Help What Happened To My Performance?!?

[gm...@geocities.com]

I own a 1998 C5 torch red coupe I was out today and had the pleasure
of racing both a Firebird Trans AM and a camero Z28. The firebird was
a fair fight since we both started from the same position and took off
from a stop. With the Tans AM I got off to a slow start since I
neglected to turn off my traction control and it kicked in at takeoff,
however I was able to manage a win.
I met the Camero Z28 on the highway this vehicle was ahead of me when
it took off and we both started our acceleration while going
approximately 70mph. As we went through the gears I gained a little
ground on him but not enough to overtake his vehicle.
What bugs me is the fact that the vette doesn't perform significantly
better that either of these cars. Maybe some of the blame lies in the
fact that my shifting could be off slightly from what would be
optimal, but even considering the possiblility of less than optimal
shifting, on paper the vette is quite a bit faster in its 0-60 and
quarter mile times and should be able to prove itself against either
car I raced.
I know that mods are an option but I'm more of a purist and besides I
don't want to void the warranty :). If you have any sugestions or
comments please feel free to reply.

-Frustrated Vette Fanatic

[bmxman69]

On paper, they're actually not that different. In the tests I've read
the Vette was at most a second ahead in both 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.
That equates to not much more then a car length.

For the money, the Firebird and Camaro are the route to go if you're
only going in a straight line.

later

In article <39484d0f....@news.tca.net>,

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Before you buy.

[Steve Judd]

Another point to consider is whether your car is "bone stock" and whether
the Z28 and TA are "bone stock". 97/98 'vettes can benefit greatly from
improved induction. 99's and 00's also but less so, at least according to
the car mags.

A TA or Z28 with improved breathing is going to give a stock C5 a run for
its money...

"bmxman69" <bmxm...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8i9m4u$3iu$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

[kewlbrz]

Your right. a full second difference in the quarter mile equates to
about 10 car lenghts.

the rule of thumb is a car length difference at finish, per 1/10th of
a second.

-kewlbrz

On 16 Jun 2000 00:34:53 GMT, mckv...@aol.com (McK Vette) wrote:

>Isn't one full second in the quarter mile a little bit more that one car
>length?
>I would imagine if i was running my car best of 13.8 and someone running a 12.8
>would kill me by more than one car length.
>
>
>
>Just my opinon though
>

[McK Vette]

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Silly question..
You DID turn off the traction control, correct?

If not, then turn it off next time. :-)

--Kim
McK Vette <mckv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000615203453...@ng-fz1.aol.com...

[fish]

I agree with steve judd.
Is you vette "bone stock?

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[C5Phil]

Gmob,

Besides what Steve Judd says about "bone stock", it seems for every one
fellow that modifies his C5 there are 10 or 20 camaro/firebird ones. Also
at 70 what gear were you in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th. I know that sounds
stupid, but were you in 5th? If so did you downshift, shifting down to 4th
rather than 3rd, can make a huge difference in accelerate. How fast did
you get going, what gear did you hit and when? What were the conditions
that existed when you said "it's over" to yourself? He got the jump on you,
since you reacted to his actions, I presume. Were you still gaining ground
on him or just running even? How far in front was he? You may have won
bigger than you think.

regards,
C5Phil

[gm...@geocities.com]

Ok Just to answer a few questions yeah I did turn the traction control
off, thanks Kim ;)

As for the gears I was In at 70 I probably was in 5'th to begin cause
I wasn't planning on racing I shifted down to 4'th and possibly to 3'd
for a min before poping back into 4'th and hit 5'th around 100 I think

Another good point is that a lot of Z28s and Trans AMs are modified.
That knid of puts me in a perdicament cause I'm pretty much a purist
when it comes to cars. So that leads me to the next answer yes my C5
is totally stock. I have considered altering it but I just know
enough to be dangerous and don't want to do anything stupid I want to
add performance but not do any irreversable damage to the car. I have
heard the K&N filter would be a good start.

BTW Thanks for the responses.

[gm...@geocities.com]

C5Phil,

I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can remember. We were
going about 70 I believe I droped into 4'th initially and then to 3'd
until I reached about 85 then hit 4'th, stayed in 4'th until I hit
around 100 and hit 5'th. The Z28 was a little over a car length ahead
of me before it started to accelerate then factor in my reaction time
I was a little behind his bumper as we went through the gears. I
believe I did gain on him but it was slow. I gained probably a few
feet on him and passed his rear wheels around 120, thats about the
time he bowed out. I think the Camero bowed out at the point where he
felt that he would start getting overtaken. Hope this helps, thanks
for the analysis.

On Sat, 17 Jun 2000 20:11:33 -0700, "C5Phil" <pmo...@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

[buffdaddy w/ silver C5]

Actually I think it's more like every 10th of a second is a car length. They
both have ls-1's so why wouldn't it be close on a straight away? It's not
like you have a ls-6 yet..(even that wouldn't be too much of a difference)
Although I think they should keep that one just for vettes and keep the
others at the ls-1 engine. If you hit corners you would kill them. Also you
look a hell of a lot better doin it than they do.