Camaro Z28

[ChrisV]

Random note, Z/28 program's engineering manager, Mark Stielow, builds this in his spare time...

[Char]

Too many damn models - SS - Z/28 and ZL1 should be all there is. You should be able to add the "LE1" track package to the SS and that would make things simpler.

[68_427]

Thats What The 1LE Package Is.

[Cookie Monster]

Too many damn models - SS - Z/28 and ZL1 should be all there is. You should be able to add the "LE1" track package to the SS and that would make things simpler.

The 1LE is exactly that. It's a $3500 add on package to the SS. It's not its own model.

[GoCougs]

Too many damn models - SS - Z/28 and ZL1 should be all there is. You should be able to add the "LE1" track package to the SS and that would make things simpler.

The 1LE is an indeed an add-on package to the SS.

[giant_mtb]

Random note, Z/28 program's engineering manager, Mark Stielow, builds this in his spare time...

LIVIN THE DREAM.  Fuckin' hell.

[LonghornTX]

Well, they seem to be doing just fine on teh track:

Because surely those cars weigh 3800 lbs , which was my point. The racing versions weigh 1000lbs less

[hotrodalex]

LIVIN THE DREAM.  Fuckin' hell.

Indeed.

[Cookie Monster]

Because surely those cars weigh 3800 lbs , which was my point. The racing versions weigh 1000lbs less

Pretty sure he was referencing the terrible sightlines part.

[MX793]

Pretty sure he was referencing the terrible sightlines part.

In a roll-caged GT car, your visibility is heavily compromised by the safety equipment anyway (HANS device, head bolsters, etc).

I will say that I've yet to see a current gen Camaro show up to any of the local autoX events.  Seen some 3rd and 4th gen cars, but not a 5th.

[r0tor]

I'm betting it has the magnetic particle shocks just because it's supposedly a couple seconds faster than the ZL1. I can't see it being faster than the ZL1 without those shocks considering those shocks help the ZL1 mask its weight so well.

Magneshocks dont really do much on a track.  Their charm is being able to show huge digressive natures that allow it to have the right amount of low velocity damping but soft when you hit rough pavement (high shock velocities).... kinda moot on a smooth racetrack

[Cookie Monster]

In a roll-caged GT car, your visibility is heavily compromised by the safety equipment anyway (HANS device, head bolsters, etc).

I will say that I've yet to see a current gen Camaro show up to any of the local autoX events.  Seen some 3rd and 4th gen cars, but not a 5th.

I've seen all of 2 Mustangs and no Camaros at auto-x. I don't think it's fair to say that the bad sightlines of the new Camaro is the reason why no one auto-x's them. They're just not popular to auto-x.

[MX793]

I've seen all of 2 Mustangs and no Camaros at auto-x. I don't think it's fair to say that the bad sightlines of the new Camaro is the reason why no one auto-x's them. They're just not popular to auto-x.

I've seen every generation of Mustang except for Mustang II at least once at the local events.  I've also seen an '80s S10 pickup, an El Camino, Toyota Yaris (run by a regular), Nissan Altima (newer model, also run by a regular), Volvo V70, Caddy CTS, early 80s Cutlass 2-door, an old Jag XJ6 (semi regular), a Chevy Corvair (semi regular), and a Ford Fusion.  None of those would I consider remotely "popular" autox cars, and several I wouldn't consider particularly good for autox for one reason or another.  Some of them are seldom even seen on the streets these days.  And despite that I can't go anywhere without seeing at least 2 new Camaros out on the street, not a single one has shown up to an event.

[hotrodalex]

I saw a few new Camaros at the GoodGuys autocross. They did pretty well, although got beat out by some of the Pro Touring cars (not sure if it's due to the car or driver, however)

[GoCougs]

Magneshocks dont really do much on a track.  Their charm is being able to show huge digressive natures that allow it to have the right amount of low velocity damping but soft when you hit rough pavement (high shock velocities).... kinda moot on a smooth racetrack

Race tracks are never (completely) smooth.

The magnetic shocks are a huge boon on the track or anywhere else for a production car. Their mastery is they near instantaneously adaptability to conditions and state of the vehicle.

[hotrodalex]

Race tracks are never (completely) smooth.

The magnetic shocks are a huge boon on the track or anywhere else for a production car. Their mastery is they near instantaneously adaptability to conditions and state of the vehicle.

Yeah, instead of the shocks being tuned to a certain area of the track to maximize lap times, it can be tuned on the fly to every section. Immensely helpful.

[MX793]

I saw a few new Camaros at the GoodGuys autocross. They did pretty well, although got beat out by some of the Pro Touring cars (not sure if it's due to the car or driver, however)

That doesn't really count.  Goodguys is a group catering to American branded performance vehicles.  In fact, I'm not sure you can run an import branded vehicle at any of their events (looking at some event results, every entrant is domestic branded).

[hotrodalex]

That doesn't really count.  Goodguys is a group catering to American branded performance vehicles.  In fact, I'm not sure you can run an import branded vehicle at any of their events (looking at some event results, every entrant is domestic branded).

Imports are fine at events that are just 1972 MY or older. The one I was at was just any America-engined car, though.

