 and that guy has about 10k laps in that car. Pat got his time on his second run in a car he's never driven, that is nearly 80" wide. He LOVED the power, and how easy it is to deliver. My 2008 Z06 with 685 hp is a sledgehammer, the 2024 Z is a scalpel.

[lrobe22]

The Z06 is a beast but from my experience HPDE and AutoX it's mostly about the driver unless we're using the same driver/day/tires. I've been passed by much slower cars and when I actually learned to drive a little better I would pass much faster cars.

[Datawiz]

The Z06 is a beast but from my experience HPDE and AutoX it's mostly about the driver unless we're using the same driver/day/tires. I've been passed by much slower cars and when I actually learned to drive a little better I would pass much faster cars.

ALL of the drivers in today's practice are national tour top tier drivers. It's actually kind of funny how our venue has become the playground for the rich. The value of the cars at the track today was insane. We had at least 8 GT3s, 2 GT4RSs, a McLaren 570, and tons more of Porsches and C8s. Like any other motorsport, it always gravitates to who has the biggest budget. :lol:

Last month, without the alignment, I was 2+ seconds slower than a 3 time national champion in MY car. With the alignment today, and an improper pointer cone on course during my runs, I was only 1.2 seconds slower than my co-driver who is a 5 time national champion. My incorrect cone cost me at least 3-4 tenths, but to be on the same second as him is a big win for me. Taking the last year off for my health reasons cost me my skills. They are finally coming back. :yesnod:

[LATB]

Man that’s cool.

[lrobe22]

That's what I love about HPDE and racing. You get to actually see all of the various makes and models being used hard. Beats the shit out of a bunch geezers sitting in a lawn chair next to their car at a car show telling stories about how hard they accelerated on the interstate on-ramp that one time in 1983.

[Rikki Z-06]

Had practice today, and my multi-time national champion is sandwiched in between a GT3 and a GT4RS and followed by more GT3s and another GT4RS. It's about time Corvette brought a real car to compete with the Germans. Videos to follow tomorrow, but now that I have the alignment on this car, it's MENTAL. :yesnod: Co-driver within 3/10ths of fastest GT3 and that guy has about 10k laps in that car. Pat got his time on his second run in a car he's never driven, that is nearly 80" wide. He LOVED the power, and how easy it is to deliver. My 2008 Z06 with 685 hp is a sledgehammer, the 2024 Z is a scalpel.



:seasix:

[Datawiz]

Co-driver's 27.2. Fastest GT3 was a 26.89, so we're right there, and this was only his 2nd lap ever driving my car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi4QKWem5Tg

[VatorMan]

That's what I love about HPDE and racing. You get to actually see all of the various makes and models being used hard. Beats the shit out of a bunch geezers sitting in a lawn chair next to their car at a car show telling stories about how hard they accelerated on the interstate on-ramp that one time in 1983.

HPDE’s- I instructed for CHIN, NASA, BMW etc.. when I started out, the student would ask- how fast can I go and I’d say, as fast as your right foot and wallet will let you. As I aged and learned, it became- when I feel you know how to turn and brake, and yes both at the same time. I’ve had guys scared of the power of a C7 Z06 and left the event to teens in a 1980s 3 series BMW learning how to turn into a corner, keep throttle and use all the track to keep momentum.

1. The WORST students ever are guys good at autoX. They tend to use violent movements to turn-at speed throwing the car out of balance. I hated having autoX peeps for students. My favorite students were women-they listen, have no “macho” need to go faster than they are able and totally resistant to Red Mist.

[Datawiz]

HPDE’s- I instructed for CHIN, NASA, BMW etc.. when I started out, the student would ask- how fast can I go and I’d say, as fast as your right foot and wallet will let you. As I aged and learned, it became- when I feel you know how to turn and brake, and yes both at the same time. I’ve had guys scared of the power of a C7 Z06 and left the event to teens in a 1980s 3 series BMW learning how to turn into a corner, keep throttle and use all the track to keep momentum.

1. The WORST students ever are guys good at autoX. They tend to use violent movements to turn-at speed throwing the car out of balance. I hated having autoX peeps for students. My favorite students were women-they listen, have no “macho” need to go faster than they are able and totally resistant to Red Mist.

Totally agree, and I am one of the violent input drivers in autocross, but also do track days and know how to drive smoother.

[VatorMan]

Totally agree, and I am one of the violent input drivers in autocross, but also do track days and know how to drive smoother.

