Kids... It still amazes me!
08-22-2015, 09:32 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
I took my 90 Z to the Morris, IL "Cruise Nite" - a 'show what ya brung' (read: pure car nut kind of show).
I've noticed it before, but as usual, for the most part the crowds' eyes get glazed over by all the eye candy at that show, so 'just another C4' gets a casual glance as they walk by. Leave it to some teenage guys to notice! (Well, that's not exactly true... By chance there were two other ZR-1s parked on the same side street, fellow "FBI'ers", in fact, but they're not 'typical' car show guys either
)
Suddenly, this young lad stops in his tracks, calls his friends over, and he pulls out his cell phone to snap pictures of the motor while his friends pour all over it.
After a while they come up to me, sitting in my bag chair while eating my dinner, and ask all kinds of questions about the "LT5!". I explained that it was modified to over 500, and even fired it up for them to listen to. (I'm not sure they all believed the '500+' hp claim of mine. I suppose they were expecting a pretty radical cam overlap and the smooth idle doesn't 'tip it's hand' at all.)
Anywayz... It never ceases to amaze me that it is the youngsters these days are the ones (if nobody else) that realize what they're seeing.
I've noticed it before, but as usual, for the most part the crowds' eyes get glazed over by all the eye candy at that show, so 'just another C4' gets a casual glance as they walk by. Leave it to some teenage guys to notice! (Well, that's not exactly true... By chance there were two other ZR-1s parked on the same side street, fellow "FBI'ers", in fact, but they're not 'typical' car show guys either
)Suddenly, this young lad stops in his tracks, calls his friends over, and he pulls out his cell phone to snap pictures of the motor while his friends pour all over it.
After a while they come up to me, sitting in my bag chair while eating my dinner, and ask all kinds of questions about the "LT5!". I explained that it was modified to over 500, and even fired it up for them to listen to. (I'm not sure they all believed the '500+' hp claim of mine. I suppose they were expecting a pretty radical cam overlap and the smooth idle doesn't 'tip it's hand' at all.
)Anywayz... It never ceases to amaze me that it is the youngsters these days are the ones (if nobody else) that realize what they're seeing.
While always having the highest respects for a ZR-1, it was my 24-year-old son-in-law who got me to test drive one this spring. He drives an '83 Porsche - whale tail. He loves all kinds of sports cars and researches, reads, and watches videos like crazy. Somehow, he must have stumbled across something that interested him in it.
Bought the '94 Z in May, and he is sold on it - loves driving it… as do I.
08-23-2015, 02:12 PM
#22
Team Owner
I think it's safe to say, that never before and never again, will a Corvette posses a 32 valve V8. With the new Ford GT's power plant being a v6, the new standard will most likely be less cylinders.
08-24-2015, 04:27 AM
#23
Race Director
What the hell... GM sticks SBC Corvette motors in Cadillacs.
08-24-2015, 01:41 PM
#24
Team Owner
A version of the Northstar that was used in the Oldsmobile Aurora, 4.0 ltr. I believe, was used heavily by a few racing entities with great success.