Discussion
Hiya,
I'm nosing around with the idea of getting a Vette for road and 50% trackday use. I have tried looking for cars on the web but almost all seem to be automtics.
Has anybody converted their car to trackday(circuit) use and could provide a list of recommended upgrades to go with. Also, seeing the success the C5 has had, this seems to be the way to go...or..
I'm nosing around with the idea of getting a Vette for road and 50% trackday use. I have tried looking for cars on the web but almost all seem to be automtics.
Has anybody converted their car to trackday(circuit) use and could provide a list of recommended upgrades to go with. Also, seeing the success the C5 has had, this seems to be the way to go...or..
If I was you I'd check out Nigel's (vetteheadracer)1996 supercharged Corvette 6 speed for sale on the Pistonheads clasifieds under Chevrolet.
An awful lot of car for £16,500 - it's even lowered and has coil over suspension. Looks like the prerfect car to me. Exactly my type of car if I didn't have what I already have.
An awful lot of car for £16,500 - it's even lowered and has coil over suspension. Looks like the prerfect car to me. Exactly my type of car if I didn't have what I already have.
Alternatively, if you're up to importing, try www.dealsonwheels.com and try the Corvette search on the sidebar and there's a few track prepped cars on there. Good exchange rate at presnt - in excess of 1.8 to the pound. Over 10 years old and you avoid the SVA rubbish too.
I used my virtually standard 2002 C5 with 6 speed manual and Z51 suspension quite happily on 4 track days last year. I have the high polish forged alloy wheels on mine which allow plenty of room for hot air to escape, the earlier models with the "wagon wheels" may have more of a problem. Do make sure you use real tyres and not the run flats though !
I had stock brakes on mine and didn't suffer from fade problems despite thrashing around Snett, BH, Donington and Oulton. The pedal is a bit soft and spongy though. Since I warped the front discs (my own fault, holding car on footbrake without allowing enough time for cooling at the end of a run at Elvington) I have upgraded the pads to EBC Red Stuff which work just fine on the road, no noise, no need to heat up for them to work etc, and they feel much better. I've also got some stainless steel reinforced brake pipes and AP551 brake fluid to go on when I feel like it.
If you have the money then larger brakes (Wilwood make a couple of kits now), wheels and tyres to go with them would be good. You can also upgrade springs, dampers and anti-roll bars to your choice as there's plenty of aftermarket kit available now. Vetteheadracer's Z06 is about a second a lap faster due to lower gearing, lighter weight, more power, wider wheels and tyres.
I recommend the C5, it's really good fun to see all the bloody track-day Caterhams disappear in the rear view mirror when you squeeze the loud pedal ! None of the Radicals I encountered could keep up on the straights either, but don't ask too much about the corners. Ferraris become mobile chicanes and I did have the pleasure of seeing a brand new M3 end up in the kitty litter when its owner thought that "American cars can't handle".
I had stock brakes on mine and didn't suffer from fade problems despite thrashing around Snett, BH, Donington and Oulton. The pedal is a bit soft and spongy though. Since I warped the front discs (my own fault, holding car on footbrake without allowing enough time for cooling at the end of a run at Elvington) I have upgraded the pads to EBC Red Stuff which work just fine on the road, no noise, no need to heat up for them to work etc, and they feel much better. I've also got some stainless steel reinforced brake pipes and AP551 brake fluid to go on when I feel like it.
If you have the money then larger brakes (Wilwood make a couple of kits now), wheels and tyres to go with them would be good. You can also upgrade springs, dampers and anti-roll bars to your choice as there's plenty of aftermarket kit available now. Vetteheadracer's Z06 is about a second a lap faster due to lower gearing, lighter weight, more power, wider wheels and tyres.
I recommend the C5, it's really good fun to see all the bloody track-day Caterhams disappear in the rear view mirror when you squeeze the loud pedal ! None of the Radicals I encountered could keep up on the straights either, but don't ask too much about the corners. Ferraris become mobile chicanes and I did have the pleasure of seeing a brand new M3 end up in the kitty litter when its owner thought that "American cars can't handle".
Nige's C4 would be the absolute mutts nuts as a track day car. It is also an awesomely quick road car. I have copies of the RR dyno sheets, it gave 502bhp and around 480ft/lbs on "Bob the Porsche's" dyno, plus it has all the right suspension and brake bits. You could see off most things with it. You certainly couldn't recreate it for the money he is asking.
te51cle said:
I recommend the C5, it's really good fun to see all the bloody track-day Caterhams disappear in the rear view mirror when you squeeze the loud pedal ! None of the Radicals I encountered could keep up on the straights either, but don't ask too much about the corners. Ferraris become mobile chicanes and I did have the pleasure of seeing a brand new M3 end up in the kitty litter when its owner thought that "American cars can't handle".
So what are you gonna be like when you get your 427 Tris
, i did read that somewhere,,O here it is 
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