Wanna Go Fast Day 1

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by LancePearson

For engines and cars designed in 1985 or so, that ain't too shabby, guys. Apples to apples you done good, real good. It sure puts the new C7 vette into a kind of perspective offering a two valve pushrod engine at 455 hp all these years later.

They better do a faster model asap or they are going to face people going elsewhere for more hp.

I believe you're right, Lance. Let's face it: Corvettes, at least for us WARRIORS, are for sport. And where sports like these are held, 455 crank hp is not going to win the hearts and minds of those watching them get their heads handed to them: just don't feel good.

I haven't seen the results tally - wasn't there yet this morning, but I believe the ZR-1s in the NA class did very, very well for ourselves.

Case in point: I came to the line with a guy with an LSx in a pickup. I believe he said it dyno'ed around 420 rwhp. It really sounded nasty when he fired it up - lots of overlap on the cam - idled at about 900 rpm ("rumpity-rumpity-rumpity!") - very choppy idle.

We agreed on a rolling start, and we hammered it together at about 30-40 (I dunno - was watching to keep even w/ him). He jumped me by 1-1/2 length immediately, and held on and even gained a couple feet in the first couple seconds elapsed. Then he shifted into second. That is when he stopped gaining and began to slip back as my tach swept past 6000 rpm and the LT5 was pulling very hard. By the time I shifted into second, the LS was fading...fast! And, by the time my shift light came on again (at 7100 rpm), he was dropping back rapidly as the LT5 poured it on, and the aerodynamics started playing too.

When I shifted into third, it was all over for the lumpy LS. The air was cool and dense (Kevin said the DA was around 340 - 350 (something like that)) and the thrill I was getting was like my first big roller-coaster ride as a kid. My heart was pounding, and I heard a big "YEEHAH!" from somewhere inside my helmet, crossing the 1/2 mile mark near the top of 4th gear.

You all shoulda been there!!! Geeze was that fun!!

I mean think about it: The 5.7L LT5s were taking no prisoners from cars with bigger displacement and big custom cams... Pete turning in a pair of 154s; beating a new ZR1's speed as well as a cadre of C6Z06s. It was a proud day for the ZR-1s! Ask any of us that were there (and a few others too that were scratching and shaking their heads at site of the gleaming LT5s cooling in the breeze!)

P.