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My Corvette Changed My Life
Hi All,
I'd like to share my Corvette story so far, seeing as how it really started with buying a C6 from a Corvette Forum advert at the end of 2017. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fbcb31d5bb.jpg 'Clive' the $9995, 190,000 mile Corvette C6 took my wife and I across the States, from California to the Texas coast, unforgettable memories. We stopped at Circuit Of The Americas, Austin; more than two years later my son was born and we named him Austin. Shipping the C6 back home to England I have added thousands more miles, have driven the car in eight European countries (so far) and won two Time Attack style championships. As I write in December 2022 I think it's up at 223,000 miles. I'm not a writer by trade, I organize motor racing, but Corvette ownership and becoming a father inspired me to write first one, then two children's books, with 'Clive' as the main character. I really don't want to get in trouble with the moderators, so I'm not going to link to, or picture the books, but I do feel proud that GM have authorized them to be sold in the NCM. :cool: Later this week I am leaving for another adventure in the C6, I'll update the thread over Christmas when I return, I'm driving to somewhere unusual. The story starts back in October 2016. My wife, Beth and I enjoyed our first road trip to the USA, hiring a Mustang convertible (I know, sorry!) and exploring California. The highlight of this trip was driving on a trackday at Laguna Seca (in a friends BMW Z4M), towards the end of the day I asked a stranger for a passenger ride in his Corvette C6 Grandsport. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3f27a95db4.jpg This was my first time in any Corvette (they are rare in the UK), although I was very familiar with the marque as all good petrolheads should be. That night in the hotel in Monterey i started looking at adverts for sale! At the time I couldn't believe what great value they were in the States (before prices went a bit crazy over Covid). There is only one Corvette dealer for all of the UK, we booked a test drive in a manual C6, to see how we'd get on with left hand drive on narrower roads. That went well, but the few C6's that came up for sale were automatic, with prices two or three times more expensive than equivalent cars in the US. We hatched a plan to buy a C6 in the States and drive it to the port. It needed to be manual (as I track day/compete), clean title and as affordable as possible, given that I'd need to add the considerable cost of shipping and various taxes to the final price. I sold my BMW Z4M and waited. Almost a year later I was browsing the Corvette Forum classifieds late at night and I saw this advert: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...under-10k.html https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9e5973e661.jpg It would be perfect at just $9995, especially with a recent RPM gearbox overhaul. High miles don't bother me, provided the price reflects it. I've owned a few low mileage garage queens, where I started to worry each time I drove it, about how it might drop in value. I wanted a car I could use without that concern. I dropped the seller (Jay) a message immediately, but after a late night phone call (for me) he let me know I was third in line. I told him to contact me any time and I would send him a deposit. Fast forward a day or two, at 3:30am I woke to find a text message had arrived saying "Hi David - I've got smashing news for you. Please call me" Bleary eyed I called Jay, who told me I now had first refusal! Deal done and a deposit of $1000 was agreed and paid! My wife, Beth didn't share the same level of excitement at 4am; I couldn't get back to sleep so gave up trying and drove to work extra early! I worked out a roadtrip and then booked cheap flights, insurances, shipping, hotels and more. Ivan, a Californian friend we met on the 2016 trip was a huge help in arranging the car insurance through Geico. I know plenty of people that would never send a $1000 to a stranger, for a car they'd not seen, but it 'felt' right and sometimes fortune favours the brave. The advert remained on the Corvette forum and attracted other offers of more than the owner’s asking price, thankfully for us Jay remained totally loyal to the deal we struck. Day 1: Sunday 21st January 2018 We left snow behind us and flew from London Gatwick to Los Angeles, arriving late in the evening. A nagging concern to our timetable was the notorious LA traffic combined with the mudslides that had tragically closed Highway 101. Day 2: Monday 22nd January It was an early, 4am start to pick up the hire car and get out of L.A. before the traffic crawled to a halt. We were relieved by the news that the highway was re-opened ahead of schedule, saving us hours of detour. Uber and a hire car took us north on the Pacific coast via Santa Barbara, for breakfast on the pier as the sun rose. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a6db68a520.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6799d286c5.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2f87ff5a25.jpg Back on the road we dropped in to the Santa Maria Chevrolet dealer, Home Motors, to pick up a few spares I had pre-ordered, plus the first upgrade: Z06 brake cooling ducts, to help with track use. We're pretty certain their parts department had never had a phone order from so far away! https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9467b26ae2.jpg It was then just a short drive to Jay and Michelle's house in Santa Maria, to see our new car. It was an exciting, if slightly strange moment to first meet them. Michelle exclaimed "You're real!" as she was certain we didn't exist and this was some sort of elaborate confidence trick! After all, who travels thousands of miles to buy a cheap (relatively) car? We were shown through the house into the huge garage, where 'our' C6 was covered up. They let us uncover the car and stood back waiting for our reaction; they needn't have worried, it looked great, even better than described. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...16fe733f6c.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...46924f33f5.jpg During our email conversations I'd asked Jay if there was anything we could bring from the UK. He jokingly asked if we could get him a McLaren P1! Thanks to McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt (and wife Mia), who race in the club I run, we were able to bring him a P1, although only a model and brochure would fit in our hand luggage, along with $9000 cash! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2936ba9f66.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...31b1c0774b.jpg We said our goodbye's, dropped the rental car at the nearest airport and started driving East. The weather was warm for January, the roads quiet and I finally had the keys to my C6. We name all of our cars, the name 'Clive' stuck, for no particular reason, not realizing the importance this name would have later on! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f4d032da3a.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3478f083e7.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...900cd679a4.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d75e5a6a24.jpg The distance between gas stations nearly caught me out, coming very close to running out before finding gas. Your country is HUGE, you can drive so far between towns. We drove on for a few more hours, booking a motel in Tehachapi, CA, best known for its railroads, with noisy trains rumbling and honking past all through the night https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...112474a8e8.jpg Day 3: Tuesday 23rd January A chilly start with frost on the car. Crossing the Mojave Desert took hours, it wasn't hot at that time of year, but it was certainly barren each side of Highway 58. Crossing the Colorado River saw us enter our second state, Arizona, along with small traces of snow at the side of the road; not surprising as we were regularly up at 4000 feet altitude. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8a95ba9208.jpg After turning off Interstate 40 at Kingman we were on Historic Route 66, a road famous worldwide and certainly one we wanted to drive parts of. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...04e72797d4.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...becab18ed0.jpg Travelling in January meant we were able to travel for 30 or 40 miles miles at a time without seeing another car! https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cea9022f47.jpg Dinner was at the famous Roadkill Cafe at Seligman. After reassurance that they didn't actually serve creatures scraped off the tarmac Beth was happy to eat there. We arrived at Williams, another Route 66 town, in the dark. There was plenty of snow on the ground, it was very cold being 6800 feet up. A small coolant stain under the front of the Corvette was partly expected as Jay had warned of a joint that weeps after a run, something to keep an eye on. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3fa9defa5e.jpg Another broken night’s sleep, this time by an amorous French couple in the next room, ooh la la! Day 4: Wednesday 24th January Wrapping up warm we explored Williams in the early morning, it had a friendly, traditional feel. We visited a couple of shops selling riding gear and cowboy hats, well, you've got to have a few souvenirs? https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9737754558.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...4c5e8c6eaf.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cf11920ab5.jpg The snow on the ground increased in volume as we headed North, towards the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The partly snowy car parks were almost empty, the perfect opportunity to check the efficiency of ‘competitive driving mode’! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cdbe61b9ee.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3909f32650.jpg The viewing points nearest the visitor centre were busy with tourists, but once we walked away on the Rim Trail we were mostly by ourselves, in peace and quiet. The views were astonishing. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0f1892be85.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d82819cd78.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...348e1b23b3.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7b75cf5b5b.jpg Reluctantly moving on we drove North East, pulling into various 'turn outs' and taking these photos with parts of the Canyon in the background. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c77abeb74a.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e830a206b2.jpg To explain the license plate, it is the name of an Album 'Face Melter' from a Californian rock band 'Y & T'. Jay has followed the band for decades, becoming friends, the band members have driven the Corvette too. We entered the Hopi and then the Navajo Indian reservations. We entered our third State, Utah, as darkness descended. Day 4: Wednesday 25th January After a breakfast in our room at Gouldings Lodge we headed to a very cold Monument Valley. The Corvette was too low to be able to drive around the trails, with limited time available this suited us fine, with a look around the museum, a horrible coffee and a long look at those unique views. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...695b962b01.jpg Once again, thanks to it being winter time we were almost the only visitors, we were sure the place would be heaving in the summer, despite the high entrance fee. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5e3d97880f.jpg We headed north in the direction of 'Mexican Hat', towards a view I had wanted to see since childhood. I used to daydream of being there when looking at Dad's 'Best of the Eagles' album cover as a teenager. It was later a key scene in Forrest Gump of course. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cfea50e995.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fcfb76bcb7.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...240d35eea4.jpg Past Mexican Hat we ate a Navajo frybread burger at a lovely native American cafe for lunch (we were still well within the Navajo reservation), called Twin Rocks, in Bluff, Utah. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6df4fdddad.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3589bf751f.jpg Back on the road we crossed the San Juan River. Having passed into our 4th state, Colorado, for a couple of hours we were then into our 5th, New Mexico, with lots more miles still ahead of us. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2221941f1c.jpg We crossed the continental divide; the geographical centre of North America where on one side water flows west to the Pacific and on the other it heads East to the Atlantic. The mountainous scenery disappeared, with endless miles of dead straight roads with only scrubby grassland each side. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a8603835fa.jpg I wondered if I could have reached the 186mph top speed but played it safe at all times, never sure if a highway patrol might be lurking. At last we had left the Navajo reserve, but not before witnessing the large amount of homelessness in Shiprock and an accident involving an Indian lady in a huge 4x4 who turned into a flat bed trailer in front of us. It had been a long day of driving and we were happy to get back on Route 66 and check in to the Sunset Motel in Moriaty. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7ace891f65.jpg Day 6: Friday 26th January This motel had been a pleasant surprise. It had barely changed since the same family started the business in 1959 and is now the oldest in New Mexico in original ownership. The hostess was as friendly as she was knowledgeable. With no dining room in motels from this era it was normal to take your breakfast from the reception area back to your room. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...535227f6c1.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fa5108b42a.jpg Our longest day of driving lay ahead of us, well over 600 miles. The long, straight roads seemed endless, as did the huge trains, some comprising of 200+ carriages and 10+ engines. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...13dd380ce1.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...4cfc130d5f.jpg Texas, our sixth State. For hundreds of miles we saw little else but oil and gas machinery and what looked like snow (cotton). Dinner was at a Mexican in Lampasas, where I tried Catfish for the first time. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a6488c897b.jpg We could see storm clouds ahead and rain hit as it became dark. 70mph felt fast on wet, twisty roads on pretty bald rear tyres. The wipers were possibly original as the rubber blades scraped across the glass. I couldn’t avoid running over a dead skunk with the back wheel and it stank! By sharing the driving throughout the long day we made it to the modern, but unremarkable, Motel 6 in Marble Falls in good spirits. Day 7: Saturday 27th January We experienced 'Biscuits and Gravy' for the first time at breakfast. White gravy? Very peculiar! This was my wifes special day, where her dream of being a cowgirl came true, with an exclusive few hours riding on a ranch with a wrangler guide, Dewain, giving me time to actually look at my car (rather than driving it). https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...73f9eb2a90.