One of my Corvette friends is a champion autoXer here in the NE. He drove a C6 Z06. I was instructing him at VIR and I knew he had a touch of ADHD, but my God, this guy was terrifying. He could throw the car in a corner and catch it multiple times and be talking the whole time. Fast as ****, scary as ****, noisy as ****. I had to grab him by the HANS and tell him to pull in to pits so I could talk. lol

[lrobe22]

Before doing track days, I was drinking the Corvette koolaid hard. Very anti-Porsche because Kentucky good old boys > Nazis and such :lol: Once I started doing track days and seeing GT3's and the like, I was converted. Now I have a 911 and don't plan to go back to a Corvette; I've had 5 so I think that itch is scratched anyway.

[Datawiz]

Before doing track days, I was drinking the Corvette koolaid hard. Very anti-Porsche because Kentucky good old boys > Nazis and such :lol: Once I started doing track days and seeing GT3's and the like, I was converted. Now I have a 911 and don't plan to go back to a Corvette; I've had 5 so I think that itch is scratched anyway.

The C8 Z06/Z07 is legitimately the first Corvette that can compete with the GT3s. Brian Peters campaigned a non Z07 Z06 on the national tour this year and did amazingly well. Mine being a Z07, is another level up and it shows. In autocross, the car is still WAY to effing wide. The GT3s are over 5 inches skinnier than my car, but at a track day at something like full course at Sebring, the GT3s have zero chance against the Z07. Width doesn't matter on a road course. A C8 Z51 in the hands of a capable driver does about 146-147 into turn 17 at Sebring. Based on feedback from other drivers, I'm expecting mine to be between 162-165. But, it makes sense, cuz I have another 150 more HP than the newest GT3s. Those things just turn so well, but now with my alignment, and proper tires, my car is a scalpel. :yesnod:

[Big bob]

Good job:hurray: try try again :seasix:

[ratflinger]

That's what I love about HPDE and racing. You get to actually see all of the various makes and models being used hard. Beats the shit out of a bunch geezers sitting in a lawn chair next to their car at a car show telling stories about how hard they accelerated on the interstate on-ramp that one time in 1983.


Hey, that was a bitch of an on-ramp!

[higgyburners]

Had practice today, and my multi-time national champion is sandwiched in between a GT3 and a GT4RS and followed by more GT3s and another GT4RS. It's about time Corvette brought a real car to compete with the Germans. Videos to follow tomorrow, but now that I have the alignment on this car, it's MENTAL. :yesnod: Co-driver within 3/10ths of fastest GT3 and that guy has about 10k laps in that car. Pat got his time on his second run in a car he's never driven, that is nearly 80" wide. He LOVED the power, and how easy it is to deliver. My 2008 Z06 with 685 hp is a sledgehammer, the 2024 Z is a scalpel.

Awesome videos ...you are killing it ...:cert:

[Vette40th]

ZO6 sounds awesome. Any videos in car from the Porsches? Porsche has decades of tuning their 911's. So, its great GM is finally right there with them.
Tires and more time, and the 911s will be behind you..

[Datawiz]

I sucked today, but my car was awesome. Pat finished 3rd of 17 drivers, and was only 0.271 seconds from 1st place. Pretty impressive driving on his part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eilcSamnhc

Same run on the PDR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ouL4E-JqNA

[Datawiz]

Final Results (I totally sucked today):

[VatorMan]

That sounded like $600 worth of front tire ! :funnier:
Are you stock camber ?

[Vette40th]

Any regular C8s there?

[Datawiz]

Any regular C8s there?

There were 4 in Super Street...fastest one was 7th.

[Datawiz]

That sounded like $600 worth of front tire ! :funnier:
Are you stock camber ?

-3.0 front, -2.5 rear. Rear toed in a total of 1/16th.

[donuts]

How well does your daughter handle the C8Z?

[Datawiz]

How well does your daughter handle the C8Z?

She hasn't raced it yet, but she'd be a natural in it because she spent 3 years in my C8 Z51, and finished 2nd on the podium at the '22 national championship in Lincoln. :yesnod:

[Datawiz]

Daughter in the BRZ. She crushed it this weekend. :leaving:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvU3VFSSB9M

[Onebadcad]

DW,
What tires were you one, did p-cars run the same tires??

[Datawiz]

DW,
What tires were you one, did p-cars run the same tires??

I ran Nankang CRSs, and the GT3s and GT4RSs that beat us were on standard are running on more competitive tires like the Falken 660s, the RE71RSs, and a few others. Nankang is the ONLY legal tire that fits my car, and I still give up 30 mm in the rear. Running 315 wide tires, where OEM is 345.

[snide]

I sucked today, but my car was awesome. Pat finished 3rd of 17 drivers, and was only 0.271 seconds from 1st place. Pretty impressive driving on his part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eilcSamnhc


Dafuq did I just watch? :confused5: