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It's not like the non Z51 sucks it's that the Z51 is just better suited for track duty. Lots of cars without the cooling upgrades that the new Z51 cars have and they survived. Same with the brakes. The Z51 are better but aftermarket is better yet.
TRUTH! Aftermarket are FAR BETTER.
You can track either but one has a clear advantage. For a person who never has tracked or is a novice I am doubting much of a difference would present itself. Tires though, that's an easy remedy. I don't buy a car just for the stock tires. lol
DATA on Tracking a non-Z51: Please don't hate. Just publishing this data for the board
January 2022 - attended Ron Fellows and had a blast. I bought...a base C8 and they gave me a discount to learn how to drive the car on the track.
Performed track ready adjustments at the local dealer
March 2022 - Took my base C8 to a 1.9 mile track. Had no overheating issues (in Florida at 90) 25 minute sessions all day
April 2022 - Returned to same 1.9 mile track. Had no overheating issues (temps in the 90's) 25 minute sessions all day
Installed Cup 2 and Hawk Track Brake Pads, checked camber, oil changed, Motul 660 brake fluid changed
May 2022 - Tracked Sebring for two days with an instructor at an HPDE. Did 20 minute runs for two days. No overheating issues. (temps near 100)
October 2022 - Tracked Daytona for two days with an instructor at an HPDE. Did 20 minute runs for two days. No overheating issues. Drove VERY fast. (temps in 90's)
December 2022 - Tracked Sebring for two days with an instructor at an HPDE. Did 30 minute runs for two days. Overheated the brakes twice. Pads ran too hot. Rotors not vented enough (see below). Drove insanely fast (temps in the high 80's in FL)
** Discovered that, contrary to what was in my beautiful Corvette Info coffee table book that indicates: ONLY difference between the base and the Z51 is bigger brakes and better stopping by 8 feet in the test (nothing about vents or dealer installed items/what my salesman said), but had the same, identical engine. Mag Ride (which I bough separate), performance exhaust (which I bought separate). No comment was made about the rear diff either. Or suspension elements in the sales book (I have it, it's lovely to read and still is displayed on my coffee table).
I've got massive, vented race rotors now, GLOC pads, and Z51 brakes + brake lines, as well as the venting area for the front and rear brakes opened up now. YES, I SHOULD HAVE gotten the Z51, but was not really given great advise during my purchase process.I will continue to HPDE my car with mazda's, BMW X5's, and all sorts of other cars out there. I just won't go insanely fast for 30 minute runs, even with the new mods.
Solution I am now using:
20 minute runs with a mix of speeds (and maybe avoid Sebring, which is wicked on brakes) while making the brake upgrades. I won't press my luck. But I am not going to stay off the track. If they wanted non Z51 drivers to stay off the track, they should not have invited me to performance drivers school and they should have included more damning info on the Z51 vs the base in the comparison charts they gave me.
Hope that is helpful to anyone out there who has a base and tracks. Watch your brakes - cool down well after a session on a 55mph straight - They vent well on long straights . Watch your time on track - if it's about fun vs frustration, consider shorter sessions. Be mindful of the TRACK you are driving. Some are hard on brakes = SEBRING.
The Z51 brakes with OEM pads and rotors are NOT GREAT either - many have faded the same way mine did, so can't really say that getting a Z51 excludes an owner from issues. It does not. Brakes are the weak spots in the C8's, Z51 or not.
You are asking the right questions.
Brakes: The base does not have as much stopping power as Z51. All else being equal, you may need to brake a car length earlier than a Z51 at the end of every straight.
Racing pads and high temp fluid are required, or you can lift early and let everyone pass you.
Cooling: You will probably be OK with base cooling. On a hot day, with a lot of WOT time, the water temp may get hot, so back off.
The extra Z51 cooling is just insurance that it will not overheat. You will probably be fine without it, just watch the temp gage.
Brake temperature is something you have to manage on every race car. If you make an improvement in the system, then you drive harder until the brakes overheat.
It is a problem that you will never solve, you just make improvements that allow you to push harder for more laps.
I watch the oil temp constantly on the race track and on mountain roads when I am driving hard. It changes depending on how hard you are pushing the motor. Water temp usually stays pretty constant.
Last edited by C5racecar; Nov 25, 2025 at 05:46 AM.
The relevant point here's that GM WILL warranty the Z51 for track use... which is a bit unusual... this does not mean they will not warranty the base car... its ambiguous.
Porsche for example does not specifically warranty either the GT3 or GT4 for track, even though they are marketed as "Track Cars"... Huh...
The base Stingray would be a fine car for Novice level HPDE... I would absolutely use racing brake fluid, and highly recommend swapping out a set of high performance brake pads... the street pads (even on the Z51) are liable to deposit material on the rotors... (not good). If you plan to do more than 1-2 events a year, or get more serious, a set of dedicated track tires is a good investment... used take-off wheels are available for these, and tires are a disposable item.
The relevant point here's that GM WILL warranty the Z51 for track use... which is a bit unusual... this does not mean they will not warranty the base car... its ambiguous.
Porsche for example does not specifically warranty either the GT3 or GT4 for track, even though they are marketed as "Track Cars"... Huh...
The base Stingray would be a fine car for Novice level HPDE... I would absolutely use racing brake fluid, and highly recommend swapping out a set of high performance brake pads... the street pads (even on the Z51) are liable to deposit material on the rotors... (not good). If you plan to do more than 1-2 events a year, or get more serious, a set of dedicated track tires is a good investment... used take-off wheels are available for these, and tires are a disposable item.