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...67963fc57d.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...10be566606.jpg We tried that Texas speciality, BBQ food, and in the process enjoyed a complimentary Pecan Pie thanks to our accents and road trip! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8fc9a5a5fc.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d50577498d.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...ce98bd18bc.jpg With the car having over 2000 miles of dust, rain and even snow on its bodywork and the aroma of dead skunk, I decided the Corvette (now named Clive) had to be cleaned. With Beth feeding quarters into the machine and pressing buttons whilst I got soaked, the car was rinsed, washed and waxed. The wax changed colour from pink to blue within seconds! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2f609e18b4.jpg Day 8: Sunday 28th January The day I had been looking forward to, a trackday at the Circuit Of The Americas, Austin. COTA is a relatively new circuit, home of Formula One since 2012. Organised by a company called www.chintrackdays.com I signed on as a passenger and rented a helmet, having already decided that I couldn't risk using my Corvette on those worn, original brakes and worn rear tyres, especially as we still had part of the journey to complete. I had signed up for the lunch time parade laps instead. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...70905da814.jpg We wandered around the paddock chatting to various drivers, particularly those with Corvette and with the blessing of the organisers I enjoyed passenger laps in a white ‘base’ C6 like mine, an E46 M3 race car and finally a C7 Z06. All were exciting, with the C6 being a good comparison to how mine might behave (fast and tail happy), the M3 a reminder of how good my similar Z4M was, with the C7 impressing with its inbuilt data logger/camera and raw power. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...97ef3dfc3f.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6407e36c57.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...19edd45cb8.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...1697cda291.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a55dd85ece.jpg Austin was quite a place, we love the track. As mentioned at the start, in May 2020 we had a son and we named him Austin, such is the strength of memory from this trip. We hope to bring him here when he's older. It was time to leave the circuit to head for Houston, our last night with the car. It took some time to drive through Houston, despite so many lanes on the Interstate. The US has such contrast between empty rural roads and heaving cities. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a040d66f8d.jpg Here are a few video clips put together up to this point in the trip, really intended for my memories: The hotel in Houston was just a few miles from where we would drop the Corvette to the shipping company the next morning. Day 9: Monday 29th January A very early start and probably the most pressured part of the trip. We were booked into a 10:34 flight from Houston to Nashville and the airline suggests we should be there two hours before. The only problem was the shipping agent didn't open until 8am and we would have to catch an Uber across the city after handing over the Corvette. It was a good job we were early as a transporter full of cars turned up. The lady from the shipping company took photos, rushed through the simple paperwork, I handed over the keys and we were off to the airport (after saying goodbye to Clive). https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...880e53de7f.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2f2ad5d701.jpg Traffic was kind and we made it to the 'George Bush Intercontinental' Houston airport and through security in good time, panic over. After take-off we looked down on the Gulf Of Mexico, happy in the knowledge we had driven 2000+ miles from coast to coast with no problems aside from a small loss of coolant. We landed in Nashville, Tennessee, our seventh state of the trip. Hire car collected we drove north for just over an hour, crossing in to our eighth state, Kentucky. It was cold and overcast, with some flurries of sleet and snow. Pulling into the Corvette museum at Bowling Green, the car park was almost deserted, excellent! First things first, food! Straight in to the impressive museum building and in to the Corvette Cafe, for burger, fries and thick shakes, what else? https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...3147c830e8.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...036c0b2242.jpg Feeling sufficiently fed it was on to the museum, passing the rows of new Corvette C7's awaiting customer collection. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f65db963ad.jpg A friendly security guide got chatting to us and said that the very last car to be restored after the sinkhole disaster of 2014 was nearing completion and would we like to see? He unlocked a door and took us behind the scenes to see the beautiful, black 1962 model, we felt privileged to be shown (although he probably does that to everyone). https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...33b4f44d0a.jpg We both absorbed plenty of new Corvette facts, with reassurance that our C6 was a youngster compared to the 773,000 mile C5 on display. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fc4dd31dd1.jpg With closing time approaching we left for the day as we knew we'd be back the next morning to check out the bits we'd missed and importantly visit the gift shop!!!! Just a short drive back into Bowling Green where we stayed in the Baymont Inn and Suites, for what would be our last night in the States. The local steakhouse was superb, belatedly celebrating Beth's birthday and what had been our best roadtrip ever. Day 10: Tuesday 30th January Up early and back to the museum. It was below freezing but clear. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...1538b10a5a.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...087185eb0e.jpg Having bought a cap, T shirts, magazines and a hoody we just had time for a final milkshake before heading south to Nashville and an internal flight to JFK airport in New York, New Jersey (our ninth and final State). https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5adf25c7ab.jpg We flew through the night with Norwegian Air on the comfortable Dreamliner, arriving on..... Day 11: Wednesday 31st January, back to England and the drive west to Home, in Wiltshire, tired, but happy. The waiting then began, checking the cars agonisingly slow progress on a tracking website. It sat for a month at the dockside before finally boarding the ‘Maersk Montana’, leaving Galveston, TX, stopping at Norfolk, Virginia, headed across the Atlantic and dropping the 40ft container at Antwerp. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5e64b8f7a4.jpg An even larger container ship, the Maersk Kawasaki collected 'our' container, stopping at Rotterdam before unloading at Felixstowe on the 9th of April. It was taken to the Ship My Car depot in Milton Keynes from where we drove it home on the 17th April (via a pre-booked MOT), on its California licence plate. After refusing to start and then overheating (it seems the coolant loss is more serious that first thought) it made it home through wind and rain. I will write more about the steps taken to get the car on the road and planned modifications for trackday use shortly. The Statistics (prices as of early 2018) Distance driven 2450 miles. Distance flown 10343 miles Average fuel economy 26.9 US (32.3 UK) miles per gallon Average speed 54.6 mph Total mileage of the car by Texas 194,786 The Car Costs £7688 Corvette $9995 based on 1.3 $ to £ £995 Port-to-Port Shipping (shared container) shipmycar.co.uk £35 Cost for shipping items within vehicle £140 Marine Insurance £165 US Customs and Loading Fees £175 UK Terminal Handling Charges £245 Container Unloading, Customs Clearance and NOVA £640 HM Customs Duty £1408 VAT £700 parts and technical equipment (Tech 2 and Blinker Splitter) to comply to UK lighting regulations (doing this myself) £35 MOT £12226 Total for the car on the UK roads The Road Trip £1053 Flights for two (£408 Gatwick to LA, £232 Houston to Nashville, £196 Nashville to New York, £217 New York to Gatwick) £85 Car Hire £24 ESTA (US Visa) £507 Hotels (9 nights) £483 Food £130 Sundries (Razor, Car Wash, Paypal deposit fee, airport parking, Uber, Corvette Museum etc.) £228 Petrol £92 Travel Insurance (annual policy) £94 Horse Riding £45 Trackday helmet hire and passenger fee £2741 Total for the Road Trip for both of us (excluding T shirts and Cowboy Hat!) https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2b5861d368.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...79f3d5795f.jpg That's it for this first post, tomorrow I will attempt to condense the next five years of ownership in Europe into something I hope you find interesting. Thanks, David Smitheram :) |
Now that is a helluva post. Well done & congratulations :)
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That was a hell of a post and an awesome story! Enjoy that Vette!
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Didn't read the word fortress only parts of it, but liked the pics
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Cool story...:thumbs:
I think I'll take a nap now...:D |
Great trip, story and photo's.
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this pic jumped at me. I assume all that old american iron is headed to Europe? :bigears
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I loved your story. We took a similar trip 2 yrs ago but not in our C6. Couldn’t figure how to pack all the stuff we needed for an 8400 mi trip. Loved Williams Az and how it got it’s name among other places you visited. . Excellent work combining pics and words. We just did a 2400 mi trip in the C6 but I have been too lazy to write it all down. They are fun touring cars and those that are afraid to get them wet or cold don’t know what they are missing. Thanks for the story. :cheers:
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To the op Fishy Dave. Wow what a story, you definitely have some good memories to share. Thanks for the story. :thumbs:
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Wonderful story!
Thank you very much for sharing. |
Your story tops mine of flying to northern Michigan last October to pick up my new to me 06 C6 and driving it 2100 miles to home in Arizona. 👍
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Very good post!
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Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your story!
My wife and I Also drove through Kingman and Williams AZ on Route 66 and then up to to the Grand Canyon. We crossed that off our bucket list in 2003. Glad you, your wife and the Corvette made it safely back to the UK. Looking forward to your next installment. :thumbs: |
Congratulations- a wonderful story.
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Wow, such a great story! I read every word and brought back so many good memories. For the last 44 years I've had properties in Albuquerque, Denver, Phoenix. And, at times, simultaneously.
From when you hit Kingman all the way to the Sunset hotel, this is my playground. I've driven these roads in some good road cars - A 2009 (Red just like yours) C6, an 81 Corvette, an M6, a number of Jaguars and MBs, a Bentley Continental GT and an AMG GTS. And soon to be, an R8. You didn't mention it, but past Mexican Hat and around the area where you crossed into Colorado and the San Juan river, there is a famous monument called 4 Corners. Hopefully you stopped there (would have been a great pic) at 4 corners there is a monument "pin" you can stand on and literally be in 4 states at the same time - Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Looking forward to more posts with your great adventures and hopefully you'll come back to the states and get more road miles in! BTW, I love that 59 Caddy on the carrier! Those are worth some big dollars now; and I had a 59 Corvette, just like the red one, in blue/white. |
Thanks David, great story and write up of a superb road trip. :thumbs:
Enjoy your ride, speed safe. |
Welcome to the forum! You have the gift of gab. Wonderful story and memories for you. I will watch for your next stories.
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Thanks for sharing your ride!
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That was quite a road trip and glad to hear it went smoothly. The American west is truly a vast land. I read your entire post and have travelled to most of those locations over the years. Thank you for sharing.
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Drives
Awesome trip. I daydream off a trip like this. We traveled Monument Valley in a family car years ago. Beautiful country sides. We did travel from Indiana to Colorado Springs this summer in our Vet. A great trip in a fantastic car. We made it to the top of Pikes Peak.
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Everything about this is fantastic!!!
:cheers: |
Wow! Great story. Very cool that you got to do all that you did. Congratulations!
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Very nice.....awesome read as well.
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Fabulous story, and well written. I enjoyed every bit of it. It's people like yourselves that make this "hobby"......or better said "passion" well worth every dollar (or pound) that we spend. Fabulous cars, but more so fabulous owners. Be blessed and happy Corvetting!
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Thank you for such a great story. Every word was read and every word was enjoyed.
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Thank you for sharing the journey. Hopefully Americana represented and treated you well on your trip.
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Bravo! Fantastic story! I drove much of the same route through the west...but back in 1975 in my 69 Triumph GT6+, from Montreal...total 9,800 miles all around north america.
This was pre- radar, cell phones, and no Leyland dealers for parts or support. Wonderful memories and congratulations |
What a write-up! This is a really cool story and I love the pictures. These cars are really special. My Corvette is the first really nice thing I ever did for myself and it's helped my confidence a lot. It's just a car but it can mean a lot more than that, too.
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Thank you all so much for your kind words. I'll reply to some of your comments in a while, mean time I'll continue with the story, with the car now home with me in England.
