383_Proof

I never knew this. I don't own a ZR1, but I cam across this information that I thought I'd share with you folks. If this is a repost, i apologize. But it's something you proud owners should know if you don't....

From Answers.com:

"Although the ZR1 was extremely quick (0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, and onto 180+ mph), the huge performance of the LT5 engine was matched by its robustness. As evidence of this, a stock ZR1 set a number of international and world records at a test track in Fort Stockton, Texas on March 1, 1990, verified by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), including:

7 New International Records: 100 Miles @ 175.600 MPH; 500 Miles @ 175.503 MPH; 1000 Miles @ 174.428 MPH; 5000 KM @ 175.710 MPH; 5000 Miles @ 173.791 MPH; 12 Hours Endurance @ 175.523 MPH; 24 Hours Endurance @ 175.885 MPH for 4,221.256 Miles

3 WORLD RECORDS - IRRESPECTIVE of CATEGORY or CLASS: 5000 KM @ 175.710 MPH; 5000 Miles @ 173.791 MPH; 4,221.256 Miles @ 175.885 MPH

These records remain unbeaten today by any subsequent Corvette, including both the C5 and C6 Z06s."

Now I want one!!!.....anyone want to buy my CE LT4 vert? LoL!
(joking...not selling car)

markyerger

wow, I didn't know that

383_Proof

what I found to be pretty amazing is this part:
These records remain unbeaten today by any subsequent Corvette, including both the C5 and C6 Z06s.

Aurora40

To be fair, they've also never attempted to beat it. But yes, it was and is an impressive feat.

capevettes

But I sure do like the Z

GPryan

No, Corvette hasn't tried, but is curious speculation to see if they would want to, since the ZR-1 has already done it.

But what is really cool was that the record was a privateer effort by Tommy Morrison and some GM engineers with assistance from GM. It was by no means a factory effort.

The motor was a bone stock 375 hp 1990 motor, and several other brands of production cars, including some pretigious Europeans, tried and failed, both before end after the Corvette effort. The record the ZR-1 broke was 50 years old, and it may be unlikely that another production car will hold the record.

The ZR-1 is a memorable achievement to say the least.

Regards, Art

USAFPILOT

I thought the ZR1 records were recently beaten by a Volkwagon or something...maybe that Bughati Veyron or whatever. I dont even know how to spell that. Though I think it costs 1.4M

383_Proof

If that's true, it took a 1.4 mil car to beat a record set by a 70G car. food for thought....

kevincott

We are no longer the fatsest things on the road but this will always be an impressive feat.

I would also enjoy knowing that other newer cars tried to break our record and failed.

Not that I would gloat ......

1990 QUASAR BLUE

True but, it wasn't a production car.

HADI-ZR-1

383_Proof ,
welcome to our ZR home here
BTW : Bughati Veyron $1.4 m. did max speed 407 Kph, still didnt break top speed of Sledeghammer TT Callaway C4 Corvette yet ,which is 410 kph!! , its corvette buddy !
so we are proud we have C4

ZR-71

It was a one-off special built car built only to try and break the ZR-1 record. And I'm not sure it broke all the records set by the ZR-1.
And yes we ZR-1 owners were well aware of the records. But thanks for the Post. Never mind other people not being awware of the ZR-1 records, most other people don't even know what a ZR-1 is.

kcl98

I heard some speculation that the new ZO6s won't try to beat the record because they don't think the pushrod valve train will hold up under that high of rpm for that long of a time period.

KC

USAFPILOT

I doubt it...I wish I could find the article of which car did beat out the ZR1. I also wish someone would prep a single one off specially tuned ZR1 to take the record back. Maybe I'll do it in a few years.

ZR1991

Indeed it was a hand made one off prototype of a proposed super car Volkswagen were considering a few years ago. Used their impressive W-12 engine. Never did anything else.

BUT the good news is it only took the 24 hour title, not the longer ones (like 5000 miles), so though records are made to be broken, the ZR-1 still holds its most important ones, and is STILL the only production car to hold them.

I suspect that for whatever reason, GM will leave the record alone.

Peaven

The FIA shows the "LTS" Corvette still in the record books, along with our friends from VW in their NON-PRODUCTION W12 right here...http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public...df?Openelement

Scroll down to page 11.

383_Proof

Thank you

My CE is my 1st vette...(i moved over from the Blue Oval Cobras) I like to call the CE my "Training Wheels"....which means I'll be moving onto a ZR1 in the near future. I've been looking at ZR1 for the last few months. I should be ready next year for one. Right now the prices are smokin hot and i'm not sure I'll get the money i'd want for my CE LT4 Vert. but that's another topic for when I slap the For Sale sign.

