Pike's Peak

[LancePearson]

I know we aren't out West here but with the torque available in Mother LT5, the beast, I wonder how one of our Z's with stout suspension would do on something like the Pike's Peak hill climb up the road up to the top?

[Fully Vetted]

Good question. If we've learned anything about the beast it's that she likes to breath. And breathing is a little difficult on "The Peak".

[LancePearson]

Absolutely true as the top is 14,100 feet having been up their by tram. The record for an unlimited class is just under ten minutes to do the climb and involves some hairy turns and speeds on a road with switchbacks and few if any to no guard rails...gravel if memory serves.

I have a friend who had a '65 in Silverthorne at 9300' for years and his ran okay but not nearly as powerful as at lower elevations. His was a four barrel 327 with the wrong jets as well so when his son got it as a gift in California he had it redone, frame off, painted, etc. and redid the engine correctly as well.

I don't know how the cars that do the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb aspirate but you'd think it would be an issue. Starving for O2 would be universal though and have a similar effect on any driving. I think they do the climb by class but I don't know how they determine class. Could consider the atmosphere in setting class.

Heck, I'd like to run mine in one of the classes out your way in the Big Bend Open or get a chance to run it ten or twenty laps on the Bridgestone tire test track at Fort Stockton for obvious historic reasons.

[RICHARD TILL]

Several years ago i rode a cog wheel train to the top of Pikes Peak. The air is so thin that i actually got dizzier than i normally am. Ha. Several people had to have oxygen that they had available. The parts of the road i saw was definately gravel. As for desires, i`d like to get my Z on the Talladega, Al. track. Just don`t know how much courage i`d have.

[LancePearson]

Richard, there is a corvette club which gets on talladega annually...see the youtube to find it...they hit 140 mph on the banked track.

[RICHARD TILL]

Lance, Thanks a lot. I`ll check that out.

[Hog]

It's all pavement now.

peace
Hog

[RHanselman]

Originally Posted by Hog

It's all pavement now.

peace
Hog

Very nice... May have to run up with the turbo car...

[Hog]

Originally Posted by RHanselman

Very nice... May have to run up with the turbo car...

Yes, I just read a Hotrod article where they took a 70's MOPAR product for the 2012 race and they were mentioning it was the 1st year of the race being all pavement. Its a 12.5 mile race.

Here is a video, apparently it was a 71 Cuda.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmgIrveVOT4

I would think the ZR-1 would do well. Brakes, handling, engine with a wide rpm range, close ratio 6 speed. You dont have to have high speed to let that LT5 breath.

It's on my bucket list

peace
Hog

[LancePearson]

Originally Posted by RICHARD TILL

Lance, Thanks a lot. I`ll check that out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hw4nN0tdkA

there are various ways that vettes get on Talladega...Vettes for Vets and others following pace cars...this one is the Vettes for Vets I think.

Lance