High Speed
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 97
From: Castro Valley State of Insanity
Be careful when you advocate safety over stupidity. Not all of our forum members subscribe to the notion of safety first. On more than one occasion I have been chastised for advocating even very basic safety items on highly modified vehicles. Public highways are not the place to attempt terminal velocity trials.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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I’ve only had my C7 for two weeks and haven’t had it much past the speed limit. Do I THINK the car will hit 185? The potential is certainly there. Will I ever see it - probably not.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 301
Likes: 156
From: Houston Texas
I don't think any of our cars with a stage two spoiler will go 200 mph. This is the reason I think that;
Last year at the Texas Mile I drove a 2018 ZL1 Camaro ( I now have a Carbon 65 Z06). The Camaro would go about 175 mph in the mile, but was still gaining speed. Note the Camaro's rear spoiler is not nearly as aggressive as our Z06's have. My friends both had C7 Z06 Corvettes with the stage 2 rear spoilers. They could only make it to ~168 mph in the mile and both said it appeared their cars were near top speed at 168. If not top speed, then at least they were gaining speed very slowly.
After the first day, we removed the spoilers on the two Z06's then they both went in the mid-high 170's in the mile, and both were gaining speed at the end of the mile. In fact, one friend held the accelerator down past the mile and reached 180 pretty easily.
So while our cars may reach 200 mph, it takes a LONG way to get them there. Even the abandon runways we were running on didn't have enough track to reach top speed and still be able to shutdown (and least they didn't seem to). I don't think the cars will reach speeds above 175mph without removing the rear spoiler. To reach 200 mph, perhaps even the front aero parts would have to be removed too... but unsure about that.
Last edited by thompstl1; Nov 29, 2018 at 02:54 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 274
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Be careful when you advocate safety over stupidity. Not all of our forum members subscribe to the notion of safety first. On more than one occasion I have been chastised for advocating even very basic safety items on highly modified vehicles. Public highways are not the place to attempt terminal velocity trials.
All I know is that with a top speed run in uncontrolled (open road) circumstances, all kinds of things can pop up in an instant that will turn an exhilarating experience into a terrible tragedy before it even registers. A simple example (fabricated for illustration purposes):
You have the pedal down on a straight run with good visibility on both sides of the road --- speedo shows 175, and:
a) a pheasant flies up across the road out of a drainage culvert.
b) a couple of racoons or deer decide to cross the road from a grassy area near the road side.
c) a section of paving that you are unaware of has recently raised or disintegrated along one of the road seams due to heat.
I personally don't care if someone wants to go for it … just so they know that situations addressable at more modest speeds can easily be terminal when pushing the envelope.
Last edited by Range_Rat; Nov 29, 2018 at 03:59 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,385
Likes: 160
From: Orlando FL
Doubtful my '19 Grand Sport will hit more than 175mph from what I've heard. I have hit low triple digit speeds and find it more stable than my C6Z. I did hit 158mph in my C6Z (rated at 198 mph) in the west (location unnamed). And yes it is amazing how fast the real estate goes by! And yes my wife was with me taking pics of my speedometer and prodding me to go faster. Geeez. That was fast enough.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 285
From: Ten Mile TN
I don't think any of our cars with a stage two spoiler will go 200 mph. This is the reason I think that;
Last year at the Texas Mile I drove a 2018 ZL1 Camaro ( I now have a Carbon 65 Z06). The Camaro would go about 175 mph in the mile, but was still gaining speed. Note the Camaro's rear spoiler is not nearly as aggressive as our Z06's have. My friends both had C7 Z06 Corvettes with the stage 2 rear spoilers. They could only make it to ~168 mph in the mile and both said it appeared their cars were near top speed at 168. If not top speed, then at least they were gaining speed very slowly.
After the first day, we removed the spoilers on the two Z06's then they both went in the mid-high 170's in the mile, and both were gaining speed at the end of the mile. In fact, one friend held the accelerator down past the mile and reached 180 pretty easily.
So while our cars may reach 200 mph, it takes a LONG way to get them there. Even the abandon runways we were running on didn't have enough track to reach top speed and still be able to shutdown (and least they didn't seem to). I don't think the cars will reach speeds above 175mph without removing the rear spoiler. To reach 200 mph, perhaps even the front aero parts would have to be removed too... but unsure about that.
At 80 mph in the Z51 I could get 29~30 mpg all day long
At 80 mph in the Grand Sport I get 24 mpg.
Drag is the difference, both cars had same engine, transmission, trim package and rear end. Tires and aero package are the big difference.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 301
Likes: 156
From: Houston Texas
I am reasonably certain that my 2014 Stingray, Z51, M7 car was quite a bit faster on the top end than my Carbon 65 Grand sport. The Aero 2 package adds lots of down force, which is drag.
At 80 mph in the Z51 I could get 29~30 mpg all day long
At 80 mph in the Grand Sport I get 24 mpg.
Drag is the difference, both cars had same engine, transmission, trim package and rear end. Tires and aero package are the big difference.
At 80 mph in the Z51 I could get 29~30 mpg all day long
At 80 mph in the Grand Sport I get 24 mpg.
Drag is the difference, both cars had same engine, transmission, trim package and rear end. Tires and aero package are the big difference.
Yes, my point exactly!
My 2018 Camaro ZL1 (A-10) was faster on top end than my friends Z06's, or my C65 Z06... UNTIL we take the rear spoilers off our Corvettes! Then the drag coefficient of the Corvette becomes less than the Camaro and then they win on top speed. The Camaro, with it's limited rear spoiler drag, was about 175 mph in the mile. The Corvettes with stage two spoilers was about 168-170 in the mile. The Corvettes without a rear spoiler were about 178-179 in the mile.
I read the ZR-1 made 190 in the mile. I would be interested to know if that was with/without a rear spoiler. I'm pretty sure it was without.
I'll also mention in the Corvette (with the rear spoiler on), the first thing you notice when you let off the gas at the end of the mile, is how quick you slow down. It's amazing actually, like the brakes are on. You will actually move forward in the seat from the force of the wind slowing the car down.
All that to say, when I read about the top speeds of our cars, I've become convinced the speeds are achieved without spoilers, although I never notice that written in the articles.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Our previous Corvettes were 1967, 2001, 2006, 2009.
In each of them I got close to the absolute top speed at least once, while out in the middle of nowhere.
I hadn't wound out our 2017 when we drove to Pahrump to do the Ron Fellows school early this year. Arrived a day early and headed for a day in Death Valley.
Along the way there is a deserted section of straight and smooth road, which I figured would be a perfect place to let this one run fast. For some reason I can't explain, I just didn't want to do it. A few miles later we stopped for gas, and discovered the right-rear tire damage pictured here. I have no idea when or where that happened, we hadn't hit any big potholes and there was no vibration in the car. The rim was not bent or damaged in any way.
Yes, it's a runflat. But if it came apart at 185, I doubt that would do any good at all.
So I still haven't topped out the current car and am not sure if I ever will.
Sorry to rain on the parade, fast is fun, but the stakes are high.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Dec 1, 2018 at 01:07 PM.