8 speed at the track
12-12-2018, 11:06 PM
#2
Instructor
Yes. I ran a C7 ZO6/7 for 3 years on the track, no problem. Now have a ZR1. Many critics on this forum and Mags trash this tranny. I find when you put it in track mode, the shifts are quick. Not as quick as a dual clutch auto (i also have one of those), but close enough to barely notice in my opinion.
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12-13-2018, 12:40 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
The auto makes a lot more heat but holds up fine. Prior to 2016 the base model and Z51 transmission will overheat on track unless you put a Z06 transmission cooler and ductwork in them. I tried it with just the Z06 cooler and it was very close to redline. I tried it again with Z06 cooler and ductwork and it stays cool enough. For 2016 and later they added a front mounted transmission cooler which took care of the problem.
Also, remember that the Ron Fellows school requires you to run the autos in manual mode with the paddle shifters. They do run cooler that way.
Just realized this was in the ZR1 forum, feel a little sheepish now. I’ll leave the info up just in case someone stumbles upon it.
Also, remember that the Ron Fellows school requires you to run the autos in manual mode with the paddle shifters. They do run cooler that way.
Just realized this was in the ZR1 forum, feel a little sheepish now. I’ll leave the info up just in case someone stumbles upon it.
Last edited by Luke42_02; 12-13-2018 at 12:50 AM.
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dmann277 (12-13-2018)
12-13-2018, 10:29 AM
#4
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dmann277 (12-13-2018)
12-13-2018, 11:19 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
The auto makes a lot more heat but holds up fine. Prior to 2016 the base model and Z51 transmission will overheat on track unless you put a Z06 transmission cooler and ductwork in them. I tried it with just the Z06 cooler and it was very close to redline. I tried it again with Z06 cooler and ductwork and it stays cool enough. For 2016 and later they added a front mounted transmission cooler which took care of the problem.
Also, remember that the Ron Fellows school requires you to run the autos in manual mode with the paddle shifters. They do run cooler that way.
Just realized this was in the ZR1 forum, feel a little sheepish now. I’ll leave the info up just in case someone stumbles upon it.
Also, remember that the Ron Fellows school requires you to run the autos in manual mode with the paddle shifters. They do run cooler that way.
Just realized this was in the ZR1 forum, feel a little sheepish now. I’ll leave the info up just in case someone stumbles upon it.
12-13-2018, 02:20 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
There is a reasonable explanation for that. On the street the computer is always searching for the highest (number) possible gear to maximize gas mileage. Then, when you floor it at the track, it’s hunting for the lowest gear to maximize acceleration. If you are in manual mode on the street, you will probably leave it in a lower gear than you need to (more heat). If you are in manual mode on track, you will probably leave it in a higher gear than you need to (less heat).
Last edited by Luke42_02; 12-13-2018 at 02:23 PM.
12-13-2018, 02:29 PM
#8
Pro
I repeatedly tracked my 2017 Z07 Auto (Road courses) and had no choice but to paddle shift... running in Auto mode the car would exceed 262 degree water temp (limp mode) within 2 to 3 hard laps... whereas in paddle mode and short shifting by 500-750 RPM I could consistently run 20 minute sessions without limp mode. Oil temps did run hot either way... but no limp mode causing.
i tracked the 2019 ZR1 this past season... running full Auto mode with zero issues. Car ran like a dream.
i tracked the 2019 ZR1 this past season... running full Auto mode with zero issues. Car ran like a dream.
12-13-2018, 02:36 PM
#9
Instructor
And, let us not forget that at Spring Mountain, they have 4 automatics that people track day in, day out without issue. That's a lot of wear and tear without incident every single day.
12-13-2018, 06:53 PM
#10
Pro
Yes and no... at Spring Mountain they force you to paddle shift (not allowed to use Auto mode) AND they require you to short shift... they even specify the gear selections and shift points on track so the trans doesn’t really get a hard workout during their courses.
12-13-2018, 08:55 PM
#11
Instructor
Yes and no. Yes, they did specify gears at specific corners/straights. But it depends on how fast they were going whether that constituted short shifts. I was in a manual, so that didn't apply to me. But the notion of gear selection as "short shifting" never came up. We were on the same comms, and I took it no different than the Instructors suggesting to us what gear to use in the manuals.
Last edited by GrapemanZR1; 12-13-2018 at 09:04 PM.
12-13-2018, 10:28 PM
#13
Pro
Yes and no. Yes, they did specify gears at specific corners/straights. But it depends on how fast they were going whether that constituted short shifts. I was in a manual, so that didn't apply to me. But the notion of gear selection as "short shifting" never came up. We were on the same comms, and I took it no different than the Instructors suggesting to us what gear to use in the manuals.
12-14-2018, 07:18 AM
#14
Instructor
I was in an automatic and we were specifically told to shift between 5,500 and 5,800 RPM... not to rev high than that. I was in the fastest group and on several occasions myself and another driver were told we were going past that point... spotters said we needed to up shift at points were we were exceeding 6,000.
12-14-2018, 07:28 AM
#15
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I was in an automatic and we were specifically told to shift between 5,500 and 5,800 RPM... not to rev high than that. I was in the fastest group and on several occasions myself and another driver were told we were going past that point... spotters said we needed to up shift at points were we were exceeding 6,000.
12-14-2018, 10:12 AM
#16
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I was there in Feb. 2016 and never heard any comments about what gear to place the transmission while on track.
Bill
Bill
12-14-2018, 12:46 PM
#17
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St. Jude Donor '15
I attended around July 2017. They explicitly had A8 owners run in 4/5 and M7 owners run 3/4. One of the guys in my subgroup ran an A8 Z06 and would overheat every session; his pace was not very fast either. It may have been a 2016, not sure.
I never had issues with the 2017 M7’s but I would quickly overheat a 2016.
I never had issues with the 2017 M7’s but I would quickly overheat a 2016.
12-20-2018, 04:53 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
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Feb vs July in Las Vegas makes quite a difference in temperature as well. For the limited number of laps you run, it should not matter much either way but in July you can overheat the cars much faster which is why I assume we are getting mixed responses as to whether they mentioned it or not.
12-20-2018, 10:20 PM
#20
Pro Mechanic
Pro Mechanic
Feb vs July in Las Vegas makes quite a difference in temperature as well. For the limited number of laps you run, it should not matter much either way but in July you can overheat the cars much faster which is why I assume we are getting mixed responses as to whether they mentioned it or not.
That said, running the ZR-1 with the 8L90 left in drive and PTM in mode 4 is how the car was configured when it beat the Ford GT's time at VIR. One of the drivers that day, now since retired from GM, said that was the only time he'd ever run laps in a Corvette with any stability enhancement enabled.