Ranger

Had the good fortune today to hook up with several members of the Corvette faithful for closing day at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland. Together with dgdoc, hookedup, proney, chempowr, and Lionel, I made some passes in cool fall air. We enjoyed the camaraderie and exchanged insights from watching each other's passes. And I particularly appreciated the video and engineering skills of my car crew, Beth and Justin.

Last year I predicted that the lower limit of a bone stock C6Z06 on stock tires would probably be 11.15. Today on literally my final pass of the 2007 season, I combined in a single run strong 60’ (1.76) and 330’ (4.80) together with the best 330’-1320’ incremental (6.33) that the good fall air (zero-foot DA, measured track-side using a hand-held weather station) would support. The net was 11.13 127.20. It even included a good reaction-time of .050, something never possible when I had been running a suite of data logging, video, and audio equipment that needed activation after staging.

Here are the details of the record pass:

60'.............1.761
330'............4.805
660'............7.271
660’ mph..…100.31
1000'.......…..9.367
1320'........11.138
1320’ mph..127.20



Traction System Off; one push of the console button. That setting in a C6 allows wheel spin but retains the aggressive form of Active Handling to help the driver regain control if the car gets loose.

Rear psi set to 26 psi; fronts to 40 psi. Both readjusted in the staging lanes right before the pass.

As always, I drove around the water box and backed up to just dampen the rear tires. Pulled forward to the leading edge of the damp area; then heated the rears just to first smoke, at which time I went to clutch-in.

After taking particular care to align the car in the racing groove, I made a shallow stage, just barely tripping (turning on) the second pair of bulbs.

Launch rpm was 3650 with a very fast clutch release and throttle squeeze. Got a touch of wheel spin, followed by some bog. Then nothing but max acceleration.

All shifts were made at an indicated 7000 and included 100% lift of the throttle during clutch-in.

After staying on the throttle to an indicated 130 and crossing the 1320' stripe, I reviewed my mental driver's check list and concluded it had been a very clean pass. That’s an elusive goal in the C6Z.

There may be a few more hundredths it the car; but I may leave them for another driver to find.

Two videos of this 11.13 pass were made, one by Beth using my HD camcorder, and one by Chempowr's lady. I will edit in links over the next few days once the videos are prepared for the web.

Great meeting chempowr and his lady and proney’s lady.

Between now and next spring, I will be missing my racing buddies and the sights, sounds and smells of the track.

Best to all,

Ranger

07WhiteDevilZ

Hey you could always come up to atco there open almost all year long. They only close in december I will be there friday for a track rental. Nice runs with the car maybe ill see it run one day in person.

George

jimmy j

You are the MAN!!!!!

Geneus

Ranger,

Congrats...the bar just got set higher...again.

GaryZ06

0MR Z

Nice pass. Lets get some video up!!!!

'06 Quicksilver Z06

Fantastic.

I am so glad that you included this in your post.

Too often we get "DA measurements" using data taken from off accuweather.com, or http://www.wunderground.com/ using weather stations which may have been located miles from the actual physical location of the track, and taken at "time intervals."

Its good to see someone post up that they obtained an accurate density altitude reading using a weather station track side.

Short-Throw

Ranger how satisfying for it to be your last pass of the season!

Ranger, if so, where does that place your goals next season? Consistency?


Way to represent!


Mike

hookedup

John, congrats on a great run

I was watching from the fence and saw the hint of wheelspin and a slight hesitation when it hooked so I didn't expect that 11.13 to show up! There's more left in that car, see ya' next year when you hit a new best!

Dave

Steve Theodore

Congratulations are in order yet again!

Turbooo2u

Another great pass from one of the most helpful and selfless members of this forum.

WeaponsGradeTorque

1985 Corvette

Great work. Doing what you love and turning it into a science at the same time. Gotta love that. Too bad you can't do some serious seat time in a ZR-1 or an LT4 and see what times you can turn. Maybe you already have and I just haven't seen it yet.

1-2-b-67L89

What was the track temp. Ranger as I thought that might not be optimum. Congratulations
Chick

vdshenoy

Good job!

linutux

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! GREAT PASS!!!!

What a great way to end a season!

I believe 0.050 is the best RT on the fast list; is it not? Just can't leave anything for us mere mortals can you?

What have been your best 60' and 330' times bone stock on stock tires?
I assume these are the most difficult sectors to master in the C6Z.

GARY2004Z06

Ranger,
Awesome as usual. Congrats on achieving your goal.
Do you think an 11.0x or possibly do I dare say a 10.99x is within the realm of the car in fantastic weather conditions with phenominal track prep???????? (ie. Atco 11/24)
As eluded to earlier, what's next on your agenda?

Gary

Dr.Ron

Fabulous run John. Seems like you did everything right on one individual pass- not an easy feat!

Nice 60' time on the stock F1's as well!!! Once again, you ARE the man!

Ron

0MR Z

Ranger, I was wondering what type of weather station you use to tell the DA when you are at the track. Also I was wondering what your times and mph's were on the other runs you had today. Congrats again on the new best.

4DCYKEY

Great run.