When General Motors test engineer Jim Mero made his record setting run on the infamous Nurburgring race track in Germany in a new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, beating the likes of the Porsche 911 and brand new Nissan GT-R, it was a truly impressive feat. All the more so since Mero admitted that it hadn’t driven a perfect run. He expects to be able to significantly improve on the 7:26.4 time that he posted on 2008 June 27.
Also of interest from viewing the YouTube video shown here was the awesome display overlaid onto the video camera view out the front windshield. How was this achieved?
Sure it’s winter and most areas are getting a considerable amount of snow this year due to a combination of global warming, El Nino, planetary alignment, and the incoherent babbling at a US House of Representatives meeting in Washington D.C.
Should you just park your Vette in the garage and wait for spring? I say no! For years I’ve been driving my C5 Z06 all year round here in Michigan–through all of the same weather that the U.S. Postal Service will deliver your mail.
It started a long time ago. My mom was the lead foot in our family–the accelerator peddle had two positions like a light switch: On and off. Her philosophy: If you’re not accelerating one of two things should be happening:
1) The car can’t go any faster.
2) You’re braking hard for a turn.
My dad recognized this and supported her driving standards by supplying an eye popping supply of performance cars. Jaguar E type. 351 and 427 Mach 1s. Cougar Eliminators. Believe me, it was very fun being driven to elementary school.
With both my mom and dad being engineers and working in the automotive industry, there was this interesting habit of not leaving well enough alone. The endless engine and suspension tweaks following the delivery of every new vehicle that became a part of our family.
So, here I am with racing in my blood and a nice SCCA racing license. What to do, what to do…
An early morning tour of Detroit on foot, while running as part of the Habitat for Humanity Detroit Speed Team during Detroit’s annual marathon, offers its lessons about: Racing, Detroit, Life.
Somehow it all made sense-in Bizarro World-to be driving at 10 mph on a dirt and gravel road in our Corvette Z06 while on our way to an automobile race.