Condensing almost 5 years ownership into one post is a challenge! I started by writing in chronological order, but soon realised I could by typing for a week. Instead I'll try to categorise my post into sections, this post will be about the upgrades and changes I've made, along with the main reliability challenges I've had. Most issues have been due to how I use the car on track, which greatly accelerate wear and tear, rather than faults with the car. Every car i have ever taken on the track or raced has experienced issues, I regard the Vette as the most reliable. Fellow competitors can't get over the mileage! This was how it looked at the shipping agent. C6's were officially sold in the UK (Z51 spec and Z06 only), but there are just a few hundred, so they are a rare sight. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e03060f642.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e91be6d0a7.jpg This is the only time in England that I drove the car in US spec. Buying parts for the car started almost immediately, alongside needing to make changes to get the car to comply with UK road regulations (an annual test, called an MOT is required). We have amber turn signals here, so the red flashing rear lights would need to be modified, as would the amber front running lights. We also need bright, rear fog lights. C6 electronics don't make this easy and I confess to a lot of trial and error over some months, before I got the lights working as I wanted. I prefer the US red taillights to the EU, half amber/half red look. https://sharplightinnovations.com/sh...05-13-corvette were a big help, with some excellent products. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c8c290191c.jpg Two weeks later the ownership paperwork arrived, I'd finished the compliance changes (I do all my own wrenching) and I could take the car for its MOT. The underside was super clean and rust free. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6b01fe34f4.jpg It passed its test with flying colours, so I could now legally drive it here, 5 months after I'd waved goodbye to it in Texas. 1. Modifications. I run the car on a budget and I do all my own work on the car, learning as I go. Most parts come from the States, but aside from a short wait and extra cost, it's not too much of a problem. Parts are still considerably cheaper than when I've owned Porsche and BMW. I've spoiled a number of cars by taking track modifications too far, particularly by fitting a full roll cage, so, I was determined to keep this comfortable for the road, but have a little more focus and reliability on the track. One of the first things I did is fit an oil cooler, thermostat, crank scraper and sump baffles, from Improved Racing. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cbf106536a.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f351e39e91.jpg All beautifully made, but the oil cooler caused cooling issues on track, as it blocks airflow in the stock position. Angling the oil cooler to 45 degrees greatly improved coolant temps. First time out on track with the car was an experience. It was a charity event, taking passengers out. The soft, base springs gave a lot of body roll and the drilled discs cracked within the first hour. I've cracked other discs too, but they usually last many track outings before that happens. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...141d723d1f.jpg Over the years I tried various brands of pads, with Mintex making me F4R front pads and F6R rear pads, they are brilliant, all the stopping power I could possibly want, with no fade. I changed from base (JL9) discs and brackets to Z51 (J55), leaving the calipers alone. The Z06 cooling ducts were fitted, with temperature strips and paint used to keep an eye on peak temps. Next year I will probably fit the Brembo/Cadillac 4 piston front calipers and Z06 discs. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9d6e8f1314.jpg Springs 'to leaf or not to leaf'? The base suspension is very comfortable, but far too soft for any vigorous manoeuvring. Coilovers are the usual answer, but, I'm stubborn and actually like the Corvette concept of composite leaf springs with separate dampers. I moved from Z51 springs and am currently on a Z06 rear leaf and Hyperco T1 front leaf. This combination is just right for how I use the car. Dampers The Bilstein's the car had when I bought it were ok, but felt tired. At first I swapped them for new Z06 units, but they were still a little too soft and non-adjustable. After doing lots of research and making an enquiry through Sam Strano (very helpful), I opted for something European made as it would make servicing easier. The US designed KW V3 dampers (no springs) looked ideal, in stainless steel, with compression and rebound adjustment. I was warned that access to some of the adjustments were a challenge, using a piece of wire/allen key. I should have listened, access was awful, even on the low-rise lift I'd bought. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8657d1c4c0.jpg After a little googling I guessed the email of Mr KW himself. After a number of constructive emails he agreed to have them re-designed, to make adjustment easier. True to his word, some months later a shiny new set of dampers arrived, at no cost, with fancy anodised wheels for adjustment. A massive improvement, I can now reach underneath at the track and change settings within minutes. All C5/C6 KW V3's for sale worldwide now have this upgrade. I'm still blown away by the level of service I received. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...04f9009a46.jpg Here you can compare the bottom of the old design (left) and new (right). https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c23847969b.jpg Sway Bars Nothing exciting here, I fitted Z51 bars and have stuck with them. If a used set of Z06 bars appear over here at the right price then I'll fit them, if not, I'm happy enough with the Z51. Bushings The stock, rubber wishbone bushes were starting to move around at the front. I can't blame the car, this is a direct result of the cornering loads due to track use. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e64e233372.jpg It was a significant investment, but I replaced all bushes with a set of Borg, Delrin infused bushes, bought through Sam Strano. More recently I bought the rear upper bushes with offset ones, to gain extra camber. The bushes and sleeves would put one or two watch makers to shame, they are beautifully made. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...722a7ce6a7.jpg Engine mounts I'd looked at the mounts many times and never saw a problem (shielded by the alloy covers), until one day I needed to lift the engine and realised the once fluid-filled mounts were almost in two pieces! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...09b6bdb1f0.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...600ec2668b.jpg It was quite a shock, but the perfect time to upgrade to AMT Motorsport versions. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d371eca718.jpg Exhaust The Powerflow back boxes droned at some speeds, plus I live in a small village where a more stealthy early morning getaway is advantageous. A used set of NPP mufflers were sourced, baffles welded up to stop the rattling and fitted with an 'NPP in a box'. Just this year I swapped the stock cats and headers for Speed Engineering headers (sadly the new design) and X pipe. Wow, that's what a V8 should sound like! Having the remote control to quieten down the NPP's is brilliant. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7d8c976932.jpg Transmission The gearbox has been faultless and I still have the stock shifter. The 3.42 diff and base ratios are not great for a sports car, far too long. One of the early modifications I made was sourcing Motive Gear 4.1 final drive, crown and pinion. This remains the only job I outsourced to a specialist, which was a mistake, as just two years later I had to take it all out again as the pinion nut and crown bolts all came loose, thankfully without causing damage! The ratios are so much better, coupled with a Fidanza lightweight flywheel and the Z06 clutch that was already fitted. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...44deb6fac5.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2b2f6c7e57.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e20c0a1d5f.jpg A remote, Tick clutch bleeder and Monster release bearing support were installed, whilst I was in there. Oh and new bearings and BMW Guibos for the torque tube, with pilot bearing too. There is a familiar theme running here, of replacing parts and making small upgrades as I go through the car. The diff clutch packs were starting to slip, https://racingdiffs.com/ returned the diff to full order and the occasional power slide. ;) Although I've not needed many of the tools, I invested in two cases of Getrag Kent Moore tools (bought here on the forum), the shipping was as much as the tools themselves! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...badf6b7a13.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...20db99d704.jpg Engine It's still the original, LS2 engine, on 223,000 miles and climbing, at the time of writing. It's stock power, aside from the headers (yup, not even a tune or cold air filter). Various rolling road power runs have shown it's still in great shape, losing just a few hp compared to brochure figures, before exceeding them with the headers. I've had two main issues over the last 5 years, harmonic balancer wobble and a sticking lifter. Replaces both turned into length overhauls, but the perfect time for more preventative upgrades. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...4d674a49cd.jpg A high volume Melling oil pump, Cloyes chain and sprockets, water pump, lower temp. 'stat, belts, tensioners and more were replaced, with a Powerbond 'Race' HB and ARP bolt. In hindsight I should have gone for an underdrive HB. After a vigorous track session, at around 200,000 miles I started to hear an occasional tick at idle. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...ad4e4ee38f.jpg At first I thought this was chain slap and sure enough found the original tensioner broken in pieces, including in the sump. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...1d14a4aa89.jpg I put it all back together, only to find the noise was still there. I was slight miffed. ;) I whipped the heads off and found one of the lifter rollers was a bit rough, thankfully with no damage to the the lobe. Z06 lifters, trays, Trickflow pushrods, valve stem seals, uprated rocker bearings and valve springs were added. Given that the original yellow valve springs have a bad reputation for breaking mine had lasted rather well, perhaps some good fortune and very regular oil changes helped? https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c278a38025.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...efdafd0cfa.jpg IF I ever want more power it's all ready for a cam. New head gaskets and bolts and it was running beautifully again. A significant headache was discovering that three of the header bolts had snapped flush in the heads. I only found this out AFTER reassembling the heads, doh! With no stub left to grip and hearing horror stories of snapped easy-outs, I invested in a gasless Mig welder and took to YouTube. I built up weld enough to tack a nut on and it worked in all three cases! https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e228027a1b.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...1845b4a22a.jpg Radiator During the US rad trip we'd noticed a slight coolant leak. We got lucky, as the radiator was coming apart! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6b92031721.jpg A cheap, all alloy ebay unit was fitted. I don't like to support Chinese products, but on this occasion it was at least 5 times cheaper than bringing in a Ron Davis/Dewitts unit. The first one leaked during a competition in Scotland, where the car repeatedly bottomed-out on track before I fitted the uprated dampers and springs. The second, identical replacement has been good for three years now. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...103232e3ba.jpg Power Steering The base model doesn't come with a PAS cooler and I killed both the rack and pump (overheated/leaking). This was a very expensive mistake, but the Turn One replacements have been fault free, along with a fan cooled Mocal cooler in the fog light void. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...1b992e979a.jpg Bodywork Not much to report here. The dent on the passenger rear quarter was fixed with a new metal bracket and some gentle warming with a heat gun. The crazed headlights were baked in the oven and Umnitza lenses put in their place. They made a big improvement, but after the first year the lens coating started flaking off, this is still happening now, requiring occasional polishing. With fluid temps. on track getting high I did the unthinkable and chopped a hole in the hood for a vent. I agonised over this for weeks. At first I fitted a slender, BMW M2CS vent, before changing it to a https://trackspecmotorsports.com/ louvered vent. This is actually the M4 vent, as it best covered up the whole I made with the first vent! It does the job, very pleased. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...16c7798e3e.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fb82c7f79e.jpg The photo above is before the car had its dust washed off. The paintwork is actually very good, regardless of the miles. The original owner always kept the car garaged, which has ensured the Victory Red is still glossy and vibrant. Talking of 'garages', in the UK a typical 'single' garage is actually too narrow to fit a C6, at least if you want to be able to get in or out the car. Therefore, to make working on the car more comfortable and to protect the car I built a double carport. I would have built a large garage, but it's an 1800's house in a protected area, so this was easier and cheaper. From this: https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...6067fe32f6.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...15bb01f21d.jpg To this: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...81ac49bc89.jpg This previous photo gives the game away, as to the largest single cosmetic difference: race graphics. Again, something I agonised over, but when I started competing with the car in 2019 I didn't think it looked right with just a few stickers slapped on it. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...56316c6caf.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...560bc83435.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8f995db67e.jpg Partly inspired by the Brabham F1 car. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...93b632bf99.jpg A new, HUD specific screen made a big improvement compared to peering through stone chips. My car doesn't have HUD, but I thought it sensible to have this type fitted, given I had a choice. It gives an annoying 'ghosting' at night, with oncoming car headlights appearing double, not sure if that's normal? https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0eb48c8920.jpg Wheels The car came with reproduction, chrome wheels, they suited the car and really stood out among England's boring hatchbacks (compacts?). Despite washing them regularly, the winter salt attacked the finish. In 2021, during the final round of the Scottish championship three of the five spokes cracked. I was very lucky, both to see the cracks before the final run and also that I just had enough points in hand to win overall! https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...b4de1b7a99.jpg In addition, I have two other factory sets of 5 spokes, bought cheap from this forum and shipped over (once again, the shipping was more than the wheels) and a set of black C7 wheels bought in the UK, that I had re-painted silver. I have recently started to use 20mm spacers and have longer ARP studs to fit. I use Nankang AR-1 tires on track and typically Yokohama on the road. I'd love some sets of lightweight, wider wheels, but it's all $$$$/££££, so stock will have to do for now. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...616668982a.jpg Seats I've saved the worst 'til last. The stock seats are comfy, but unsupportive. Whilst they'd been rebuilt by the previous owner they were sagging again. I decided I didn't want race seats, preferring a bit more comfort, with sliders, to remain wife-friendly. I'll condense four years of expensive trial and error by saying if you want to change seats, do it right first time and don't be cheap! I tried a pair of Recaros from a UK Vauxhall (didn't fit), an OMP 'race' sports seat and a Cobra Monaco Pro, both of which looked and felt cheap and I sat too high in any case. Next, I thought I'd be clever and ordered a pair of Corbeau Evo X seats from the US, along with their sliders. The seats were good value, but the shipping came as a massive shock at over $1000, plus taxes. I still have buyers remorse even now, years later. The Corbeau's were actually very good all-purpose seats, but, there was some height and weight to be gained by finally making that jump to a proper Sparco race seat. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...27e9c4e184.jpg The QRT-R seat fitted well (as advised in the track section of this forum), but my shoulders are broad, despite being slim, so that's moved to the passenger side and I now have a QRT Evo L, which is great. I'm just waiting on the AMT floor mount to get me even lower and I'll stop messing around with seats! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...81d8447388.jpg A Sharkbar and Schroth harness keeps me in place on track, I use the stock 3 point on the road. Vette works plugs keep the airbag light off. Tomorrow's post will be about what I've done with the car and where I've been, sorry this one is a bit boring. I'll dig out some nice scenic European photos and videos tomorrow. Thanks, David Smitheram |
Now that is one amazing story and adventure ! Really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about it!! Best of luck with the car !
