Our Z/28 Milford Proving Grounds Experience - 10/14/2013
 

Let's see, my day started early and I mean early... up at 3:30am so I could get my things in order, gas up the SS and start my 2.5 hour road trip to the GM Proving Grounds in Milford Michigan.

Nice little side story as I'm gassing up the SS, a gentleman on the other side of the pump speaks up "Wish I got to start my day out in your ride every day". You know, it's been 4 years since I picked up my Camaro from the Dealership and I can honestly say that I get a complement every time I take him out... Anyway enough with the distractions.

I pulled into the GM proving grounds and by total luck find where I need to be. Of course that was after turning around once and having someone point me in the right direction. I looked at the time and just happened to be about an hour early. Really, it worked out perfect for me because as I was walking up to building 100 I recognized a nice rumble backing out of the garage, a blue with black stripes 1967 Z/28 with plates that read "1RAREZ". Instantly Manish Boy by Muddy Waters starts playing in my head as I was reminded of the scene from Better Off Dead. As I entered building 100 I spotted a silver Z/28 on a lift to my left.

Let me say this, the Z is stunning in silver, it shows every body-line. The Z's stance is perfect, nothing looks out of place. The 305's on all four corners are insane. As for the interior, visually the only difference from the ZL1 is the 4 gauge cluster on the center console is out.

As for performance, I'll let my hot lap video do most of the talking... BEAST! Plant and go with a sound that's to die for... O' and I was lucky enough to get my lap in the Z that just lapped the Nurburgring at 7:37.41 and that was in the rain... A little birdie states it's 5 seconds faster when the ring is dry...

Here's a snapshot run down: LS7 hand built in Bowling Green Kentucky, 3-2-1 exhaust manifolds into 3 inch and then out 2 3/4 inch, an open element air filter, developed in conjunction with K&N, 305/30ZR19 Pirelli Trofeo R tires on all four corners 11 inch up front and 11.5 inches in the rear, insanely large Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors and monoblock 6 piston calipers up front and 4-piston in back, ABS programing to help eliminate pad knock-back, DSSV dampers that are tuned specifically for the suspension of the Z/28, 400 + pounds more down-force than an SS at 150 MPH, wheel position sensors that feed data back to the PCM to let it know if it's light in the corner or airborne, and oil coolers galore.

The Z is definitely a "Track Ready Beast" that will embarrass some serious competition and then cruise the main strip home.

Now, hopefully I'll get a chance to tame this Beast someday... :thumb:



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Awesome:bow:Thanks for the pics:headbang:

Very cool... I'm jealous...

What a trip that must have been! I'm jealous too!

So there is carpeting?

And yes I am jealous also!!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Good God, what a trip! THANKS for sharing; love the photos!!!

Thanks for sharing!

Excellent review of your ''work'' day! (jealous)
On a side note, it would be nice to know the lap time of the SS at MILFORD to compare it too..any one told you?

Very Cool. A once in a lifetime event.

Very nice and thanks for the share,funny you mention that after 4 years you still get compliments on your car,just a couple days ago I was on the hiway and a crotch rocket pulls up next to me as we are doing about 65 down the hiway and looks over at me and gives the thumbs up and nodding his head yes!,and just yesterday I was at a tire store getting my tires filled with nitro and everyone that came up was walking around and looking at my car and saying how good it looked,one guy that had to be in his 50's walked in the door of the shop and stood there looking til I drove off,i have changes to my car that don't show in the avatar pic.,and I have kooks l/tubes and 3" exaust,tune,cam,cai intake and blade spoiler,oh and painted ground effects,long story sorry but yeah after 4 years of having mine I still get a lot of compliments,

you lucky bastard!

Very Cool, can't wait to be able to sit in one!

Awesome pictures and video....what an incredible experience!!!

:laughabove: