Can you track a convertible Z06?
04-21-2015, 08:30 PM
#1
Can you track a convertible Z06?
Sorry if I missed this. I am considering buying a convertible Z but like I did with my 2014 Z51 coupe, I want to take it to the track 3-4 times a year. Is a Z06 convertible track ready/legal?
04-21-2015, 08:34 PM
#2
You need a 4 point roll cage installed at most tracks (6 point for the drag) but you can autocross. They Are selling them already.
04-21-2015, 08:41 PM
#5
Race Director
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
Posts: 11,355
Received 1,984 Likes
on
1,143 Posts
Able to and it being a good idea are two different things IMHO.
04-21-2015, 08:47 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
Yes, many tracks allow convertibles to be driven top down, but some require they remain top up. Either way, for many HPDE's the car is fine.
04-21-2015, 09:07 PM
#9
Safety Car
After seeing a few rollovers at the track I wouldn't do it even if the rules were lax enough to allow it. You may pay to get in only to get kicked out, no refunds for failing safety.
04-21-2015, 09:36 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Driving at a novice level in HPDE is possibly less dangerous than driving on the street with all the distracted drivers.
04-21-2015, 09:47 PM
#11
Safety Car
Maybe so. Just a month ago a guy in SOLO rolled over with the instructor in the car at Thunderhill. To me it's crazy there is no pop up rollover protection in a '15 luxury vehicle.
04-21-2015, 11:24 PM
#13
Race Director
It might depend on where you live and the track day organizations that put on events in your area.
Butt....in spite of what a couple other posters have said, I think it's very, VERY, VERY unusual for verts to be able to run track events without a cage/rollbar.
A few cars that have pop-up rollover protection (some BMWs, Mercedes, etc.) are allowed at many events, but even then most all track day sponsoring organizations, or the track itself, will require a convertible to have arm restraints to keep limbs in the car in the event of a rollover.
If you're in the southeast, there's an event at Daytona on the Rolex 24 roadcourse every April for the past couple years. I just got notified that it is scheduled again for April 14-15,2016. The last couple of years that the event has been held they have allowed verts to run with no rollbar/cage required. I guess it will be the same next year.
So....IMHO you are not going find too many track events that will allow you to run a vert that does not have rollover protection.
.
Butt....in spite of what a couple other posters have said, I think it's very, VERY, VERY unusual for verts to be able to run track events without a cage/rollbar.
A few cars that have pop-up rollover protection (some BMWs, Mercedes, etc.) are allowed at many events, but even then most all track day sponsoring organizations, or the track itself, will require a convertible to have arm restraints to keep limbs in the car in the event of a rollover.
If you're in the southeast, there's an event at Daytona on the Rolex 24 roadcourse every April for the past couple years. I just got notified that it is scheduled again for April 14-15,2016. The last couple of years that the event has been held they have allowed verts to run with no rollbar/cage required. I guess it will be the same next year.
So....IMHO you are not going find too many track events that will allow you to run a vert that does not have rollover protection.
.
04-21-2015, 11:30 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
04-22-2015, 09:28 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
It might depend on where you live and the track day organizations that put on events in your area.
Butt....in spite of what a couple other posters have said, I think it's very, VERY, VERY unusual for verts to be able to run track events without a cage/rollbar.
A few cars that have pop-up rollover protection (some BMWs, Mercedes, etc.) are allowed at many events, but even then most all track day sponsoring organizations, or the track itself, will require a convertible to have arm restraints to keep limbs in the car in the event of a rollover.
If you're in the southeast, there's an event at Daytona on the Rolex 24 roadcourse every April for the past couple years. I just got notified that it is scheduled again for April 14-15,2016. The last couple of years that the event has been held they have allowed verts to run with no rollbar/cage required. I guess it will be the same next year.
So....IMHO you are not going find too many track events that will allow you to run a vert that does not have rollover protection.
.
Butt....in spite of what a couple other posters have said, I think it's very, VERY, VERY unusual for verts to be able to run track events without a cage/rollbar.
A few cars that have pop-up rollover protection (some BMWs, Mercedes, etc.) are allowed at many events, but even then most all track day sponsoring organizations, or the track itself, will require a convertible to have arm restraints to keep limbs in the car in the event of a rollover.
If you're in the southeast, there's an event at Daytona on the Rolex 24 roadcourse every April for the past couple years. I just got notified that it is scheduled again for April 14-15,2016. The last couple of years that the event has been held they have allowed verts to run with no rollbar/cage required. I guess it will be the same next year.
So....IMHO you are not going find too many track events that will allow you to run a vert that does not have rollover protection.
.
04-22-2015, 10:42 AM
#16
Race Director
Yes - you're correct. Butt....it depends on what group is running the event.
If you run with Chin they allow it. Here's a link to their tech form:
http://www.chinmotorsports.com/forms/techSheet.pdf
On the tech form there is a waiver for a vert with no rollover protection:
However, that's very unusual. Take a look at the info for any event run by PCA, SCCA, NASA, Hooked-on-Driving, Nat'l Corvette Museum, etc., etc., etc., and you'll see something like this statement for a PCA event:
So....you can drive convertibles at events organized by some track day groups, and Chin does a lot of track days. There are a few other groups as well, but if you want to run a vert at an event, check the group putting on the event before you register and go to the track.
