Viper ACR continues to set lap records at various race tracks

[stroker71]

To better show the differance between street tires and race tires.  Vette on street tires and my little wimpy Ford Probe was on race tires...V700's fyi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYmmcdN_qLU

DuHasst

At about 7 sec. in you can hear me say seeya C5!!!!  lol

[Widewing]

Here's another interesting video of the Viper ACR and the ZR1 synchronized. You can see where the Viper was faster where the ZR1 fell behind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08nxInpgTGc


My regards,

Widewing

[mechanic]

Might explain what you witnessed. 

indeed, whoops

[RTHolmes]

Here's another interesting video of the Viper ACR and the ZR1 synchronized. You can see where the Viper was faster where the ZR1 fell behind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08nxInpgTGc

got to go shoot some red planes now but I know what I'll be watching wit my coffee tommorow morning

[Reaper90]

Here's another interesting video of the Viper ACR and the ZR1 synchronized. You can see where the Viper was faster where the ZR1 fell behind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08nxInpgTGc

Thank you. That vid illustrates my point perfectly. The Viper made practically all of its time over the ZR1 in the corners, turn entry, corner speed, and throttle on at exit, exactly where the difference in tire would give it a tremendous advantage.

Apples, oranges, potatoes.

Curiously, where is Dodge racing the Viper? Where is this ACR cleaning up?

[Rich46yo]

The Viper is a monster. A Monster!

Call it what it is. I get woozy at the thought of pimping around in one, on a Sat. night, looking for races. Just like I used to do back in the '70s.

With that car, and a pocketfull of Viagra, I could be 18yo again.

[RTHolmes]

Thank you. That vid illustrates my point perfectly. The Viper made practically all of its time over the ZR1 in the corners, turn entry, corner speed, and throttle on at exit, exactly where the difference in tire would give it a tremendous advantage

yup, same rubber I reckon there would be just seconds between them.

[Bronk]

Thank you. That vid illustrates my point perfectly. The Viper made practically all of its time over the ZR1 in the corners, turn entry, corner speed, and throttle on at exit, exactly where the difference in tire would give it a tremendous advantage.

Apples, oranges, potatoes.

Curiously, where is Dodge racing the Viper? Where is this ACR cleaning up?

The 1000 lbs of down force it can produce would have no effect in the corners either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inO-F5mbtKw

[Reaper90]

The 1000 lbs of down force it can produce would have no effect in the corners either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inO-F5mbtKw

Never said it wouldn't or didn't. That's beside the point. My point is a 5 second difference is nothing for the Vette to overcome and then some, were they on equal tires.

Next. 

[Bronk]

Never said it wouldn't or didn't. That's beside the point.No it isn't beside the point. The down force added makes a huge difference in braking, cornering and acceleration. You could have racing slicks and because of the aero package not get anywhere near their full grip potential.

 My point is a 5 second difference is nothing for the Vette to overcome and then some, were they on equal tires.

Next.  

5 seconds is a lifetime at speed. If that viper had been geared correctly and not mis-shifted as much you could probably tack on another 5.

IMO I think the vette is pretty much at the limits of its lap times. To get a significant diff, Aero  would have to be looked at.

Just to be clear I like both cars. If I had the $ I'd probably buy the Vette. It would most likely be easier to live with day to day.

[Strip]

That is 5 seconds over a 7 minute and change course, hardly a lifetime, that is around 1% of the laptime. Easily attributed to many variables like tires, weather, day or night conditions, and driver skill. Another thing to consider is curb weight, the Viper is notoriously hard on tires, and burns more fuel which causes bigger swings in handling over fuel runs.

When its this close the only true measure is time around the course over a complete fuel run....

Strip

[Widewing]

Never said it wouldn't or didn't. That's beside the point. My point is a 5 second difference is nothing for the Vette to overcome and then some, were they on equal tires.

Next. 

Chevy's problem is that the 2010 ACR will be about 10 to 15 seconds faster than the 2009 version... That means that the Vette would need to be about 15 to 20 seconds quicker to keep up. I can't believe that there are 20 seconds in those tires.

Digging thru the SCCA regs, I can't find any classification for the 2009 ACR. Older Vipers must have restrictor plates to compete (limited to 450 hp). No classification for T1 or STO... Thus, apparently they don't get to race. Can't win if you can't compete, and who would want to compete if they were to stick to form and mandate a 20% power reduction?

Remember when the CTS-Vs first ran the touring car series? They were so much faster than the Bimmers and Porsches that the SCCA immediately added ballast and restrictor plates. Can't allow anyone any advantage ya know.... Can't afford to piss off the German manufacturers. They'll pack up their party and leave (see Audi's whines when the Penske LMP-2 Porsche program was eating Audi's Cherrios).

I haven't looked at NASA regs yet.

It seems that the SCCA is heading down the old crapper, with a lot more emphasis being placed upon neutering faster cars to create a false balance. Nothing like it was in the 1970s when I was a member and competing...

Fiat has already been talking about the possibility of the Viper's replacement competing in FIA GT-1 or GT-2 in 2012. I guess we'll have to wait and see if that happens.


My regards,

Widewing

[RTHolmes]

where are they going to get another 10-15s from? weight, brakes, suspension, aero and tyres all seem pretty much optimised for a road car.

as for restrictor plates they are a pretty ingenious way for vastly different cars to compete, remember CTS-Vs dont have a slight advantage here, they have 6.0l vs BMW 2.8l and Porsche 3.8l. unless you want one class for US cars and another for everyone else its the best way of doing it.

[Bronk]

where are they going to get another 10-15s from? weight, brakes, suspension, aero and tyres all seem pretty much optimised for a road car.

as for restrictor plates they are a pretty ingenious way for vastly different cars to compete, remember CTS-Vs dont have a slight advantage here, they have 6.0l vs BMW 2.8l and Porsche 3.8l. unless you want one class for US cars and another for everyone else its the best way of doing it.

Wait I remember a certian BBC TV presentor claiming they get the same HP from a toaster or some such.
Can't beat em regulate them out it's the SOP now.

[RTHolmes]

toaster?

its been SOP for racing to have entry regulations and different classes to ensure competitive racing since the '20s at least. restrictors are a neat solution - everyone gets the same volume of fuel/air, how you use it is up to you.