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Absolutely fantastic post! Thank you so much for sharing.
Do you drive the Vette around in the UK? Are people surprised to see it? Especially with those graphics I'd imagine. |
I really enjoyed reading about your trip.
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What a great adventure this route has been on my bucket list for the longest time …….. you have inspired me to get going ….from the trip to the museum… to the Forest Gump shot on route 66. The fact that you threw in some track time is just icing on the cake! Thank you so much for sharing!! Oh and by the way I name my vehicles as well my white C6 is named Blanche.
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Thanks for taking all the time to share your story with the C6! It's been inspiring to read. I bought my Salvaged C6 April of 2021, and people told me I was crazy. It has been a fun and difficult (at times) project, however, I have a great S/C'd car that's a beast! It is an event to drive! It's a show winner! So I know to a degree what ups and downs you have been through. Keep us updated, and be safe!
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WOW! Great story and photos...lots of photos. Surprised the Forum's servers had any space left for me to post comment. My Corvettes also changed my life: I personally experienced joy, excitement, happiness, pride in ownership, pure driving bliss, and a much lighter wallet too :D :thumbs:
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Now THAT was a great story! Thanks for the share and congrats on your C6. Enjoy! :cheers:
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Great story thank you for sharing!!
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For the first time in quite a while I am speechless. Epic post.
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your story and transformation of your car is an inspiration. Without any doubt, you are a serious petrol head! To think you do all this yourself, in the UK, without a garage is amazing.
thank you for sharing. |
Great story and write up! My story: found my dream Corvette on Facebook Marketplace 30 miles from my house. I did hit a rainstorm on the way home.
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Excellent post ! Congrats and best wishes for each and every day of Corvette ownership.
Over 30 years ago i had a jet black '68 Camaro 355 small block Muncie 4spd, cowl induct hood, it blew me away every time i looked at it. It made me - me. But i always wanted a Vette. Unfortunately due to a tire blow out (i bought cheap tires back then) i crashed into a steel girder on a bridge and sold it soon after. Fast forward to Sept 2022, three kids, two down sizings with two different companies and a 20 year marriage ending in divorce later, and never losing that passion, desire, affliction to own a Corvette, i found the ONE, my 2012 Grand Sport Velocity Yellow M6. It made me, me again. One day i was at my credit union with the Vette, just parked and closed the door, and i heard someone talking to me. A total stranger was staring and complimenting me on my Vette asking me about it. I told him year, trim level,...etc and said thank you very much sir. He ran to the entrance of the credit union to open the door for me. I felt my face blushing, i never expected that. I just had Kooks long tube headers kit installed with a tune with stock NPP mufflers. Cranked it open on a straightaway and my word the sound !! Like ten mountain lions screaming at once !! Damn i love my Vette !! |
Thanks so much for sharing this great post with us all. Keep us posted on the rest of the journey.
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Thank you all again, I promise I will reply to your comments when time allows. I had said I'd share the main places Clive The Corvette has taken me over the last 5 years, but it will be an all day job to write the post.
Whilst it seems a shame to post out of sequence, I've just started my next road trip, so I'll keep you up to date whilst things happen. This trip will be the basis for my third Corvette children's book, assuming I make the 'secret' destination. Leg no.1 is now complete. Leaving our house in south-west England, we drove to Portsmouth and boarded the ferry that took us south, to the north coast of Spain (Santander), a 2 night and a day journey. Next came two days of driving at a fairly slow, safe towing speed of about 55mph. Whilst I wouldn't normally tow on my road trips, I wanted to travel with my wife and son and had the opportunity to borrow a trailer from a friend (thanks to WOSPerformance). https://thumbsnap.com/sc/BJK6ECpS.jpg A bit cold when we left Portsmouth, but England had snow a few days ago, so I got lucky to leave when I did. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/dBNtqYbX.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fesPZAeJ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pWHGvPzc.jpg We've never known the Bay Of Biscay so calm, this was as rough as it got. This is a stretch of water notorious for rough weather. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/SP5tba7Z.jpg We got pulled over by Spanish customs officials, but after a delay they checked the Corvette paperwork with my passport and was waived on. Northern Spain was barely above freezing, with snow in the mountains around Madrid. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Cnwy1jGq.jpg About 5 hours in to the drive it was time for another stop. That field entrance looks ideal for a coffee stop in the camper van; fairly flat, dry and no house/farm for miles. Only it wasn't dry, it had the stickiest clay known to man, the whole rig was stuck. An hour and a half later and with Clive unloaded, we were out, with darkness descending and everything covered in mud. Nightmare, but we were back on the road for a short while before camping in the VW. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/NDrXrVij.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/1injy57E.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/g6WAvnZm.jpg The temperature really warmed up as we headed south the next day, the A/C was needed! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UbrESacA.jpg Despite my best preparation, the radiator sprung a leak, which I only noticed whilst loading on the trailer, in the UK. This is the stain left on the trailer, I will have to hope it doesn't get worse. I've ordered a new rad and an uprated rad support (Crane) from the US, to replace the GM support that has been cracked since I bought the car. No chance of it arriving for at least another week or two, so will have to hope for the best and carry plenty of water. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MFrWd1uY.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/VburZPEU.jpg Beth and I are very lucky to have a little boy so willing to travel, he barely complained for three days. He's rather taken to the present his Nana and Grandad bought him. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/4H9WEHFn.jpg Just over 600 miles driving so far, although none of those on the Corvette yet. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0c93723543.jpg The next instalment will follow in a couple of days, when the photos will reveal my destination, assuming the rad doesn't give up! https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/smile.gif David Smitheram |
Clive is off on another adventure, this time with co-driver and fellow UK C6 owner, Felix. Last night I headed to Malaga, Spain, where Felix flew into.
This morning we arrived at Algeciras and crossed the Mediterranean Sea, first to Ceuta, then into Morocco, North Africa. Clive is heading south, to the Sahara Desert in the next couple of days, in search of sunshine and Camels. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/5YqkB7g4.jpg The poor car is slightly wounded, after a badly judged exit off the ferry ramp (my fault). The Speed Engineering X pipe and clamps are now a bit wonky, the exhaust is blowing quite badly and the tracking is out too. Still, on the upside the leaking radiator hasn't got any worse. There were probably ten passengers and vehicles on the high speed ferry, our first time looking across at Gibraltar, weather has been showery all day and nearly threatened the crossing happening at all. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ZFA6epS6.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/XBwhqVPY.jpg We had to unload everything from the trunk at customs, when we first arrived, oh and we got pulled over once at a police check point, but all done with smiles and no issues at all. We arranged local car insurance and now have recovery too. Super unleaded is almost half the price we pay in the UK, although that's still more than you guys pay in the States. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bDakN5PC.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/msiizJYo.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/BzEoUgMF.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mxj45toP.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/htPkrZSf.jpg Still a good few Merc taxi's here. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/1LYiSFVo.jpg Pot holes and speed humps are regular features, keeping us on our toes, as well as a few kamikaze pedestrians/dogs/drivers. The Moroccan's seem to love the Corvette, we've had so many waves, smiles and hand signals that want us to rev the engine. Today was mostly a transition day, it should get more interesting the next couple of days. |
Thanks for posting your adventure I will say some nasty muddy roads, you are traveling over, and here people don't even take there car out if it looks like rain, they think it will melt.
Love reading about the trip, enjoy the ride! |
Great stuff......keep it coming, it's very interesting!
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A very good day, aside from me reversing into a tree. Not even a small tree, although in my defense we have a fair bit piled in the trunk, restricting visibilty. Some spider cracks in the paint.
https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Aouokn52.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cJWgznfu.jpg Anyway, the day started by visiting the roman city ruins at Volubilis. It was a real privilege to be here, with only about 20 other tourists present, the sun even shone for a while. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iFigjjS1.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/dAU1v4ZY.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/9Lub185S.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cg6Gz8ED.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/he75sSqN.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/XixPz2gZ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bzq4khGC.jpg Next, we headed to the Swiss style town of Ifran, it was clean and rather European in feel and the other cars that were here. Fanastic Pizza too. They ski here and the multiple snow gates and low temperatures were proof of the altitude we'd reached. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gM5L4kJq.jpg Some nice, smooth driving roads followed, with a variety of towns passed through, some tidy, others were struggling. We reached our overnight hotel in Midelt as darkness fell. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iUkf6tfb.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Mr6otDD4.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/s3DYPuEe.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/3DRnov4T.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cy6kVu7x.jpg We have another 6 hours of driving south tomorrow (with stops) and we'll be on the edge of the Sahara. The hotel is, traditional, with excellent service, but wifi so slow this post has taken me more than two hours. A security guard is looking after the car and it's on a big cctv screen too. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/v27UuiM3.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gowhedwy.jpg The people continue to be friendly and seem to love the car. The wild dogs slightly less so at times. Co-driver Felix hasn't been bitten yet, when making a dash out the car for a photo. We've not seen any super unleaded all day, so it will be regular and an octane booster tomorrow. |
No wifi in the desert yesterday, hence the delayed post.
