Well, I've been doing track days on/off for the last 9 years, mostly with my friend's track cars but this was my first with my own street/track car. I've wanted a Z06 for the last several years and last month I was finally able to get my own Z and picked up an '04 with 16k on it.

I ran Road Atlanta with Chin this past weekend and had a blast. I'm accustomed to driving my friends full blown M3 race car so this was quite a change and I was a bit nervous as to what to expect as I've never driven a Vette on track. Results? I love this car! Amazing with very little done to it. The handling took a little bit of getting used to but once I figured out the slip angle I got pretty comfortable with it pretty quick and found it quite predictable. It definitely exceeded my expectations. I can't imagine it with sway bars, coilovers, and some down force. The power was pretty nice too with only a tune (366whp) and the brakes aren't bad either. Loads of fun for the buck for sure! Just thought I would share my thoughts and throw some videos in for those who like to watch track stuff. Car needs a louder exhaust on track as it's hard to hear it to rev match but otherwise it's awesome!

Mods for the event were as follows:
Tune
DBA 4000 front rotors / stock rear
Carbotech XP12/XP10
stainless steel lines
Doug Rippie brake ducting
lowered on bolts
Bilstein shocks
Corbeau FX1 seats
Harbar harness bar
Nitto 555R II extreme tires - was impressed with them

That's it. Anyway, just thought I would share how awesome these cars are right out of the box. Very happy with my purchase!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQfRH5KfuvI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArCNj...&feature=feedu

 

 

Nice

 

Great track, I'll be there this weekend with NASA SE. Video from August:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcqlxbkJo-w

 

Fun to watch. Road Atlanta is a great track. Were you running in competitive mode? Looked like a good first day!! Congrats om the new track vehicle. We'll see you out at Sebring soon.

 

Thanks for sharing - great to watch.

Did the 16k include track miles - or were you breaking it in?

 

Jeremy, great video's. I'm glad you're enjoying the car, it certainly looks like it's in good hands.

Any plans for future mods?

Mike

 

Yes, most of the time I was running in competitive mode just to be safe since I'm still getting used to it. I ran one session with the traction off.

Chin isn't doing Sebring until March! I may have to look elsewhere.

Mike's new engine was also stout as you were asking. He was dead even with me everytime all the way down the back straight. I couldn't pull him through 146. After that it was adios as he roasted me in the braking and cornering.

 

I bought the car with 16,890 miles on it. At the time of track it had 17,700 something on there. It's just getting broke in for the track.

 

Eventually I would like the following but I don't know how much I'll do to it in '12.

C6 shifter - already have it just need to install it
Vararam intake - already have it just need to install it
LG Longtubes
retune if necessary
*maybe a small cam - not sure*
Stoptech brakes
LG sway bars
PFADT featherlites coilovers
Splitter/wing
Hoosiers for track

That would probably be it for awhile. Maybe an exhaust, not sure yet. The car sounds great on the street but is hard to hear on track.

For '12 I may just get sway bars and drive it a lot. I'm on a budget and I don't want to get hog wild yet. The car is fun as is IMO.

 

My good friend sold his 2006 Mustang dedicated Griggs race car last winter and bought his 2002 Z06. With just slicks and a panhard bar addition he was getting 1st and 2nd in about every NASA TX race this year. He won about 3 sets of Hoosiers in this car. He is putting it up for sale as his father in law bought a FR500C for him to drive next year. I just can't afford the $24k he wants for it...but it does have only 21k miles.

 

Nice driving...

 

Nice! Looks like you're having fun and enjoying the new '04 C5 Z06. I hope to make it to Road Atlanta next November with Chin.

 

These C5's are a whole lot of fun when pushed on track. It sure is tough to beat the C5Z as far as bang for your buck track performance!

Let us know if you need a set of coilovers, we can really make your track days a whole lot more fun!

 

more and more driving is best

 

Good stuff, and congrats on the new car

 

The hand out the window, are you telling those behind to pass?

 

Yep. Point by is required.

 

I hope to drive that track someday. Hopefully I can afford to get outside of OK and TX someday to other tracks. I'm surprised that they let you drive with no sleves.

 

What are your impressions on the Carbotech XP12/XP10 pads? I plan 75% track use for my car with limited street use. Are the Carbotech pads noisy on the street and will they stop okay at non-racetrack temps? Thanks.