gfactor,

I know what you mean about stripping the car and losing the ability to drive on the street. I do miss taking the S out on the road but really once I started driving harder on the track I realize I could get into too much trouble on the street. It's probably good that it is only track at this point.

The corvette will be faster if you drive it hard. Like Nobody I usually show them the taillights unless it is a HP track and they are driving exceptionally well.

I've seen guys replace brake discs and heard they only last 1 or 2 weekends. On hot days trans temp and oil temp are hovering around or above 300 degrees so it is a good idea to get the extra coolers. I've heard fuel pumps are common but might be under warranty.

I agree if you are going to get one get a track prepped one already. It will be too expensive to add coolers, bar and such.

John Oldt

 

 

It's always cheaper to buy an already prepped car than to embark on that project yourself. Track or race cars can usually be bought for about 50% of the expenditure needed to get them to that state of tune (much to the dismay of the owners who actually do that work).

As far as Z06 vs S2000 goes, it depends on the track but even at Willow Springs' "big track," track prepped S2000s can show their tail lights to T1 trim Z06s. It's all about the driver.

Consumables on the Vette are a lot more money. Tires in particular...go price some 315-35 18 R compounds. Brakes wear out a lot quicker (more tire, more weight). You're going to need those oil coolers out here, I guarantee that. I've seen more than one Z06 overheat on track out here in the summer but of course that's location dependent.

I'd consider a Z06 track car if suitably prepped but I'm not convinced it's a better track car than the S2000 given similar levels of preparation. I'm sure the power is a lot of fun but that has to be balanced against slower cornering speeds vs. the S2000.

 

 

Advice from people that actually driven on a race track please...

 

I've driven on a race track It was great. But i have not driven a Z06 nor do I really want to. And even though I don't want to say this, they did a test in a mag no so long ago where the Comptech S2000 beat all the EVOs and STis on a track but then they said a stock Z06 beat all their lap times.

Do as you choose.

 

George, I spent some time riding in a Z06 with race tires (not DOT R-compounds but real race tires). The car was tremendously fast, and had incredible grip. On the other hand, it was pretty brutal and I was not impressed with the feedback, turn in and general "feel" of the car. Think: Battleax. You have a background driving a SC S2000 as well as motorcycles. My guess is that you will not like the Z06 as much as you might think.

You need a dedicated track car. Period. Your faster on the track than me and I already have plans for a spec Miata next season. I'll keep my nice S2000 for autoX (and I do a ton of it) and weekend drives but will get something for the track that :

1) is properly setup for the track (I mean 5/6 point harness with HANS)

2) I'm not afaid to beat the crap out of it

3) No problem if the car has some downtime for repairs

Get a used S2000 (salvage title), strip it, coilover it, cage it, align it and run it at the track with sill fat, sticky tires. Or run a miata with a 5.0 conversion (or turbo) or get a Mazda FD3 or 944 turbo (and drive at PCA events which would allow you to get on a local track more than 1-2 times per month).

 

They may be a few salvage titled S2000s for sale in New Orleans after this week?

The Spec Miata thing could be possible, as long as I could drive it to the track. A trailer is not a option.

 

I'm confused... did you actually drive one and not like the feedback or just ride in one and not like the feedback? Don't know how the latter is possible but whatever.

In my experience, the first time you get in the car it feels HUGE if you're coming from an S2000... after driving one for a while it tends to not be so large any more for whatever reason.

The steering has more feedback and weights-up nicer than the S2000. The seats are really the main thing that makes the car feel like poop when you first get in it. Too bad I like running my car in Super Stock otherwise I'd have at least one Recaro Speed in the car.

 

I've autocrossed both, tracked neither.

The S2000 has a very interactive driving style, where you can continuously probe the edge of traction and make rapid adjustments.

The Corvette takes a more deliberate approach. You have to judge your entry speed and throttle application points carefully, because when they happen, you're committed.

The Z06 may benefit from fancier shocks -- I drove a 2002 model with 60,000 mile old shocks. I wonder how much more nimble it can feel.

The S2000 benefits from shocks, too, of course...