Corvette Flyby at 198 mph ; skillful driver or completely nuts ? You decide.

Some of the new top dollar Vette's will hit 200, given enough room.

-W

Incredible. But, given that some motorcycles off the showroom floor will hit 170 or so, I suppose it makes some sort of sense. And, I used to think

No biggie, when the C6 came out a motor rag taped off the grill and folded the mirrors back and nudged 190 with a stock issue 400 HP.

Back in '79 I once (and *only* once) put my 68 vert (350 small block in it) to the floor on a dark highway, clear night, with 3-5 miles of straight vis. Hard top bolted on, lights up and high beams on. Speedo said 155, but I assume some tire size error. I can't remember the tach now.

I know that a car came out on an entrance ramp when I was about 3/4 mile back from him. I was running on the center line but moved over 1/2 lane to get around him. When I went by him, it's like he was going 100 in reverse. And it was instant. I saw him, immediately moved over, and then he was fading fast in my mirror. All in what felt like a moment of time. I'll never forget it... and I'm sure the driver of that car (whoever he was) never saw anything quite like it ever again. I only hope he at least saw the 4 red tail lights so he knows what it was. :)

-W

People wonder now sometimes why when I look at my car I chuckle for no apparant reason. :)

You can put the sarcasm stick away. I made it clear in my post that I knew that the tire profile accounted for some percentage of error at the speedo. R.I.F.

-W

Mine *was* stable up at speed back in the day. I remember going over a drawbridge with expansion joints at over 100 a few times and it wasn't too scary. It didn't feel like it was shaking apart on that wide open run I mentioned iether - I don't remember the exact details though.

I'm in the middle of replacing *everything* under the car now with new and poly etc etc . I don't know if I'll have the grapes to do untra high speed tests anymore - or risk the tickets at todays prices. But it was getting pretty flakey the last few years at any kind of speed.

-W

Snip

Talk with some of your speed freaks in your area and find out what they would suggest for lube on your new poly bushings. They squeak like crazy if not installed properly in a very short time. That was some time back when they may have been made differently. Myself I would stay with rubber, they'll out live you any way if the last ones lasted 41 years.

Must have been 13" wheels.............. ;-))

By the way, a 1968 Corvette small block is a 327, so you updated it sometime prior to '79?

When I got it the 327/350hp was gone - and it had a 350 with the same lift cam and the condiments from the 327/350 bolted on.

I blew that one in the mid 80's and took an unknown small block out of a junk Chevelle and thew it in "temporarily".... it's still in there. :)

-W

How is this for a fast pass? 100MPH at least faster?

This would be the flyby to witness. I think that's the new C7 Corvette design cloaked, with the mid engine, and the cockpit operated open exhaust on the top this time. Most likely doing the build in the UK to keep it a secret as long as possible.

Skillful driver or completely nuts. I would vote for nuts. If one of those cars in the right lane checked their rear view mirror, did not estimate the Corvette's speed, and pulled out, the Corvette would be toast.

I was teaching my son to drive and was explaining relative speed as we were going 10 MPH on an interstate. I explained that you should go no more than 20 in the fast lane when cars are slowed down for one reason or another. Right after I said that, an RV pulled out and a Honda Accord doing fifty caught him right in the side, bounced off the guard rail and stopped about 20 feet from us. "See what happens?" I said. Better than a video in a class room.

Update. Son so far has been an excellent driver. During his training, I challenged him with tasks while he is driving like "turn on the lights," change the radio station," "put on the wipers," etc. while changing lanes or doing some other maneuver. He learned to keep his eyes on the road and to feel for the controls. His mother wanted to ride along on his final exam where he was given these tasks while merging in on the "mixing bowl" (the intersection of I95 and I495 in Wash, DC. His mother really added to the challenge with her outbursts as this was going on. He did fine.

Skillful driver or completely nuts. I would vote for nuts. If one of those cars in the right lane checked their rear view mirror, did not estimate the Corvette's speed, and pulled out, the Corvette would be toast.

I was teaching my son to drive and was explaining relative speed as we were going 10 MPH on an interstate. I explained that you should go no more than 20 in the fast lane when cars are slowed down for one reason or another. Right after I said that, an RV pulled out and a Honda Accord doing fifty caught him right in the side, bounced off the guard rail and stopped about 20 feet from us. "See what happens?" I said. Better than a video in a class room.

Update. Son so far has been an excellent driver. During his training, I challenged him with tasks while he is driving like "turn on the lights," change the radio station," "put on the wipers," etc. while changing lanes or doing some other maneuver. He learned to keep his eyes on the road and to feel for the controls. His mother wanted to ride along on his final exam where he was given these tasks while merging in on the "mixing bowl" (the intersection of I95 and I495 in Wash, DC. His mother really added to the challenge with her outbursts as this was going on. He did fine.

The mixing bowl was a bitch. Nice that it was finally fixed. I was tired of going over the Nice bridge to avoid it every time I went through the area.

Skillful driver or completely nuts. I would vote for nuts. If one of those cars in the right lane checked their rear view mirror, did not estimate the Corvette's speed, and pulled out, the Corvette would be toast.

I was teaching my son to drive and was explaining relative speed as we were going 10 MPH on an interstate. I explained that you should go no more than 20 in the fast lane when cars are slowed down for one reason or another. Right after I said that, an RV pulled out and a Honda Accord doing fifty caught him right in the side, bounced off the guard rail and stopped about 20 feet from us. "See what happens?" I said. Better than a video in a class room.

Update. Son so far has been an excellent driver. During his training, I challenged him with tasks while he is driving like "turn on the lights," change the radio station," "put on the wipers," etc. while changing lanes or doing some other maneuver. He learned to keep his eyes on the road and to feel for the controls. His mother wanted to ride along on his final exam where he was given these tasks while merging in on the "mixing bowl" (the intersection of I95 and I495 in Wash, DC. His mother really added to the challenge with her outbursts as this was going on. He did fine.

The unexpected can always get you -- like the driver on an interstate on a dark night without lights. I almost bought it in the mid 60s driving a 64 E Jag at around a 100 on what I though was a deserted highway outside of Laredo TX -- one old truck -- no lights right in front of me. Had I been in anything but the E with Goodyear blue streak tires -- I would have lost it completely trying to avoid the guy. My girl friend beside me was struck speechless.

... My girl friend beside me was struck speechless.

Speechless? That's what it takes?

Man, so many wasted years......... I just didn't know

brian

I guess I ought to tell about the one when I took a turtle up the right side of my 71 454 Vette running ahead of friend in his 427 Vette circa 1971 on the way to Uvalde to pick up some Coors. Girl friend was asleep and the speed around 100. Got a scream this time. Ah memories.

Great story! That E-type was incredible. When I was in the Navy a fellow officer had one and we went out carousing. After women and drinks we headed back. He seemed to drive faster when he was bombed. Scared the hell out of me - I think! His was a light blue 65 or 66 - convertible. His family was quite wealthy. We were having a party at the executive officer's home and my friend came in his Jag - his ex- wife showed up later and they had a fight. Then they got in their cars and crashed into each other in the street until his Jag would go no more. It was an unforgettable sight!

I got out of the Navy and wanted one just like it, but they were about $6500 as I recall. I instead bought a 67 Corvette (about $4700) Elkhart Blue (light blue) convertible with two tops. One day I came over a hill and there was a line of cars stopped at a light. I braked pretty hard and stopped. In my rear view mirror I saw a full size Ford bearing down on me, pulled into the breakdown lane and floored it. The Ford crashed into the three cars that WERE ahead of me. I would have been toast!