Great pics and glad your daughter shared in part of the experience. Your C5 is the poster child, bi-polar opposite of the typical wash and wax, garage queen, Corvette show only, ownership experience that unfortunately, is way too common these days. At least in my neck of the woods.

 

It'd be great to have a road course around here, there's talks of it but nothing has happened yet.

 

We have four or more in relative driving range here. Lime Rock, Thompson, Watkins Glen, then the club tracks of Palmer and Monticello.

Our only nearby drag strip now is Lebanon Valley and while drivable in distance it's not so much when you've got a car set on kill but no trailer. Connecticut really could benefit from having one in-state but the state itself likely would never support opening a new one. The old one became part of the test track for Consumer Reports I believe. So now the public complains when drivers take to the streets or highways after hours. Lip service only is given to closing that down, so basically it is detente such that it seems.... So long as there are no deaths or major criminal activities (shootings) the locals basically turn a blind eye or occasionally run off large groups. And therein is the issue with the modern day local racers having throngs of followers, media influencers and cameras drawing attention and recording/posting admissible evidence. Now it is like the darned TV shows and a social event instead of two dudes gking out to a dark road and dueling. There is such a different social vibe about it now. I'd be tempted for sure to go dust some cars off when either C5 on my ends got running, but not at all with the current trend of a hundred cameras posting your plate online as evidence. And the local troopers and officers DO see those videos and track them. It's playing with fire and not at all worth the risk of losing your car or license.

Spectating or placing wagers, however.....

 

I dont have a daughter, but my wife did come with me and she is my biggest supporter!

Its always been my normal to go against the normal, lol. Im glad others get entertainment out of it as well!

I have been in a couple Corvette Clubs and finally gave up on NCCC. Its just old guys arguing about who has the better show room stock C7 or C8 or whatever new shiny thing they buy.

 

I took my 2003 Anniversary Edition to its first cruise-in.

 

If I can get this new build to run longer than 10min I plan to be at both Watkins Glen and Lime Rock this year!

 

We have 2 road courses in Michigan, Waterford Hills and GingerMan Raceway, both are a few hours drive away. We do have US131 Motorsports Park which is somewhat close. I follow Steve Morris Racing Engines as he a local guy, cool catching him out there testing. Sometimes I can catch Tom Baily out there also, those dudes are hardcore I'll tell ya!

 

If you can get to the Glen that's absolutely where the Corvette will shine with the high speed sections. Lime Rock is 50 some odd seconds of twist and only two semi straights along with the hill in the back where two thirds of the solo crashes occur.

 

I was just at Gingerman this past weekend! Dont forget Grattan as well. Waterford is like a go kart track, Im too impatient for it, lol.

I drove Watkins once in 2023 and it instantly became my favorite track! Im looking forward to going back with aero and power this time! I have hear LRP is more fun than the simple layout lends people to believe.

 

My novice eye calls it technical. A quick little slingshot.

Palmer seems an excellent cross of the two and more elevation changes. I would like to someday drive that track as an intermediate.

 

Sorry, I got your post mixed in with Tusc's comment.

 

I agree 100% about Waterford, a small light car will run circles around a C5 there. My nephew runs an MR2 for a track car, he does real good there, though he likes GingerMan a lot more. I forget about Grattan, nephew loves that place as well. He is an aircraft mechanic at Detroit Metro, his car shows the attention to detail he possesses.

 

At best I will go to a Cars and Coffee or a cruise in at a brewery (mainly because it offers good parking amongst people that won't give you door dings).

I recently got a flyer inside my car to attend a "car show" where you actually pay to enter it . I'm HALF tempted to do it and see what happens depending on the "competition". I'd laugh my *** off if I won something having a basically stock C7 GS sitting there further proving "a bunch of dudes arguing over what shiny toy they bought".

 

Good post!

Here in western NY, in the Rochester area, we went through a situation similar to what you describe, about 60 years ago. Three well funded investors, who were racing enthusiasts, on top of it, were looking to build a legitimate, safe, 1/4 mile drag strip. The entrepreneurs held a number of public meetings, to try and drum up support. People initially supported it, until it came time to find a location, followed by building permits being granted. That good old sentiment, NIMBY (not in my back yard) kicked in, and all of a sudden, the good idea that would get the street racers off the street became a "no freaking way".

LONG story short, yes, the track was eventually constructed, but as you might guess, it's located in the "middle of nowhere", about 45 miles south east of Buffalo, and about 45 miles south west of Rochester. The track has BARELY turned a profit since it's opening, around 1970, and has gone through several foreclosures, consequently several owners. I recently heard that the IHRA has purchased the track, so we'll see what happens.......

 

A different part of the sport, but over by Erie along the Pennsylvania border is Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY. It's a small dirt oval and my great uncle Marve Thorpe having struck two oil wells in his back yard after the war was one of the founders. They did not have the same issues over there in 55 or so. The whole town seemed to throw in free labor and effort to get it done together.

Today outdoor rifle ranges and tracks, even those which have been generational institutions in their locales, are all under the attack of revisionists, developers, apologists and no-gooders who have to mess with their neighbors or they can't be happy.

 

Yup, the good things ruined by ******** that just see $$$ and can't leave well enough alone. We have it here to the extreme, elected "management" getting paid under the table to approve developments in an already overpopulated place compared to the existing infrastructure. Corrupt **** people.

Here is the first day of the mess from the Tropical Cyclone that's east of Houston at the moment. Showing a path to Louisiana but we are catching the east side of it. Monsoon today and more coming over the next few days. Water everywhere..

 

Got my early Father's Day present today....will post pics when I get them installed

 

I'll be checking into the insane asylum shortly!!!!!!!!!!!

I have officially gone loony.

AND I CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

Super fancy Xpipe.. you do some uppers and are more aware now?

 

Whoah! You nabbed the Borla crossfire?

I am absolutely legitimately curious about this. Before and after audio of that alone (if possible) would be dynamic and amazing.

I found myself wondering about the same recently. Rob almost grabbed one over the winter for his but passed. For the Z06 with the turbos.... Eh.... I just feel like anything down stream from the turbos isn't going to have the same effect on sound and pulse since they're being chopped hundreds of thousands of times at full tilt. But I'm curious! I am also concerned whether the crossfire presents a bottleneck at wot for a blown 408.

There are guys making 3D printed variants of these now as well.