C7GS manual track prep
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 3,940
From: Cincinnati, OH
C7GS manual track prep
Long story short, I am thinking to get my manual C7GS out for a HPDE event in August at Mid Ohio for my father in law to drive. There is a loose plan to give him "one last go" racing a car and since his '67 is too twitchy and cable driven clutch is too hard for him to drive (5.25" race clutch). He is able to drive my C7 stock clutch around backroads and he had a blast having not driven his own in years due to health issues.
My father in law and brother in law have been avid road racers at Mid Ohio for the past 20 years or so. I have never been on a track (only autocross for the last 5 years or so) mostly due to expense vs an autocross, but if this is really the "last chance" for my father in law to race, I'd like to see if we can give that to him.
Car is C6 GS manual
15k mi stock clutch/brakes/stock alignment
headers/tune/e85 makes 430/430
Apex 18x11 315 front and 18x12.5 335 rear Bridgestone RE71RZ tires bought new for this season and will have maybe 4-5 autocross events on them by the time this event happens.
My initial thought is obviously bleeding clutch (as much as I can) and brakes to replace with better fluid, replace trans and diff fluids and toss a set of pads in it.
I bought the car with some PowerStop Z26 pads since the original owner didn't like the brake dust from OEM pads. Open to recommendations on some pads to use.
Anything else worth lookin into?
My father in law and brother in law have been avid road racers at Mid Ohio for the past 20 years or so. I have never been on a track (only autocross for the last 5 years or so) mostly due to expense vs an autocross, but if this is really the "last chance" for my father in law to race, I'd like to see if we can give that to him.
Car is C6 GS manual
15k mi stock clutch/brakes/stock alignment
headers/tune/e85 makes 430/430
Apex 18x11 315 front and 18x12.5 335 rear Bridgestone RE71RZ tires bought new for this season and will have maybe 4-5 autocross events on them by the time this event happens.
My initial thought is obviously bleeding clutch (as much as I can) and brakes to replace with better fluid, replace trans and diff fluids and toss a set of pads in it.
I bought the car with some PowerStop Z26 pads since the original owner didn't like the brake dust from OEM pads. Open to recommendations on some pads to use.
Anything else worth lookin into?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 146
From: Kerrville, TX
Long story short, I am thinking to get my manual C7GS out for a HPDE event in August at Mid Ohio for my father in law to drive. There is a loose plan to give him "one last go" racing a car and since his '67 is too twitchy and cable driven clutch is too hard for him to drive (5.25" race clutch). He is able to drive my C7 stock clutch around backroads and he had a blast having not driven his own in years due to health issues.
My father in law and brother in law have been avid road racers at Mid Ohio for the past 20 years or so. I have never been on a track (only autocross for the last 5 years or so) mostly due to expense vs an autocross, but if this is really the "last chance" for my father in law to race, I'd like to see if we can give that to him.
Car is C6 GS manual
15k mi stock clutch/brakes/stock alignment
headers/tune/e85 makes 430/430
Apex 18x11 315 front and 18x12.5 335 rear Bridgestone RE71RZ tires bought new for this season and will have maybe 4-5 autocross events on them by the time this event happens.
My initial thought is obviously bleeding clutch (as much as I can) and brakes to replace with better fluid, replace trans and diff fluids and toss a set of pads in it.
I bought the car with some PowerStop Z26 pads since the original owner didn't like the brake dust from OEM pads. Open to recommendations on some pads to use.
Anything else worth lookin into?
My father in law and brother in law have been avid road racers at Mid Ohio for the past 20 years or so. I have never been on a track (only autocross for the last 5 years or so) mostly due to expense vs an autocross, but if this is really the "last chance" for my father in law to race, I'd like to see if we can give that to him.
Car is C6 GS manual
15k mi stock clutch/brakes/stock alignment
headers/tune/e85 makes 430/430
Apex 18x11 315 front and 18x12.5 335 rear Bridgestone RE71RZ tires bought new for this season and will have maybe 4-5 autocross events on them by the time this event happens.
My initial thought is obviously bleeding clutch (as much as I can) and brakes to replace with better fluid, replace trans and diff fluids and toss a set of pads in it.
I bought the car with some PowerStop Z26 pads since the original owner didn't like the brake dust from OEM pads. Open to recommendations on some pads to use.
Anything else worth lookin into?
In the past I warped the stock rotors at COTA with a Gen V Viper on Carbotech pads. I've also used stock rotors with Hawk pads on my 2019 ZL1 without any issues. On my current C6 Z06 I had blanks from Ken @ KNS Brakes and the Hawk-DTC60 on all 4 corners and that worked well, no issues.
May also look at changing to a different oil or whatever GM recommends for a C7 on the track. I use 15w-50 for the track in Texas to be able to deal with more heat.
