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Corvettes and all things about them

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#529 of 1908 Tool Kit For Vette? by j3studio May 23, 2003 (8:27 am)
Since every time I ask questions in this forum I get useful answers, I'm going to try again:   Does anyone know of somewhere to get a nice looking, not obscenely expensive tool kit that would look good in a C5 trunk?   We're going on our first caravan and everyone suggests a tool kit, but we're picky about what we put in our 50th. Newbies...   By the way, I strongly suggest the F55 suspension. I'm constantly suprised by how comfortable the car is, without seeming to give up anything to the standard suspension in handling. There was absolutely _no_ gritting of teeth involved at any point in the 800 mile plus drive home from the factory, over some not great roads.
#530 of 1908 by ruking1 May 23, 2003 (8:37 am)
One small detail, but in my estimation a major problem if something goes wrong and you do need a tool, are jacking pucks(2 to 4 pucks). If you ever need a tow truck or if it is as simple as changing or fixing a flat, chances are the shops you would be using DO NOT have jacking pucks. I would photocopy the jack point and jack stand point page in the service manual. I also would get real familiar with the CORRECT procedure tow truck operators use to hoist the Vette on flat bed (if needs be) So if the tow truck operator than might service YOUR vehicle doesn't know, at least you have the knowledge!   I would also carry a supply of synthetic oil (1-3 quarts)   Another thing I do carry is the tire inflator kit for the Z06. If you have a lug nut lock, don't forget the lug nut key.   A spray bottle with dilute car wash with 100% cotton toweling is very good to have on hand . I use it a lot for insect removal, road splatter etc. I also tour with a front nose bra and that seems to really cut down on the insect issue and NO paint chips!. You can also use the ubiquitous nasty gas station provided squeegee, whereas I would never use that on exposed paint. It also provides a bit a padding for those almost inevitable small stone/ rock incidents.   I have taken numerous long trips totalling 40k miles in my 2001 Z06 with the above "tools" I also would not get too nuclear with tools because the luggage limits are like 100#s above and beyond two folks, if I have read my technical data correctly. If you still feel the need to carry hand tools, since you are caravaning, you can avoid duplication by in effect having everyone care a small part of a pretty substantial tool kit list. Communication will in all likelyhood be by cell phone or CB so you can find the right tools when and if need be.   A safe and happy trip to you!
#531 of 1908 Day at the track by starrow68 May 25, 2003 (12:48 am)
Something to consider for those who haven't tried it yet. Took a course at the local road race track with a driving school with about half the day on defensive driving techniques and the other half on performance driving with an instructor. Did 3 exercises on avoidence/lane change, skid car, and turn in / apex setting of the line on an autocross course in the morning, riding with instructors and then practice. In the afternoon did the NASCAR track for one session after riding with an instructor in a sedan at speeds that had me just a little pale. Then went out in groups of two with one instructor. He'd drive one car with the owner and the other owner following. Then he'd switch to explain the turns in the other car, first lap slow and then at some speed, wish I was that smooth in my own car. Then he rode with one, the other following and increased speed as we got the line down. Then switch to the other car and lead through the drill again. And two more switches before a break.    The second session was a repeat with the road course instead of the NASCAR configuration. Sears Point has what seems like a lot of elevation and sweeping into turn one at just over 70, slight brake into turn two to wide open throttle to slight brake into turn 3 is really a kick. Going down hill through 5 into 6 at close to 80, braking hard and then going wide open just past the apex at the bottom and hitting a '00 up the straight is really a blast when you finally get the line correct. Too much else to go on out to the U at turn 11 but you get the idea.   If you haven't done it, it's a great time. The group of 8 we had included another Vette, a 911 and BMW's, two were M3's. Just what the Corvette was made for.
#532 of 1908 Thanks ruking1 by j3studio May 25, 2003 (11:27 am)
Thanks ruking1 for the good advice - I hadn't thought of the pucks. Gotta read the manual again...
#533 of 1908 Magnetic Selective Ride Control by firstvette May 26, 2003 (3:23 pm)
Thanks for all of the advice about the F55 option, and I've decided to get it.
#534 of 1908 by Mr_Shiftright HOST May 28, 2003 (8:16 am)
I like SEARS...it's a very "technical" track so you can learn a lot about what driving skill is really all about. It's a long way from just pointing a car straight ahead and romping on the gas, isn't it?
#535 of 1908 Two ways to look at it ... by starrow68 May 28, 2003 (9:46 am)
I don't think anyone in the class ever spun out in the afternoon, so no one was really trying to test the limits. Like the instructors said, going home having had fun was the objective and doing it without having any scrapes was a great way to have fun. On the other hand going into a few corners too fast, or seeing where you could get more speed out of the correct line on exit let you know that there was a lot more to it than just romping. I especially liked turn 6 on the road course after dropping off the hill. Getting the feel for where you wanted, some throttle, and then were able to transition to full throttle while still in the sweeper is a real kick. Getting back down for turn 7 on the other hand put a little wear on the brakes going in and on the tires going wide a few time. They asked us to limit the esses to 65mph, but nobody said anything when riding on a few passes closer to 72 mph, which at the end started to feel good. Yes Sears Point is fun even for a novice, hope to do Laguna by some time this fall and see if the bug gets me to drive a little more distance to TH or Buttonwillow at some point.   However, this weekend I hope to get into the low 13's with a little help from a new exhaust system and having been once before. Straight line seems fun too.
#536 of 1908 by Mr_Shiftright HOST May 28, 2003 (9:54 am)
Laguna is also a great track...the corkscrew was my favorite turn #8 I think), although in an open wheel car I was actually getting fuzzy in the head making it through there. #6 is a devil, you can get in trouble there.
#537 of 1908 two cents on DAY @ the TRACK msg 531 by ruking1 May 31, 2003 (11:29 am)
I sent my 16 year old to Jim Russell's, Highway Survival Class at "Sears Point".   Best part for me was seeing her eyes light (even with binoculars) at a safe distance!! It took the better part of the day for her to wipe that wired on grin after the experience!   Your experience sounds like the Highway Survival course can be a good base to send her to the school you are describing!!
#538 of 1908 It would be good by starrow68 May 31, 2003 (6:48 pm)
I planned to take the hwy survival course but the neighbor signed up for the performance driving so I did as well. When I called to sign up I asked about taking the survival course before the performance but they said, 'to be honest, the morning of the performance class duplicates much of the survival course'. I'm guessing that doubling the imprint of the survival message before going out on the track at speed might be a great meassage to get across. I'm still grinning!   Just put a Magnaflow exhaust system on this past week and it does sound nice. Not much louder, but deeper rumble and at cruise speeds I don't get any resonating sound in the car, except on steeper hills when you put it under load. Depending on what is on the CD it can be heard. Just hoping the 15 ponies and 12 ft #'s help tomorrow at the Vette Magic drags Sacto. Should be fun since I've now got an idea of what to do from the prior visit.   Got to see quite a number of vintage vettes at Sears Point today on a complimentary ticket from Jaguar. They had an introduction party on the back of turn 7 with test drives in the XJR, nice ride if you like big sedans. The XK8/R is still too tight to get into for someone 6'2" or over. After putting down the rear, my head hits the top of the door frame 1/2 way from the top of the ear to top of the head, about 1 1/2 inches too tight, requiring a fold and spindle that is painful. The Corvette is amazingly roomy in comparison.

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