C5 track session at Goodwood - got lucky on e-bay!
Discussion
After a lucky find on e-bay I've picked up a track session in a C5 at Goodwood Circuit next Monday. No other bids! Until I saw the listing I didn't know they were doing C5 rental at Goodwood or anywhere else. The picture shows a C5 convertible although the blurb in the ad' said 400 bhp which sounds more like a Z06. Seems odd to pick a convertible for track use but I guess I'll find out next week. Details at www.buyagift.co.uk on the Driving/Famous Venues/Goodwood page.
www.buyagift.co.uk/cgi-bin/buyagift.storefront/433d1742000a938a27420a000003053a/Product/View/2148
... looks like a C5 vert, so they're either not correct with 400hp or they've modded it...
>> Edited by c4koh on Friday 30th September 11:47
... looks like a C5 vert, so they're either not correct with 400hp or they've modded it...
>> Edited by c4koh on Friday 30th September 11:47
I think it was the only manual Corvette that GM North American Vehicles imported voluntarily. I drove that car shortly immediately before it was handed over to Goodwood Circuit to be used as a track day machine. IIRC it was on 6th April 2001. I can personally guarantee that it has been severely "tested" since mile one ! 
GM uprated the brakes before giving it to Goodwood but that's all. Though they may have had to replace the engine since then though !
GM uprated the brakes before giving it to Goodwood but that's all. Though they may have had to replace the engine since then though !Had a good couple of hours down at Goodwood in perfect weather. Panned out as,
2 laps in an Alfa - instructor driving
2 laps in an Alfa - me driving
3 laps in the Vette - me driving
2 laps in a mini - nutter driving
The Corvette was the red X-reg C5 convertible. It was in better condition than I expected and running on P Zero tyres with 30 lb at the front and 34 lb at the rear. Rear brakes were stock and the front ones may have been a bit bigger although it said "Corvette" on the calipers. They were limiting speed to not much over 100mph (because it's a convertible!) and encouraging the use of higher gears. So although it was a pleasant drive around it didn't really put the car under any pressure. Circuit is very smooth and car is very grippy. Only in the very fastest corners was it possible to feel the back of the car adjust itself a little on that unique rear suspension.
Best entertainment of the day were the nutter laps in the Mini. Car was squealing, sliding and howling at speeds where the Vette would simply have been cruising round! Great fun.
Worthwhile day out? Yes.
Would it have been worth the £180 face value? No.
2 laps in an Alfa - instructor driving
2 laps in an Alfa - me driving
3 laps in the Vette - me driving
2 laps in a mini - nutter driving
The Corvette was the red X-reg C5 convertible. It was in better condition than I expected and running on P Zero tyres with 30 lb at the front and 34 lb at the rear. Rear brakes were stock and the front ones may have been a bit bigger although it said "Corvette" on the calipers. They were limiting speed to not much over 100mph (because it's a convertible!) and encouraging the use of higher gears. So although it was a pleasant drive around it didn't really put the car under any pressure. Circuit is very smooth and car is very grippy. Only in the very fastest corners was it possible to feel the back of the car adjust itself a little on that unique rear suspension.
Best entertainment of the day were the nutter laps in the Mini. Car was squealing, sliding and howling at speeds where the Vette would simply have been cruising round! Great fun.
Worthwhile day out? Yes.
Would it have been worth the £180 face value? No.
Sounds like a very similar formula to the day I drove down there. How many of there were you in the Alfa ? We had to pile in five at a time - I made sure I was on the right rear seat so I didn't get squashed by everyone else ! When driving the Alfa the best fun was to balance the squeal of the tyres against the squeal of the passengers 
! We also drove some very limited old FF2000 cars, I was a bit too quick for their liking and was very firmly shown the SLOW DOWN board 
What's the point of driving a racing car at the speed of a Corsa for heaven's sake ?
! We also drove some very limited old FF2000 cars, I was a bit too quick for their liking and was very firmly shown the SLOW DOWN board What's the point of driving a racing car at the speed of a Corsa for heaven's sake ?Gassing Station | Corvettes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff