GMs Test Driver is Byron FBI

[LGAFF]

Was reading an article on testing of the C5 Z06 and the C6......the article was about how GM sets the 1/4 times. Pointing out that GM uses no-lift shifting to set times, and that GM tests powertrains and they must be able to withstand 600....yes 600 1st through 6th gear powershift runs......


Most interesting is the fact that the GM test driver used to set the times is Luke Sewell, a native of Rockford, Il and learned to race at Byron.....small world....maybe he would come out to Byron and show some of us amateurs how to run a Vette down the track.


Question: Do all tracks allow the cars to move 1ft before the ET starts? I assume this is what they call shallow staging, GM subtracts the 1st foot in their calculations..

[Paul Workman]

If I recall correctly, "Jingles" told me (at the JVD's BBQ) he shifted the ZR-1 at 6300 with NO letup when establishing the quarter mile times. (I can't get over what a nice job he has!)

P.

[Hog]

There are 2 beams, Pre Stage and Stage.
When the front tire breaks the Prestage beam, the Pretsage light illuminates, then when the tire breaks the Stage beam, teh Stage light illuminates.
When the Stage beam IS NOT broken anymore(meaning the ture has rolled out of the Stage beam) the timers start. The timers DO NOT start when the Stage beam is broken.

To shallow stage, you want to Stage JUST as the Stage light illuminates, as you mentioned this gives you a little bit of acceleration before the timers begin.
A DEEP{ stage, is where you roll into the TSage beam, the roll a bit forward. This can cause the PreStage light to go out with the Stage light remaining. Deep Staging effectivley makes the track a tad shorter. This is effective when racing the other opponent, and not the clock.

peace
Hog

[XfireZ51]

We were at the JVD BBQ last year speaking w Dave McClellan. Pete was asking Dave how to get the ZR into 10's. McClellan asked Pete if he lifted. Pete said yes
Then McClellan called over Jim Ingles and pointed to Pete telling Ingles
"He lifts" almost as if it was a joke. Ingles said he power shifted all the time.
He did the validation runs which was made up of 20 runs forward and then back again. He never lifted! Pete told him he didn't want to blow the ZF. After all, if Ingles blew a trans or motor, he'd get another one.

[gbrtng]

Jingles told me he never broke a ZF ... and Dave's name is McLellan.

[XfireZ51]

Thank you. I went to college w a Jim McClellan.