Bondurant School of Performance Driving
10-23-2013, 11:02 AM
#1
Bondurant School of Performance Driving
I've owned Corvettes for 13 years, a C5 purchased in 2000 and a C6 purchased in 2005.
Recently, I attended a 2-day program at the Bondurant School of Performance driving. If you don't know about it, look it up. In short, I spent 2 days racing Corvettes.
It was one of the best things I've ever done. But, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BUY THE STINGRAY I WAS PLANNING TO BUY!!
Here's why:
The C6 is an amazing race car. The things it can do are almost incomprehensible if you've never done it. In fact, in my 13 years of owning Corvettes, I'm guessing that I've actually used the cars to maybe 20% of their capability. After all, if you drive in normal driving all the time, where/how can you ever push the car?
Now, I love driving my Corvette. But, now that I know what the car can do I'm wondering if I should spend $80,000 to get a new one when I know I'll never be able to really drive it!
What a dilemma (joke, joke).
My guess is that very few Corvette owners have ever really pushed their car. Why buy a street race car if you'll never have a chance to use it that way?
Recently, I attended a 2-day program at the Bondurant School of Performance driving. If you don't know about it, look it up. In short, I spent 2 days racing Corvettes.
It was one of the best things I've ever done. But, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BUY THE STINGRAY I WAS PLANNING TO BUY!!
Here's why:
The C6 is an amazing race car. The things it can do are almost incomprehensible if you've never done it. In fact, in my 13 years of owning Corvettes, I'm guessing that I've actually used the cars to maybe 20% of their capability. After all, if you drive in normal driving all the time, where/how can you ever push the car?
Now, I love driving my Corvette. But, now that I know what the car can do I'm wondering if I should spend $80,000 to get a new one when I know I'll never be able to really drive it!
What a dilemma (joke, joke).
My guess is that very few Corvette owners have ever really pushed their car. Why buy a street race car if you'll never have a chance to use it that way?
10-23-2013, 11:10 AM
#2
Race Director
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You do know that there are track days almost every weekend within driving distance of everyone? Look up HPDE's. There, I assure you, you will greatly appreciate the corvette. 
You might look at 10/10ths Motorsports, Asphalt Adventures, TracksUnlimited, CHIN motorsports, NASA, NCM motorsports park, Wick's mini driving experience as examples.
You might look at 10/10ths Motorsports, Asphalt Adventures, TracksUnlimited, CHIN motorsports, NASA, NCM motorsports park, Wick's mini driving experience as examples.
10-23-2013, 01:09 PM
#3
Instructor
Member Since: Nov 2004
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Corvettes @ Bondurant this weekend
For example, Bondurant has an event this weekend called Corvettes@Bondurant. Johnny O'Connell is hosting and not only is there track time but hot laps with Johnny, Darren Law, Bob Bondurant at the end of the day.
It was a great event last year, hoping this year will be even better.
They may still have space, if you have time this weekend.
It was a great event last year, hoping this year will be even better.
They may still have space, if you have time this weekend.
10-23-2013, 01:57 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Glad you had a great time! You'll have to come back for the 4-day and really get some open track time out there. You'll be able to do it in the C7 too, which will help you make the decision of which one to get!
10-30-2013, 12:06 AM
#6
Great time last weekend. Got to hammer the Z and had a blast. The track photogs said they got over 2000 shots of the cars, people and activities. 10 bucks gets the lot, such a deal.
Recommend this to anyone. Since Spring Mountain stopped Corvette Track Days, this is a great alternative. Much nicer guys, they act like they want you to be there. What a concept.
Recommend this to anyone. Since Spring Mountain stopped Corvette Track Days, this is a great alternative. Much nicer guys, they act like they want you to be there. What a concept.
10-30-2013, 11:01 AM
#8
Instructor
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Just call them, they can get you hooked up.
We had a great time as well, its really nice when you feel like everyone from Bob Bondurant, his wife, Johnny O'Connell, Darren Law, every instructor, the techs, the ground crew, and every person on the staff is excited to have you there.
