Virginia International Raceway was packed with Corvettes from all over this past Monday and Tuesday. Dominated by the amazing Z06, there were also plenty of other awesome performers including the new 2010 Grandsport Corvette. The 2 day event consisted of driving classes and open track time for any Corvette owner. If you missed the 2009 Corvette Museum HPDE at VIR you truly missed two great days of performance driving.
Our new 2-piece Corvette rotors were on Steve Landstra’s Z06 Corvette for an on-track test. With speeds approaching 170 mph, Steve really pushed the brakes to the limit and proved that they performed excellent and stood up to heavy track duty. You can buy the same exact rotors for your Corvette in our online store.
The two day event at VIR gave Zip the opportunity to get out to the track meet more of our customers that enjoy the racing side of the Corvette world. While in attendance Zip Corvette was able to answer questions, discuss new Corvette Parts in the making, and meet a bunch of Corvette drivers and enthusiasts alike. Among the most popular topics discussed included our newly finished Mamba Air Intake System and our 2-piece Corvette Rotors. With the combination of high speeds and sharp corners at VIR, every Corvette Brake System will be pushed to the maximum. Zip stocks many of the necessary braking components required for an event like this such as their 2-Piece Performance Corvette Rotors, CarboTech and Hawk Brake Pads, Stainless Steel Brake Hoses, and more. Get your Corvette prepared for the track with Zip!
We are in the process of building a new discount program that targets Corvette drivers involved with open track events. The program is still in the works but should become effective soon. Some of the Corvette parts that will be discounted include:
- Brakes - CarboTech, Hawk, Wilwood, 2-piece Performance Rotors
- Suspension - Energy Suspension, Pfadt Racing, Addco, Hyperco, and more
- Cooling Systems – Meziere Water Pumps, Aluminum Radiators, Silicone Hose Sets
- Shifter & Transmission – Fidanza Clutches, Shifters from B&M, Hurst, & Kirban
- Exhaust Systems – B&B, Corsa, Kooks, Magnaflow
- Drivetrain & Steering – SKF Bearings, Zip Performance Differentials, and more
- Wheels – Factory Reproductions, CCW, Forgeline
This recent HPDE at VIR was my first on track experience with my C5 Corvette. Clearly my next upgrades need to be bigger brakes and tighter suspension. Even a stock LS1 Corvette has plenty of power for road or track.
Two days of on track driving convinced me that braking and handling are the keys to fast and fun laps at VIR.
Remember, on road courses the straights are just there to connect the curves!
Stephen,
Welcome to the world of high performance driving! We can certainly help you with Corvette brake and suspension upgrades, but don’t buy anything quite yet. (I bet you didn’t think we would say that) With only one event under your belt you should really get more time behind the wheel before making any upgrades. Of course, the basics should be covered; buy good, high temperature brake fluid and brake pads that will last. Make sure to bleed your brakes well before every event. Our motive brake bleeders make it easy for one person to do the job.
Always Remember; safety first! Think hard about getting fireproof gloves and even a suit before you begin to modify your car to go faster. Your Corvette is a world class performer, even if it is 100% stock. It takes a lot of experience and skill to push it all the way to the limit, which is where you should be when you begin to make it faster. You’re correct, there is plenty of horsepower under the hood for any driver, but there is also no need to make drastic suspension modifications until you have mastered the way the car works now. Then you should make each modification, one at a time, to really understand and experience the effect. This will make you a much faster driver in the long run as you learn to drive the car as it changes. Many drivers will modify a lot early on and their Corvette will be a rocket-ship on track, but they never learn as much. In the end you’ll be passing them with less modifications and money spent. As you probably found out at your first event, the driver makes all the difference.
We hope to see you at the track!