9/29 - C5 Z07, C6 (Z06 mod), 348, 996

[sameerrao]

Participated in a nice long drive with RC and a few of his friends. We drove quite a bit ~150 miles to shake loose any cobwebs. It was quite some time since I really exercised my 348 and this was a great way to do it.

I was keen seeing RC's 'beast' after it had the equivalent of several hi protein shakes and an Ahnold muscle building routine. First of all its a real loud mofo. 8) 8) When the four of us were driving all we could hear was RC's engine a quarter mile down the road. :lol: I am glad the 348 makes some noise or else I would been redlining my poor car because I couldn't hear the engine - that's what happened to me last year when I took out the S4. :lol: :lol: The Beast is bloody fast and disappears up the road faster than a Dutchman when presented with a bill. ;) And when the corners come the car is fast here as well. But you could tell that Paul was not slamming the throttle in thru the bends - fending in the monster torque was the name of the game. :)

RC's friend John has a standard C6 Vette modified to be more powerful than a stock Z06 (and by comfortable margin). His car was an absolute sleeper - no badges to make you wary. This car has tons of torque and get up and go. Both the Vettes seem to be real good match for each other.

Steve has a standard 996 with 300 hp. He drives very well and was able to rein in the Vettes in braking and turning but he was left behind on the straights.

My car seemed to have about the same acceleration and braking as the 996 but it seemed to sway bit on the undulating corners. I am try to think why this is happening - either my car is set up more the track (using the Challenge settings) or perhaps the tire pressures were off or alignment was out of whack. :hmm: Either way it was a bit scary going 9/10ths out so I backed off a bit. Next month I have a track day scheduled - so I can check how the car takes to the track.

On with the pictures ...
The beast
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1862.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1862.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1882.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1882.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1822.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1822.jpg)
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1830.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1830.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1849.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1849.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1860.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1860.jpg)

The sleeper
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1823.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1823.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1850.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1850.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1859.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1859.jpg)


The Porker
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1835.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1835.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1841.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1841.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1854.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1854.jpg)

The Eyetye
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1871.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1871.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1851.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1851.jpg)

Group shots
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1872.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1872.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1855.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1855.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1843.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1843.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1845.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1845.jpg)
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1848.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1848.jpg)

Driving shots
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1875.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1875.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1876.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1876.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1879.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1879.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1880.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1880.jpg)
http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1888.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1888.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1806.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1806.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1824.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1824.jpg)http://img0735.paintedover.com/uploads/thumbs/0735/dsc_1832.jpg (http://paintedover.com/uploads/show.php?loc=0735&f=dsc_1832.jpg)

[dutchmasterflex]

150 miles, that's just a 50 short of when I commute from Boston to NYC. I have yet to really experience a fun car on the road where as driving that many miles is truly a fun thing and not just a task.

Nice photos of the beast ;) The 348 is looking beautiful as always too. Hope you can figure out whats up with the car at the track and get it performing at it's best.

[novass]

Sounds like quite an adventure. Did you guys have some kind of destination or did you just pick a direction and go?

Great photos! I like the group shots, nice mix of cars.

[sameerrao]

^^ The journey was the destination if you know what I mean. RC knows the good roads like the way I know how to get to my icecream stash in my fridge. :)

[novass]

^^ The journey was the destination if you know what I mean. RC knows the good roads like the way I know how to get to my icecream stash in my fridge. :)

LOL Ok I got ya. BTW, you keep your ice cream in the fridge? Won't it melt? :P

[RC45]

Some nice driving shots there Sameer.. we need to do this again sometime, and perhaps allow an extra 30 minutes for some really nice "posed" panning shots etc through that one nice set of sweeping bends.x

And to say Steve is a good driver is a huge understatement hehe - on that long straightaway, I had to chase 170 just to put some daylight between us, I pulled a big lead - but damn, as soon as I let off to set up for the long sweepers here he comes whistling by at 150 hehe

I was chasing him through the next sections, but that 996 was pretty much holding at 120 all the way through - stuck to the road like glue.

And since we are just out for a friendly "cruise" there is no point trying to drill by at 140 in those sweepers ;)

150 miles, that's just a 50 short of when I commute from Boston to NYC. I have yet to really experience a fun car on the road where as driving that many miles is truly a fun thing and not just a task.


One of the key things I feel about owning any "performance" car is actually using it - and I don't mean just "daily driving" or "attending show and shine car shows" - I mean just filling up the gas tank and driving some place. I could not imagine not being able to simple "go for a drive".

I just don't get the "I have a 1997 XYZ SuperMasterBlaster 500 with only 3,000 miles on it" kind of sports car owners.

And let me tel you, there is nothing more satisfying than just pointlessly driving through the country side. ;)

^^ The journey was the destination if you know what I mean. RC knows the good roads like the way I know how to get to my icecream stash in my fridge. :)

LOL Ok I got ya. BTW, you keep your ice cream in the fridge? Won't it melt? :P

Our area may not have mountain passes with switchbacks like the Alps, but there sure are some pretty good roads out here - and many thousands of miles of great B and C roads all around us.

[dutchmasterflex]

Hell, I'll take a Toyota for a cruise but definitely not for 150 miles. . . that would take way too long :wink:

[RC45]

Hell, I'll take a Toyota for a cruise but definitely not for 150 miles. . . that would take way too long :wink:

The funny thing is you hardly ever even see the Lexus IS or BMW M3 guys out running backroads... but I seen a couple of Toyota Solora's doing the twisties before ;)

[silentm]

nice pictures, that looked like a lot of fun!

gotta love the sleeper :)

[oscargarza88]

nice pics that looks like fun.
let me know when you guys are doing this next time, and i might join you guys, sounds like fun, i would like to see if i could keep up :wink:

[RC45]

Sameer, is it okif I rehost some of the images at Imageshack or something - to many p0rn popus at the imagehost they are at right now.

[sameerrao]

Sameer, is it okif I rehost some of the images at Imageshack or something - to many p0rn popus at the imagehost they are at right now.

I didnt even notice that! :lol: '

Sure go ahead!