I could only wish to have this driver's abilities. Having the car would help too... New 'ring' record for a production car. What the definition of "production" is, I don't know. It's damn fast though. Fun to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yKb6iSWc0k&feature=player_embedded

Mike, thinking of "upgrading" already?

Gripping. I can't imagine. Just watching the video made my heart race.

I've played too much Gran Turismo, I knew each turn before he entered it.

I just wish that Vettes didn't all look the same. I say that as a generalized statement of course. Some would argue that it is a good aerodynamic design, etc. Just like Porsches have generally looked the same for ever, and oh boy, unless you go real high end, the base cheap Mustang looks like the higher level ones for the most part unless you start getting into 3rd party makeovers.

I can respect all 3 companies for what their vehicles can do, and this Vette is damn impressive, but give me something that doesn't look almost the same as it did a decade or two ago...

(Again, all you Vette and Porsche fans will call it "branding" a look, which is your prerogative, I just want something that says "Hey, this is the 2012 baby!")

You're not looking close enough. Believe me, people who care -- and they're the only ones who'd be impressed, anyway -- will know.

LOL... No, I can't afford a ZR1. They run about 120K. I'll just keep modifying what I have. Even if I could afford one, I'd still opt for the Z06. I don't like boosted engines. Too much heat sink and weight. The ZR1 is about 200 pounds heavier too. What I would like, that only the ZR1 has, is PTM (performance traction management). From what I've been hearing from ZR1 owners that moved to it from the Z06, is that it's extremely refined and worth the premium in price to get it. Even the seasoned racers leave it engaged. It was engaged in the video.

I really see quite a bit of difference in the last couple generations of Corvette styling (1997-present) over the previous couple generations. I like.

I prefer the look of the C5s, myself, other than the headlights.

I kind of like the popup headlights on the C5. But Mike told me that if I got one, I had to get a C6, which I couldn't afford. So, here we are.

That's impressive stuff Mike, thanks for sharing.

Not quite the production lap record, the 911 GT2 RS is still fastest, by about a second or so (and ignoring those Gumpert and Radicals, which are not really production cars). Amazing time though.
Going to the Ring and renting something fun and doing a lap is on my bucket list.

I don't follow this stuff very close Craig. This video was posted at the corvette forum I frequent. The racer types who follow this are saying it's a new "regular production" car record. Again, I don't know what that means. One of them also posted this (I do not vouch for its accuracy or know where it came from.

6:48 Radical SR8 LM Michael Vergers 19 August 2009 Radical Sportscars[1][2][3]

6:55 Radical SR8
Michael Vergers 28 September 2005 Radical Sportscars[4] Timed by Sport Auto [5][6][7]

7:11.5 Gumpert Apollo Speed Florian Gruber 13 August 2009 Sport auto (Germany) (Article)

7:14.89 Donkervoort D8 RS
Michael Düchting 2006 Sport auto (Germany) (Article)

7:18 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Timo Kluck April 2010 [7] [8] Manufacturer claim.

7:18.1 Donkervoort D8 RS
Michael Düchting 24 October 2004 Sport auto (Germany) (Article)

7:19.63 2012 Corvette ZR1

7:22.1 Dodge Viper ACR (2009)
Tom Coronel
18 August 2008 Chrysler and Motor Trend conducted test.[9]

7:24 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Horst von Saurma
Sport Auto (11/2010)[10]

7:24.22 Nissan GT-R (2011) Toshio Suzuki
1 October 2010 Nissan conducted test.[11] Semi-wet conditions. Video confirmed. Best Motoring (12/2010).[12]

I would guess, given that the GT2 is a relatively limited production car, that an RS version of that would be an even more limited version of that. I know that the GT3 RS and RSR are purpose built race versions of the GT3, but I didn't think there was a race version of the GT2.

Possibly. I think there is also some level of dispute about the time reported by Porsche. Something about it not being "official". Sounds like fanboy BS really.

I did not know you could rent a car and run the Ring. That would be a lot of fun. I could get into that.

Yeah, I'm kind of getting the fanboy BS out of that list--that's not REALLY a production car, the one I like is! Let's just draw the line at ... uh, how many ZR1s are they building? 10000? Yeah, 10000 units makes it a real production car.

Aha, the GT2 RS IS a production car. 500 units, though.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/10q2/2011_porsche_911_gt2_rs-official_photos_and_info

Or, you can get Sabine Schmitz to give you a ride around. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tG3Tx1e704 I could get into that too.

I got curious and took a look at it. Daaammmmmnnnn!! 245K! I had no idea Porsche had a car with that kind of a price tag. It's hardly a Porsche 911 when you actually dig into the specs, well other than appearance anyway. What an amazing car..., but still, well, looks like a Porsche, but subtly obvious that there's a whole hell of a lot going on with it that will kick some ass.

I absolutely hate riding.... Doesn't matter who's driving, what they are driving, where they are driving... I'm not a control freak by any stretch, but for some odd reason, I just don't like NOT being in control when in a vehicle. About the only time I can tolerate it, is in a limo, and drunk.

Normally I would agree with you, but when the driver far exceeds your abilities, it's a nice chance to learn something. I've done track-day driving schools where the teacher drives your car and gives pointers, then lets you take over while continuing the instruction from the passenger seat.

And when it's a pretty woman, who's been driving the Ring since she was 17, and can do a lap in just over 10 minutes in a diesel Ford Transit van*, I think I'd find something to enjoy.


*This was after Jeremy Clarkson, of Top Gear, set a time of 9:59 in a diesel Jaguar S-Type. She said she could beat that in a van (she was 9 seconds slower, unfortunately).

It is certainly pushing the limits of what a production car is, but you could have walked into any Porsche dealership and plunked down the cash and purchased one, vs say, however one buys a Radical whatever.

Still, the 'Vette is much more true to production, since I assume they will sell as many as are ordered, vs a set small amount.

And yes, the Nurburgring is technically a one way toll road, so you just need to drive up in any old car, and pay the per lap cost, which is think is like 20 Euros or so? Definitely need to so that at some point.

Thanks for posting the video. Corvette has always been my favorite car bar none. Hopefully someday I'll be able to own one.

You can pick up used vettes for pennies on the dollar now. The Z06 is a hell of a bargain as many owners have moved to the ZR1. That's how I got mine.

The Vette team took the 2012 Z06 back to the Ring. Beat the 05 time by over 20 seconds. Came within 3 seconds of the ZR1 time. This one was equipped with the Z07 upgrade, carbon upgrade, PTM and new PS tires. Basically identical to the ZR1 but different drive train (136 less HP, different tranny gearing) and about 170 pounds lighter. Better weight distribution than the ZR1 too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok1WUO3p1oQ

Hey, here's a video from a pretty cool site devoted to having fun and not getting killed at Nurburgring.