Wonder when the 1LE pops it air bags if GM will cover it

[obrut]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

I was talking to a GM guy at Indy, and honestly I agreed with him. Once you start running it as a race car, you need to treat it as such.

That kind of defeats the purpose of buying a 1LE, and what about the weekend racers that drive their cars to work?

So why put brembos brakes and make the car handle if you can't take it on a closed course and stretches its legs everyonce in a while?

I'm a big GM guy but this is just GM BS.

[Pro Stock John]

Is it?

Then your position is that the cars need special air bag modules for road race cars? I drag race my car a lot, should I have a drag race package?

I will be the first to admit I know nothing about the current safety standards.

[LSxJunkie]

Originally Posted by bannonm

Yeah John, I am concerned to the point of wondering if I will take this car to the track again. I averaged once a month since March, and even bought a trailer to haul it around. Ironically the first time I used the trailer was when the bags blew.




I think there are some people that still are missing the point of this. I don't believe there is a defect (at least not in my car), the system was designed to work with a stock car. My mistake was not realizing sooner that the Camaro SS is not a sports car, although you can certainly modify it to work better. However, GM didn't design this car so you could turn it into a road course monster. Their safety systems are designed for an everyday driver in stock form. I learned an expensive lesson. Don't modify your car and expect GM to be OK with it when something f*s up. The old saying "gotta pay to play" holds up here. My advice, proceed at your own risk.

As for filing this with my insurance company, it won't fly. I was not on a public road, and my ins. co. doesn't cover this stuff when a car is used in this manner. My wife used to work for them and told me this before I ever went to the track. Fortunately she's be cool with this expensive set back and hasn't given me any grief about tracking in the future.

Just one more reason to buy the agreed value HPDE insurance offered at most events.

[obrut]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

Is it?

Then your position is that the cars need special air bag modules for road race cars? I drag race my car a lot, should I have a drag race package?

I will be the first to admit I know nothing about the current safety standards.

My position is don't make a car that can out perform the air bag system. I didn't buy a camaro ss just to get from point a to b any car can do that.

So your position is the brakes and suspension on these cars are just for show? Because who really needs brembos for daily driving?

[Pro Stock John]

I actually might be agreeing with you, but I don't know what the answer is.

I guess if I was buying a car that is geared to road racing, I'd want a track-only program or something, like be able to flip a switch. It it weird to have to pull air bag fuses, I'd wish they had a button or something.

I've been drag racing late model GM's since the late 90's, and I'm kinda used to pulling fuses and even removing the air bags, but if I bought a 1LE OP's airbag situation would make me real nervous about leaving the air bags functional.

[bannonm]

Originally Posted by obrut

My position is don't make a car that can out perform the air bag system. I didn't buy a camaro ss just to get from point a to b any car can do that.

So your position is the brakes and suspension on these cars are just for show? Because who really needs brembos for daily driving?

GM didn't make a car (in my case) that outperformed the air bag system, I did with mods. If you want a car that won't have the mishap I had, DON'T mod it and GM well probably cover you. And I will say this again for the 1LE, drive it stock on the track unless you have the pocket book to pay.



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[bannonm]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

I actually might be agreeing with you, but I don't know what the answer is.

I guess if I was buying a car that is geared to road racing, I'd want a track-only program or something, like be able to flip a switch. It it weird to have to pull air bag fuses, I'd wish they had a button or something.

I've been drag racing late model GM's since the late 90's, and I'm kinda used to pulling fuses and even removing the air bags, but if I bought a 1LE OP's airbag situation would make me real nervous about leaving the air bags functional.

I'm going with a roll cage for the track with the air bags disabled. I'll turn them on when on the street for safety and liability reasons. I have a friend who has the equipment to make custom cages so we're designing it now. He is an experienced stock car builder and so it should look great when done.

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[obrut]

I thought air bags deploy during an accident? Maybe my understanding of what air bags are for is wrong. So the air bags can deploy if there is a close call?

[bannonm]

Originally Posted by obrut

I thought air bags deploy during an accident? Maybe my understanding of what air bags are for is wrong. So the air bags can deploy if there is a close call?

Doesn't sound like you have read through this entire thread. My side curtains popped on me while cornering. Long story short, GM sent me their "proprietary" report showing the computer said i pulled 1.5Gs peak at the point the curtains went off. The car was not designed to perform like that stock, so I exceeded what the air bag system was calibrated for. It thought I was rolling over according to what the computer data indicated. I was not out of control, or drifting. I had just exited the apex and was on the throttle.

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by bannonm

Doesn't sound like you have read through this entire thread. My side curtains popped on me while cornering. Long story short, GM sent me their "proprietary" report showing the computer said i pulled 1.5Gs peak at the point the curtains went off. The car was not designed to perform like that stock, so I exceeded what the air bag system was calibrated for. It thought I was rolling over according to what the computer data indicated. I was not out of control, or drifting. I had just exited the apex and was on the throttle.

What tread wear rating are the tires you run on track?

[bannonm]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

What tread wear rating are the tires you run on track?

I run pilot super sports in a balanced 285/35-20 on 10 inch wheels. Those tires and wheels helped me shave off consistently 5 seconds on my timed laps.

I'm switching to the Pedders FE4 sways this off season too. I should really have fun next year.

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[L99CAMA2011]

Originally Posted by obrut

My position is don't make a car that can out perform the air bag system. I didn't buy a camaro ss just to get from point a to b any car can do that.

So your position is the brakes and suspension on these cars are just for show? Because who really needs brembos for daily driving?

Seems like this GM product is all show. Makes GM look like a joke in my book. Then to create a 1LE to compete with the Boss and can stand up to the abuse GM get real. For us who really want to track our toys and not do stupid stuff on the street honestly we don't have time for these stupid games.

[dirkdoesdirt]

Read an article the other day while sitting at the drs office. It was about the "NEW" ZL1 (2012). Hint: Dr office, old magazines). It had a comment in it about the ZL! being built as a true track car and GM stated that if some component failed in the car at the track (and the car had not been modified) they would cover the repairs under warranty. Don't know if this still holds true for 1LE or 2013 but it made sense for them to make that statement. I think the mag was Autoweek.

[toehead93]

It should hold true, the OP had modified suspension so I can see whGM might step back. I'm curious ot know if the other Camaro videos had stock suspension or modified?