[Doc]

Originally Posted by brt3

Doc, I hear you. I was tempted to predict a faster time, but I'm not ready to go out on that limb until I have more numbers -- like horsepower and torque.

In 2011 a C6 ZR1 Corvette -- with DOT Competition Tires -- barely broke 7:20 with Jim Mero behind the wheel. That car should be 400 pounds lighter than the Z/28.

I hope you're right, but I'll be stunned if the Z/28 gets below 7:30. Look at the sub-7:36 club -- there are some very heavy hitters there:

7:19.63 Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (2012) Jim Mero 9 June 2011 General Motors conducted test,[13] base specification car with optional track DOT competition tires (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure), video confirmed.

7:22.1 Dodge Viper ACR (2009) Tom Coronel, 18 August 2008, Chrysler and Motor Trend conducted test.

7:22.68 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 (2012) Jim Mero, 23 June 2011. General Motors conducted test, base specification car with optional track DOT competition tires (Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure) and Z07 package

7:24 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Horst von Saurma, Sport Auto (11/2010)

7:24.22 Nissan GT-R (2011), Toshio Suzuki, 1 October 2010, Nissan conducted test. Semi-wet conditions. Video confirmed. Best Motoring (12/2010).

7:24.3 Maserati MC12, Marc Basseng, August 2008, Evo Magazine conducted test

7:24.44, Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, Marc Basseng, August 2008, Evo Magazine conducted test

7:25.7 Ferrari Enzo, Marc Basseng, August 2008, Evo Magazine conducted test

7:26.4 Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 (2009), Jim Mero, 27 June 2008. General Motors conducted test, base specification car with stock tires and non-stock safety equipment, video confirmed.

7:26.70 Nissan GT-R (2009), Toshio Suzuki, 23 April 2009, Nissan Motors conducted test with optional tires. Video confirmed. Best Motoring (08/2009).

7:27.82 Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, Marc Basseng, September 2007, Pagani conducted test, semi-wet conditions.

7:28.00 Porsche Carrera GT, Walter Röhrl, 2 July 2004, Porsche conducted test.

7:28.71 Porsche Carrera GT, Marc Basseng, August 2008, Evo Magazine conducted test.

7:29.03 Nissan GT-R (2009), Toshio Suzuki, 17 April 2008, Nissan Motors conducted test. The test used a stock GT-R with stock tires. Video confirmed.

7:32.0 Porsche 911 GT2 (2008), Walter Röhrl, 2007. Porsche conducted test, R compound tires used.

7:32.92 Ferrari 458 Italia, Sascha Bert, November 2010, Auto Bild Sportscars (11/2010)

7:33.00 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 997MkII, Horst von Saurma, Sport Auto (04/2010), PCCB

7:33.6 Koenigsegg CCX, Marc Basseng, August 2008, Evo Magazine conducted test

7:34 Koenigsegg CCR, Horst von Saurma, 17 October 2005, Sport Auto (03/2006)

7:34 Porsche 911 GT2, September 2008, Porsche conducted test, stock vehicle with stock tires

7:34 Nissan GT-R (2011), Horst von Saurma, October 2010, Sport Auto (11/2010),.[31]

7:35 Ruf Rt 12, Sport Auto (02/2008)[32]

An impressive club to belong in, no question. For this particular car though, it's more than horsepower, torque and vehicle weight. Enough can't be said for what a suspension is able to do with regards to tracking road changes and keeping the tires solidly planted. All the power in the world won't help you if the suspension can't control the wheels. The ZL1 proved how important suspension really is by allowing that car even with its excessive weight, to turn in an amazingly quick time around the Ring.

The Z/28 is at least 300 lbs lighter than the ZL1, it has a new type of shock absorber technology compared to any previous Camaro or Corvette, and it has 11" wide wheels on all corners with a 60 treadwear tire straight from the Pirelli Formula 1 labs. There's custom technology debuting here that hasn't been done on any GM production car yet. Mark Stielow is the kind of guy who can jump into a production car and set a new track record. He's developing this car. All of that is a pretty potent combination.

Even if the power, torque and vehicle weight is comparable to other cars in the category, he's tuning up a superb suspension setup customizing it for these 11" wide sticky tires. This isn't the same as you buying an SS and slapping wide tires on it. This is a GM engineer with the full weight of GM's resources behind him who can get approval for things like thinner custom rear windows, lighter rear seats made out of different material than normal, etc. There's no telling what he's doing with the suspension besides the shocks and tires.

My faith is in Stielow and a killer suspension that can keep wide sticky tires planted even over rough road changes. This is exactly the right combination for popping off a surprise time at the Ring. I have no doubt they'll be in the 7:20's...it's my hope they'll manage a 7:19 but even if they can't, to have a Camaro that can run in the 7:20's on the Ring that you can buy at a Chevy dealer is astounding.