Day three and its been another eventful and forever memorable experience. Let's get my daily mistake out the way first, I got stuck in the sand. Felix suggested a drive by video, I drove out of sight, half attempted a spin round in the narrow road, but was too gentle on the throttle. 3/4 of the way round found my front wheels stuck and rears just on the edge. The gentlest of throttle just saw me slide further in, due to the slope. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/LNEzxX1k.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/tULK3eF2.jpg Felix jogged back up the road, laughed and we flagged down a passing Spanish family in a VW T4. We have a tow strap with us, but the angle I was pulled out damaged the lower rear bumper. Oh and my nice fleece I used under my rear tyre looks like a cats been at it. I was so cross with myself, I've carried out countless 180 half spins over the years and know better than this. I partly blame the can of 'Mr Basil', that contained 10 E numbers, is made in Vietnam, has a warning 'May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' and seemed to contain Frogspawn. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/aZKTXumJ.jpg%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://thumbsnap.com/sjibSYwD%22%20Target=%22_blank%22%20rel= %22nofollow%22%3Ehttps://thumbsnap.com/sc/sjibSYwD.jpg%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://thumbsnap.com/vHNgys7a%22%20Target=%22_blank%22%20rel= %22nofollow%22%3Ehttps://thumbsnap.com/sc/vHNgys7a.jpg Anyway, that's three mess ups so far this trip. Lets look at todays positives. After a tasty breakfast, the day started proper by glancing at the hotel cctv screen. Either the radiator had sprung a major leak or someone had cleaned the car. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/B5no3rjY.jpg%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://thumbsnap.com/mY6nrEia%22%20Target=%22_blank%22%20rel= %22nofollow%22%3Ehttps://thumbsnap.com/sc/mY6nrEia.jpg It was the latter, the kind security guard had taken a liking to the car, sadly it was a bit of a rush job, with a rag and maybe half a bucket of water? I'd intended to leave the car dirty, oh well. It was a nice gesture, so I couldn't be cross, but the car looked even worse than before! A small top up and the expansion tank was at the right level again, the rad leak is slight and not getting worse. After filling the car with fuel and avoiding buying anything from the slightly pushy fossil salesman, we once again headed south. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Nr9ePCM7.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/58NvEHQW.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KTYCnTYR.jpg We stopped for photos along the way, then found an unfinished fuel station, with a working jet wash. Jet was about right, it was crazy the force of water from this thing, Felix managed to half remove a sticker from the car at fairly long range! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/uXzVwpRp.jpg Clean car, happier David, we drove through fantastic views, past oasis and the Gorge du Ziz. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Dcd4AnCt.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HRuJVLKs.jpg We could see the sand dunes for many miles before reaching Merzouga. The weather got warmer, windows down, enjoying the exhaust and low to mid 70F. We'd made good time, until I got stuck in the sand. Despite this, once dragged out we were still early for our Sahara experience, phew. Souther Morocco is not actually 'that' far for us and many drivers have achieved more, but I'm chuffed to have made it to the edge of the Sahara, in such an unlikely car. We are regularly waving, flashing(oo-er), allowing photos, or chatting to passers by who love the Corvette, it doesn't get tiring. It was just Felix and I for the desert experience, plus four Chinese girls, who studied in London and were good fun. We piled into a Mitsubishi 4x4, then flew (literally) over the dunes, both us hurting our necks when we hit our heads on the roof, due to being wedged in the cramped, rearmost seats. This was just the 4x4 to take us a kilometre to the camels! A Camel seemed like the more relaxing mode of transport after this! I called 'shotgun' on the lead blonde Camel, Felix took the dark Camel behind me. Much laugher as they stood up and we were off, for the next hour and a half, up and down the soft sand. I loved every moment of it, I felt totally relaxed on Clive The Camel, the sand dunes were otherworldly and it was almost totally silent. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/73QfXVqV.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/sTiLCVPM.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/XeKnDJtM.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cqoJM41H.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Z8U2sn9h.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mgW45ymp.jpg Glamping, desert style. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Q9gwbQgx.jpg We looked across at the border with Algeria, dismounted an hour in and watched the sun go down. With other groups joining us briefly. It was almost dark when we arrived at camp. One of the girls had walked the last 20 mins due to saddle soreness, I think Felix was considering it too. Mint tea on arrival, fancy tents, not bad food, but best of all was the blackness and completely clear, starry night. I've never seen more stars, I will post some superb long-exposure piccies my co-driver took, when I get home. Despite the self-inflicted mishaps and damage to the car, it's been a brilliant three days so far and I'm very lucky to have the chance to see the Sahara in this way. More Camels tomorrow, after a sunrise wake up. |
A cold night in the desert, no hot water, but we got up early for the sunrise, followed by a peaceful Camel ride back. We did some dune bashing in a 4x4 briefly, as passengers, this time with no injury.
https://thumbsnap.com/sc/9qX6ZwGV.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wPbxMzxa.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/m6sKtRCD.jpg Enough Camels, back to the horsepower. We then went on a mission to get photos of Clive, closer to the big dunes. This is not easy as in most parts the dunes closest to the paved roads or the town are small and build gradually. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ddBZCTp8.jpg Oh ok, more Camels then! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/4JYeNf54.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/V8L6M1VG.jpg It got the hump, being tied to my car. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/getmecoat.gif We decided to drive for miles on gravel 'roads', with a washboard surface in places, slowing to a crawl for rocks and ruts. We got close to a camel herd, stopped for photos and the herds owner came over on his motorbike. With a little french, english, plus sign language, we asked for a photo of one of his Camels next to Clive. Next, he took us many more miles on unmade roads, with the dunes getting nearer, he showed patience, as we could only drive slowly. The result was worth it, nice photos. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MNFkY6gF.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/55JCjNbd.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/JYXJX9HM.jpg The rest of the day was just covering the miles, waving at locals, until we arrived at the hotel, in Todra Gorge. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/jiXy6Z77.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/7oFTVNLU.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/DRT2httC.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/eNxwpJvP.jpg This is the view from my hotel room window. Mechanical update: Another small top up of water this morning for the leaking rad, I had to cut and remove the AC belt (modelled by Felix in photo), as the AC compressor pulley/bearings have become loose. Clive The Corvette passed just 224,000 miles and I didn't do anything stupid today. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UzHk3k2W.jpg |
Thanks all for your comments, I'll reply more when I get back home.
Today started by taking the friendly hotel owner in to town (he wanted cash). He was a nice guy and didn't drive a car, so I gave him the full experience through the hairpin bends. We were pulled over by the police (I wasn't speeding), they weren't interested in me or the car, but gave him a grilling for ten minutes, asking why he was in the car! The hotel owner loved Clive though, you could tell from the universal sign for 'a dabo of oppo' to his colleagues when we returned back to the hotel. Not one person yet has ever heard of a Corvette. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rgRhW6EY.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/nN4UC9YW.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kx5QwBQF.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mL3AAECG.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/uvqUSYnt.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/91t2YZtK.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fdLn8kNu.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UythyqK9.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/swkGXDtp.jpg After that, Felix and I headed up Todra Gorge. Imagine Cheddar Gorge, but 5 times as high and 50 times longer, with no traffic. We ran out of smooth road and had to turn back eventually. On the upside the exhaust is much quieter than on day 1 (no drone), presumably it's been whacked back in to place. The rad continues to leak a bit (of course, it's not going to fix itself). https://thumbsnap.com/sc/WzypaHKp.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/QYeUCTs5.jpg Next was Dades Gorge. In isolation it would have been exceptional, but, it wasn't as good as Todre. Very different geology though. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/5egP53Yh.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/qm32tTqW.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/38VCJbcE.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/3Penv1t2.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/M9QL6jwJ.jpg A few hours driving followed, once again Morocco surprised, with a different feel, through isolated towns and plateau's. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/WfX58L8d.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/GvmmgYhw.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/BNqHnvMP.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/SwNTiC76.jpg A pleasant, windows down, low 20C's. Still no Super Unleaded. We arrived at our overnight, Ait Ben Haddou, an ancient town, free of cars, opposite our hotel. We spent a pleasant hour walking around as the sun went down. Nicest dinner to date, this very old, traditional hotel was a real find. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pcKQnH5Y.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6zouWRUu.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/TSnFpjFJ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6C9pZL6w.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/J4fF7Ztm.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ex16kcNw.jpg |
The day begun with a Moroccan man showing me his Snake. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/hehe.gif I had to pay him too. We found the Snake charming double act so funny, they were harmless Garter Snakes btw.
The Tizi Pass, heading to Marrakesh was the best to drive so far. Although parts of it are being resurfaced (and were therefore no more than rutted tracks), for many miles it was smooth, grippy tarmac, with virtually no traffic. Far fewer hairpins than an Alpine pass, but plenty of long 3rd and 4th gear stretches. The regular fuel, high altitude and weight blunted Clive's performance a bit, but it was still brilliant fun. A dog befriended Felix at one of the stops, pretty sure he'd have jumped in the car if we'd let him. We stopped again, seeing a small flock of goats on a hill above us. We got out and took photos, next thing they were pouring down the hillside and across the road towards us, there were loads of 'em. Felix jumped back in the car. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mjS1VY4i.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/qgUeeU43.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HVksHqAm.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iin3aY7C.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kHgfYXhg.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/WPseze9D.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/PdeVC44t.jpg Both of us took turns in the driving seat, for at least three hours in the high Atlas range, before the road started descending to the outskirts of Marrakesh. Temps reached 79F (nice for the week before Christmas), but with that came our first stretch of motorway since the start of the trip. Windows down, no a/c now of course. Quick reactions from Felix stopped us being side-swiped by a small Renault van during an overtake. The driving standards have actually been good in general so far. Maps took us via one of the worst stretches of road so far. The last half hour saw horrible, chassis scraping speedhumps and hundreds of deep potholes. We'd both had enough by the end. We are staying in an apartment on the coast, south west of Casablanca, that is nice enough, with a private beach, but has no wifi, so video's will have to wait. We arrived earlier than the apartment was ready, so did a bit of rockpooling and then ate at a seaside eatery with good views but questionable ambiance (TV at full blast). As I looked out the restaurant window I said to Felix "look, that man has caught an Octopus". Next moment he'd clubbed it to bits with a rock, presumably to eat! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/PuxM4GZo.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/zWa3PnZb.jpg That's about $5.43 a US Gallon for V Power, on the motorway, that'll do. This is almost half what we might pay in the UK! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KAMHnBnr.jpg Big easily, easily good for two blokes stuff for a week, plus a full size wheel and spares. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fnAKP1dv.jpg The car is filthy and yet still looks shiny in the photo. How often have we found that out when buying a car! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KUWUUJrP.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/DHotjMgt.jpg Good to see the Atlantic again. Tomorrow is the long drive north, up the coast, to the border at Ceuta, ready to cross the Med on Thursday. |
Our last day in Morocco. Coffee and cookies on the beach first thing, then on the toll road north.
https://thumbsnap.com/sc/VMqNYJJC.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/CYPZq3ba.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/z1DhxhBx.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pfosMxhT.jpg Whilst the motorway was calmer than some of the roads we'd been used to over the last week, it's still crazy having children and dogs crossing in places. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/jh8Yksug.jpg After a short rest stop we heard and felt a vibration from the front left. A quick inspection showed it was a slightly cracked brake disc. I should know better than to buy EBC drilled discs, these lasted one track event and about 3000 road miles only, never again. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/FgR7dj1u.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ZyR7Xjk8.jpg At the peage we were pulled over, the policeman told us we were speeding, 129kph (120 limit). This was strange as we'd both been so careful, using cruise control too, Felix concluded he'd maybe just accelerated to help clear the way for a car to pull out from behind a slower vehicle. Felix asked for and got the photo evidence he'd wanted, so we were expecting a fine. The policeman was nice, asked us where we'd been, were going, was it our first time to Morocco etc. He let us off, result. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/2tM78XaE.jpg At the next stop we encountered a Vermont registered Landcruiser. We found and chatted to the family of 5 (parents and three younger children), fascinating people. They've been driving around Europe since August, home schooling the kids as they went. They had been in Morocco for three weeks, he confessed to also getting stuck in the sand. They don't intend to head back to the States until April, what an adventure. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/cwXJbJoQ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HzHLoZK4.jpg We'd calculated (ok, it was luck) our last Dirham to perfection, actually at the final motorway toll the person let us off the 1 Dirham we were short. Our last mountain pass, past Tangier and on to the border crossing. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6iHfy4Yg.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rwn1ADDj.jpg After a wait, the Moroccan border staff were great, with the officer who gave the car a brief once over making it clear he wanted to hear the engine when we left. So I gave him max revs, the noise in the covered area between the booths was biblical, the overun sounding like gunfire. The guys at the next passport control heard this and wanted more of the same. I was happy to oblige when leaving, as I looked back in the mirror I could see they'd left their hut to give us enthusiastic thumbs up. A fitting way to officially leave Africa, just wished we could have filmed it. One of the men in that last hut asked if it was a Corvette, the first person in a week who knew what Clive was, many we'd spoken to had never heard of Chevrolet, let alone Corvette. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/yj9P9LfJ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/H6Umcjvm.jpg This small piece of paper was very important and ws checked by police a number of times on our trip. We're now back in Ceuta, an independent part of Spain, but on mainland Africa still. After another day in the mid 70's it felt good to change into shorts/t shirts for the first time in a week. Ceuta was buzzing, warm and very European feeling, with parts of it feeling like Monaco. Fabulous Tapas. Our last night is in a cheap hostel, each room has bars on the windows, completing the run of completely different accomodation we've enjoyed/endured. Tomorrow we'll head back across the Med. Sea, to mainland Spain. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/CV5FJcVd.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/9oMr12Qv.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/dNJjcKCf.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/hsRbaR3H.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/a6EM1QrZ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/1ybKqku4.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ZhZyfjgZ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/aFQZB3b1.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/NPUNoK6A.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kbqjTmSE.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/LVaPQYrX.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gfCaErUE.jpg These are the figures so far, almost done. |
Our final day of the African adventure. Woke up in Ceuta, with a tasty breakfast in the centre of the city. We were on a mission to see the little Apes in the park (same species they have on Gibraltar), but google messed the location up, therefore we settled on some fantastic views instead.
