Sport Auto Super Test of ZR1

[G35COUPE]

Oh, i went to my secret track last weekend, with my little beast (G-35 Coupe). I flogged a Ford Mustang GT very soundly on my secret track.

[cmcpokey]

Originally Posted by G35COUPE

Oh, i went to my secret track last weekend, with my little beast (G-35 Coupe). I flogged a Ford Mustang GT very soundly on my secret track.

1. What does this have to do with anything.
2. I want to see what this "secret track" thing is.
3. I still don't believe you have a G35 (no hyphen)

[LotusLocost]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

1. What does this have to do with anything.
2. I want to see what this "secret track" thing is.
3. I still don't believe you have a G35 (no hyphen)

It's all imaginary.
Didn't you have a little "Hobbes" in your childhood?

[LeonOfTheDead]

The role cage in the picture of the CTS-V looks one of those usually used while testing those cars on the RIng, and they are meant to protect the driver while not adding anything to the car if not weight, exactly because they are testing and developing the car, and they need accurate data on the actual product, not a tuned car.

That doesn't mean everything else is ok though.

[wwgkd]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

What model and year is your Jeep anyways?

'94 wrangler. Getting to be old, but soon it will be a classic, so it's all good.

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

The role cage in the picture of the CTS-V looks one of those usually used while testing those cars on the RIng, and they are meant to protect the driver while not adding anything to the car if not weight, exactly because they are testing and developing the car, and they need accurate data on the actual product, not a tuned car.

That doesn't mean everything else is ok though.

I'd have to agree with the first part of that. I also don't see the critticism of the suspension. Given where the picture was taken I'd be surprised if the suspension wasn't pretty squat, doesn't mean it's modified. And if sparco seats took serious time off your laps instead of just giving you a little more support on long track sessions then those pills sold on the internet really will make you a foot longer and hottie123 really is a lonely explaymate just wanting money to come visit you.

I think what most of the ringer claims come down to is that many people don't understand the difference between a factory supported effort with the track reserved for weeks at a time with expert drivers who are very familiar with the car and some guy who works for a magazine that decides to take a lap or two in a new car. It doesn't surprise me at all that people have trouble matching the factory times, especially on a track as long and complex as the 'ring.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by wwgkd

I think what most of the ringer claims come down to is that many people don't understand the difference between a factory supported effort with the track reserved for weeks at a time with expert drivers who are very familiar with the car and some guy who works for a magazine that decides to take a lap or two in a new car. It doesn't surprise me at all that people have trouble matching the factory times, especially on a track as long and complex as the 'ring.

Horst Von Saurma is not only a well known journalist, but also a damn good driver. He took the Porsche Carrera GT a the 7:.30 mark for the first time, and lapped the Ring in I think 7:08 in a Donkevoort D8 a few years ago.
iirc he also regularly takes part in the races on the Ring, like the 24 hours.

[wwgkd]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

Horst Von Saurma is not only a well known journalist, but also a damn good driver. He took the Porsche Carrera GT a the 7:.30 mark for the first time, and lapped the Ring in I think 7:08 in a Donkevoort D8 a few years ago.
iirc he also regularly takes part in the races on the Ring, like the 24 hours.

True, I guess I should have been clearer on what I meant. There are some excellent drivers who are familiar with the track working for magazines, but they don't have the time and support that the factory efforts do, nor are they as familiar with the cars. Von Saurma hasn't spent the last couple of years driving a ZR1 or GT-R for a living, and that makes pretty big a difference in your comfort level and driving ability in any given car.

[Badsight]

isnt the ZR1 stil a live rear axel ?

the Nord not being a perfect surface is why the Nord is a good indicator of real world user freindlyness

[Badsight]

Originally Posted by henk4

And I think the GTR has proven that power to weight ratio is not the only thing that matters to achieve credible lap times.

i thought the head GTR engineer came out as saying the 7.27 was done on cut slicks ?!?!

ive read porsche engineers claim that for the weight of the GTR , it must have around 550 Hp to be doing a 7.27

of course , having very sorted confidence inspiring handeling can make up for a lot

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Badsight

isnt the ZR1 stil a live rear axel ?

No.

(5c)

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

No.

(5c)

Semi-elliptical transverse leaf springs I think.

[kingofthering]

Originally Posted by Badsight

i thought the head GTR engineer came out as saying the 7.27 was done on cut slicks ?!?!

No, that was a mistranslation/misunderstanding.

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by kingofthering

No, that was a mistranslation/misunderstanding.

yeah iirc you can't even get slicks or even semi slicks in wheels of that spec yet.

[culver]

Originally Posted by Badsight

isnt the ZR1 stil a live rear axel ?

the Nord not being a perfect surface is why the Nord is a good indicator of real world user freindlyness

To add to what others have said, no, it hasn't had a rigid axle since the C2 came out in 1963. The misconception comes about because the Corvette does use leaf springs (front and rear). People hear "leaf springs" and automatically assume Hotchkiss drive, rigid axle supported by leaf springs. The Corvette has a long-short double A arm setup (the C2-C3 used a trailing and lateral link setup, the C4 used multi-link). However, GM uses a very cleaver leaf spring setup. The mounting of the leaf spring as used by GM was used at least by Fiat prior to use on the Corvette. However, the fiberglass spring on the Corvette is arguably the most advanced non-active spring used on any road car. It is far more advanced than a steal coil spring. It also cost more so few cars use it.

Still, sadly for GM PR guys everywhere, every one here's leaf spring and their imaginations do the rest.

For reference, the last American car (not truck) to use a leaf spring live axle setup was some Chrysler car that died in the 1980s and was initially released in the 1970s.

[culver]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

Semi-elliptical transverse leaf springs I think.

Not semi-elliptic at all. They are constant crossectional area.
Hyperco Corvette High Performance and Racing Composite Leaf Springs