RedLS1GTO

I took the C5Z to VIR for the first time this weekend at an HPDE. It was a big change from the 500hp C4 I have gotten used to. Where the C4 was a sledge hammer, the C5 takes a bit of finesse.

I realized that I really had no benchmark for what would be a good time to shoot for in this car. I spent the first day feeling things out and getting used to the new ride and the second day was a mix of traffic and crap weather as you can tell by the windshield in the video so no real chance to let it eat. South Bend scares me as is... much less cold and wet.

My best of the weekend was a 2:10.57. Data tag showed a 2:10.42 (not sure where it was located)

Sorry for the sound, I need to relocate the mic.



I left quite a bit on the table not knowing the car and not wanting to push too hard with the weather.

The car:

2002 Z06
Stock weight
Stock power with exception of Vararam
LG Coilovers
AP/Hardbar T1 brakes
305 square Continental GT-I scrubs


Anybody with a similar setup out there?

jcsperson

Looked pretty nice!

BTW, I just put my mic in the cup holder and close the lid.

StKnoWhere

Beautiful C5Z, probably the best track car out there.

Nice video and decent times for a first weekend. Opportunity in several places to improve your lines so get someone who knows the course in the car with you (or checkout some other video, especially Mike Skeen) and I think you could pickup another 5 sec.

JeremyGSU

Nice car! I can't watch the video at work but if it's your first time I'd say those are good lap times.

At my last Chin event I was running roughly a 2:09-2:10. Now, I don't have actual data acquisition and was basing that off me chasing my buddies M3 who does and some video footage I had. He ran a 2:06 and I was probably 3-4 secs per lap behind him when I crossed the line chasing him. We've done nearly 70events together so I can somewhat guestimate my lap times fairly accurately but it's not true to the tea.

I have an '04 with:
392whp
stock weight + hitch
Sparco Evo 2+ seats
AP Racing brake kit
lightweight battery
Johnny O'Connell stage 1
18" squared with 285 / 305 Nitto NT555 RII tires

Starting at 2:10 is good though IMO. I've seen plenty of guys in the high teens and 20's with C5's.

I'll check out the video later and give my feedback.

brkntrxn

Your car is capable of 2:05-2:06s as it sits. Maybe even 2:04s since it has coil overs. Drop some weight and re-ballast and it is a 2:01-2:03 car.


Good outing with it. 2:10 shake down runs at VIR are great.

RedLS1GTO

Thanks. I was guessing the 2:06-2:07 range as-is with a lot more driver mod. With a very limited track schedule and not wanting to wad up my street car I'd be VERY happy to get consistently into the 2:07 range with it.

I have only done a quick data scrub but looking at my best segment times I should be able to get there without too much issue with some decent weather. It was cold enough that I actually had to tape up a good section of the brake ducts to get temperature into the brakes.. and seeing drops on the windshield is always a bit un-nerving.

It still amazes me that a very capable daily driver can go turn those laps with a novice driver. GM certainly did something right with these cars.

waddisme

That is a pretty good time for first time there. I was there Friday and yes, it was a cool 65*. Don't have any vids from Friday ready yet, but here is a vid of typical lap with Norberts line. 2:12 is about where I run. However, since I put the LG coilovers on, I haven't gotten below 2:14 - go figure.



Hope to see you out there this summer.

JerryTX

Wally's 2:01 in ST2 trim. Your cars twin minus aero 135mph in the uphill Esses..

RedLS1GTO

That's only 20+ mph faster than my fastest. Meh. No biggie.

What weight is that ST2 car?

JerryTX

8.75lb/hp at the time.

I've only driven VIR 2x and absolutely love it, what I learned by riding with some of those guys is the speed possible in the esses is 10+mph more than my brain registers as even remotely possible. I rode with Eric Wong in his street M3 (I think he now has the GTS3 track record). As soon as we entered the Esses at 120+ I braced for impact because I was certain we were going off.. HA!!

RedLS1GTO

Looking through my videos, when I wasn't leaving as much on the table because of the misty rain I was entering at about 120... but apparently ran out of testicular fortitude and dropped to about 112 in the middle section.

My sense of self preservation seems to control my right foot through the esses... and even more so through South Bend.

PushinTheLimit

I've only ran VIR two weekends. My first was during a SVT Superfest in my C5Z but we only ran the Full course one day and it was very crowded and I never got a clean lap the entire day running HPDE. The other two days we ran the North course and I got lots of good laps on it.

My 2nd time was with Nasa running ST2 in the same car back in July 2011. My car had Wilwood SL6 front calipers, Carbotech XP16/XP12 brake pads, Koni 3013 shocks, T1 springs and swaybars, 3300lb race weight (that's with driver), 315 A6's and 380rwhp. I struggled all weekend in the braking zones as I had a mushy pedal after the first lap out no matter how many times I bled them. So my best was a 2:08.xxx being conservative since I didn't have the brakes I needed. I figured it had a 2:06 in it but I never got a chance to go back once I got my brakes figured out.

RedLS1GTO

Was just doing a quick comparison by section of his 2:01 vs my 2:10 to see where the biggest deltas were.

+1.2s by T2 apex
+1.9s by NASCAR exit
+3.1 by 5a exit
+3.2 esses entry
+4.7 esses exit
+6.7 by oak tree 1 marker
+6.9 back stretch pit in
+7.5 14 apex
+7.5 15 apex
+9.6 17 exit

110 vs. 90 mph at Hog Pen exit.



Basically... everywhere.

Falcon

and minus a ZR1 like transmission and different rear ratio.

VatorMan

Ahhh-the Wonger. He's quick everywhere he races. BTW-He just bought a Baja Fresh in Germantown MD. So you can go get race advice to go along with your taco.

travisnd

drivinhard

both of those are obsolete

braknl8

and by the time you've watched this video a few times it will be October again and the times will be in the 1:57-58:xx range....

varkwso

Where in Germantown? I go there often.

moespeeds

My '00 FRC setup is almost identical, PFADT coilovers, Conti GTO scrubs, 18 square, Wilwood front brakes. LS1 with 115k mi so I limited it to 5500 RPMs but my car is gutted. My first time there was last June at NCM, but it was only my 3rd track day ever and I didn't have times. Went back with Chins in Nov and my best was a 2:16. Last month I had Phoenix align/corner balance the car, and they said my old setup was all screwed up (I was running it the way I bought it). I took it to NJMP and knocked 3 sec off my previous best my second session out, then the engine gave it up. Can't wait to get back to VIR this fall with the LS6 and the cage in the car. Great video and driving, thanks for posting.