Another great event at Bondurant!!
We had a great time as well, its really nice when you feel like everyone from Bob Bondurant, his wife, Johnny O'Connell, Darren Law, every instructor, the techs, the ground crew, and every person on the staff is excited to have you there.
Another great event at Bondurant!!
10-31-2013, 11:26 AM
#9
Drifting
mysilvertoy - WELCOME to your new addiction!! Like others have posted: HPDE / Track Days!!! There's a Corvette Track Day at Eagles Canyon coming up on Saturday, November 9 in the DFW, TX area...part of the $$ goes to the National Corvette Museum. Lemme know if interested, there's a thread in the Southwest Forum about it.
11-05-2013, 03:26 PM
#10
Agree with SouthernSon. If you want to feel what the car is really capable of, take it to the track. You cannot consistently approach the limits of the car on the street.
As for your dilemma, if you think the C6 is great, you will love the C7. Those that track the C6 know all too well its limitations. Limitations that have almost completely addressed with the C7. For example:
Some of the base/GS C6 issues IMHO include:
1. dreadful stock tires -replaced with Michelin Pilot Super Sports
2. steering that is both light and numb - this is the major weakness in the car and even GM knows it. When the C7 was introduced, the very 1st improvement the lead engineer referenced was the 500% increase in steering stiffness. Not 25% or 50% but 500%!
3. lift in the front end @ speed - has been eliminated in the C7 (now if we can get some downforce up there, we'll be in business)
4. the interior is not particularly high quality. It is nowhere near as bad as the general media maddeningly repeats but there is quite a large room for improvement and the C7 does so in spades
5. the seats do not provide the support the performance of the car demands - fixed with higher bolsters in the stock C7 seats and a 2nd track orientated option
6. the auto trans shifts are quite slow - C7 improvement TBD
7. the Nav is seriously outdated as is the HUD - major upgrade in C7
As for your dilemma, if you think the C6 is great, you will love the C7. Those that track the C6 know all too well its limitations. Limitations that have almost completely addressed with the C7. For example:
Some of the base/GS C6 issues IMHO include:
1. dreadful stock tires -replaced with Michelin Pilot Super Sports
2. steering that is both light and numb - this is the major weakness in the car and even GM knows it. When the C7 was introduced, the very 1st improvement the lead engineer referenced was the 500% increase in steering stiffness. Not 25% or 50% but 500%!
3. lift in the front end @ speed - has been eliminated in the C7 (now if we can get some downforce up there, we'll be in business)
4. the interior is not particularly high quality. It is nowhere near as bad as the general media maddeningly repeats but there is quite a large room for improvement and the C7 does so in spades
5. the seats do not provide the support the performance of the car demands - fixed with higher bolsters in the stock C7 seats and a 2nd track orientated option
6. the auto trans shifts are quite slow - C7 improvement TBD
7. the Nav is seriously outdated as is the HUD - major upgrade in C7
11-06-2013, 03:37 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jul 2010
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Agree with SouthernSon. If you want to feel what the car is really capable of, take it to the track. You cannot consistently approach the limits of the car on the street.
As for your dilemma, if you think the C6 is great, you will love the C7. Those that track the C6 know all too well its limitations. Limitations that have almost completely addressed with the C7. For example:
Some of the base/GS C6 issues IMHO include:
1. dreadful stock tires -replaced with Michelin Pilot Super Sports
2. steering that is both light and numb - this is the major weakness in the car and even GM knows it. When the C7 was introduced, the very 1st improvement the lead engineer referenced was the 500% increase in steering stiffness. Not 25% or 50% but 500%!
