ZR1 Record Run

[Stewart A.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Stuart your name is spelled wrong Ha Ha !
I think It's about 300 kph and a little. 328 is 200mph so I gather he is around 182 mph. Now I'm not sure about your thoughts but I have seen speedo error alot over the years and it normally shows faster on the speedo. I think the Zr1 is probably about flat stick at 180mph, which will distroy the car at that speed with a flat tire. No it's not a Veyron but I think it will dust most toys on the road. Santa make mine stealth Black !!!

[Alan S.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

I saw a little piece on the BBC, just this evening, about the current land speed record holder( jet powered) Richard Noble, who's making plans to reach 1000 miles per hour. My wife looked at me and said "why would someone want to do that"?
Regards,
Alan

PS: During the interview he said the wheels would be turning at about 10,000 RPM.

[Joseph K.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Very Cool.... you got to see the ZR-1 serial #001 be autioned off at Barrett Jackson. That is very cool also.

[Kurt G.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Stewart, it is Autobahn, Deutsch for motorway. 300kph is easy in some areas, as many of the Autobahn routes are out in the middle of nowhere, just like many of our interstate highways here are. My last experience on A5 was about 11 months ago, doing 200kph between Karlsruhl und Heidleberg. Got my doors blown off by several BMW's and Mercedes, and blown away by some guy in a red Ferrari. Not sure how fast he was going, but he sounded cool going by.

[Stuart F.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Kurt;

The other Stuart here with a couple questions;

I drove the Autostrada in Italy for about two weeks back in 1983 and was impressed by the driver's etiquette and discipline, i.e. flashing lights when overtaking, using L.H. lane for passing only, and only then for as long as it takes to make the pass and return to the R.H. lane. These were the days before speed limits there, which I understand is no longer the case. Are there any such "rules for the road" on the Autobahn, official or unofficial??

I grew comfortable driving in Italy this way, but only during the day when it was easier to judge the approaching speed of the car overtaking you. But at night, it's a different story. It is real scary. The worst part there was going through the hilly areas at night. You would come upon trucks grunting along at 50 kph up an incline and you were flying at 180 to 200 kph. You have to act fast either to brake or try and pass. That's when it is tough to judge the rate of speed of the approaching cars in the passing lane - and you have to make a quick decision. It also pays to have a good accelerating car to make the pass after you made your decision. My brother in law was driving a quick BMW in front of me and I was driving a Fiat Panda (flat out)! Soooo, you can see why I was a little scared. We decided to leave the Autostrada for the country roads where it was actually safer and we made better time. You drive the same speed there, only there is less traffic and you only slow down slightly when you go through a village at 2 am. Are the secondary roads in Germany and Holland kept up as well as the Autobahn, such as was my impression in Italy where they were great!??

Stu Fox

[Kurt G.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Yes, there are some strong rules of the road on the Autobahn. The left lane is ONLY for passing slower traffic. When you come up on the slower traffic the custom is to flash your high beams to signal your intention to pass, and once past the traffic you pull back into the center or right lanes. Truck traffic is not permitted in the far left lane on a 3 or more lane roadway, period. Most trucks and buses are limited to 100 kph for safety reasons. Also, when speed limits are posted, normally around the larger cities and Autobahn interchanges, you obey them. As for the secondary, or federal highways, for the most part they are very well maintained, and nearly as safe as the A routes. The things that impressed me the most about Germany was the quality of the roads, all roads, the courtesy of the drivers, and the fact that there is no trash to deal with on the roads. Also, when on the A routes near urban areas highway signals advise of the congestion ahead, reduce speeds as necessary and some even project drive time to some destinations. We here in the U.S. could learn alot from or friends over there. My only regret is that I have not been able, and probably won't ever have the opportunity to drive one of my vettes there. Some of the Bavarian roads paired with a C6,ah, wundebar. If you get the chance, go. It will put the grin back on your face. I'm headed back over this August, but this time instead of driving a Toyota, I'm picking up an M5 in Munchen and having it shipped back and Americanized after about 3 weeks of burning rubber and Benzine.

[Paul J.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Kurt:

Did you know that the Autobahn was designed as Hitler's "defense highway"? The intent was be able to put four lanes of convoy to your boarders. The U.S. Interstate system was copied after the Autobahn for that very purpose. That's why Interstates go north-south (odd numbers) and east-west (even numbers). Our system allows for six lanes of convoy because of the shoulder. All bridge spans used to be designed to hold 44 tons, which was the weight of our front line battle tank in the 60's (the M1, I think). I don't don't know what they would do with the 65 ton M1A1 today. The military application is also why there are mile markers.

Since I've probably bored everyone to tears I'll shut up and won't talk about the Interstate's interesting safety features.

Paul

[Stuart F.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Paul;

Doesn't bore me at all, being an old military man. I think, however, the M1A1 tank travels so fast that the bridges wouldn't have time to take a set/break under the weight. A battalion of marching soldiers could probably do more damage.

Stu fox

[Stuart F.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

Kurt;

My nephew did the same thing back in 2001 with a new "red" chick magnet BMW 325ci. I still have one of his temp license plates here. He picked it up at the factory in Germany, then drove it to Italy to see his cousin before shipping it back to the states. Now this fellow doesn't know a whole lot about cars. Last week his original battery failed while picking up my wife at O'Hare in Chicago. He thought that cute little battery in the trunk was a "Life Time" item (HA!, being a Bimmer) and it cost him $200 for a jump start, and another $2000 to replace it at the BMW dealer (including a catch up on some other maintenance). I called around for him and found several places have p/nos for the battery, but none would order or install a new one for him (Sears, Auto Zone, NAPA, etc). He suggested I should help defray the costs - what do think I said?

Stu Fox

[Kurt G.]

Re: ZR1 Record Run

uh,perhaps no?