Z06 dynamic appreciation!
Discussion
OK, so what better excuse than your birds birthday, to go and do a few laps of the Nordschleiffe and Spa, in one of the best supercars in the world?! Well, she agreed anyway!!
So i checked her over [the car], and got her up early last Sunday [the bird]. Took the tunnel to Calais, and spent a night in the Ardennes in Luxembourg. 30 mpg, again!
Monday morning, drove over to the Nurburgring, and bought a 4 lap ticket for the Tourist session that evening, from the local petrol station. Loads of Brits in the Cafe car park, especially bikers.
So, i raced the Nordschleiffe in the 2007 Old Timers event in a 1962 "E" Type Jaguar on crossply tyres. I guess i have a basic knowledge of the track, but the "E" Type never went where you pointed it! I knew from track days at Oulton Park, Donington & Silverstone, that the Z06 was going to be awesome around this circuit, but my approach speeds were going to be WAY higher than in the Jag. After arguing the toss with a Marshall about the irrelavance of not having a front number plate, i made it through the barrier for the first tour.
Now, i love motorbikes, and one day i'd like to ride around the Nordschleiffe, but why do people who are scared of corners, buy a 160 bhp Japanese missile, then proceed to wobble around that circuit on completely dangerous lines, eventually falling off and causing mayhem? I picked my way through a dozen or more, before plunging down the dip towards Flugplatz. Deep breath over the crest, brush the brakes, then make sure of both apexes, carrying plenty of speed towards Schwedenkreuz. Z06's don't like undulations, the transverse leaf set-up is great on a smooth surface, but nervous when challenged with a repaired track. So, down to the Foxhole determined not to lift, but i lifted. The car is so bloody quick that your survival instinct overpowers your determination! Took it easy down to Adenau bridge, as you don't want get it wrong down there! Then back on the attack towards the Karussel.
Bird says, " ooh, i don't like that, why are you on this rough stuff!". "Cos its the Karussel love, & we'll be in the barrier if we go on the smooth stuff!" Should've left her at the Caf!
Wipperman, my favourite section, WOW, the Vette is just planted, and if you're off line, it will allow adjustments with minimal progressive oversteer. [I've lowered the front to the stops to reduce understeer].
Into Warp Drive again through Pflanzgarten, and a dodgy [unexpectedly bumpy] braking zone before rising up towards the mini-karussel. 170mph blast on the straight, and back into the cafe car park. Roughly 8.5 minutes for a scruffy lap, and only one butt-clencher!
On the 3 following laps, they were scraping up the remains of someone's R1 yamaha, and there was plenty of traffic, but thrilling when you got a clear corner.
We went to the Pistenklause for tea, great place, and good food, with friendly staff.
Next morning, off to Spa, to try to blag a session on the RMA trackday. Graeme kindly allowed me [for a fee] to do half an hour. I was really looking forward to this, as i've raced in the Spa six hours, and worked on several track days at the circuit. I knew the Z06 would be fantastic on this surface!
Out of pit lane, up Kemmel straight, trying to keep my exuberance under control. 90% Porsches on track, GT3's, RS's, and a few RSR's. First lap warm the tyres up, and check out the circuit. Passing plenty of Porkers already! Down Pouen [wrong spelling!], my favourite corner, the car is glued to the track. Further round, into Blanchimont, mustn't lift, but lifted again, bugger! 2nd lap passed an orange RSR 997, and he decided to hang on. So the bird's gone quiet, and i ask her if she's ok, "i think so"? OK, i'm just going to get on with it. Up Eau Rouge in triple figures, and 165mph up Kemmel to Les Combes. Balance the car through the technical stuff, then down hill through Pouen in triple digits again. I couldn't help laughing at the speed you can carry with this car! The RSR is still in touch, so i pick up the pace, and we're passing cars like they're stood still. The guy in the RSR knows his way around Spa, but i start to pull a gap through Pouen, and increase it further into Blanchimont. Now my mate tells me most cars are flat all the way through both apexes of Blanchimont! No way on gods earth is my Z06 flat through there. I have a lift, and turn in to the first part at 140mph, then brush the brakes and carry 120mph through the second part. Thats plenty for me! The RSR dropped away, and i decided to cool it before i did something stupid in my pride & joy.
The bird b
ked me for trusting other guys not to lose control as i passed them! Should have left her at the Nordschleiffe!
Anyhow, the RSR guy comes over in the paddock, and we had a good chat about our little joust. He was quite shocked that it was a bog standard Z06 that was leading him around Spa [albeit on Toyo R888's].
In conclusion, i just wanted to share my experience in my car with fellow owners who might be considering similar escapades. To reassure owners that its a helluva car on any circuit, and that they shouldn't hesitate to take them on track. I do try to drive smoothly, and carry speed, rather than on & off the brakes too many times, to look after the brakes. Bird would disagree, but she loved it nonetheless!!
So i checked her over [the car], and got her up early last Sunday [the bird]. Took the tunnel to Calais, and spent a night in the Ardennes in Luxembourg. 30 mpg, again!
Monday morning, drove over to the Nurburgring, and bought a 4 lap ticket for the Tourist session that evening, from the local petrol station. Loads of Brits in the Cafe car park, especially bikers.
So, i raced the Nordschleiffe in the 2007 Old Timers event in a 1962 "E" Type Jaguar on crossply tyres. I guess i have a basic knowledge of the track, but the "E" Type never went where you pointed it! I knew from track days at Oulton Park, Donington & Silverstone, that the Z06 was going to be awesome around this circuit, but my approach speeds were going to be WAY higher than in the Jag. After arguing the toss with a Marshall about the irrelavance of not having a front number plate, i made it through the barrier for the first tour.
