Two Words

[Kevin G.]

Launch Control

I realize many of you folks have had the chance to hit extremely high speeds in various types of cars. This weekend I was one of the twelve lucky recipients that won the raffle for a ride in the ZR 1 at the GM Proving Grounds at this years National Convention. Man, what a ride! The driver just happened to be one of the guys that developed "Launch Control" and was quite happy to demonstrate it's function. From a dead stop, Luke (the engineer) hit the button, the tach jumped to 4000 rpm, he dumped the clutch and we were gone! Straight threw the gears, within seconds we were well over 100 mph. Prior to launching we had just completed a few laps reaching 160 mph on the oval track. I was amazed at how smooth the car rode at such high speeds! For sure a ride I'll never forget! Many thanks to all involved!!! Can we do it again!

[Rick A.]

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Yeah, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tom H.]

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Yep !! Launch control is a great feature. Works good !!

[Chris E.]

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I too won a ride in a ZR1....I saw Rick just after I got out and all I could say was "YEAH BUDDY!!!!!"

Holy crap those things are fast. 160 MPH on the high bank of the Milford Proving Grounds.

[Peter M.]

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VERY -

[Patrick H.]

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I too won a ride in a ZR1....I saw Rick just after I got out and all I could say was "YEAH BUDDY!!!!!"

Holy crap those things are fast. 160 MPH on the high bank of the Milford Proving Grounds.

Here's a video:

http://youtu.be/quSHTXLel0o

This is one of the rides that were auctioned off.

[Chris E.]

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Yep !! Launch control is a great feature. Works good !!

When I was on my ride, the engineer was explaning how it works. I asked "Can you use it in a gear other than first?" He said "Yeah, actually some owners get into trouble with reliability of the driveline components because they're in 3rd instead of 1st." So I said "So there's no way for the computer to know what gear your in to prevent that?" He said "Nope, hmm....maybe we should fix that."

[Kevin G.]

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Here's a video:

http://youtu.be/quSHTXLel0o

This is one of the rides that were auctioned off.

Nice!

I was told the engineers were planning a traction control demonstration for us but if you noticed the "lake" had just been paved. If I remember correctly the cost was three million.

[Edward J.]

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I had a friend that brought the new ZR1 a few months ago, and with 500 miles on it brought it to New England dragway for some test runs, and I guess you know what happens next. a driver before him had blowen his engine toward the end of the track ,
they cleaned it up We'll his next run he made it to the end of the track and loss control and hit guard rail, 50,000 dollars later.

[Terry M.]

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Nice!

I was told the engineers were planning a traction control demonstration for us but if you noticed the "lake" had just been paved. If I remember correctly the cost was three million.

I don't know about a traction control demonstration, but I saw the burn-out. Nothing like Wil Cooksey's though.

[Terry M.]

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I had a friend that brought the new ZR1 a few months ago, and with 500 miles on it brought it to New England dragway for some test runs, and I guess you know what happens next. a driver before him had blowen his engine toward the end of the track ,
they cleaned it up We'll his next run he made it to the end of the track and loss control and hit guard rail, 50,000 dollars later.

Traction Control will NOT repeal the laws of physics.

[Terry B.]

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I was also one of the lucky 12 that won a ride in one of the ZR1's. Wow was that ever fun! Luke was my drver as well and he got it up to 170 mph in no time flat. The power that car has from a dead stop is absolutely amazing. I had a smile on my face the remaider of the day and driving the '68 home from Novi, it was hard to stay under the speed limit. That ride was a fitting end to a great convention. Thanks to all who had a part in its' operation.

[Dennis C.]

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Here's a video:

http://youtu.be/quSHTXLel0o

This is one of the rides that were auctioned off.

Patrick,

Looks like your video is of my wife's ride. She had the last ride of the day. Is there any way I can get a copy of the video you shot?

My wife, Donna, is still talking about the ride. She said it was fabulous.

Thanks,

Dennis

[Patrick H.]

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Patrick,

Looks like your video is of my wife's ride. She had the last ride of the day. Is there any way I can get a copy of the video you shot?

My wife, Donna, is still talking about the ride. She said it was fabulous.

Thanks,

Dennis

Dennis,

It's of her ride or one of the other 6 like it; probably one of the last few.
At the top of the page see the "sticky" thread about National photographs and videos. You'll see links to all 3 videos there.

Patrick

[Dennis C.]

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Thanks, Patrick.

Dennis