At a track day at Pacific Raceways in June this year, I derived great satisfaction from earning a point-by from a guy in a Lingenfelter 427 Twin Turbo Z06. I was driving a 2001 S2000 on RA1's but otherwise bone stock.

 

No argument that the ZO6 is a faster car out of the box with equal driver etc. But James Gunn and Gary Thomason hasn't been out in 4 years (before I started ), and the only competitive ZO6 of the very many since then has been Wurth's T1 car, and he's doesn't even try to compete with the Unlimited S2000's anymore ( ). Somehow the vast majority of ZO6 drivers aren't so good in their cars, even some that come to the track very often, and I think it's because they get so comfortable and over-reliant with the power that they don't get as motivated to learn to drive the car as close to the limit as the S2000 drivers do (though you'd think that after being consistently beaten by us they would be more motivated). And the S2000 community is such a go-faster-and-faster group (at least in CA) that everyone pushes or pulls everyone else to learn to be faster. That kind of community don't exist with the vettes or most other cars. Part of the enjoyment of tracking is the community you hang out with at the track and on the boards afterwards.

(BTW Jason, which car do you feel has contributed most to your development as a top driver? Oh, and tell Gary we would love to have him come out a do a low :27 (and give me some lessons while he's there ))

 

I agree that the C5/Z06 isn't well represented at a lot of our track days. I know they often do a lot of Vette-specific track days, much like the POC or BMWCCA guys do, so that might explain it some. In general though, the car hasn't generated a group of hardcore track junkies the way the S2000 and Viper have. Not sure why, could just be there's so many of them, it doesn't engender that same "special" feeling.

As for the whole power-as-a-roadblock-to-learning thing, that may be true, probably most so in the more egotistical drivers. I think that a person can get good in any type of car, they just need to have the courage to ask themselves "how fast can this thing really go?" Most can't or won't because they're afraid to know how far the answer is from where their current performance stands.

For those that are trying to learn though, a car with a lot of power demands you to learn that the throttle pedal is a rheostat, and not an on/off switch. That gets lost in cars like Civics, Miatas, and on the track, even in cars like the S2000. The low-powered cars demand you learn speed maintenance, 'cause once it's gone, ain't making it back. At this point I find I do okay with speed maintenance but still have a lot to learn about smooth throttle control.

To be really well rounded I think a person should have experience in all types of cars, and in things way different like karts of Radicals or whatever.

As for my own development, I owe what I've learned on track entirely to the S2000. I also owe that car for igniting the spark of interest in racing in me. For its power level, it's a tough car to master; if you can be good in one, you can probably hop in just about anything and go fast - I think the gang showed that pretty well with the Radicals. At autocross speeds anyway, it's a very well rounded car that's small and light enough to teach speed maintenance, but powerful enough in 2nd gear to also teach the beginnings of smooth throttle modulation, especially in VTEC.

And I wouldn't say I'm a top driver, at least not yet. I always try to team up with top drivers like James Gunn and Gary Thomason (even though they routinely kick my ass) so I can learn more and get better.

IIRC Gary did a low :29 at Big Willow earlier this year in his old '99 C5, with very heavy traffic and on crummy Ecsta V700s. His new Z06 has about 150 more horsepower and 710s, either one of which would probably be enough to get it into the :27s, and in combination...

 

If you're used to an S2000 and you RIDE in a Vette, yeah it's going to feel strange... I rode in one too before and thought I wouldn't really like it. Once you drive one it's quite entertaining...

Anyway, bottom line... if you want to push a car to the very limit either get a cheap track car or go racing. The latter being the preffered method.

 

I'm pretty sure Jack was the only T2 car period

 

I didn't read the entire post, but if I was in the situation where I felt I needed more car than the S2000, I'd look into a reliable SC setup.

One car I hope to own in my life is the a C6 Z06 or whatever is it's successor at the time I can afford and am ready for a car of that magnitude. I'd probably opt for the C5 Z06 now and go for a C6 Z06 in 2-3 years.

 

I took a fun run autoxing in a C4 R9G....this is a rare vette...due to production numbers of around 25 i think...my buddy..who owns the racecar for sale...has one street R9G and one track R9G...the track cars are world challenge cars but not really driven due to collectability.

anyway..the point is....vettes are a ton of fun autoxing!!!!!!!!!

 

I drove my buddy's Z06 for a week (385 rwhp) on Nitto RII DOT "road race" tires (305/275) and was quite impressed. Effortless to drive fast...put it in competition mode and it's quite a nice car. I autocrossed it once...too much of a handful for me but I'm not a skilled driver so that's not unexpected. The good part is that it's fast out of the box...put some new pads on it and it'll suck your eyes right out when you hit the middle pedal Never had the S or the Z on a big track but I'd bet a large sum of money the Z would be tons more fun without even pushing it 80%. Just my .02 from my limited experience.

 

The fanboi's amuse me.

A supercharged/stripped S2000 will show it's tail lights to a Z06 driven by someone that doesn't drive very well or is completely stock.

Tires are expensive. Expensive for any car really. My Z06 rotors cost me $18 ea.

I am bone stock except for brakes. It's a RUSH to drive. Turn in is crisp and grip is UNREAL.

The S2000 is so much fun to drive. However, if you want to go FAST, get the Z06.

Oh, for those that might think the above pix are not all me:

 

george...


get yourself one of these....