2009 ZR1

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I was reading an article on AOL ( http://autos.aol.com/article/power/v2/_a/2009-chevrolet-corvette-zr1/20080205110209990001) about the 2009 ZR1 Corvette coming out later this year - WOW. A supercharged 6.2 Litre Aluminum LS-9 V-8 that's going to pump out somewhere between 600 and 650 Hp (their goal is at least 100 Hp per Litre which is 620 Hp) that's going to be the 1st Vet capable of over 200 mph off the assembly line. The brakes are massive as well, 15" rotors with brake pads that have twice the surface area of the ones on the normal Corvette, the same pads used on the Bugatti Veyron and the Ferrari FXX. Price? Over $100,000 but it is claimed it will be competative with any mass produced car on the planet.

I found it interesting on the 2nd page where they were talking about the suspension which has "...iron-infused damping fluid whose viscosity can be changed instantly by a magnetic field generated in an electric coil on the shock-absorber piston." Hmmm, makes me wonder where we're going to be with suspension technology in 5 or 10 years since upper end vehicles usually get the toys before they trickle down to the more affordable vehicles - maybe an application for race bikes, who knows? 

[Super Dave]

They were working with the electronically controlled dampening fluids in bikes in the early 90's, I know.  Not sure if it was a cost thing, or what, but it's obviously not at all mainstream in bikes.


Pretty cool for a car though.  Will it turn faster laps than a bike for 10% of the cost?   

[KTG]

Pretty cool for a car though.  Will it turn faster laps than a bike for 10% of the cost?   

In the hands of a pro....nah :D

[benprobst]

They were working with the electronically controlled dampening fluids in bikes in the early 90's, I know.  Not sure if it was a cost thing, or what, but it's obviously not at all mainstream in bikes.


Pretty cool for a car though.  Will it turn faster laps than a bike for 10% of the cost?   

Id say it would stomp all over race bike lap times short of a few race tracks where they would be similar.

[KTG]

I agree on some courses it could/might take a race prep bike, but for reference.

Last year at BHFs, Bobby Fong does a 1.09.6" on Suzuki and the then owner of BHFs Irwin does a 1.09.4" with his fully race prepared Corvette GT1

VS


Now we can all agree which is more impressive.....
I have a feeling a ZR1 won't beat a GT1 around the same track........Anyway, this is all off topic, but its the winter with nothing to do! 

[benprobst]

Is Irwin a top level SCCA pro?

[KTG]

Is Irwin a top level SCCA pro?

Is Bobby Fong a top level AMA pro?

Irwin usually wins at Blackhawk, and crashes at Road America..... 

[nfcracin]

Is Irwin a top level SCCA pro?

Irwin's PERSONAL track He owned it.
Frong 1st time there.

[KTG]

I watched Pro racer Randy Probst do a 1:19 in a "stock" E46 BMW M3 at BHFs, and that was about as fast as it could go without off roading!  Many people would argue that a BMW would handle better then a Corvette around a tight twisty track....The HP of the Corvette would help it in places for sure, but 9 secs a lap to get to fast bike level?  That would be going from avg. of ~86mph to ~97mph.   Also last year Tony Kasemets in a Toyota Atlantic did a 1:02.7 lap at BHF, ~109mph avg!  Irwin best lap was a 2:16 at RA this past year and Fong did a 2:22....These bikes and riders a fuggin amazing!   

What it all comes down to is................









   

[tzracer]

Comparing street bikes to street cars is really comparing apples to oranges. Street bikes are much closer to MotoGP bikes than a street car is to an F1 car.

BTW at Laguna, an F1 car is about 30 seconds faster than a MotoGP bike. The F1 was a Toyota doing demonstration laps.

[benprobst]

I watched Pro racer Randy Probst do a 1:19 in a "stock" E46 BMW M3 at BHFs, and that was about as fast as it could go without off roading!  Many people would argue that a BMW would handle better then a Corvette around a tight twisty track....The HP of the Corvette would help it in places for sure, but 9 secs a lap to get to fast bike level?  That would be going from avg. of ~86mph to ~97mph.   Also last year Tony Kasemets in a Toyota Atlantic did a 1:02.7 lap at BHF, ~109mph avg!  Irwin best lap was a 2:16 at RA this past year and Fong did a 2:22....These bikes and riders a fuggin amazing! 

The corvette is better in most every aspect on the race track than the BMW, especially the new corvettes, and double especially the ZR1. Also, comparing a street car to a heavily modified race bike is silly. Compare it to a bonestock GSXR1000 with the tires it came with rolling out of the factory. I think on the majority of tracks the car would be the winner, BHF is certainly one of the kind of tracks where they would be close.

[KTG]

The corvette is better in most every aspect on the race track than the BMW, especially the new corvettes, and double especially the ZR1. Also, comparing a street car to a heavily modified race bike is silly. Compare it to a bonestock GSXR1000 with the tires it came with rolling out of the factory. I think on the majority of tracks the car would be the winner, BHF is certainly one of the kind of tracks where they would be close.

Probably would be close.....But like SD said 1/10th the price to go about the same speed.