I bought my C6 Z51 for autocross and though 1/4 mile times are always a good way to measure who has the bigger stick, I think the Corvette is way more than about straight line measurements. Lets hear how some of us C6 guys are doing on the autocross sites!

I'll start - bone stock C6 6 speed with Z51 on BFG KDW2s, factory sizes. I ran as fast as the AS Corvettes on Kumhos and beat the pants off the C5 guys on street tires.

 

i am sure its fun, but this type of racing is for mini-coopers, EVO's, miatas, and other smaller vehicles.

vette = road course.

 

1000%!

I've never been much for autocrossing. Seems like you are practicing to see how fast you can get a space in the parking lot at the supermarket. Too confined for me. Get out and open 'er up on a road course!

Just my opinion... I like running down the 1/4 too!

Mike

 

We run an autocross course that's over 1.5 miles long and you never see 1st gear. A great exercise for the Corvette and your driving skills. Have done road courses and they don't present the challenge that a good/big autocross does. Much more difficult to master. And, since we're on an airport, you don't risk trashing your car on a wall either.

As to how the C6 does...well, in 2 events it had beat all the C5's and ZO6's.

Bob

 

I enjoy autocrossing, but the problem is that here in Houston you spend about 6 hours in the God awful heat and humidy for about 3 minutes of runs. The only time I do it now is in Corvette club events because they don't take as long. The SCCA events draw about 250 cars. They split into to groups and "require" you to be a corner worker when the group you are in is not running.

 

Run Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Mid Ohio, VIR, etc. and you'll never autocross again (or run 1/4s)

 

VIRginia International Raceway, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring . . . ahhhhh what a corvette was ment to do, road race

 

Do you guys worry about insurance and having a bad crash? Is there any insurance that will cover "road course" mishaps?

 

I tried autocross several years ago. Got tired of spinning the whole length of the course. Had a LPE 450hp~ 406 in my '91.

 

They obviously have deep pockets because you hit something...you pay.
I've been through all this up here and that's one of the primary reasons I stopped doing track events. Plus they are a bit booring compared to the autocross events where you need more skill to be fast.

Bob B.

 

I attend driver training like offered from Car Guys, Track Time, NASA racing or friday at the track(FATT) at Summit point. This is controlled, no passing unless the person being passed gives a signal. 2-4 hours of track time over a weekend. I've never seen anyone hit someone elses car. Now I have seen people wreck them selfs. It's not racing, but you still get to be on the track with and overtake and pass Vipers, Porsches, BMWs, etc. I still drag race, its cheap and you can do it every weekend and nights during the week at some tracks..

 

I agree that road racing is probably more expensive than autocross but disagree that you need more skill to go fast in the parking lot races. It's just a different kind of skill. Plus, in autocross you don't have near the pucker factor that's ever present in road racing. The C6 can generate a lot of speed at the big tracks like VIR and Road America and it takes some fortitude to get carry that speed through the kink at Elkhart Lake. Some guys don't like that sort of thing and are probably better suited to auto cross. And you're right, if you miss a corner in the parking lot no big deal. But if you pull an early apex in the kink at 100mph it could spoil your whole weekend.

 

I've done figure 8 racing. What's really exciting, though, is train figure 8 racing. That's when 3 cars are chained together, with a driver in the front car, and a brakeman in the third car. Crossing the X can get real exciting.

 

It's all good!

Race em!

 

http://www.muchosucko.com/video-minicar.html

 

One of the things about road racing or track days. Is learning the limits of your car and your abilites. Worring about crashing helps you know your limits and have respect for the other cars on the track. i.e. no ***** to the wall. One learns quickly to be smooth and consistant. Speed then comes. Ppl that are not smooth and consistant wind up in the grass or tirewalls or worse.

Most but not all insurance companies( check your policy ) should cover if you have an accident at a "DRIVERS EDUCATION" event. The must be NO TIMING, drag racing and auto-x are out.

There is a company called American Collectors Insurance. They do cover Drivers Education in some Eastern states. It is an 'agreed' value and a 20% deductable.

On the other side of the coin, one is more likley to have an accident during rush hour traffic and or just out driving on a country road then in a Drivers Event on a road course.

and I agree with what was said above. Auto-X, Road racign or drag racing takes different types of skill. Doing many many High Performance Drivers Education events and teaching at these events is fun. I really enjoy working with students and helping them learn their cars.

We NEVER force students to go faster then they are comfortable in driving. On the other hand I have ask one student I was ridding with to come into the pits and talk about the track and each corner then contiuse his session. He was comfortable with that and he said that was his best session. His next session on the track he slowed down a little, or he appeard to slow down, but he was consitint on his lines and his speed came up.

Pucker facter?? I call it a come to Jesus meeting, when cresting a hill at 125+ MPH and you dont see the track in front of you

VIR back straight - 4000 ft long with a 110 foot elevation change from 1500 to the 3300 foot point then drops 25 or soo feet to a 30* left hander.


Now where did that track gooooo

 

Yeah, I tried it, and once was enough. Launch, shift to second and forget about the clutch and shifter. Too tight, too slow for me. And the cars that seem to run fastest are the toys like Mini's & Miata's. Maybe a set of roller skates and a rocket strapped to your back (ala Willey Coyote) would get quickest time. I'll pass, and stick with the road courses and canyon runs. That is what my C-6 was made for.