Was a ZR-1 Ever Tested at 180mph?

[Erik]

Originally Posted by grahambehan

The Facebook page may be a better place to ask this.
The reason I say this is that I recall a test at DPG, desert proving grounds, that was a v max test for the cooling system. I have seen DPG and cooling group staff post there.

Graham

Good idea.
Thanks Graham.

[Hib Halverson]

Originally Posted by HAWAIIZR-1

Sorry, I missed the main part of independent magazine test. [emoji38] Hopefully one of the diehard old timers will chime in. Where is Hib when you need him?

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This doesn't really qualify as an "independent test" because 1) I was not working on a Corvette assignment from a magazine when it happened and 2) it was one-way, not a two-way average, but one time at the Milford Proving Ground, I was riding shotgun with Heinricy in a ZR-1. Late one afternoon at 4PM, he took me out to the "North-South straight and floored it for what seemed, like...forever. When I could see the end of the straight coming up fast, I looked over and saw 181 on the digital speed display. Right then John lifted, downshifted and braked hard.

Afterwards I asked him why do this so late in the day. Turns out 4PM was when the MPG security people changed shifts and for about 15-min or so there were no guards cruising around. The car was bone stock with no roll cage or harnesses and it was against MPG safety rules to go that fast without safety equipment, special permission and jumping through who knows what other hoops. Had we been "caught", John would have been in a lot of trouble.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by Hib Halverson

This doesn't really qualify as an "independent test" because 1) I was not working on a Corvette assignment from a magazine when it happened and 2) it was one-way, not a two-way average, but one time at the Milford Proving Ground, I was riding shotgun with Heinricy in a ZR-1. Late one afternoon at 4PM, he took me out to the "North-South straight and floored it for what seemed, like...forever. When I could see the end of the straight coming up fast, I looked over and saw 181 on the digital speed display. Right then John lifted, downshifted and braked hard.



Afterwards I asked him why do this so late in the day. Turns out 4PM was when the MPG security people changed shifts and for about 15-min or so there were no guards cruising around. The car was bone stock with no roll cage or harnesses and it was against MPG safety rules to go that fast without safety equipment, special permission and jumping through who knows what other hoops. Had we been "caught", John would have been in a lot of trouble.

Mahalo for sharing Hib! Personally it does not matter to me since I honestly don?t have the location or balls to try 180, but it nice to know that the slogan is not just made up. 🤙🏼


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[gtcollins@maxnet.co.nz]

Thanks for sharing Hib it took 1 minute for my ZR-1 to get to 184mph

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[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by gtcollins@maxnet.co.nz

Hi that's my ZR-1 in the video I have made my own headers and exhaust system I have dump pipes open behind the diff I have a aluminum flywheel Marc Haibeck chip and have ported the injector housing haven't removed the injector boss haven't port matched it either runs 3.45 gears I made a defuser at the rear to keep the from getting under the rear of the car I am running nitto NT05s 315x35x17 and 27x40x17 std sizes my shift light comes on at 6500rpm so over 6000rpm but not 6500rpm I am 1850 feet above sea level so the engine is down on power I think about 50hp could be wrong about that but at a track at a lower altitude I am about .5 of a second slow in the 1/4 mile which is about 50hp that video is from my second time at that event my first time it was cooler weather and I did 296.31km or 184mph.
At the event I go to we have 2.5km run up 1/4 measure 2.5km run down then turn around and do it again my average speed in the timed section was 284km/hr both ways first time I did the I button of slow down and then had to drive to the end so I keep going further at to how fast I could go 184mph was most I got to I believe the speed was still going up slowly at sea level maybe 190mph who knows I had a fun day out

Glen Collins

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You are the MAN Glenn! Very few on here will ever be able to do what you do, especially on that narrow road where you do you high speed runs in NZ. I salute you big time and you represent the C4 ZR-1s in a big way. To me, you are a King of the Hill! Thanks for keeping the legend alive.


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[gtcollins@maxnet.co.nz]

Hi Craig thank's for the kind comments I am very fortunate to be able to do what I have done I really enjoy the ZR-1 Net Registry and hope I can add to it for others
Regards Glen Collins 1990%20Corvette%20Goudies%20Rd%2C%20April%208th%202018.JPG

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[RichieDMD]

Wasn't the bigger accomplishment that a stock engine was able to run at high speeds for up to 24 hours and was still in good shape after the testing? If I remember, it wasn't just about top speed but true robustness.

[A26B]

Originally Posted by Erik

One of my favourite videos, but not exactly what I meant. Proper top speed testing is an average of two runs, one in either direction. Only a few car magazines bother to do it right.

?Proper? testing might need 3 runs, but we are not talking about a sanctioned certified Bonneville Salt record here.
The Life Begins at 180? comment falls in the category of bragging rights, not certification. This is why you won?t find what you are looking for.
?JUST DO IT!?

[A26B]

Originally Posted by A26B

?Proper? testing might need 2 runs, but we are not talking about a sanctioned certified Bonneville Salt record here.
The Life Begins at 180? comment falls in the category of bragging rights, not certification. This is why you won?t find what you are looking for.
?JUST DO IT!?

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[Erik]

Originally Posted by RichieDMD

Wasn't the bigger accomplishment that a stock engine was able to run at high speeds for up to 24 hours and was still in good shape after the testing? If I remember, it wasn't just about top speed but true robustness.

Different accomplishment. Yes, easily indicative of the fact that the LT5 might be the most rugged high performance/exotic street engine ever built. But it also doesn't much matter if the street versions don't hit the expected numbers.