80 MPH . . . Backwards

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Jun 19, 2005 | 11:53 AM

4CEE

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 1,122

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From: Dallas TX

80 MPH . . . Backwards

Here’s a couple of shots of Nick Cole, the son of the late Ed Cole (GM President), exiting the Khana track at last month’s Lone Star Corvette Classic. When reviewing the pics he told me after experiencing the 180, he floored it running the speed up to 80 MPH, but he was still going backwards!

Jun 19, 2005 | 11:56 AM

NSTG8R

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 6,772

Likes: 1

From: Tampa FL

must be nice not to give a sh^t about your car and beat the ever loving tar out of it.

nice pics.

Jun 19, 2005 | 12:18 PM

Brianss1

Instructor

Joined: Jun 2005

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Looks like fun to me.

Jun 19, 2005 | 12:20 PM

4CEE

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 1,122

Likes: 22

From: Dallas TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neablas

must be nice not to give a sh^t about your car and beat the ever loving tar out of it.

Interesting response. Nick worked for Chevrolet around 95/96, performance testing the Corvette apparently for the up-coming C5. He tracked Corvettes hard as specifically instructed until something broke so that engineers could trouble-shoot the failure for improvements.

Jun 19, 2005 | 12:21 PM

ChevyChad

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 2,781

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From: Savannah GA

I can't imagine trying to keep a car straight going 80 in reverse!

Jun 19, 2005 | 12:58 PM

4CEE

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 1,122

Likes: 22

From: Dallas TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevyChad

I can't imagine trying to keep a car straight going 80 in reverse!

The HUD reflected a forward speed of 80 MPH while he was still moving backwards. Speed was based on wheel spin. Not clock speed. I agree with you on the difficulty to track a C5 straight in reverse with any speed. From my experience the C4 is much easier, but there is a cooling problem due to lack of airflow through the radiator.