LOS ANGELES PI

Here is my dilemma:

I have a 2006 C6 Z51. I want to race T1.

I could sell my car for 35 to 38 k. Buy a track ready C5 Z06 for 27 to low 30s.

Or, I could install the t1 suspension on my c6, radiator upgrade, dr spindles and ducts and install a cage.

My car is fresh and tight (for now) 8k miles. It will be under a bumper to bumper warranty till 2011 or 60k miles.

What would you do??

Will I be competitive with a C6 vs. C5 Z06? With a tune, I dyno 360 at the rears.

wallyman424

how competitive depends firstly on your talent, secondly on your tire budget, and thirdly on your car.

at least thats what i've found.

John Shiels

Transforming your C6 to T-1 spec's will cost you how much vs. C5 T-1 car already done? Then what will the depreciation be on each when you resell? I think the difference would be huge and buy a lot of racing tires and cover other expenses. Don't forget repairs do you think your bumper to bumper will work on a caged car

Look at the expense of running a race car competitively first. Many here will be able to tell you. Like dropping tapered pads long before they would be shot in a HPDE.

AU N EGL

Build a competive T1 car runs $25,000 to $30,000 plus the cost of the car.

So converting a car or buying a fully prepped T1 car for 33-35K is the question?

as Wally mention competitive has more to do with the driver then tires budget then HP.
You could have a lower HP car, great driving skills and new tires each race and kick butt.

vs a high hp car, mediocre driving skills and use scrubbs and get your butt kicked.

Racer-38

if you are serious about racing there is no question.........sell you car and by a purpose built T1 race car. I f Lance Knupp's is still available buy his...quick!
Unless you are some drivng phenom (and you very well may be) it will not make a difference what car you will drive. It takes lots and lots of track time to be competitive witht the National level T1 drivers.
so instead of driving yourself out of your mind building a race car. Go have fun....buy a T1 car. A C5 corvette is a steal right now!

racin4kicks

I would agree with this forum member. Get a car that is already been proven to be quick and get lots of seat time. I was Lance's teammate and can attest to the fact that his car is a steal. Besides his car ...he also has a list of spares that would make Roger Penske blush.

Keep your pretty C6 for the street....after a year if you are really competitive in a C5 then make the decision to switch. I don't think the C5 will depreciate near as much (from both a percentage and absolute value) over the 2008 racing season.

Besides I heard rumors about significant weight penalties and perhaps even a restrictor plate penalty for the C6 in 2008.

IMHO...spend more money on seat time, coaching and data acquisition if you're a newbie entering the T1 arena.

Peace
Al

63Corvette

Buy the most competitive C5 Z06 T1 car that you can afford (last years winning car if possible) and be SURE to get the chassis and track set-up and preparation book included in the deal. This book will give you an invaluable starting point on setup for each track that the car has run at.

C5inWV

If money is no object, go with the C6.

emf

Hey Ed -- Good to see you're looking at T1 . . . CalClub needs more regular T1 cars running.

I'd echo what most people have said so far -- if you have a choice between build/buy, buying is the best option for most people. Over and above cost, there's a significant amount of time and experience required to setup and campaign a successful car. Now . . . if you've gone through a build before, have time + money + patience + experience to burn . . . go ahead and build. If you're missing any one of the above, then I'd really recommend buying. Frankly, this goes for any C5 or C6 option that's on the table right now.

Financially, you'll probably be able to sell your C6 for as much (if not more) than what it will cost to buy a C5Z06 T1 car. Locally, I know of a couple cars that are (or will be) for sale for a VERY reasonable cost . . . that's over and above the cars that have been mentioned already. Sean will know of both cars that I'm thinking of incidentally, and can weigh in on what will need to be done to either to refresh and/or update the cars.

Reality is, until the 08 GCR is out, and until we know for sure what will be done with the C6 in 08 . . . . it's too difficult to say if a C5 or C6 will have a performance advantage (from a car perspective). CalClub (and pretty much all of Pacific) only has C5's running in T1 so far . . . and I'm pretty sure there's only one guy thinking of running a C6 (and he's waiting to find out what's going to be done to the C6 to determine for sure)

LOS ANGELES PI

Thanks all.

Your right. Each one of you.

John, it would have been fun to go into the local dealer with straight pipes and a cage and say "My power steering rack went out, fix it Dano !"

Yes, I dont have patience and time. I am a newbie with some newbie skills that is anxious to learn.

How do I find out more about Lance Knupp's car?

emf

. . . shows you how much I'm paying attention. 08 GCR was posted two days ago.

http://www.scca.com/documents/Club%20Rules/GCR2008.pdf

First pass looks like same rules for C6 as last season -- no weight penalty @ 3280, same motor (LS2), and no restrictor.

AU N EGL

LS3 in the 2008s?

emf

TCS does not have the '08's classified, meaning one of a couple things:
a) you're SOL for '08 C6's in the 08 season
b) They'll revise the C6 TCS in a little bit, and either include the 08's, add restrictions to the C6's generically, or both.


(I'm betting on option B, since there are no 08's for any car in the TCS)

John Shiels

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1846765

ready to go

AU N EGL

I think there are a few 08s up at Phoenix being converted this winter

fatbillybob

I'm not a T-1 racer so don't know anything about it but isn't the C5
T-1 eligible for a really long time like until 2015 or something like that which also raises the C5's stock?

AU N EGL

Yes it is BB.

The C6s are good but with the new LS3 motor that makes the C6 more desirable then the LS2 or C5Z with the LS6 motor.

John Shiels

I think it usually ten years.

gkmccready

I think they recently changed it to 10 years from the last year that model/bodystyle was made. Otherwise '97 C5s wouldn't be eligible next year. Instead I think all C5s are eligible until 2014. But I could have been dreaming when I was looking last year.

Mikelly

There is simply no way in hell I'd start into T1 in a C5. If you want to be in the saddle competitively for the long haul, Do the C6. I don't care how much we're talking. The question is DO YOU WANT TO WIN 2 YEARS from now???

I know I'm the vote of desention here, but buying and racing a C5 at this stage is just to far behind the curve if you're thinking 2009-2010.

Mike