3. lift in the front end @ speed - has been eliminated in the C7 (now if we can get some downforce up there, we'll be in business)
4. the interior is not particularly high quality. It is nowhere near as bad as the general media maddeningly repeats but there is quite a large room for improvement and the C7 does so in spades
5. the seats do not provide the support the performance of the car demands - fixed with higher bolsters in the stock C7 seats and a 2nd track orientated option
6. the auto trans shifts are quite slow - C7 improvement TBD
7. the Nav is seriously outdated as is the HUD - major upgrade in C7
As for your dilemma, if you think the C6 is great, you will love the C7. Those that track the C6 know all too well its limitations. Limitations that have almost completely addressed with the C7. For example:
Some of the base/GS C6 issues IMHO include:
1. dreadful stock tires -replaced with Michelin Pilot Super Sports
2. steering that is both light and numb - this is the major weakness in the car and even GM knows it. When the C7 was introduced, the very 1st improvement the lead engineer referenced was the 500% increase in steering stiffness. Not 25% or 50% but 500%!
3. lift in the front end @ speed - has been eliminated in the C7 (now if we can get some downforce up there, we'll be in business)
4. the interior is not particularly high quality. It is nowhere near as bad as the general media maddeningly repeats but there is quite a large room for improvement and the C7 does so in spades
5. the seats do not provide the support the performance of the car demands - fixed with higher bolsters in the stock C7 seats and a 2nd track orientated option
6. the auto trans shifts are quite slow - C7 improvement TBD
7. the Nav is seriously outdated as is the HUD - major upgrade in C7
The seats were improved for '12 too but then I'm driving an A-6 and don't have the same issues the M-6 drivers have with side support. The best solution would be racing seats and 5-point harness, heck if the stock seats could be modified to use a 5-point harness all the better as this car is still a daily driver. Would love to try the C-7 seats but couldn't get close enough to one at the auto show! The C-7 was really popular.
The A-6 transmission in my car seems to shift fine at 6k rpm's, the shift parameters were changed for '12.
Definitely take it to the track to find out what these great cars can really do. The only problem is you'll keep going back for more!
11-06-2013, 09:05 PM
#12
Racer
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I've owned Corvettes for 13 years, a C5 purchased in 2000 and a C6 purchased in 2005.
Recently, I attended a 2-day program at the Bondurant School of Performance driving. If you don't know about it, look it up. In short, I spent 2 days racing Corvettes.
It was one of the best things I've ever done. But, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BUY THE STINGRAY I WAS PLANNING TO BUY!!
Here's why:
The C6 is an amazing race car. The things it can do are almost incomprehensible if you've never done it. In fact, in my 13 years of owning Corvettes, I'm guessing that I've actually used the cars to maybe 20% of their capability. After all, if you drive in normal driving all the time, where/how can you ever push the car?
Now, I love driving my Corvette. But, now that I know what the car can do I'm wondering if I should spend $80,000 to get a new one when I know I'll never be able to really drive it!
What a dilemma (joke, joke).
My guess is that very few Corvette owners have ever really pushed their car. Why buy a street race car if you'll never have a chance to use it that way?
Recently, I attended a 2-day program at the Bondurant School of Performance driving. If you don't know about it, look it up. In short, I spent 2 days racing Corvettes.
It was one of the best things I've ever done. But, IT MAKES ME WONDER WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BUY THE STINGRAY I WAS PLANNING TO BUY!!
Here's why:
The C6 is an amazing race car. The things it can do are almost incomprehensible if you've never done it. In fact, in my 13 years of owning Corvettes, I'm guessing that I've actually used the cars to maybe 20% of their capability. After all, if you drive in normal driving all the time, where/how can you ever push the car?
Now, I love driving my Corvette. But, now that I know what the car can do I'm wondering if I should spend $80,000 to get a new one when I know I'll never be able to really drive it!
What a dilemma (joke, joke).
My guess is that very few Corvette owners have ever really pushed their car. Why buy a street race car if you'll never have a chance to use it that way?
And Bob himself was present everyday. He was even present when my classmate spun his Mazda off the track and into pebbles!
I left AZ with a renewed perception and appreciation for the Corvette.
When I returned home I contemplated buying a new used C6. Then I laid my eyes upon the C7! My plan is to purchase a 2015 C7 and take it to HPDE at the local track several times a year.
Last edited by romaja; 11-06-2013 at 09:19 PM.
