I figured some of you guys would be interested in reading this.....
OK straight to the point, new stock ZR1 best times. We believe these times may be the quickest recorded 1/4 mile ETs for any stock production car:
10.851 @ 129.89 mph 100% bone stock on factory tires, driven by racerns
10.730 @ 132.46 mph stock on drag radials, driven by Ranger (read below for story, time slips, and videos)
As some of you may remember, my father (ZO6Jeff) and I had the opportunity to attend a private drag rental, hosted by Ranger, last April in his bone stock 2009 ZR1. It was quite the learning experience and we came away with a stock tire best of 11.05 @ 129.1 mph (me) and drag radial best of 10.98 @ 131.8 mph (Ranger). This past Monday we had the opportunity to continue that learning experience at another rental at MIR arranged by Ranger. This was a small 6 car rental with all Corvettes (we had the only ZR1, and the others were all modified) in a laid back and friendly at atmosphere. My father and I made the 3 hr drive up that morning to arrive at 9:00am. The weather conditions were a little better than the April rental, with the temps on the mid 50s and good baro to give a DA of -350ft through most of the day (as measured track side). There was a moderate to light on-and-off head wind during the day. The track prep out to the 1/8 mile was great, and even though there was no sun to warm the track it stuck well.
We decided that we were going to first concentrate on running the ZR1 on the stock tires since I had come close to breaking into the 10s last time. I ran the car in sets of 2 or 3 passes and then we would cool the car for a while. On my first set of passes I bettered my previous 11.05 with an 11.03. On my second set of passes I broke into the tens with a 10.97 @ 128.35 mph and a 1.703 60’ time. I had the launch down but really needed to work on my shift points and speed. Then during my 3rd set of passes I had another 1.70 60’ and did my best shifting to date that produced the 10.85 @ 129.8 mph run.
HD Videos to be added soon
After a few more passes that did not better the 10.85, we decided to put on Ranger’s 18” drag radials. It was closing in on 3 pm by this point. Ranger had not driven the car with the stock tires today but he was going to get first crack on the DRs since my driving experience with them is very limited. Ranger proved yet again that he is a driving machine by clicking off three 10.73xs passes in a row hot lapping the car. The best was his second pass of 10.730 @ 132.46 mph. I have also put up a copy of his last pass since it shows his best launch and 1/8 mile time (6.998), but the car fell a little short up top only finishing a 131.95 mph, most likely starting to see the effects of some heat soak after the previous two runs and a long day of running. I ran a few passes on the drag radials, never quite getting the launch, and turned a best of 10.95 @ 130.2 mph. Here is Rangers best.
HD Videos to be added soon
Overall it was another great day at the track. The ZR1 performed flawlessly and is simply an amazing car. I also think there are still better times to be had. Even though my shifting is improving, I am pretty sure better shifting could have got another 1/10 with stock tires. I think we are just scratching the surface on drag radials. I am sure if Ranger had pulled the same launch as his last pass on his first pass, we would have seen 10.6s. I would like to thank Ranger for all the tips and putting the rental together and my father for letting me beat on his car. As for the rest of the cars, I will let the owners discuss their times but I will say that every car there made it into the 10s. :thumbs:
