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Curious; what was the original plan? How did the team think they were going to a) ship the car over within German customs rules and regs, and b) attempt a record run on the 'Ring...without traffic?
Curious; what was the original plan? How did the team think they were going to a) ship the car over within German customs rules and regs, and b) attempt a record run on the 'Ring...without traffic?
I think there is a point in there somewhere...
When transitioning to another racing format/league, know the rules first.
Curious; what was the original plan? How did the team think they were going to a) ship the car over within German customs rules and regs, and b) attempt a record run on the 'Ring...without traffic?
Lou answered that back in post 517:
" Our only mistake was that we believed Rob Feretti that we would get some laps with no traffic."
Germany must have some of the most bizarre auto liability laws on planet earth where they allow passenger traffic on what is clearly a racing track. They can attempt to call it anything they want, but the reality is that it is a race track.
It must be some of that special stupidity infecting Europe which allows tourists to be on a road they know is going to have incredibly high speed traffic on at the same time.
How many crashes, injuries and fatalities take place on this course during these "tourist days"?
I can tell you so many times I sat in the parking lot waiting for the track to open after Injuries or fatalities!!! You will never read about or see the talking heads with a mic on the track, that is for sure. I don't think many of you get it? Germany is a socialist state no matter what you read. They don't have ambulance lawyers running amuck like the USA. Germany's government already has all the working class money and control. So not much on lawsuits in their legal process. I don't agree with 98% of all the social policies and control they have, like what Lou is dealing with. But I do agree with "tourist driving days on the green Hell and Hockenheim (formula one track). You have to remember Germany has autobahns with no speed limits at all. You don't want people racing on the autobahn and killing a family of 7 in a station wagon? So they have public track days for us that like to drive fast and make it affordable so all can partake. Hockenheim was 12 EURO for 30 minute laps and much safer, they had motorcycles for 30 min then autos 30min. Green Hell is a free for all, buses, cars, trucks all the above and it was about 600 EURO annual fee for public days a year.
They have tried to shut down the Ring for many years now because of fatalities. I kind of wish we had affordable tracks days in the USA. I remember my first day at the Ring LOL, put money in a machine spits out tickets and you are a certified racer.
St. Jude Vendor Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by Axelrod
I think there is a point in there somewhere...
When transitioning to another racing format/league, know the rules first.
we knew the rules. We tested the sound limit only to find that they have some unique testing method & 9 sound meters that do not match a normal dB meter.
As for running alone? We were told that we would get “private track time” —- which it appears as though we will not get.
Thia is is not our first race and I investigated all the rules plus I went to see officials to clarify the rules. Who would have thought that a stock corvette muffler with a secondary muffler installed would not pass their sound meter.
It it is what it is here at the Nurburgring —actually, it is what it should not be. We went out today after the fog lifted and did not break the sound barrier. We will see what happens tomorrow.
LG
Last edited by LG Motorsports; 10-07-2018 at 03:55 PM.
I'm sure you have words for Ferretti when he promised some private track time. So much for that.....
Fretti hosts a YouTube vlog for teenagers. Kid has never coordinated anything for a race team other than talk for the sake of talking. Underqualified and in over his head. This was one of a few obvious fail-plans.
What brand and model are the decibel meters? A lot of decibel meters are more sensitive to a certain frequency range. If we knew what frequencies to avoid, maybe Lou could get some resonators designed specifically to muffle those frequencies while staying relatively free flowing. Muffler companies do it all the time to reduce drone resonance on specific car models.
Another option: Lou, could you maybe dump the exhaust under the car? Maybe aiming it into the pavement so that it bounces around under the car a couple of times before it gets to the meters might help muffle it? Especially if you pointed it away from the meters...
Third option: How do you feel about turbocharging? Swapping the supercharger out for turbos would quiet down the car.
I had a friend with same issue at Limerock, put and elbow on exhaust tips and pointed it straight up since the sound meters were on both sides of track.
For those critical of the video posted above, I think some perspective needs to be put in place. With the density of traffic, I think it'd be foolish of Lou to have pushed any harder than he was. Clearly the chase car that captured the vid not only exhibits a higher degree of confidence passing random traffic, he is also in the chase position after these cars have moved aside. In addition, with heavy scrutiny on Lou's car as is, had he presented any danger off he would go. You're not getting away with what the ring taxi guys do. Frankly I don't think any conclusion could be drawn from that video, aside from the obvious which is, Lou's car is fast as ***** when the pedal goes down.
You aren't breaking records without clear track time, and even in the midst of clear track you have to hope that particular day you book has good weather, the track isn't super green, etc. Tons of factors have to add up to pull some record time, as well as a lot of budget. Just one track day is a HUGE gamble...you need multiple. The fact is, you need close allies on board, and behind the effort because the locals rule the land.