I drove out to CT show held at the Moroso Plant. I got to see a small handful of ZR1's up close and personal for the 1st titme which made me understand how they became such great record setting machines.

They were one bad a$$ production car and can still hold their own to this day in the streets/track

93RubyZ

I think most ZR-1 owners are aware of the records, but it's nice to be reminded of it once in a while. It is one of the things that makes the ZR-1 a special car. Even today, there are very few production cars out there (maybe none) that can do what the ZR-1 did. VW did break the 24-hour record, but they did it with a car specially built to break the record. It was a one-off car having never gone into production.

Here is some more info about the record, most of it coming from The Heart of the Beast -- a must for all owners. Read this book and you'll understand why the LT-5 was capable of doing this.
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A 24-hour endurance record had been owned by Ab Jenkins since July 1940. The record was set at the Bonneville Salt Flats with the Mormon Meteor III, a car that used a 1,500 cubic-inch aircraft engine and was specially built by Duesenberg for the purpose of setting the record. The record was over a 24-hour period where Jenkins averaged a speed of 161.18 miles per hour. Several automotive companies had since tried to break the record. Ford Motor Company tried in 1969 with the Mustang. Mercedes-Benz also tried in 1976 with its C111, an experimental vehicle they eventually never produced. In 1988 Audi also took their shot. All challengers to the record had failed.

On March 1st of 1990, the Corvette ZR-1 set out to make automotive history in Fort Stockton, Texas. By March 2nd, the record changed hands. The Corvette ZR-1 became the new owner with an average speed of 175.885 miles per hour over a continuous 24-hour period, shattering the fifty-year old record. By the time the ZR-1 had completed its mission, a total of seven international records had fallen and an additional three world records regardless of category or class were set.1 The record was monitored by the United States Auto Club as representatives for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). A letter from Burdette H. Martin, Chairman of the FIA Records Commission, dated April 9th, 1990 certified the new records. The letter certified the following as new records broken by the ZR-1:

New International Records
100 Miles @ 175.600 MPH
500 Miles @ 175.503 MPH
1000 Miles @ 174.428 MPH
5000 Kilometers @ 175.710 MPH
5000 Miles @ 173.791 MPH
12 Hours Endurance @ 175.523 MPH
24 Hours Endurance @ 175.885 MPH for 4,221.256 Miles

World Records – Irrespective of of Category or Class
5000 Kilometers @ 175.710 MPH
5000 Miles @ 173.791 MPH
4,221.256 Miles @ 175.885 MPH

The ZR-1 used for the record run was mostly a stock car. There were some modifications made for safety purposes, but the LT-5 engine was a production engine selected randomly. The only modification that would provide a slight increase in engine performance was removal of the catalytic converters. This was also done for safety reasons as the catalytic converters would likely catch on fire if put under the stress of high throttle for 24-hours straight. Removal of the catalytic converters only adds approximately one-to-two additional horsepower.

Under the rules of the 24-hour endurance record, any repairs required during the 24-hour period had to be performed by the driving crew. Additionally, any required spare parts had to be carried with the vehicle. The ZR-1 driving crew carried with them a suitcase full of spare parts that might be needed during the 24-hour event. The suitcase rode along inside the ZR-1 and finished the 24-hour marathon without ever being opened. To commemorate the achievement, Chevrolet ran an advertisement in the June 25th, 1990 issue of Automotive News proudly stating “In 24 hours, we did what nobody could do for 50 years.”

The endurance record is a testament to the reliability and durability of the ZR-1. One of the parameters defining reliability is time – how long the system is required to operate without failure. The other parameter is stress – under what stress levels are the system required to operate under. Increasing either time or stress always has a negative impact on reliability. The endurance record requires the automobile to survive long time duration while operating under high stress levels. That the ZR-1 was able to run for 24 hours straight for over 4,000 miles, stopping only to refuel and change drivers, and to do so under near full-throttle operation for the entire time truly speaks to the durability of the engine. What is even more impressive is that a car that was available on dealer’s showroom floors and available for sale to the general public broke the record. It was not a singular, special-purpose car built only for one purpose. The ZR-1 was not designed or built with the 24-hour record in mind. All ZR-1s sold, if the same minor modifications are made, have the ability to accomplish the same feat.

Further details on the record and how it was broken can be found in The Heart of the Beast.

Z51JEFF

I saw this car at a Corvette show in San Jose years ago.It was the red EDS car that was in fact an 89 ZR1.Hib Halverson was one of the drivers I think,met him at one of the Corvette Dream and Drive events.

cv67

Id have to agree...Heck, some cant go a few thousand miles without losing valvesprings. Sure would be fun to watch the carnage though. :