ZR-1ing IT

Most of you now know that I managed to hitch a ride in the new ZR-1 at the C5/C6 Bash. How did this event manage to go down? Let's start at the beginning. While we were admiring the bright Velocity Yellow beast in front of the NCM, Events Director, Roc Linkov, happened by and I half jokingly said I would donate $500.00 to the museum for a ride in it. He looked a little taken aback and said I probably hadn't met reserve. I could tell this had not occurred to him as a fundraiser, but he was now locked on to it.

Fast forward to the afternoon fundraising auction. Guess what the “recent” addition to the auction and the first item up for bid is. Yep, a ride in the ZR-1 with Corvette Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter, at the wheel. After some initial spirited bidding; it ended up between one other guy and me. No secret, I make a yearly donation to the NCM so I figured I might as well get something back this year. I just got pushed a little further than I had anticipated.

Now that I have won it, might as well push the issue. How about Tadge's ZR-1 cap he had worn at the Barrett-Jackson Auction when the first ZR-1 went for a cool million dollars? No problem, he signed the cap with date and event. How about his ZR-1 shirt also? No deal on that but the NCM managed to get another one and Tadge autographed it.

Out the back door and time to saddle up in Ole' Yeller. The ride was supposed to be down the back road around the museum, out to the highway leading to the entry to the NCM, and then back to the parking lot. By the time we hit the highway, the speed was well over 100mph and when he stomped the brakes at the stoplight, we stopped – right now. Most impressive – damned impressive. My total astonishment was poorly articulated by my blathering. Tadge only said, “They'll do that all day without any fade”.

Now for the good part, while sitting at the light, Tadge informed me that the loop road around the factory was sometimes used as a test track and asked if I would like a lap. Does a bear-------? Well you know the answer, so a left, a right, a rapid jump to over 140mph (couldn't see the needle after that figure) and then WHAM! those wonderful brakes again and splat! head nailed to the headrest. Another three or four corners like that and we're back at ground zero. WOW! OH WOW! Then he asks, want to go again? Does a bear-------? We're gone again. I can do this all day long. But time is up, so back to the barn.

Now about the car. The ride is much smoother than my ZO-6 due to the magnetic shocks. I had a 50 th Anniversary with that suspension that produced a pleasant ride but hard cornering on a less than smooth road caused the back end to step out. New algorithms make it more performance oriented on the ZR-1.

And the brakes. Carbon Fiber. Same brakes used on the European super cars. The ones they have as a $20,000 option but are standard on this Corvette. I don't know what perfection is for a braking system but these must be close.

This motor is not your father's supercharged hot rod. Smooth, rapid application of power with a hardly discernible whine. More pronounced on deceleration than acceleration.

The transmission has been changed to allow top speed to be reached in sixth gear instead of fifth.

Although the looks are all C6, there are hardly any, if any, panels common to the standard Corvette. It has a low mean stance that tells you it is no run of the mill Corvette, if you can call any Corvette run of the mill. So, do I want one? Does a bear-------?

Paul Mariano