Now, i love motorbikes, and one day i'd like to ride around the Nordschleiffe, but why do people who are scared of corners, buy a 160 bhp Japanese missile, then proceed to wobble around that circuit on completely dangerous lines, eventually falling off and causing mayhem? I picked my way through a dozen or more, before plunging down the dip towards Flugplatz. Deep breath over the crest, brush the brakes, then make sure of both apexes, carrying plenty of speed towards Schwedenkreuz. Z06's don't like undulations, the transverse leaf set-up is great on a smooth surface, but nervous when challenged with a repaired track. So, down to the Foxhole determined not to lift, but i lifted. The car is so bloody quick that your survival instinct overpowers your determination! Took it easy down to Adenau bridge, as you don't want get it wrong down there! Then back on the attack towards the Karussel.
Bird says, " ooh, i don't like that, why are you on this rough stuff!". "Cos its the Karussel love, & we'll be in the barrier if we go on the smooth stuff!" Should've left her at the Caf!
Wipperman, my favourite section, WOW, the Vette is just planted, and if you're off line, it will allow adjustments with minimal progressive oversteer. [I've lowered the front to the stops to reduce understeer].
Into Warp Drive again through Pflanzgarten, and a dodgy [unexpectedly bumpy] braking zone before rising up towards the mini-karussel. 170mph blast on the straight, and back into the cafe car park. Roughly 8.5 minutes for a scruffy lap, and only one butt-clencher!
On the 3 following laps, they were scraping up the remains of someone's R1 yamaha, and there was plenty of traffic, but thrilling when you got a clear corner.
We went to the Pistenklause for tea, great place, and good food, with friendly staff.
Next morning, off to Spa, to try to blag a session on the RMA trackday. Graeme kindly allowed me [for a fee] to do half an hour. I was really looking forward to this, as i've raced in the Spa six hours, and worked on several track days at the circuit. I knew the Z06 would be fantastic on this surface!
Out of pit lane, up Kemmel straight, trying to keep my exuberance under control. 90% Porsches on track, GT3's, RS's, and a few RSR's. First lap warm the tyres up, and check out the circuit. Passing plenty of Porkers already! Down Pouen [wrong spelling!], my favourite corner, the car is glued to the track. Further round, into Blanchimont, mustn't lift, but lifted again, bugger! 2nd lap passed an orange RSR 997, and he decided to hang on. So the bird's gone quiet, and i ask her if she's ok, "i think so"? OK, i'm just going to get on with it. Up Eau Rouge in triple figures, and 165mph up Kemmel to Les Combes. Balance the car through the technical stuff, then down hill through Pouen in triple digits again. I couldn't help laughing at the speed you can carry with this car! The RSR is still in touch, so i pick up the pace, and we're passing cars like they're stood still. The guy in the RSR knows his way around Spa, but i start to pull a gap through Pouen, and increase it further into Blanchimont. Now my mate tells me most cars are flat all the way through both apexes of Blanchimont! No way on gods earth is my Z06 flat through there. I have a lift, and turn in to the first part at 140mph, then brush the brakes and carry 120mph through the second part. Thats plenty for me! The RSR dropped away, and i decided to cool it before i did something stupid in my pride & joy.
The bird b
ked me for trusting other guys not to lose control as i passed them! Should have left her at the Nordschleiffe! Anyhow, the RSR guy comes over in the paddock, and we had a good chat about our little joust. He was quite shocked that it was a bog standard Z06 that was leading him around Spa [albeit on Toyo R888's].
In conclusion, i just wanted to share my experience in my car with fellow owners who might be considering similar escapades. To reassure owners that its a helluva car on any circuit, and that they shouldn't hesitate to take them on track. I do try to drive smoothly, and carry speed, rather than on & off the brakes too many times, to look after the brakes. Bird would disagree, but she loved it nonetheless!!
Excellent write up Paul. I went with my daughters boyfriend last month (he has a 730) as he has always wanted to drive around the ring. We did the journey from the NE in one go about 750 miles the car was ideal for this but obviously not ideal for the ring.!
We decided to go first thing on the Sunday morning and arrived about 09:30 to a packed car park, probably about six UK plate GTR's and various Porches etc. It had just started to rain lightley, but we decided to veture out anyway before it got too busy, we soon past a mint E46 M3, a fairly new 911 and one of the ring tool Alfa's in the barriers. I can only assume that they must have closed the circuit just after we joined, as we had a completely clear track, we only passed one other car (an old Golf) and didn't get passed by anyone. Not many people can say they completed a circuit of the ring on an open day and did not get passed by anyone - LOL
I had a few but clenching moments as I had been entrused by his Mam and Dad to get him and the car back safely, but we got round in one piece and had a great weekend.
I hope to take the Z06 when we go back next year.
Regards
Keith
We decided to go first thing on the Sunday morning and arrived about 09:30 to a packed car park, probably about six UK plate GTR's and various Porches etc. It had just started to rain lightley, but we decided to veture out anyway before it got too busy, we soon past a mint E46 M3, a fairly new 911 and one of the ring tool Alfa's in the barriers. I can only assume that they must have closed the circuit just after we joined, as we had a completely clear track, we only passed one other car (an old Golf) and didn't get passed by anyone. Not many people can say they completed a circuit of the ring on an open day and did not get passed by anyone - LOL
I had a few but clenching moments as I had been entrused by his Mam and Dad to get him and the car back safely, but we got round in one piece and had a great weekend.
I hope to take the Z06 when we go back next year.
Regards
Keith
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