https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HcBRSQGT.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/mw6TrRxs.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/9Z3gG1ir.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/zEmLqq8D.jpg A very smooth ferry crossing back to mainland drive, a contrast in weather to one week ago. Due to likely border delays into and out of Gibraltar we sadly gave it a miss. Instead, we visited a Corvette Club owner in Estepona, who had four Vette's at his house, he has another four elsewhere! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MUfFA5Sa.jpg Another top up of coolant needed. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/99cja8vN.jpg Sscccrraaaapppe. Exhast got knocked again so is blowing once again. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/b5SYhBVW.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pUpTH2Qt.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/nvhxgduh.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/j6yV9h2y.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/5xnCmkqo.jpg After that, it was a warm goodbye to Felix at Marbella airport and a few more hours drive back to my wife and son who are staying at my inlaws house, in south east Spain. Along the way Clive passed 225,000 miles. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/hxoFcoQi.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KHEpEpRY.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/QSfeCZQL.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gx3X8NEY.jpg It's time to relax for a few days now, enjoy being with my family and try to get my head into it being Christmas and warm. Thank you all for your kind comments, I'll do a proper reflection of the trip in a week, when we get back to England and we'll upload a few photos from Felix and my cameras too. All the piccies I've shared so far have been from our phones. Happy Christmas everyone. |
You have certainly enjoyed your Corvette and created so many memories. Thank you for sharing them with us.
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Great pictures, Dave ... you are almost a certified Corvette mechanic, too!
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Thank you, it's taught me a lot. The Corvette is nice to work on, it helps that nothing is rusty too.
I'm currently replacing the A/C, radiator, rad support and lots more. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...000bf2784b.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...573580ceaf.jpg Austin, helping me press out the old studs, for longer ARP's. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7d6e808a54.jpg |
Great post!
2019 Mustang GT Premium 6MT Daily Driver 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman 2009 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Moab, Utah 4-Wheeling Trips x10 - TJ: 4/06, 5/08, JK: 4/09, 5/11, 4/13, 5/16, 4/17, 5/18, 9/21, 6/22 Rubicon - 2004 TJ-2008 Pics https://www.pbase.com/thunderstrike |
Incredible stories! That’s awesome!!
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'Clive' hasn't turned a wheel for a month, until today. I've spent about six full days over the past few weekends repairing and servicing the car, following damage occurred on the Morocco trip, plus an upgrade too (is it possible to do major work on a car without sneaking in an improvement?). I put myself under a little pressure as I've entered the Pomeroy Trophy at Silverstone GP on 25th February.
List achieved: Full service (moving back to Millers 5w40) Replace the cracked front discs (see brake upgrade documented later) Replace A/C condenser, pump and belt Replace radiator, as the previous one cracked New, strengthened radiator support Silicone coolant hoses Press out factory wheel studs, replace with 2.5", longer ARP studs, also pressed out studs from the 20mm spacers. Also extended thread wheel nuts. There is more still do to, but that was as much as I could get away with in this phase, plus I need to bed the brakes in. Let's start with the fun bit, the brakes. Until now my brake calipers were stock items all round, but I moved up to the larger Z51 sized discs and brackets some years back, with the brilliant Mintex F4R pads. The weakness has been the front discs, which crack prematurely, most likely due to their relatively small size (325mm). Common big brake upgrades, in order of $ are Z06 (calipers now unavailable new), Wilwood or AP. My budget wouldn't run to any of these and the Z06 calipers are reported to be problematic on track (fine on the road), with their small 'padlets' too, rather than pairs of brake pads on the front. I'd spent many an hour researching if any of the calipers/discs from other GM products would fit, but couldn't find anything until recently, mostly in the C5 forum section and user Jesse Shredical: http://www.shredjesse.com/1999-c5-co...GEW7fEhVBIHVtI A few individuals on here have found that the Cadillac ATS/CTS 4 piston Brembo caliper, will bolt on and work with the 355mm disc from the C6 Z06. It needs slight spacing from the knuckle with a couple of thin washers, the edge of the caliper needs a tiny bit of material removing, as does the outside 2mm of brake pad, other than that it bolts on and fits within the 18" base front wheel, with a 20mm spacer (C7 and C6 Gumby wheels have better clearance). Brake proportioning is done electronically on the C6, so it's reported to be well balanced when braking hard with the Brembos. Researching the calipers further shows that they use the same pad shape as cars such as the Corvette C7, Tesla Model 3, Mitsubishi Evo, Camaro and loads more, so plenty of pad choice. They might be marked Cadillac, but they are the same Brembo caliper as used on the Corvette C7, only with different length mounting ears (that means the C7 caliper won't fit). The very best thing is the price, just $266/£222 for the pair of brand new calipers, from Rock Auto, plus $25/£20.58 for the pins and spring. Ok, there is VAT and delivery on top, but that's a bargain. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&pt=1704&jsn=1 and https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&pt=1704&jsn=4 and https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&pt=1736&jsn=7 The almost identical Corvette C7 calipers are from $884/£724 a pair, more depending on the colour. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=1704&jsn=496 and https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=1704&jsn=497 This is how the calipers looked on arrival. https://thumbsnap.com/s/WTt651Br.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/WTt651Br https://thumbsnap.com/s/ZPi6EJtN.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/ZPi6EJtN https://thumbsnap.com/s/hgewq6Lo.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/hgewq6Lo 3.7kg = 8.14 lbs. This is a similar weight to the stock caliper and bracket. Z06 discs are relatively easy to get hold of in the UK, well usually, EBC didn't have any one piece discs in stock, so I upgraded to their lighter, two piece discs instead (£518 with my discount, not sure on prices in the States). A one piece Z06 disc is reported to weigh 12.2kg/26.8lbs, these came in at 9.7kg/21.34. This is about 200 grams heavier than the one piece, used Z51 discs I'd removed. As well as being larger (355 vs. 325mm), they also have cooling vanes in the right direction, unlike the Z51 type where one side flows the wrong way! https://thumbsnap.com/s/Krw83kew.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/Krw83kew https://thumbsnap.com/s/mguk7nyg.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/mguk7nyg Photos slightly out of sequence, but it makes more sense this way. A test fit confirmed that the discs 'just' brushed the outer edges of the caliper. https://thumbsnap.com/s/RB9LdQcK.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/RB9LdQcK A little grinding and smoothing on the extreme edges and clearance was good (the Cadillac has smaller discs as standard). https://thumbsnap.com/s/jYi7jgER.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/jYi7jgER It wouldn't do to have 'Cadillac' branding on the car, so I rubbed the caliper faces down, sprayed them with red caliper paint, ebay silver stickers, a couple of coats of high temp. lacquer and they were ready to go on. https://thumbsnap.com/s/MHRJRdPy.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/MHRJRdPy https://thumbsnap.com/s/93EayQN1.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/93EayQN1 The kitchen smelled beautiful for a while! On to pressing out the studs, for longer ARP ones (that I'd slipped in my suitcase, when I visited Daytona back in November). https://thumbsnap.com/s/wGHnBn4A.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/wGHnBn4A https://thumbsnap.com/s/A9hVpkkT.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/A9hVpkkT https://thumbsnap.com/s/6RJpxigd.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/6RJpxigd I perhaps should have gone for the even longer 3.25" ARP studs, as the 2.5" only gave me 8.5 turns of engagement on the wheel nuts. I therefore ordered a set of extended thread nuts, giving me a good 12 or 13 full turns. https://thumbsnap.com/s/h3wPUboa.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/h3wPUboa https://thumbsnap.com/s/2Y2M13qX.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/2Y2M13qX Next, the pad overhang needed sorting. Only a mm or two, but once the pads wear with use they would probably make an annoying scraping noise. Mark with a sharpy, a quick angle grind to make a taper and they were in and done. https://thumbsnap.com/s/pZdjYMVm.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/pZdjYMVm https://thumbsnap.com/s/XdbUeQhk.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/XdbUeQhk Talking of pads, I am trying EBC's new SR11 race compound on the front (EBC rear). They gave me a set to try, perhaps after a friendly moan about their drilled discs cracking prematurely. https://thumbsnap.com/s/6Gbv1G85.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/6Gbv1G85 So, not a big brake solution for someone wanting to just bolt up and go, but with a little work it appears to be a very cost-effective solution. I'll report back in a couple of weeks after Silverstone, the 40 minute 'race' will give it a good test. In time I may move the old front calipers to the rear, but that's an experiment for another time. On to the rest of the work, service bits. https://thumbsnap.com/s/24hQUxKt.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/24hQUxKt https://thumbsnap.com/s/Qtx4c7x2.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/Qtx4c7x2 Yup, still the standard intake and filters. https://thumbsnap.com/s/QozfnMzA.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/QozfnMzA The cabin filter was in a sorry state after the Moroccan border forces had removed it and shoved it back (twice). Removing the radiators, oil cooler, shroud and fan gave more room for work (weeping power steering seal). https://thumbsnap.com/s/owTURg8p.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/owTURg8p Only the AC pump clutch/pulley had failed, but given that the system was original I decided to change it all. I'd blown air a number of times through the condenser, but you can see how badly clogged it had become. https://thumbsnap.com/s/T2LrXJKS.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/T2LrXJKS https://thumbsnap.com/s/TPzj5Jhg.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/TPzj5Jhg The Chinese replacement condenser fit was appalling, leaving large gaps where air could escape around the sides, due to the positioning of the mounting brackets. The air drier tube was also much shorter, again, leaving an easy air escape route, rather than bring forced through the fins. Lots of tape and rubber seal needed there then. Getting to the air con pump bolts was a challenge, unusually, as the Corvette has good access for so many other jobs. https://thumbsnap.com/s/XdU1mbUe.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/XdU1mbUe https://thumbsnap.com/s/sThSVXq9.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/sThSVXq9 The radiator is a thick core, no brand, all alloy unit, identical to the one I was using before. https://thumbsnap.com/s/33FY1wp4.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/33FY1wp4 The radiator support takes a hell of a bashing on these cars. There are plenty of copies online for less than $100, I decided to go for an uprated, strengthened one from Crane Corvettes. It's nicely made, but the riv nuts were slightly out of place for the air dam. https://thumbsnap.com/s/3z37c2aL.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/3z37c2aL https://thumbsnap.com/s/W59PVRrw.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/W59PVRrw My little assistant building his Clive jigsaw. https://thumbsnap.com/s/dTAeqQUQ.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/dTAeqQUQ I taped up all the gaps between rads and shroud with alloy duct seal tape. I've not had a rubber hose burst yet, but decided to change them all for black silicone whilst I was in there. https://thumbsnap.com/s/TdNpKUnc.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/TdNpKUnc Finally, rear hubs removed and ARP's fitted there too. https://thumbsnap.com/s/i84Ufs9u.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/i84Ufs9u I drove it in to work today, for an A/C gas and then a wash later. https://thumbsnap.com/s/XMq1JEVH.jpg|https://thumbsnap.com/XMq1JEVH I'll write an update in a few weeks time after the brakes have had a good workout. Cheers, David |
^^ put that kid to work, love it! :thumbs: Get him safety glasses :cool: train'm young.
