[Shotimes] Re: 300 hp

[Mark Nunnally]

> Until the brakes go away after a couple of laps.....

A *couple* of lap?  I don't think they would go away in a couple of laps.

> Todd Serota, who runs the TracQuest events, has seem about everything out
> there. P-car guys are impressed with the Z06 Vette "for the money"
> (important point), but they can't keep up with 911s and Vipers in stock
> trim, mostly due to inadequate brakes under track conditions.

I don't have any track experience in either of the above cars, but the ZO6
has huge (3" ducting?) front and rear cooling ducts, and weighs less than
both cars by several hundred lbs.  Unless in stock form the calipers boil
the fluid or the OEM pads aren't up to it.  Dunno, don't have a Z06 so I
wouldn't know.  Probably not hard to upgrade those brakes to 4 or 6 pot
billet race calipers and still be way under the sticker on a 911 or viper!

I've done at least 5 events in the past year that had 911's, some vipers,
and Z06's in my run group.  The 911's at summit point are missles on the
straight, but I was able to out-run both in my group through the backside of
the track (on race tires, them on street, so a mis-match there) with them
making that distance up on the front stretch.  But basically, for 3-4 laps,
we ran the same times.  The Z06 on race tires in our group was by far the
fastest car, passing street tired C5's and 911's at will (even a few full
out spec race cars).  He ran me down like grass on the straight, and then
went and hide on the backside of the track :)  The other street tired Z06's
still quick as all get out, from what I have seen (read that to be my
perspective of tail-lights <g>), those things get off the corners like no
other street car I've ran with.

> New M3 is very nice, though. You have to decide if you want the "best for
> the money", or "the best".

I don't!  I can't afford a Z06 or an M3.  And I'm not willing to bite the
debt bullet like most do :)

> As I've said in the past: the Micky Ds 1/4 Pounder is the "best beef for
the
> money", but the Ruth Cris filet is "the best". For those of you who are
> "analogy challenged".....the SHO is the 1/4 Pounder, BMWs are the Ruth
Cris.

Well I never meant to compare the SHO to a current M3!  Was just responding
to the guy's comment about "if he could afford one he'd buy an M3".  Great
car, not a bad choice.  I'd drive one and not complain!  For ME if I was
blowing 50 grand on a new sports car, I'd be in a Z06, as all out track
performance would rank higher on the scale than the plusher ride to work.
I'd probably have the Z06 at the track as much as I have my 89 now <g>

And while I agree about your "best" philosophy to a point, I've learned
there is always something better.  We run into that all the time with our
high end digital video equipment.  A McClaren F1 street car is a (or the)
top rung performance car, but come on, who can afford it? (hey it was BMW
powered) <g>  Ferarri, Lambo, Bentley, etc...always somebody up a notch.  I
think the "best" philosophy could only be applied to those items which
actually fall into your budget (ie, buy the best that you can afford as very
few folks can actually afford, "the best").

mark