FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

[Mark W.]

Not sure if this link has made the board yet, but a friend sent it to me today. It is Jim Mero driving the ZR-1 on the Nurburgring track last year.

http://jalopnik.com/398297/video-proof-of-the-2009-corvette-zr1s-7264-nurburgring-lap

[Michael A.]

Re: FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

Wow.... that was pretty incredible. Thanks for sharing.

Makes me wonder how my 66 327/300 roadster would do... I wonder if I could get around once in the time the ZR1 would take to do 2 laps?

[Mark W.]

Re: FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

Mike, I looked at your website and sounds like you had a great time. I also have a '66, but with the L79 350HP version. The picture next to my name on my post is my son (then 22) driving my car on Pikes Peak Intl Raceway south of Colorado Springs. We had a chance to drive their road course and were able to get up to about 95 mph on the straightaway before standing on the brakes coming into the turns. Not the Nurburgring, but we had a great time. I really like the wheels on your car and have been thinking of swapping my stock to something more old school like yours or Cragar SS. What type are yours? Are they a stock size? Did you have any problems with fit?

[Michael A.]

Re: FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

Mark - Glad you enjoyed the web site. Great story about your son driving your car on the Pike's Peak racecourse. That sounds like a scream. Isn't it great sharing the fun with your kids?

As for the wheels, they are American Torque Thrusts that I bought through Tire Rack. I researched it here on the TDB and saw some great examples and just had to have them. The wheels LOOK great but the tires are what really makes them WORK. Based on Duke Williams (and others) suggestion I fitted the Torque Thrusts with Pirelli Supertouring 4000's. The 215/70 R15s fit great. I've seen no evidence of rubbing and they really drive nice. I couldn't believe the difference vs. the 205/75 R15's (Wally World specials) that were on before. The combination of the tires and wheels really give the car a great vintage muscle car look... now if only could get some paint on the car... Maybe next year or whenever the stock market returns to 14,000.

Cheers
Mike

[Michael A.]

Re: FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

Hey Mark - I just looked at your profile and see you've installed a 5speed in your car. I wouldn't think about putting one in my car (numbers matching, etc) but someday if I found the right NOM car to turn into a real cruiser I would think about it.

Did you have the trans installed? How did it the installation go? What rear end ratio are you running? Did it make a significant change in RPMs at cruising speed? Are the ratios a good match for accelleration?

Sorry for the 20 questions but you're the first person I've met with the 5 speed installed.

Cheers
Mike

[Mark W.]

Re: FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

When I bought my car in 2000, I specifically looked for a non-original car because I wanted it as a driver. I found mine in Denver (I live in Colorado Springs) and it had a NOM, trans and rear end, so I found what I wanted and got a great deal on it. The removeable hard top and the original (although cracked) block came with the car, so if I decide to restore it back to original, I will at least have the real block that came in it and hopefully it can be fixed. I have the 3.70 posi rear end. I bought the TKO-500 5-spd from Keisler Engineering and had it installed at a very good and experienced shop in town. They had no problems with the install and it is a blast to drive. The lower 1st gear will smoke the tires off the rim if you want to play around, but for normal around town driving, I mostly start off in 2nd gear. 5th gear made a huge difference and at 75 mph it turns 2200 rpms. It shifts very smooth going up or down in all gears and the noise level from the engine and trans is also noticably lower while driving, however the Flowmasters still have a "bark" to them.

[Rob M.]

Re: FAST ride on greatest circuit/track on Earth

I did the Nurbergring once with my BMW R1100RT motorbike. Man was I scared. Yamaha's, Honda's and Kawa's were passing by left and right from me with twice the speed of light and I was standing still...

Beautifull circuit (the outer ring) which you were allow to drive for app. 30 euro's a circle (16+ km)! One day I'll reward one of my Vette's and circle the German track once more...

regards,
Rob.