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Originally Posted by 1bdvet
(Post 1606032827)
Thanks for posting your adventure I will say some nasty muddy roads, you are traveling over, and here people don't even take there car out if it looks like rain, they think it will melt.
Love reading about the trip, enjoy the ride! |
Thanks for the ongoing story of you and Clive......really enjoy your write-ups! Be safe, and continue having fun!!
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Originally Posted by DrKrieger
(Post 1606275604)
Thanks for the ongoing story of you and Clive......really enjoy your write-ups! Be safe, and continue having fun!!
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So, after weeks of work to repair Clive after the Morocco trip, he was ready to go at Silverstone on Saturday, competing in the Pomeroy Trophy. Not a race, although it always feels like it, being on the grid with other race licence holders, whatever they're driving. https://www.vscc.co.uk/page/events?eventID=1818
I messed up the braking test, partly I just braked too late, partly due to them not feeling quite right (into the ABS immediately), despite an attempt at bedding them in on the way to work last week. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/hehe.gif It's quite difficult (ok, impossible) to repeatedly brake from 120 to 90 mph on the Chippenham bypass at commuting time. The new, cheap big brake kit stood up well to the task, plenty of bite, no fade and no cracked discs so far. Still, the afternoon, 40 minute test is what everyone looks forward to. It was cold, but dry, giving my two year old Nankang's half a chance. My overtaking was more cautious than it would be in a race, but I equally had a lot of courtesy shown to me too. Here's the video: It's a long watch, but hopefully entertaining in places. My usual style of over-driving and sliding about, whilst trying to post a half decent lap. A shame I was passed by the BMW on slicks, but he's a good driver and what an awesome car; I'll take 2nd place on the road. Pleased I overtook the GT40 this time, he beat me last year in the damp on the same tyres. Clive had plenty of interest through the day, with a friend in the grandstand overhearing plenty of cheers and mentions of Clive as he went by. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/JvEVA79R.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6kJH5nJV.jpg I didn't get a photo of the infamous suitcase test, part of the competition to prove which is the best 'touring car'. This year they opened the trunk, she laughed and didn't even try to put the pair of cases in, I think we could have got at least 4 in! This photo shows them performing the 'L' measurement, from rear axle to pedals, all part of the handicapping system. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/k2FeYcv1.jpg What a car to be overtaken by! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/izh95yBk.jpg Former Daytona 24 winner Martin Short, drove superbly in the Yaris, finishing 4th on the road, without sticky tyres it should be added. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/qy5Usauj.jpg Ok, it was cold, just a few degrees above freezing for much of the day, but all temperatures were well under control, coolant barely reached 200F, oil peaked at 252F and caliper temps were low too. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fqQVa2ht.jpg Unless I find a kind sponsor, that's me about done for the year competition wise. The tyres have had it now and they're about £1000 a set, still, mustn't grumble, I've had a great last few months in Clive. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/smile.gif #clivethecorvette |
Not much to report over the last six months. Clive The Corvette has mostly just taken me to work and back without drama. The drivers side exhaust primary had to come off again, as it was blowing. It turns out that Morocco's rough roads had twisted and bent the primaries. An old school engineering shop managed to linish the mating surface, so it's flat, together with a new gasket it's all good again.
Today it was on display at a Pistonheads show (a large UK car forum). It was one of only two C6 there. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5fff760fef.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8d1b5161dd.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a69a6ebeae.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...9cfa2de952.jpg My 'Cadillac' Brembo calipers had discoloured with track use, so I repainted them. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...03c7658670.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...974bb5e7b1.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...749dc4f603.jpg |
That's quite the story. Not sure how this flew under my radar, but it was nice to finally have the opportunity to read it. And here I am with a mere 38K miles in my comparatively boring ownership of my Grand Sport. :lol:
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Hi again from England, an update to my C6 diary to bring things up to date. In September I attended the 'US Autoshow', at a race track called Oulton Park, in Cheshire. A nice place to park up, take the family and watch some racing. A change from race organising or competing. From there we left Clive The Corvette and took the VW camper to the Welsh Island of Anglesey and it's scenic race track, we enjoyed a few days there.
https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UoHB327X.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/7AQzC68J.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pUM4s8iU.jpg Austin stood in front of a Clive imposter. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/wink.gif https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UdcBJTMa.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/tPrrWJr6.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/g2bDPJNN.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pw6gUs54.jpg My son with a Clive jigsaw. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rbAXZJ9v.jpg Last November, when I was in Florida (working at Daytona), I bought a set of Borg Delrin eccentric bushes, for the upper, rear wishbones. This was to achieve a little extra negative camber, as the stock adjusters were at maximum (-1.3ish degrees). I finally got around to fitting them, the week before a Corvette Club UK handling day that I help organise. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/D8QAQUZf.jpg To remove the older, centre-holed Delrin bushes just required whipping them off and popping them in the freezer for 20 minutes. After that, a hole was drilled and tapped in the alloy wishbones, new bushes rotated to suit, countersunk, then a grub screw locktited in place. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/yaZA4TMk.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/F4J5hY6z.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ays4rdYf.jpg Standard vs. eccentric bush comparison. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/tnjo6XCo.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/2Ct6PRCs.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/SiitVV2X.jpg This naturally introduced a lot of rear toe in! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gjeXU1NE.jpg Time to break out the alignment kit, first done on my slightly uneven drive, then final tweaks at the flatter floor at work. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/YBPxZgqR.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ZfhqpGfQ.jpg This isn't a finished photo, but gives an idea of roughly -2.7 front and -1.7 rear. If Clive goes back to competing I will dial in more at both ends, but given most of the miles at the moment are on the road this is a compromise. The extra rear camber has tucked the top of the tyre just slightly into the bodywork (with 20mm spacer), just about perfect to my eyes. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/iH5xeA4B.jpg Given that the handling day is about having fun and practicing skills and find limits, it was time to put back on the slightly shabby 'polished' set of wheels, shod with AD08R tyres. The front are now more than 5 years old, with borderline legal tread and a LOT of heat cycles. The rears were newer, at about 3 years old (I get through almost two sets of rears for one set of fronts). https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UZGFEfVT.jpg So, onto the late September handling day. Ten Corvette's was a great showing, given that very few Corvette owners in the UK use their cars on track. There are probably not many more than about 1500 Corvettes in total, of all versions in the UK. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/8RReXkwQ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/hVmxac2a.jpg After my very first 'high-speed bend' I knew it wasn't going to be my day. Once everyone had heard my racing excuse of disappointing levels of understeer (old front tyres mostly), I got on with it anyway. I consider myself pretty good at getting in a new car and getting to grips with it quickly, well, being given the controls to a kind strangers new C8 was daunting and at first I hesitated. An 80/85mph runway followed by a hard left with all safety systems off would give me no warning what the mid-engined marvel would do. Well, I can vouch for astonishing levels of responsiveness and turn in from the C8, when both my turns resulted in fast spins, shrouded in tyre smoke. My normal levels of confidence were somewhat diminished. The owner was still happy for me to have another go, to which I politely said no, but maybe in the afternoon.... https://thumbsnap.com/sc/zMtEJjt3.jpg I returned to my every increasing circles in Clive, front tyres skating across the tarmac, no matter how much trail braking I tried. By late morning we moved on to the MSUK sprint course (similar to your AutoX but without the cones or rules), that's more like it. More waiting time than usual gave time to chat and observe how others were fairing. Plenty of smiles, a few spins too, great fun. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/X1H3qzih.jpg The C8 owner did indeed give me the key for another run on he timed course. We agreed on two runs, the first at a brisk but sensible pace, the second to go for it. In the end the two runs would be almost the same time (1:09.5), just enough to beat the owners best time and that of a new 911 Turbo S, though not enough to beat a local, in his astonishing VW Passat R in the end (1:09.3). The C8 still had more on the table. Now I know how the car would handle I know I could have pushed more in some areas. I may not love the C8's styling (but don't mind it) and I'd still prefer a manual option, but it is just so much more advanced than the C6, so capable and this is a standard car on road tyres too. Brilliant. After that, I spent what time was left giving passenger rides, not worrying about times set. Here is one of my runs, tiptoeing around the sharper bends, having to be patient. New tyres would completely transform the balance. My best and almost only crack at setting a time was a 1:10 dead. That's it for now, Clive passed 227,000 miles on the way home. |
Very enjoyable thread, sir, thanks for taking the time. :thumbs:
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Time for a long overdue update:
I spent an enjoyable ten days in Florida, working for a week at Sebring circuit (looking after some British drivers), then a few days to explore, down to the Everglades, Keys and Miami. Oh and picking up plenty of Corvette spares too. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/wink.gif As soon as I landed in Miami I drove to a Corvette breakers to pick up a stock 3.42 diff, as mine is still grumbling. I'm not sure what to do with it yet and it's heading back to me by ship to the UK. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/EwVxms9E.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/C4P7z5Sp.jpg This gave the rental Camry a lovely smell for the week. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kTNTLA1v.jpg The Callaway C6 was just perfection. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/htBD7zXY.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/52ffn9Vo.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/WLwG42vB.jpg Not a Corvette, but just, well, wibble! That noise! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ZgMftajp.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/qBtu8iNT.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/SziiTwTf.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/4WXpEXYR.jpg I drove more than a thousand miles and saw more Alligators than Corvette C6's (just 5 of them, including this one at Key West). https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HKtwBFGJ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/vcSdK1mC.jpg Stocks of parts were bought from Vorshlag, Rock Auto, O'Reillys and Advance Autos (they've got some really useful little tools). Of these, most are being shipped back, but the tensioners, idler pulley and belts slipped into my suitcase. The oil was for another car, but is cheaper here than in the UK. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/9rGkJ916.jpg That's stopped the squeaking, hoorah. Back on the lighter, Liqui Moly 5W30 for the colder months. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/4uE96zzV.jpg I had a mention in this months UK Corvette club magazine introduction. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/smile.gif https://thumbsnap.com/sc/7TEVvbvf.jpg I've finally cured an issue that's been bugging me for years. I bought a set of NPP back boxes from the US some years ago, but they arrived with the over axle pipes sawn off. Two stubs of pipe were welded on, so I could actually fit them, but the extra join and clamps meant that the tips were constantly going out of alignment, with the cans clanging off the diff or sway bar. For the 2nd time ever, it was time to break out the gasless Mig welder and weld the pipes to the back boxes. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/eek.gif The angles are critical, so, I removed the complete Speed Engineering exhaust, plugs and leads, putting back on the stock headers, cats and mid pipe. I gave everything a thorough de-grease and wire brush. With care I tack welded the back boxes to the mid pipes in situ, one at a time, then welded the circumference of the pipes. Access was very tight, once dressed in thick gloves and my old triple layer race suit. I only blew two small holes in the thin-walled pipe, but filled them ok. The welds aren't pretty, but I'm confident they'll hold. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/JRoPCAJa.jpg At the same time I fitted the slightly thicker Z06 rear anti-roll bar (was Z51). I'm hoping this will bring the balance back to a slight amount of oversteer again. