C6, Tesla & Friends at the Track
06-23-2010, 07:28 PM
#1
Racer
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C6, Tesla & Friends at the Track
Long post, for those with ADHD pictures at end.
My wife’s company is working with Tesla and their board wanted to see a Tesla Roadster. We posted on this forum and the Tesla Forum and we were able to find two owners who were willing to bring the cars to the Detroit area. The company rented Waterford Hills Raceway for the day for a ride and drive event and I was invited to bring my 2008 C6 for the day.
The track is 1.5 mile, narrow, and twisty, but it does have a fairly long backstretch that lets you open it up a bit. We had the whole track to ourselves and the cars there were my C6, two Tesla Roadsters, a Porsche 911 and a BMW 745. My C6 is a totally stock, standard suspension coupe and I have never been on a track with it or anything else. I got the standard suspension because I thought I would never have my car on a track, but I guess you can never know what opportunities can come up in life.
Although I have no experience on a track, some of the other drivers were well acquainted with the venue. I did no prep work for my car, so I didn’t want to rag on it because I was worried about the brakes heating up. I think I only looked down at the speedometer once, I was going 70 at the start of the backstretch. I let the other drivers try out the C6 and they had no problems ragging on it. Their impressions were that the Corvette had better handling than the Tesla at speed due to the Tesla’s 35/65 weight distribution caused by the heavy batteries over the rear axle. Their only complaint with the Corvette was that they thought it needed bigger rotors.
It was very hard keeping track of where the Tesla’s were on the course from the infield, they were just so quiet. No one had a problem knowing where the Corvette was, the NPP exhaust sounded awesome opening up around the course. I got to drive the Tesla, it has a very small steering wheel and no power steering, but once you are up to speed it handled fine. Getting into the Tesla felt like getting into a C4, you sit down in it. I put the key in the ignition and tried to turn it over, but then realized it just turns on or off. It is hard to know if it is really going without looking at the gauges, you just push a button to put it gear and press the gas to see if it is running.
Driving the Corvette around a track is great fun, but if I was really serious about doing track events I think instead of a $50k C6 I would prefer a $5k car with $10k of suspension and brake upgrades. That would make me and my insurance company a little less stressed. With that said, everyone should have a chance to get their Corvette on the track just to see what these cars can really do.
And now for pics:
C6 and Tesla meet at the office. My wife’s co-worker commented that the C6 looks like a minivan next to the Tesla.
The vehicles:
Getting the C6 onto the track:
First lap:
Tesla, with C6 in the background:
Bringing it in:
BMW, with Porsche in the background:
My wife’s company is working with Tesla and their board wanted to see a Tesla Roadster. We posted on this forum and the Tesla Forum and we were able to find two owners who were willing to bring the cars to the Detroit area. The company rented Waterford Hills Raceway for the day for a ride and drive event and I was invited to bring my 2008 C6 for the day.
The track is 1.5 mile, narrow, and twisty, but it does have a fairly long backstretch that lets you open it up a bit. We had the whole track to ourselves and the cars there were my C6, two Tesla Roadsters, a Porsche 911 and a BMW 745. My C6 is a totally stock, standard suspension coupe and I have never been on a track with it or anything else. I got the standard suspension because I thought I would never have my car on a track, but I guess you can never know what opportunities can come up in life.
Although I have no experience on a track, some of the other drivers were well acquainted with the venue. I did no prep work for my car, so I didn’t want to rag on it because I was worried about the brakes heating up. I think I only looked down at the speedometer once, I was going 70 at the start of the backstretch. I let the other drivers try out the C6 and they had no problems ragging on it. Their impressions were that the Corvette had better handling than the Tesla at speed due to the Tesla’s 35/65 weight distribution caused by the heavy batteries over the rear axle. Their only complaint with the Corvette was that they thought it needed bigger rotors.
It was very hard keeping track of where the Tesla’s were on the course from the infield, they were just so quiet. No one had a problem knowing where the Corvette was, the NPP exhaust sounded awesome opening up around the course. I got to drive the Tesla, it has a very small steering wheel and no power steering, but once you are up to speed it handled fine. Getting into the Tesla felt like getting into a C4, you sit down in it. I put the key in the ignition and tried to turn it over, but then realized it just turns on or off. It is hard to know if it is really going without looking at the gauges, you just push a button to put it gear and press the gas to see if it is running.
Driving the Corvette around a track is great fun, but if I was really serious about doing track events I think instead of a $50k C6 I would prefer a $5k car with $10k of suspension and brake upgrades. That would make me and my insurance company a little less stressed. With that said, everyone should have a chance to get their Corvette on the track just to see what these cars can really do.
And now for pics:
C6 and Tesla meet at the office. My wife’s co-worker commented that the C6 looks like a minivan next to the Tesla.
The vehicles:
Getting the C6 onto the track:
First lap:
Tesla, with C6 in the background:
Bringing it in:
BMW, with Porsche in the background:
06-24-2010, 07:49 AM
#6
Racer
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Yes, for this particular day the Z51 package would have been more appropriate. Actually it was my wife's boss who made the comments about the need for bigger rotors, he used to drive Rally cars. I told him that the ZR1 has upgraded brakes and that he just needs to give my wife a big bonus so we can buy one for our next event.
06-24-2010, 08:52 AM
#7
Burning Brakes
I got to drive a Tesla at a track event last week. It was fast and quiet. It accelerates like a car thats always in first gear and has no redline. The cabin was very tight, the footwell especially. I don't think you could drive it while wearing boots.
Your insurance company wont care about track things. There not paying if something happens.
Your insurance company wont care about track things. There not paying if something happens.
06-24-2010, 10:26 AM
#9
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I got to drive a Tesla at a track event last week. It was fast and quiet. It accelerates like a car thats always in first gear and has no redline. The cabin was very tight, the footwell especially. I don't think you could drive it while wearing boots.
Your insurance company wont care about track things. There not paying if something happens.
Your insurance company wont care about track things. There not paying if something happens.
