Friend just crashed his Supercharged ZO6
#1
Instructor
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Friend just crashed his Supercharged ZO6
A friend of mine crashed his 2017 Zo6 last night. Luckily no one was hurt except his car and a mini van. I asked him what happened and he said it got away from him. This happened on a busy street that I happen to live on. From what he told me it sounds like he was leaving a stop light and got on it. He said it started fishtailing, I asked if the traction control was on. He said traction control turned off, he was trying to get use to it that way. It's a real shame to see that happen to such a nice car, only 8,000 miles. Damage was done mostly to the drivers front fender and front bumper. He also had some suspension damage, drivers front wheel was folded up underneath.
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02-22-2018, 07:13 AM
The nannies are very good at controlling the Z when someone pushes it a little too far but they are designed to ASSIST a reasonable driver and not make the world safe from a total moron. If you try to enter a hairpin turn on the Tail of the Dragon at 140 MPH you are past the point where anything can control the vehicle (well anything except the solid rock side of a mountain). If you accelerate a little too hot with cool tires on a cool surface it will get you back in line. But if you nail the throttle on cold tires on a crowded street you are likely to be into something before the control systems can unwind your stupidity. The torque from a Z06 will result in behavior you won't generally see with a naturally aspirated or even the typical turbocharged engine which won't have the near instantaneous availability of diesel engine like low RPM torque.
Remember, the slang term for these protective systems is "nanny" and not God. Like a children's nanny they help keep children in line but they can't always overcome a determinedly stupid adult.
Remember, the slang term for these protective systems is "nanny" and not God. Like a children's nanny they help keep children in line but they can't always overcome a determinedly stupid adult.
#2
Melting Slicks
Absolutely no reason to turn that off....
Do c7s have a comp mode that allows wheel spin but still helps keep car straight like a C5? Hard to believe they don't.
I will let everyone else comment about getting on it on the street.
Do c7s have a comp mode that allows wheel spin but still helps keep car straight like a C5? Hard to believe they don't.
I will let everyone else comment about getting on it on the street.
Last edited by Forcedvert; 02-19-2018 at 05:24 PM.
#3
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It's winter so the roads/tires were cold (especially at night)...that plus no traction control and I could easily see why that happened.
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#4
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Ouch!
Hopefully no one was hurt (except for pride), and I agree with the others about lack of traction in colder weather compounded by no traction control. And while the easy guideline is don't "get on it" on the street, it sounds like the issue was made even worse by having other traffic close enough to hit them when traction was lost.
With suspension damage, it sounds like it'll be an expensive fix.
Hopefully no one was hurt (except for pride), and I agree with the others about lack of traction in colder weather compounded by no traction control. And while the easy guideline is don't "get on it" on the street, it sounds like the issue was made even worse by having other traffic close enough to hit them when traction was lost.
With suspension damage, it sounds like it'll be an expensive fix.
#5
Race Director
i am glad no one was hurt, a busy street is no place to play around with a powerful car, hopefully he learned a lesson. this stupidity is what gives corvette drivers a bad rap
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#6
Racer
Unfortunately he is learning his lesson the hard way. Don’t practice on busy streets. Find an open parking lot or abandoned warehouse etc. Hopefully others learn from this as well. Hope to see him back in his vette soon. With great power comes much responsibility!
Last edited by gmanflying; 02-19-2018 at 10:41 AM.
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#8
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Glad your friend is OK, but this belongs in the C7 General section. Moving it over there.
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; 02-19-2018 at 12:09 PM.
#9
Team Owner
The z is only fast under the right conditions and is dangerous to try to be
fast in cold weather. By pressing the limits Your only as good as the grip.
fast in cold weather. By pressing the limits Your only as good as the grip.
#10
Le Mans Master
Anyone want to bet he had Cup tires on it too? Idiot...
#11
Le Mans Master
I'm a reasonably good driver with lots of track experience and I never turn TC off on the street. It's definitely saved me before because on the street, unexpected **** happens and there is typically very little room to correct. It's not like the track where things happen fast and at the limit, but it's almost never unexpected and there is often runoff room, other "lanes" etc.
****, my driver friends don't turn off traction control on the street. There is just no reason to turn TC off on the street.
****, my driver friends don't turn off traction control on the street. There is just no reason to turn TC off on the street.
Last edited by village idiot; 02-19-2018 at 01:04 PM.
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#12
Literally one of the worst cars in the world to have TC turned off... Definitely keeping it off for daily use...
I just don't get this logic on a car like this. Keeping TC off on a car like the Z and you're begging to plow it into something. It's just too unstable as has been WIDELY documented.
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#13
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I never turned my traction control off in 3 1/2 years in my C7 Z51 and now with my Grand Sport! It has less power but way more than enough to fishtail off the line! Had the Grand Sport tail step out somewhat in an aggressive start with the nannies engaged!
With my ProSteet Rod with it's 8.2 Liter engine, 53% of the weight on 16.5 section width sticky Mickey Thomsons and a 4 bar link rear suspension, if one wheel looses traction on a launch, due to the road surface, you have ~1/2 second to lift or you are in a ditch! I'd never do that with cars around!
He learned a very expensive lesson!
Last edited by JerryU; 02-19-2018 at 01:13 PM.
#14
TC is your friend, always leave it on for street use. I have been saved a few times for sure.
#15
Le Mans Master
That’s why I only turn off my traction control when I’m out where I have room around me just in case like an empty (abandoned) parking lot where I can do burnouts.
#16
Safety Car
This is a hard lesson to learn, and I would guess not one that will be forgotten anytime soon.
The good part is that the only costs are to his ego and his bank account --- could have come at the expense of his health or life --- or (worse yet) someone else's.
The good part is that the only costs are to his ego and his bank account --- could have come at the expense of his health or life --- or (worse yet) someone else's.
#17
Le Mans Master
Also, TC, even in street mode, lets you slide around a little. I do it all the time and greatly reduce the risk of crashing.
Last edited by village idiot; 02-19-2018 at 01:33 PM.
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#18
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#20
Le Mans Master