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KtWEaDTB.jpg Nothing to see here really, just the underneath. The cooling fins I'd added to the diff cover have been squashed flat, not surprising given how tight this area is for space. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/NnEus2g4.jpg I was rushing to get the car back together, in time for a post-Christmas drive to meet up with a C6 owning mate from Wales. I suggested meeting at a suspension bridge between England and Wales. We got lucky and had a small window of mostly dry, calm weather, good to catch up and have a C6 convoy for a bit. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/apjn1gDC.jpg Felix was understandably worried about the puddles, as his C6 is equipped with a Vararam intake, that draws in air low down. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/GSFPzszy.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6qwFHEzF.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pfLqwdmZ.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/uHBC4Ksq.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/B9bfyv16.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MwqUouKe.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/MXp3wK7i.jpg I'm pleased to report that there is no knocking from the exhaust and the tips are pretty good now for alignment too. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/smile.gif https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rt764UG8.jpg One of our photos was used for the front cover of this months Corvette Club magazine, plus more within the North Weald article too. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/eaCvxvUv.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/91n4R21a.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fQMpDCUg.jpg https://thumbsnap.com/sc/w395J39k.jpg My father visited, with his newly purchased Porsche Panamera diesel. It's a nice thing to drive, but look at how big it is compared to the Corvette! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bb1sDpGr.jpg The 747 was a little larger again. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rFzHqUPp.jpg Clive now has support from two sponsors, whose products I've used for years. This is a big help, ahead of this years secret road trip. It also means I can cover the costs occasionally of a videographer, to properly capture the next big adventure. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/smile.gif The first event of the year was the Pomeroy Trophy, at Silverstone GP in February. Clive was almost ready to go, I did an oil change (Liqui Moly 5W30 Molygen), fitted new tires (Yokohama AD09), pads (Mintex F2R front, F6R rear) and had the geometry checked and further altered. I used the superb, but now defunct Yokohama AD08R in the first year I competed at Knockhill circuit, in Scotland. I liked the deeper tread compared to most track tires, ideal for driving to and from the event if conditions worsened and with no room for spares. The replacement AD08RS were a backwards step when it came to track grip. I was therefore very pleased that the 200TW AD09 is a return to form, with a stickier rubber and 7mm of tread depth. I will be leaving them on most of the year, for road and track and will report back on wear rates. Oh and I chose 265/35/18 front and 305/30/19 rear, the widest that can sensibly be used on the stock rims. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/J3fRYr9o.jpg I asked the tire shop, Adams & Page, to check the geometry, to see how close their expensive laser set up was to my string kit set up on gravel driveway. I'm pleased to report they confirmed almost identical readings. I asked them to add a little more negative camber, so now have -2 degrees rear and just over -3 degrees on the front. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UKU3Ktxz.jpg Finally, Mintex suggested I try new compounds, for no particular reason other than 'why not'? So I'm trying F2R front pads and F6R rear. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/wciAidnp.jpg I had a week to bed them in on the road and pack the car ready for Silverstone. The Pomeroy Trophy is a handicap event and the entry list showed that I would have the equal highest number of target laps (16) to achieve in the 40 minute 'race'. This year I decided to prioritise fun ahead of a result on track, given that the handicap made it impossible to achieve a decent overall target. I chatted to Martin Short, who was entered once again in his Yaris GR, we agreed that wherever we lined up on the grid I would wait for him and chase him for a couple of laps. This is a bit about him, he had good success in the States when racing professionally: https://www.rollcentre.com/biography The night before the event, I was eating dinner with family when we heard a hell of a bang outside. We couldn't tell what had caused it, so went back to eating. More bangs and as I looked outside I could see fire from my neighbours garden, two doors along. Long story short, a gas explosion and subsequent fire destroyed his house and damaged my next door neighbours old, 1600's house and the house the other side. Only luck that the wind was blowing the right way kept things away from us. More than 20 emergency vehicles were called, including 9 fire engines, even the red cross came from the neighbouring county! The fire started at 18:20, we were ordered to evacuate at 19:00 and it was still raging at gone 21:00. We were allowed back just before midnight, somewhat traumatised. Only two people hurt, but repairs/rebuilding is going to take at least 6 months. Anyway, the car was grubby, so out came the washmitt, final packing and after 3 hours broken sleep (the fire brigade were still working, generators, flood lights etc.) it was up and out to Silverstone! The fire crews kindly added some ramps so I could drive over the hoses at the end of the drive! https://thumbsnap.com/sc/jzqtLcXA.jpg The scrutineering (tech) queue was really long, at least an hour pushing and idling, followed by another 20 minutes waiting for the suitcase test. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Z9dpdc1N.jpg It started to rain and this left the track wet, then greasy through the day, it would never fully dry. I didn't mind knowing that the tyres I would should be good whatever the weather. Besides, the rain is an excuse to slide about the place. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/FxYqzpAf.jpg Morning tests (slalom, 1/4 and flying 1/4, followed by braking) all went ok, I finished in the top 4 overall for all tests. I hit the limiter in both the slalom and braking tests, costing me a few tenths. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/4dnJYTr1.jpg During the wait for the main event in the afternoon, I was blessed by a good stream of visitors to the garage. Being a handicapped event, you are at the Handicappers mercy to see if they change the number of target laps you need to achieve, mid-event. Perhaps based on my showing in the morning and despite the now wet conditions, they decided to up my target laps to 17, which is impossible to achieve. To make matters harder I would also start the rolling start from 3rd from last. Amusingly Martin Short would be almost as far back, in the opposite column. Two green flag laps showed us that the track was indeed still moist. The two classic cars in front of Martin couldn't maintain the pace set by the safety car, with the trio dropping back considerably at the start. Given our agreement, I waited for at least 20 seconds, before Martin flew past me at Maggots. As you might expect from such an experienced champion in a 4wd pocket rocket, he was mighty through traffic, making overtakes I couldn't or wouldn't risk. It took me a further 7 laps to catch him! On the way I had an enjoyable pair of laps beyond that glorious green, unsilenced GT40. That's now 2-1 to me against this car in previous Pom's. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/5ES9B1VZ.jpg Conditions were still damp, but dry enough that the AD09's were really coming in their own, whilst Martin's Yaris' worn Michelins were fading. We played for a couple of laps, then I was off to see if I could get to the front. I'd guessed I was probably up to 2nd place by then. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/AT6dS2Zr.jpg I had no way of knowing how far ahead the lead car was, but some some quick laps and could finally see a dot at the end of Hanger straight. With the amount of time left of the 40 minutes it would be close. The lead car was an ex ETCC BMW CSL, beautifully prepared and driven, but shod with full racing wets. These were probably a good choice at the start, but with the track drying they were overheating. I made a few mistakes, but could reel him in on the corners, but wow it was quick in a straight line. Finally, as the video showed, he was slowed by a lapped car and I almost got him on the line, just 0.2 seconds back. We both set our fastest times on the last lap. https://thumbsnap.com/sc/THZLPwS7.jpg This isn't a race, but it felt like it. I love driving the Corvette, it's so rewarding. I was shattered on the drive home, but happy. Clive drove perfectly and had passed 228,000 miles. I have three videos to share, the first is a slick 1 minute Instagram type video, the first that my videographer has put together. Part 1 is having fun with the GT40. Part 2 is the chase and catch of Martin Short, then the leader at the finish I had some nice mentions in the motorsport press. Autosport: https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Y9W7nZgT.jpg Motorsport News https://thumbsnap.com/sc/AA2sjY5a.jpg |
Fantastic! Bravo!👏
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I think you're making a lot of C6's owners proud.....:yesnod:
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Goodwood have picked up on my video and added some kind words. :cool:
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/hi...S_jF827wRBSTZf |
great continous adventure sir now put a little more power to it and go smash some ferraris and lambos lol
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Awesome story! Keep us posted on what Clive is up to! :cheers:
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Originally Posted by Omega Doom
(Post 1607734103)
great continous adventure sir now put a little more power to it and go smash some ferraris and lambos lol
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Originally Posted by Poppa Bud
(Post 1607741555)
Awesome story! Keep us posted on what Clive is up to! :cheers:
I've been working hard for the last 6 months, planning the next Clive The Corvette trip. This one is the longest yet and I'm going big, paying for a videographer (Marc) and social media (Joe) guy to cover half of the trip, with Felix alongside me for the whole duration. The trip takes place at the end of June, anyone want to guess where I'm heading in the world? As part of the reveal I'll post a video this week, looking back on the last 6+ years of ownership highlights. https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...829?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...952?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...846?resize=720 A local, English Corvette meet: https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...059?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...036?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...932?resize=720 I've been busy with maintenance including a service with Liqui Moly 5w30 Molygen, which is weird stuff, being bright green. https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...286?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...066?resize=720 I've read of the eccentrics slipping when on sticky tyres on track, but had yet to experience it. It looks like Silverstone made two of them slip. Fortunately I'd marked them, so should be able to return them without needing a geo set up. https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...953?resize=720 For the last few months I've been having a rattle from the front right, noticeable at slow speeds on broken tarmac only. I'd assumed it was arb drop links, but I've found a circlip has bored its way into an alloy washer, that was part of the Borg upper wishbone delrin kit. I'm waiting on a reply from Borg, as I believe this is quite unusual. https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...164?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...523?resize=720 In case of a breakdown, I've fitted one of Vorshlag's front rigid towing points. https://vorshlag-store.com/collections/c5-c6-body-... To date I've made do with a nylon towing strap, bolted to the front crash bar. However, as I found when being pulled out the Sahara sand at an angle, it can cut the bodywork. It may cause me an issue at UK competition events as they don't like hard towing points protruding beyond the body. https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...015?resize=720 During previous effort to control oil and water temps.on track, by angling my Improved Racing oil cooler, I had cut up my radiator shroud and it was looking a mess. These have been unavailable for months, but I tracked down a new one, it looks much better (photo to follow later). The Speed Engineering headers and X pipe sound glorious, but the lack of cats was becoming a concern for me, especially with an MOT (UK tech inspection) coming up. I'd bought a set of LS7 shorty headers, cats and H pipe from a seller in NC and had two 3" to 2.5" reducers made up to join the NPP back boxes. The end result is heavier, quieter (boo), but legal and is tidier in appearance. If anyone has a set of C6 Z06 bi-mode back boxes for sale in the UK please let me know. My mate Felix came over for the day to help, his C6 convertible is in shot. https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/smile.gif https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...206?resize=720 https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...149?resize=720 Other than that, I once again had the pleasure of driving a friends Lexus RCF at Castle Combe circuit recently. https://forums-images.pistonheads.co...576?resize=720 So, any guesses where in the world 'Clive' is heading to this summer? https://www.pistonheads.com/inc/images/ears.gif |
The destination for the next adventure is revealed in this highlights video. It's an attempt to cram more than 6 years of ownership into a 12 minute video, hope you enjoy it:
As you can tell, I'm not a natural when it comes to recording a voiceover and yet chat to me in the street and I can rabbit for hours without hesitation! Not sure if I'm allowed, but I'd be very grateful if you could follow my YouTube channel. Thanks, Dave |
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