Good Post- and well said- for non Z cars just go out and have some fun- don't go to Daytona and the Rolex -
Hi Mitch,
I know it's been 3 years, but I'm a new member with a new '23 C8:
WOW, 165 MPH.......how bad was the car after the crash?? Hopefully, you weren't hurt. Was the car totaled?
(I'm not wanting to drag up old pains, I'm just interested what to expect if I had a "bad moment with mine.) Terry
I tracked a non z51 C8 every month for 2 years. I’m a driving instructor and raced for years. The brakes on the C8 and Z51 suck in my opinion if you drive the car hard. Other than slightly better brakes in the Z51 there is no difference on the track. I had zero issues with cooling and there was zero difference on the track between my car and the Z51. Several friends had the Z51 and our cars were dead even on the straights.
I replaced the brakes with the AP big brake package and could out brake anyone.
Change the brake fluid, get a track alignment and change the brake pads. If you have experience and drive fast, you will have to upgrade the brakes. I would skip the Z51 brakes and go with AP or Brembo big brake package if you plan to track the car.
Buy a set of used OEM. wheels for $400 and put a set of Nankang AR1 tires on them and have fun.
I tracked a non z51 C8 every month for 2 years. I’m a driving instructor and raced for years. The brakes on the C8 and Z51 suck in my opinion if you drive the car hard. Other than slightly better brakes in the Z51 there is no difference on the track. I had zero issues with cooling and there was zero difference on the track between my car and the Z51. Several friends had the Z51 and our cars were dead even on the straights.
I replaced the brakes with the AP big brake package and could out brake anyone.
Change the brake fluid, get a track alignment and change the brake pads. If you have experience and drive fast, you will have to upgrade the brakes. I would skip the Z51 brakes and go with AP or Brembo big brake package if you plan to track the car.
Buy a set of used OEM. wheels for $400 and put a set of Nankang AR1 tires on them and have fun.
Did you find it not necessary to add the brake cooling ducts?
Thanks for all your feedback on tracking the C8. I appreciate the issues you pointed out. With your racing experience and your hands-on experience in a C8, I take
your impressions seriously.
Do you feel the Z51 spring & swaybar rates are high enough for hard track driving/racing? Are there after-markets springs/bar kits that would improve the car's
on-track performance? Thanks for Posting, Terry
Did you add the 2 extra quarts of transmission fluid? I usually run Road Atlanta and Barber’s the most.
Yes, I have the two extra quarts.
Originally Posted by Carguy67
Thanks for all your feedback on tracking the C8. I appreciate the issues you pointed out. With your racing experience and your hands-on experience in a C8, I take
your impressions seriously.
Do you feel the Z51 spring & swaybar rates are high enough for hard track driving/racing? Are there after-markets springs/bar kits that would improve the car's
on-track performance? Thanks for Posting, Terry
in short. No the stock suspension is not going to work well for racing.
it will work “fine” for the occasional track day usage however it isn’t adjustable other than ride height.
Thanks for all your feedback on tracking the C8. I appreciate the issues you pointed out. With your racing experience and your hands-on experience in a C8, I take
your impressions seriously.
Do you feel the Z51 spring & swaybar rates are high enough for hard track driving/racing? Are there after-markets springs/bar kits that would improve the car's
on-track performance? Thanks for Posting, Terry
Absolutely not. The car handles like a marshmallow stock. We don't have sway bars yet, I think AFE are decent and Coilovers are the way to go.
Hi Duane,
Thanks for your comment about the stock suspension feeling like a marshmallow. After my 2-day battle with a Z51 C8 at the Ron
Fellows School, I posted that the car felt like dancing with a hippopotamus (including a picture of the dancing Hippo from Disney's Fantasia)
and caught a bit of grief from a few C8 owners........ Happily, I'm done worrying about chassis setup and with track days.
I will just enjoy my C8 as a street toy. Terry
Let's not forget there is a difference between competitive lap times.... Trying to get lap times as good as supercars that are well outside the price range of a Corvette... And tracking the Corvette for fun.
The Corvettes at Ron Fellows for level 2 and level 3 schools are still bone stock z51 packages right down to the pads.
Of course if you want to compete with 3300lb supercars, brakes and tires and suspension are your low hanging fruits
You can take a corolla to the track and it will be covered..
Originally Posted by RapidC84B
The wording in all the dealer/tech training and in the prep guide strongly insinuates that the base car is not covered on track. However, it's not 100% clear so I posted a question in the "Ask Tadge" forum that @jvp may push along. I ordered a Z51 because I track my cars. Why would you order a base car if you intend to do some trackdays?
If your car overheats or the brakes fade then that of course won't be covered, but my question to Tadge is regarding to mechanical failure. Does a base car have zero warranty on track? What happens if a valve spring fails and takes out the engine and you happen to be on track?
1. You can't competitively race a car anywhere without a full cage. You can HPDE and timetrial, no wheel2wheel racing.
2. The Z51 has a 3rd radiator in series. It is validated on track by a pro driver to 100 degreees ambient. Tadge states you can run the AC the entire time. After 100 degrees you need to turn the AC off.
3. The 2 extra quarts trans fluid is for g loads to keep the sump wet. They didn't do it overfilled from the factory as it slightly reduces efficiency and "wastes" 2 quarts of fluid per car for most owners.
. Watch your time on track - if it's about fun vs frustration, consider shorter sessions. Be mindful of the TRACK you are driving. Some are hard on brakes = SEBRING.
