I bought my 2001 z06 about 3 months ago, I am planning on going to the z06 fest in July and attend the track day at Nashville Super speedway. I would be my first time on a track, I was one of those sorts who always worried about breaking something, so I never tried.
I heard the local corvette club (Albuquerque, NM) was having a track day, and thought I'd go out at try it before going to the z06 fest. There were about 12 cars that showed up, we each paid $80 each and had the track (Sandia motor speedway) all to ourselves from 8 am to 5 pm. The track is a combination road course and oval, it uses the straight aways of the 1 mile oval track. Speeds varied from 5 mph corners to 115 mph straight away.
Since it was my first time I was in the slowest of the three groups (4 cars each). After a 1/2 orientation class, I was given a tour of the track (in a van) by the track instructorand explained where to enter each turn (rumble strips and blue dots on the course).
Each group ran five laps plus a warm down (brake cooling) lap. There were 3 zo6's (the other two were the fastest cars in the fastest group), I ran my z06 in the slowest group with a cooper s, a miata, and a 77 vette (with some c5 suspension components). I got a lesson in humiliation during my first set of laps as I was passed by the mini cooper (a female school teacher no less). I got tired driving the first set of laps, fighting the car around the course, and ended up getting in trouple in the few of the turns, nearly going off track. Then there was the cement wall on the final straight away, complete with many colors of paid smeared on it.
One of the z06 guys took pity (met him before the race and helped him bolt on his racing slicks) on me and drove with me on the second set of 5 laps and told me how to take the turns, my speed increased (no one passed me this time) and I was fighting the car less, using the more of the track etc. My new friend then asked if I wanted to ride with him, I ageed. Luckily I had skipped breakfast that morning.
He was fast, and I nearly puked. It was like the highest g roller coaster ride I had ever been on (5 laps in a row).
It was time for lunch, I didn't eat because I was still dizzy.
Any way, to make a long story short, because of the help and instruction of a fellow z06 er I ended up passing the mini coopers, and closing in on a few others (the definitly noticed my improvement) the rest of the day.
Eventually my dizzieness went away, and I developed a new found appreciation of what kind of machine we own, its truly awsome car (Nothing over heated, nothing leaked, nothing broke). Event tire wear on the stock super comps wasn't an issue.
I now find my self driving around town and actually catch my self focusing on the apex of turns, having a few flashbacks to those laps on the track. Can't wait for nashville now, I not scared any more.
Now you know just how valuable these driving schools are...and just how much difference a good driver makes - no matter what car you're in. Be careful though, this stuff is addicting!!!!!
__________________
Chris W. Ingle, Instructor: Chin/TracQuest, Car Guys...
2006, 05, and 03 Southeast Division T1 National Champ
2001 White Z06 SCCA T1 Racer #7
I did have another question. Folks at the driving event kept talking about how bad it was to have your brake fluid boil over. Why is this so bad, besides having to change out the fluid, does it damage brake components also?
I got a lesson in humiliation during my first set of laps as I was passed by [a] mini cooper (a female school teacher no less). I got tired driving the first set of laps, fighting the car around the course, and ended up getting in trouple in the few of the turns, nearly going off track.
One of the z06 guys ... drove with me on the second set of 5 laps and told me how to take the turns, my speed increased (no one passed me this time) and I was fighting the car less, using the more of the track etc.
My new friend then asked if I wanted to ride with him, I ageed. Because of the help and instruction of a fellow z06 er I ended up passing the mini coopers, and closing in on a few others (the definitly noticed my improvement) the rest of the day.
I developed a new found appreciation of what kind of machine we own, its truly awsome car (Nothing over heated, nothing leaked, nothing broke). Event tire wear on the stock super comps wasn't an issue.
I now find my self driving around town and actually catch my self focusing on the apex of turns, having a few flashbacks to those laps on the track. Can't wait for nashville now, I not scared any more.
Jon
Jon ... Congratulations ...! Now that you've had the "Z06 epiphany" it just gets better ... and more expensive!
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^VIR Turn 3 '08^-MungoZ06-'03 QS/ModRed - NCCC, NASA NCM Member - Z06 Fest IV,V,VI,VII
I did have another question. Folks at the driving event kept talking about how bad it was to have your brake fluid boil over. Why is this so bad, besides having to change out the fluid, does it damage brake components also?
thanks in advance.
When the fluid boils...it produces bubbles. Your brakes will fade and your braking power will go away. Not Fun at All!!
When they say "you'll definitely have a bad day" (if your brake fluid boils over) are they refering to the fact that you'll probably wreck due to the lack of braking, or are they saying that because you'll have to flush, fill and re-bleed your brakes? Or both?
Could be both. Fluid doesn't compress much...but air does. That's why when you get an air bubble in the line, the brake pedal feels 'squishy' and not firm. The more air you get in the lines, the 'squishier' it feels and the further the pedal has to travel for the car to actually stop.
Boiling fluid is much, much harder than you'd think though even during normal driving events. For most folks, as long as you don't sit with your foot on the brake after a session, you'll be fine. Use the cool down lap for just that - cooling everything down and you shouldn't have any problems. I change my fluid about every 2 or 3 races, but for just DE stuff, once or twice a year is more than plenty. Drive hard!
That is some car you you built (web link). The fastest guy out at our track , the day I went out (rumored also to be fastest guy in town around that track), was a 2001 z06 without any engine mods (not even intake or exhaust), just the T1 suspension kit and Khumo's (sp?) on stock looking 18" wheels front and rear. I guess at this level it really pretty much depends on driver talent.
Thanks, but I'm not that talented. The good folks at Phoenix Performance (forum vendor with link to the left) prepped my car for me. But, I have somehow managed to keep it running (more or less) for the past two and a half years with some help from my friends (many from this forum) and a very talented brother-in-law.
You are right about driving talent, which is largely a result of experience. The stock Z06 right out of the box can handle 99% of the cars you will see at a DE once you get the experience to get the most out of the car. It has a very nice balance of power, handling and braking and is fairly easy to drive quickly.
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