Last edited by 02KillerZ; Yesterday at 12:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 3,940
From: Cincinnati, OH
I'd get Castrol SRF for the brake fluid. I've used Hawk DTC-60 pads with good results and no brake fade. Will you be using the stock iron rotors? Blank aftermarket rotors may be a better option especially it you are doing 2 days in a row.
In the past I warped the stock rotors at COTA with a Gen V Viper on Carbotech pads. I've also used stock rotors with Hawk pads on my 2019 ZL1 without any issues. On my current C6 Z06 I had blanks from Ken @ KNS Brakes and the Hawk-DTC60 on all 4 corners and that worked well, no issues.
May also look at changing to a different oil or whatever GM recommends for a C7 on the track. I use 15w-50 for the track in Texas to be able to deal with more heat.
In the past I warped the stock rotors at COTA with a Gen V Viper on Carbotech pads. I've also used stock rotors with Hawk pads on my 2019 ZL1 without any issues. On my current C6 Z06 I had blanks from Ken @ KNS Brakes and the Hawk-DTC60 on all 4 corners and that worked well, no issues.
May also look at changing to a different oil or whatever GM recommends for a C7 on the track. I use 15w-50 for the track in Texas to be able to deal with more heat.
Regardless, I just want to make sure the car is safe FIRST and reliable, he won't be setting any blistering times.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 146
From: Kerrville, TX
I forgot about the alignment! I've driven to and from the track with a more aggressive alignment on my C6 Z06 and Nankang CR-S V2 tires with no issues.
It looks like GM recommends 15w-50 oil for track usage.
- 15w-50 Engine oil
- SRF Brake fluid
- Race pads (rotors optional but the factory rotors will be a weak point)
- Track alignment
By the way, if you haven't used Ai for questions like these, it actually works really well!
Attachment - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion - 2019-chevrolet-corvette-track-preparation-guide PDF https://share.google/6cqpAiklYxxuD5XAG
It looks like GM recommends 15w-50 oil for track usage.
- 15w-50 Engine oil
- SRF Brake fluid
- Race pads (rotors optional but the factory rotors will be a weak point)
- Track alignment
By the way, if you haven't used Ai for questions like these, it actually works really well!
Attachment - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion - 2019-chevrolet-corvette-track-preparation-guide PDF https://share.google/6cqpAiklYxxuD5XAG
Last edited by 02KillerZ; Yesterday at 02:18 PM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 737
Likes: 281
From your description of what his drive will be like, I would leave street alignment on the car, he won’t be putting terrible wear on the tires. Definitely change to DOT4 brake fluid in both brake and clutch master cylinders. BTW you can leave that fluid in, perfectly fine for street. Originally C7s came with the track recommendation of changing oil to 15W50 for track use and back to 0W30 (or 5W30) for street. They got that from attending the HPDEs I created while at the NCM. Chief Engineer made all of his people come to the track and better understand what they were building and how to improve it. When 0W40 came out they approved it for street and track and I have run that for both in my 06Z…..which now has 188k. From your description it doesn’t sound like the car will be run that hard and will be in beginner/medium groups…BMW event at MO? Have fun, hope your father in law has a great time.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I would definitely go SRF brake fluid and for pads I would suggest Carbotech XP10 front XP8 rear. This pad set up works great on your car.
When Carbotech™ unleashed the XP10™ to the general public it immediately gathered multiple regional, divisional, and national championships. The XP10™ has a very strong initial bite with a coefficient of friction and rotor friendliness unmatched in the industry. Fade resistance is in excess of 1475°F (801°C). XP10™ still maintains the highly praised release, excellent modulation and rotor friendliness that have made all Carbotech™ compounds so successful. NOT FOR STREET USE!
A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range of 200°F-1250°F+ (93°C to 676°C+). Carbotech™ XP8™ is the first of our racing compounds. It provides good initial bite at race temperatures, high coefficient of friction, excellent modulation and release characteristics. XP8™ offers extremely high fade resistance and is very rotor friendly. It’s perfect for track day use with any tire. NOT FOR STREET USE!
When Carbotech™ unleashed the XP10™ to the general public it immediately gathered multiple regional, divisional, and national championships. The XP10™ has a very strong initial bite with a coefficient of friction and rotor friendliness unmatched in the industry. Fade resistance is in excess of 1475°F (801°C). XP10™ still maintains the highly praised release, excellent modulation and rotor friendliness that have made all Carbotech™ compounds so successful. NOT FOR STREET USE!
A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range of 200°F-1250°F+ (93°C to 676°C+). Carbotech™ XP8™ is the first of our racing compounds. It provides good initial bite at race temperatures, high coefficient of friction, excellent modulation and release characteristics. XP8™ offers extremely high fade resistance and is very rotor friendly. It’s perfect for track day use with any tire. NOT FOR STREET USE!