.
If you run with Chin they allow it. Here's a link to their tech form:
http://www.chinmotorsports.com/forms/techSheet.pdf
On the tech form there is a waiver for a vert with no rollover protection:
CONVERTIBLE ROLL BAR WAIVER
I acknowledge that driving/riding in a convertible or soft-top vehicle without a roll bar (which is designed to bear the weight
of the vehicle keeping it off the head of the driver and passenger) could result in serious injury or death. The wearing of a
helmet or restraints may NOT mitigate injury. I accept the risk and release the organizers of this event, racetrack, owners,
participants, and Chin Motorsports from any liability resulting from my decision to drive/ride without a roll bar.
Driver _________________________________ Co-Driver _______________________________ Date _____________
I acknowledge that driving/riding in a convertible or soft-top vehicle without a roll bar (which is designed to bear the weight
of the vehicle keeping it off the head of the driver and passenger) could result in serious injury or death. The wearing of a
helmet or restraints may NOT mitigate injury. I accept the risk and release the organizers of this event, racetrack, owners,
participants, and Chin Motorsports from any liability resulting from my decision to drive/ride without a roll bar.
Driver _________________________________ Co-Driver _______________________________ Date _____________
However, that's very unusual. Take a look at the info for any event run by PCA, SCCA, NASA, Hooked-on-Driving, Nat'l Corvette Museum, etc., etc., etc., and you'll see something like this statement for a PCA event:
◦Convertibles must have a roll bar or hoop extenders and pass the "broomstick" test. For late model Porsche 911s (i.e. 996/997), a factory hardtop obviates the need for a traditional roll bar
and this for an NCM event:Convertibles MUST HAVE SCCA legal rollover protection to participate in HPDEs (not required for touring option). Before registering any convertible, please submit an email to matt@motorsportspark.org
So....you can drive convertibles at events organized by some track day groups, and Chin does a lot of track days. There are a few other groups as well, but if you want to run a vert at an event, check the group putting on the event before you register and go to the track.
.
04-22-2015, 11:17 AM
#17
Melting Slicks
At a track day at Road Atlanta back when Panoz ran their own track days I saw a spec Miata with a cage roll several times. The driver had to be life flighted out. This was with a cage, race seat, harnesses, helmet, etc.
If you are touching 150 or 160 on track in a stock vert (and these cars are so fast), then I think you are taking quite a chance. If you feel you want to track a Z06 vert, then leave lots of margin for error. I would never push past about 6 or 7/10ths no matter how good I thought I was.
If you are touching 150 or 160 on track in a stock vert (and these cars are so fast), then I think you are taking quite a chance. If you feel you want to track a Z06 vert, then leave lots of margin for error. I would never push past about 6 or 7/10ths no matter how good I thought I was.
04-22-2015, 12:33 PM
#18
Race Director
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
Posts: 11,355
Received 1,984 Likes
on
1,143 Posts
At a track day at Road Atlanta back when Panoz ran their own track days I saw a spec Miata with a cage roll several times. The driver had to be life flighted out. This was with a cage, race seat, harnesses, helmet, etc.
If you are touching 150 or 160 on track in a stock vert (and these cars are so fast), then I think you are taking quite a chance. If you feel you want to track a Z06 vert, then leave lots of margin for error. I would never push past about 6 or 7/10ths no matter how good I thought I was.
If you are touching 150 or 160 on track in a stock vert (and these cars are so fast), then I think you are taking quite a chance. If you feel you want to track a Z06 vert, then leave lots of margin for error. I would never push past about 6 or 7/10ths no matter how good I thought I was.
Two things I've taken away from tracking my car the last few years is how quickly you can get comfortable running these cars at very high speeds....... going 80 or 90 is like 55 on a freeway.........and the second is how quickly bad things can happen and the ramifications of significant problems.
I knew a guy who had a custom cage in his C5 vert. He'd pull a trailer with race tires and the cage on it. Change out the tires drop the top and bolt the cage into the car. It was a fair amount of work but the cage did not fit under the top when up. From what I can remember it was a significant piece of metal and I think pretty substantial. May be an alternative.
04-22-2015, 12:53 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
I think there is a glaring truth here, and it's that GM created the convertible Z06 for one type of buyer, and the chances that buyer ever made it to the track to drive the car in anger was near zero.
I equate tracking a vert to tracking a motorcycle. A guy HPDE'ing a vert is going to be at the same experience level as a guy who tracks a motorcycle and doesn't know how to come off the bike/lay the bike or minimize his own injuries. You're doing it but you're doing so at an increased risk.
I must say though, if you can manage to roll over a Z06...that's impressive.
I equate tracking a vert to tracking a motorcycle. A guy HPDE'ing a vert is going to be at the same experience level as a guy who tracks a motorcycle and doesn't know how to come off the bike/lay the bike or minimize his own injuries. You're doing it but you're doing so at an increased risk.
I must say though, if you can manage to roll over a Z06...that's impressive.
04-23-2015, 05:15 PM
#20
Race Director
Depends on the track and on the event. Some entry-level "track days" events will allow you to run with a stock convertible. If you have events in mind that you'd like to enter, I'd suggest talking with the organizers before buying the car.