I'm sure they're not a popular autocross car. Kinda big and most owners get them because they look cool. I just figured I'd bring up the fact that I have seen them on a course and they were pretty good, because those Pro Touring cars would whip pretty much any normal autocross car.

[r0tor]

Race tracks are never (completely) smooth.

The magnetic shocks are a huge boon on the track or anywhere else for a production car. Their mastery is they near instantaneously adaptability to conditions and state of the vehicle.

Shock dynos in the realm of what you experience at a track prove you wrong... but whatever

[LonghornTX]

Pretty sure he was referencing the terrible sightlines part.

Bad sightlines AND the fact that they are severely overweight (as I mentioned before)

[GoCougs]

Yeah, instead of the shocks being tuned to a certain area of the track to maximize lap times, it can be tuned on the fly to every section. Immensely helpful.

Certain area of the track let alone tuned to a particular car or particular track in general...

Most production cars don't have the grip, tire compounds/construction, chassis stiffness, spring rates, steering ratio, suspension setup (negative camber), etc., of the average track car (professional or otherwise) to benefit from "racing" shocks. To make up for the aforementioned street car compromises enter adaptive damping systems for notably better track performance.

[GoCougs]

Have read up a little bit more. From the sounds of it it's barely street legal/liveable and will be made in very limited numbers; think Boss 302 Laguna Seca (at least the Z28 will have back seats ).

Give me an SS w/1LE package and LS7.

[MX793]

Imports are fine at events that are just 1972 MY or older. The one I was at was just any America-engined car, though.

I'm sure they're not a popular autocross car. Kinda big and most owners get them because they look cool. I just figured I'd bring up the fact that I have seen them on a course and they were pretty good, because those Pro Touring cars would whip pretty much any normal autocross car.

A few things I've noticed about the GoodGuys autocross program:

-There are only 5 classes of vehicle based largely on vehicle age.  No distinctions are made for level of prep or modification and there are no handicaps that I can determine to equalize the field.  Serious autocross programs like SCCA or NASA have at least a dozen classes.  SCCA has 8 classes just for stock vehicles and many more to capture various states of tune (tuned, prepared, and modified).  Each class groups vehicles of similar capabilities together.  SCCA also has a handicap system in place based on class so that drivers can be compared across classes and an overall event winner declared.  The handicap is also used for classes like Novice or Pro where drivers are grouped by skill/experience level rather than what they're driving.  It's not truly a "best time wins" kind of event.

-GoodGuys doesn't require helmets because their courses are designed to keep speeds <35mph.  That's very slow.  I can hit 50 mph on practically all of the SCCA courses I've run my Mustang on, 40+ out of the Mazda.

[LonghornTX]

Have read up a little bit more. From the sounds of it it's barely street legal/liveable and will be made in very limited numbers; think Boss 302 Laguna Seca (at least the Z28 will have back seats ).

Give me an SS w/1LE package and LS7.

This thing is on a whole nother' level of barely livable when compared with the LS. One speaker, limited sound insulation, thin glass. This car will be loud inside

[r0tor]

This thing is on a whole nother' level of barely livable when compared with the LS. One speaker, limited sound insulation, thin glass. This car will be loud inside

Its a track car of which there is no series for it to compete in... they will sell maybe 100 cars

[Cookie Monster]

Its a track car of which there is no series for it to compete in... they will sell maybe 100 cars

I'm pretty sure that's what they're expecting...

[hotrodalex]

A few things I've noticed about the GoodGuys autocross program:

-There are only 5 classes of vehicle based largely on vehicle age.  No distinctions are made for level of prep or modification and there are no handicaps that I can determine to equalize the field.  Serious autocross programs like SCCA or NASA have at least a dozen classes.  SCCA has 8 classes just for stock vehicles and many more to capture various states of tune (tuned, prepared, and modified).  Each class groups vehicles of similar capabilities together.  SCCA also has a handicap system in place based on class so that drivers can be compared across classes and an overall event winner declared.  The handicap is also used for classes like Novice or Pro where drivers are grouped by skill/experience level rather than what they're driving.  It's not truly a "best time wins" kind of event.

-GoodGuys doesn't require helmets because their courses are designed to keep speeds <35mph.  That's very slow.  I can hit 50 mph on practically all of the SCCA courses I've run my Mustang on, 40+ out of the Mazda.

I never said it was a legit SCCA autocross. It's just for fun, really. Gives you something else to do besides walk around and look at parked cars. Only point was that the Camaros looked pretty decent, even compared to $150-200k pro touring cars and some other good handling cars. Is the Camaro the best autocross car? Nah, some small like a track prepped Miata, 510, or whatever is a better choice. But it's still perfectly possible to autocross the Camaro and do decently.

[dazzleman]

I have to check this one out at the auto show.  I was always a Camaro fan in the car's heyday.

[MexicoCityM3]

Its a track car of which there is no series for it to compete in... they will sell maybe 100 cars

It's like the GT3 of Camaros. I think they will sell well enough (depends on final pricing).

[LonghornTX]

Its a track car of which there is no series for it to compete in... they will sell maybe 100 cars

And that is why I like it, despite not really liking this generation of Camaro. It is so irrational, which is such a rare thing in big car companies these days