Open Letter from Al Oppenhieser to the Camaro Nation and Ford.

[radametz]

Originally Posted by adamgl

Lets do both. Laguna Seca, and the Ring.

What he said . I love the fact that Chevy turned right around after Ford revealed the GT500's numbers and proposed a race. It's great to see that GM has this much passion in what they're producing and are that confident in the ZL1's capabilities.

[vroomapunk]

Originally Posted by HEMI DAVE

Yeah......they really got out of the way with the 392........

It's laughable if you think Dodge is not gonna come back with something even faster......

dodge who?

[ron10]

i love arm chair racing.

[ewynn9]

You want a fair race, then get a well known professional driver for each car chosen by a third party. Then pick a road course here in the US that neither manufacturer has been to. Let each driver have a few laps to get adjusted to power and handling and then let them go at it. A 10 lap sprint would be fun to see.

Hell make an event out of it. Have a couple races before hand with other cars. Car shows, etc. Market the hell out of it and put it on TV.

[SS 376]

Originally Posted by Blue Maro Demon

Exactly! We have all see the GT500 running in videos and pics at the ring they dont have any reason not to accept the challenge unless they know their car cant cut it!

I seem to recall that the Boss 302, down about 150hp, still beat the GT500 around Laguna Seca, a pretty short track, by a few seconds. The GT500 is a very good drag car, but it's just not good around a race track. Adding on another 100 hp won't change that fact.

[rez333]

Yes Ford was chicken, but the problem is not one of car competency but it's likely that these two cars are close enough in performance that it will come down to a driver's race in the end. Having your driver mess up on the day could be embarrassing and so rather than have that happen, it's better to have the magazines do the testing and that way you can deflect the blame.

If a magazine does the testing, the test will be more equal because the magazine will use their own drivers. It's likely that Ford doesn't fear the ZL1, Ford fears the GM test driver who has many hours of driving the ZL1 specifically at the Nurburgring.

[2010SS2SS]

Ford has had their time at THE RING also...
Stop making it out that GM has spent a major amount more their. Read the article from the post and it gives the dates. Fords drivers are well versed on the track, cause if they weren't then why be there?

[radz28]

Dis't the challenge offer to pick any driver? If so, the argument about driver experience then becomes moot, IMO.

[Betiwin]

I am seriously considering getting an auto ZL1 for my wife cause she hates stick. I really can't believe tho how bad this GT500 has got so many ppl "butt hurt" and talking like they know the gt500 will suck cause it 100 more HP and a chassis that won't hold up and a car they could never turn. They have updated every system on the the GT500, read the R&T review and they road around the ring and were quite impressed. Remember Pretty much every car mag has said the camaro SS ranks 3rd in most comparison testing, so why can GM improve an SS to a ZL1 but Ford, can't with GT500? Come on we won't know for at least 3 months and it will prolly go down as a split descion, but jeez, you have to give credit to ford as well as GM. They are both making spectacular cars in what will be remembered as the real muscle car days

[2010SS2SS]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/dr...d-shelby-gt500

Article plainly says FORD and its Shelby has been there since September of last year.
So what your saying is B.S. because if their drivers aren't well versed in the track and the car by now then that is FORD Director of Operations fault. They just know that they can't post the times. Honestly they could take two drivers.. run one in one car then the other against each other..
The argument about driver and track and GM spending more time is mute

[OldJedi]

Ford was very quick to point out that their engine was 650HP and 600 Lb.Tq. making it the most powerful production engine ever built. They should be just as proud to post their ring times with this fabulous motor. It is now obvious that they did their homework with testing and development on the same track. If their times were better, I am quite sure that they would be doing a lot of boasting to go along with their "most powerful production motor ever built" statement.

I will repeat: let both companies bring their best car with their best drivers to a track of their choosing. Each company gets to pick one track. Run them at the same time and place and let the chips fall. I personally do not think that Ford has enough car to step up to the plate and except the challenge. When you make boasts, you should be able to back them up with more than just words.

[MIKnam67]

Originally Posted by MIKnam67

I'm not sure but it appears you drive a Ford.

Whether you know this or not GM Cadillac did the same thing (not at Nurburging) with all manufacturers around the world to compete against the CTS-V sedan. It was televised on espn I think. All major car companies like BMW etc brought their fastest sedans and CTSV beat them all. The other manufacturers took the challenge and came.

CTSV won. CTS-V sales are up over 115 % this year. Maybe this is one of the reasons.

Ford won't take the challenge with Chevy?

By the way I was lucky and invited by Cadillac to drive the CTS V sedan and Coupe a month ago at Road Atlanta race track as fast as I could. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, CTS V beats the Mustang Shelby GT500!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vroomapunk]

Its just because the 'ring is the international proving ground for american, asian, or european cars for a road course and all around performance.

Its is the measuring stick for performance cars! Its the only place that Chevy has been able to bring their corvettes and camaros to prove on a world-wide stage that we can take on Ferraris!!

[azvren]

Lol nice. Too high of an average speed? Isn't the goal in a race is to see who can go the fastest and get to the finish line first? I'm sorry but if there's such thing as too fast then you're not a real car guy.