Hi Bob,
We've been requested not to share the seminars from the Gathering - that's the lure of coming to the Gathering event. I'm amazed each year how much more I learn about the ZR-1 and C4s in general, and I consider myself pretty smart on our C4/ZR-1 history.
Last year with Doug Rippie was pretty....WOW.... We learned how to make C4s fast. Drivetrain makes your ZR-1 go fast, but the chassis is mostly overlooked when we talk about fast cars. Doug showed us how he made his Escort / Corvette Challenge / World Challenge so fast. Wow! That's why I value most of the DRM 500/600 ZR-1s so high over many other tuner cars... and it has nothing to do with coil-overs as some might think. ......Doug will be there again this year, and for the price of a drink, you might get a few golden C4 nuggets out of him!
First I've heard about the Karting - it is still on the registration schedule as well as the Motorsport Park's calendar - I'll call and find out if something has changed. We had a full 2 sessions last year, unless they are changing the venue.
With regard to the agenda, it is posted on the NCM's website. The big items:
Getting together - the absolute best part of the Gathering!!!
Okay, the schedule (big items):
Wed Evening - Beer / Pizza Reception at the U-Plaza.
Thursday morning, Driving Instruction by Escort Series Pro Driver Mike Rivet and HPDE instructor Ray Davis from the GSR. I'll throw in my $.02 in there too as I hold a racing comp license and currently run in the vintage sprint series. This is all about how to make your car go fast safely - this is our 4th year conducting the seminar, and last year was standing room only. Then we'll head over to the track by noon to get the required safety briefing, and begin our touring laps throughout the afternoon. Perfect as you'll actually have the opportunity to practice what we've been taught in the driving seminar..... Touring Laps are run in skill groups, and I believe everyone who has run with us as not been at all disappointed. Take a peek:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIsgvb9USUo
If you would like an instructor to ride with you, one may be available!
Following our time on track, we'll head down to Franklin, KY for Dinner. It's quite a sight. Last year we had cars pulling off the highway to take photos of all of us coming down the highway. It was a pretty cool experience, and dinner with everyone was great. I recommend sitting with someone you don't know, and make a new good friend!
On Friday morning, we'll have a seminar with Marc Haibeck on Tuning the LT5, where we'll walk you through the basics of tuning, such as the process of tuning and all the software and equipment needed. A few attendees requested time from Marc to show them what tuning is all about - we've made it a full seminar, and I'm sure it will be well attended. It's always awesome to have the opportunity to speak with Marc out of the shop and learn from him.... hard to do when Marc is back at the shop.... he has a business to run, and the honored responsibility to keep our LT5s going (faster!) In the afternoon, we'll head back over to the MSP track for the Karting sessions. These aren't slow by any means, and the track is a full 1/4 mile. I have to say that driving these cars will give you a great workout. Again, be as competitive as you want - we'll form teams, race against each other, and have a ton of fun! Friday evening is dinner on your own, then we'll convene at the U-Plaza where we'll kick the keg from Wednesday night, and talk about our time on the track, and buy drinks for our guest speakers until they share a few untold stories to us regarding how they were able to get things done.... such as pillaging someone's ZR-1 in the parking lot of Daytona International Speedway in order to put a certain ZR-1 race car back on track to finish the IMSA endurance series race.
Saturday we'll have a morning seminar with Marc Haibeck regarding C4 performance issues, then photos of all of us, membership meeting of the ZR-1 Net Registry, then the main attraction - the Black Widow - featuring Gary Cline, Doug Rippie, Graham Behan and Greg VanDeventer. With this group, you'll get the no kidding insight of how this incredible project occurred, and the trials and tribulations to getting MerCruiser's race engines (already producing for Tommy Morrison and Kim Baker) into 8 ZR-1s as a proof of concept for a limited 100 car RPO that would have make a 50-state legal 475hp LT5 available to enthusiasts back in 1993. It would have destroyed it's Viper competition during that time period. Upon the conclusion of the seminar, we'll go out into the boulevard for a guided tour of the Black Widow ZR-1s. (remember, DRM made these ZR-1s fast, so ask a lot of questions!).
We'll conclude the event with the banquet, and have asked our guest speakers to tie in to the theme of the event with the evolution of LT5 performance.... how R&D did MerCruiser and/or Lotus do to find another few hundred HP out of the existing engine platform, and how did these engines find their way to the race track? How did Doug Rippie and John Lingenfelter find their way to becoming the great LT5 tuners? They were both super busy with their shops and setting records at every corner. You will be surprised to learn their relationships came to be, and discover the people whose work led to the ZR-1 filling pages of automotive racing / performance / enthusiast magazines and television shows for years after the initial hype of the ZR-1 diminished. The last part of the evening will be the conclusion of the silent auction where we will have some fantastic items provided by our sponsors of the Gathering event - DRM Motorsports, Jerry's Gaskets, Haibeck Automotive, ZF Doc, etc., as well as the live auction of 2 event banners - which I think are spectacular. Oh, did I mention that we will have specially minted pewter Black Widow coins available for ZR-1 member attendees of this special event. I can't tell you how much time and effort has gone just into the design and CAD relief of the raised plenum incorporated into the design of this special 1 3/4" 3D coin.
So, it's not too late if you have not already signed up to come on out and join us!
Marc, so sorry we'll miss you and Shannon, but we are planning on seeing you at Indy (Vintage races) shortly after the Gathering!
Regards,
Mark
