Vette/Viper
 

So my buddy just bought a Viper, ... and has already challenged me to a race when it arrives next week...
So my question to experienced Z06 guys is this:

We are going to a closed private event in a few months, to hash out the winner...

My Car has CAI and Corsa Exhaust, How do I compare to his 600HP beast!

Do I have a fighting chance!

I know the Z06 is lighter and revs higher and is somewhat comparable...

40MPH-130MPH comparison... :willy: if we both leave at 40 what's my chances? Should I stay in 1st, or start in 2nd.... shift at 6000rpm? 7000RPM....etc.

I Don't care if he beats me... just want to give myself and my z06 the best chance we can!

Anyway any advice will be appreciated....:cheers:

If you guys are close in driver ability, I would say he is going to win. He's only about 200lbs heavier (curbweight) than you, but has about 100HP advantage. How close, it's too hard to tell without knowing how well each of you can drive. I would shift close to redline , but that's just me.

I think it's good to race cars you know are, or may be faster , IMO it makes you a better driver. I always laugh at guys in our cars that beat up on ricers , or slower Audi's and BMW's .. try racing a Viper or GTR, or Porsche Turbo... our cars are very fast, but there are plenty of faster cars around.

With re to your CAI and exhaust, depending on which CAI, you are going to pick up minimal gains without tuning , you'd be lucky to pick up 10-12 HP without tuning.

Good luck and stay safe

You have a fighting chance. Especially if you are the better driver. On paper his car should be faster. But your car has better gearing. I believe the Viper has 3.07 gears compared to your 3.42s. Get plenty of seat time in I've seen plenty of good drivers beat faster cars with their superior driving ability. Good Luck:thumbs:

:iagree: I would say fighting chance is a good way to put it, I was going to put that in my post too. And they are going from a roll, so no worries about trying to figure out launch etc.. If OP is clearly the better driver and gets some practice he may take him. Should be a good race. If they are equal drivers, my bet still goes with the Viper.

:iagree: All else being equal the Viper should win by just a bit. However, with 0-60 and 1/4 mile times being only about .2 different, it's close enough to be called a driver's race. It's one I'd love to watch. Just a slight zing of the tires or balky gear change could turn the tables either way.

If you are on the stock run flats, you should consider upgrading to a decent tire.

The standing start of the 1/4 will be slow with the stock tire. Hell, you may even spin when you punch it at 40mph, depending on the surface you race on.

A good tire is the easiest way to maximize performance. Racing the Viper aside, you should be happy with that purchase.

:iagree:

FrankTank is right on. I have to go with the Viper also if you both have equal driving ability or if he is the better driver.

Make sure you video it please :)

I rode in an second Gen viper at a trackday about a month ago. I was appalled at what a hunking piece of sh*t it was.

Going back to my viper days, if his car has stock gearing, you have a fighting chance. If not, get the anal lube ready.

Thanks for al the Advice... Sounds like the majority so far instead of giving me rpm, or shifting advice just feel I feel I will loose...

Guess I will Hammer the **** out of it and shift at 6800RPM and hope for the best...

Shift as close as you can to redline without hitting the rev limiter.

FYI red line is 7100

I took my neighbors out for a spin before I bought my Z06.........realized I really disliked the car within a block.......loved the looks of the Viper though.....didn't like the sound mostly...

I loved my Viper but it is a bare bones vehicle with the driver mod seriously required while doing any type of competition with it. Corvettes typically have more nanny systems built in and are a bit more liveable daily.

6800 rpm shifts won't get it done if it's as close as folks here think.

Suggest to him that you start from 60 mph. Then use 2nd for the start. A start at 40 mph could cause both of you to break traction.

get heads and cam in your z06 done and he is then toast!

This is true.

I would say go get a tune, it will really really help, and get a drag radial. You will need a drag radial without a doubt. You will only spin and spin on the stock goodyear run flat. If you have a tune a drag radial, and go out and practice on your launches you WILL win. The launch is a big deal, you need to go out and practice, but oh well it will be fun. If you guys get the race done post a video somewhere and let us know what happens. Dont race him on the run flat, you will lose for sure.