I can verify, 100%, through contacts I have various places, that there were some definite haters and opposition among him. Lou's personality isn't the softest, if you will, and a few folks over there picked up on it....that's all I'll say.
Let's hope Spring Mountain/Las Vegas comes through one day with an epic track. Bruton Smith, talked quite extensively, for a time period about building an exact Nurburgring replica in Nevada, if the BLM would donate the land...which isn't uncommon. Nothing materialized, and I can assure I've emailed Bruton directly about the matter. Now, the owner of Spring Mountain is laying some ground work to build the "longest racetrack" in the world, namely to beat the Nurburgring. I question how much real topography would be incorporated though, as a simple flat, winding, slightly up and down 15 mile track would be cool, but wouldn't quite have that "benchmark" status in my opinion. The Rings varying surfaces, elevations and surface temperatures are really what makes it so unique to test on.
All I can say is...there is a TON of potential among enthusiasts to watch cars go to the Ring and dominate. There is marketing potential, there is profit potential even. Good job Lou, you made a hell of an effort, no one can take that away, even if they disagree with one aspect or another. Anyone can armchair quarterback.
St. Jude Vendor Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
OK guys here you go went out for my final lap stupid traffic I think 4 cars and then I had one car that I ran into as we got a full area yellow which means you turn the four-way flashers on slow down to 60 km until you get to the green and then even with that we did the 7:35.8 —- yes I cheated and drove by him as the yellow came out but I still had to slow down.
After that lap we came in put fuel in it went out for another lap and we were doing really good and they closed the track— red flagged whole track so it is what it is we still never got a clean lap without 5 -10 cars on track.
today was a light day normally it’s 10 cars but today it was a light day.
we never broke the sound limit or at least if we did they had mercy on us because they knew it was our last day.
Just without the traffic and the yellows I think we would’ve been in the low 20s high teens but getting thrown off 10 times in the last 17 days for being over sound limits really took away the needed testing time to do justice to the Corvette and learn the ultimate limits of the car at various points on the track.
I believe with a private track day and proper mufflers that do not kill 100 HP, the 7 min barrier would be achievable.
I got thrown out of 10 times since I’ve been here — each time we got thrown off, was after 3-4 laps. So we never got proper testing time for the Corvette — instead we modified the muffler system 10 times. My son Louis sent one down with Sergio and Fernando in their luggage !!
I want to thank Pirelli tires, Bilstein shocks in Forgeline wheels and Stop tech brakes for all their help.
and I want to thank my guys at L G Motorsports Sergio & Fernando for this Bad *** Car that we built.
I am not here to please a guy who posted 4 times in 5 years. And with all due respect, I know we will never please all of you guys either.
But in the process we validated our dual intercooler system over and over never hitting over 195 degrees.
As far as needing an expert??? I am an expert now and if GM wants me to make some laps in their ZR 1- I am available. (Hey Tadge—are you listening??)
I am not sure what we will do next with regard to the ring. But it should be fun.
thanks
Lou Gigliotti.
Last edited by LG Motorsports; 10-10-2018 at 05:15 AM.
Great effort nevertheless Lou! You had the whole thing stacked against you with their rules.
Hope you will be back in a private capacity in the near future. My suggestion would be to leave the car there till April and return to do a hot lap. By then, crowd funding could possibly net you an hour of lap time there all for yourself.
I have no doubt you could've done better than 7:00 had time, traffic and rules been for you.
I look forward to seeing the onboard video of your best lap.
OR...return the car back to the States and set records on fire at every major track - VIR, Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Laguna Seca etc........
Last edited by Checkmate1; 10-08-2018 at 01:51 PM.
Valiant effort Lou. Thanks for sharing the whole experience and keeping us posted throughout.
Though things didn't go 100% as planned, you learned a lot and made progress.
Huge thumbs up to everybody who was involved with efforts.
Safe travels home.
St. Jude Vendor Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
All things considered, today we only did 4 full laps because of track closings and wrecks on track. This place does not work well for record laps with first time drivers renting cars or taking taxi Laps.
The worst part was the yellow flag that requires emergency flashers on plus slow slow down to 60kmp. What a disappointment with only 8 corners left to go. And that lap was still our fast lap. @ 7:35.
also with all the mufflers we had to add, we lost over 100 HP as well.
we load the container tomorrow and fly back on Wednesday
All things considered, today we only did 4 full laps because of track closings and wrecks on track. This place does not work well for record laps with first time drivers renting cars or taking taxi Laps.
The worst part was the yellow flag that requires emergency flashers on plus slow slow down to 60kmp. What a disappointment with only 8 corners left to go. And that lap was still our fast lap. @ 7:35.
I guess a 7:35 is pretty good, considering that a 40 mph speed limit was imposed for part of the track.
Originally Posted by LG Motorsports
we load the container tomorrow and fly back on Wednesday
LG
10-07-2018, 11:27 AM
