Camaro ZL1 Runs the Nurburgring in 7:41.27
Expectations for the Camaro ZL1 are huge. I mean, when you have a 580HP LSR powered, MRC Suspension blessed, monster of a Camaro coming in at a sub $50k price tag it's difficult to keep them tempered. Well, fear not: there's no reason to temper them.
Last week, Mark Reuss, the president for GM North America, confirmed that the Camaro ZL1 lapped the Nurburgring in 7:41.27. 7:41.27! That's super-car level good. In fact, that time is better than a lot of official times by super-car level vehicles, such as: 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 (7:42.00), 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce (7:42.00), 2009 Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI (7:44.00), 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (7:46.00), 2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (7:47.00), 2009 Ferrari California GT (7:56.00), and many many others. That's very good company for a sub $50k American sports car. Very very good.
Now, that great time isn't all. No, what makes this already impressive feat even cooler is the excitement with which Reuss delivered it.
From MotorAuthority's article on the Nurburgring time announcement:
Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America flew from sunny and warm Detroit to rainy and chilly Los Angeles to address media members on Wednesday. Once he arrived, the climate change was evident in the room close to Los Angeles International Airport; this man's enthusiasm for automobiles, motorsports and General Motors is evident by his demeanor and excitement for the future.
The first item Reuss addressed was the vehicle on display outside the hotel where the meeting was held - Chevrolet's Camaro ZL1. The street and circuit-worthy Camaro wasn't terribly pretty but it looked, at first glance, that it was worthy of great performance.
Reuss stated as much - from personal experience - as he was one of the drivers to conduct performance validation on this machine on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit of 14.173 miles in Germany, where the LSR-powered V8 muscle car turned an incredible 7 minutes, 41.27 seconds in a single lap, he said. Can anyone remember a GM president that was enough of an enthusiast to take part in a session of this type? Didn't think so.
The ZL1 was "forgiving and neutral," Reuss, a Grand-Am-licensed competitor said. "I was able to drive deeper than I ever have." He especially enjoyed passing the Porsche GT3's that were lapping concurrently, before the car was boxed and returned from Germany to the GM proving grounds and then brought to Los Angeles for this morning appearance. The street car will have its debut during the mid-November Los Angeles International Auto Show.
It's great, ultimately, to see that the man in charge of the Camaro ZL1's production is such a fan of the vehicle himself. That sort of joy and excitement is rare in the world of automotive executives and provides even more reason to be excited about the release of the Camaro ZL1. At sub $50k, this car will be, without doubt, among the greatest performance bargains in the automotive world, and for that reason, and all the others we've talked about before concerning this ZL1, it's very difficult to temper my expectations and excitement concerning this exciting new vehicle.
For reference, here's a list of vehicles and their Nurburgring times. The ZL1's place cements it squarely in the realm of super-car:
Pos Make / Model Time Speed (km/h) Year Power (hp) / Weight (kg) Driven by
1. Radical SR8LM 6:48.00 182 0 455 / 650 Radical
2. Radical SR8 6:55.00 179 '05 363 / 650 Radical
3. Gumpert Apollo Speed 7:11.57 172 '09 700 / 1200 Gumpert
4. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:12.13 172 '08 600 / 1536 Dominik Farnbacher
5. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:14.64 171 '12 570 / 1509 Lexus
6. Donkervoort D8 RS 7:14.89 171 '05 350 / 600 Michael Duechting
7. Porsche 911 GT2 RS 7:18.00 169 '10 620 / 1370 Porsche
8. Radical SR3 Turbo 7:19.00 169 '03 320 / 500 Phil Bennett
9. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 7:19.63 169 '08 647 / 1530 General Motors
10. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:22.10 168 '08 600 / 1536 Motor Trend
11. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 7:22.68 168 '11 512 / 1394 General Motors
12. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:22.85 167 '12 570 / 1509 Lexus
13. Gumpert Apollo Sport 7:24.00 167 '07 700 / 1200 Sport Auto
14. Nissan GT-R 7:24.22 167 '11 530 / 1736 Nissan
15. Maserati MC12 7:24.29 167 '04 632 / 1335 Marc Basseng
16. Pagani Zonda F Clubsport 7:24.65 167 '05 650 / 1230 Marc Basseng
17. Ferrari Enzo 7:25.21 167 '02 660 / 1365 Marc Basseng
18. Nissan GT-R 7:26.70 166 '08 479 / 1740 Toshio Suzuki
19. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:27.00 166 '11 500 / 1360 Porsche
20. Ferrari 458 Italia 7:28.00 166 '09 570 / 1485 Scuderia Autoropa
21. Porsche Carrera GT 7:28.71 165 '03 612 / 1380 Marc Basseng
22. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:30.00 165 '11 500 / 1360 Sport Auto
23. Porsche 911 GT2 7:31.00 164 '07 530 / 1440 Auto Motor und Sport
24. Porsche 911 Turbo S 7:32.00 164 '10 530 / 1585 Porsche
25. Pagani Zonda F 7:33.00 164 '05 602 / 1371 Sport Auto
26. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:33.00 164 '10 450 / 1400 Sport Auto
27. Koenigsegg CCX 7:33.55 164 '06 806 / 1456 Marc Basseng
28. Koenigsegg CCR 7:34.00 163 '04 806 / 1418 Sport Auto
29. Audi R8 GT 7:34.00 163 '10 560 / 1520 Sport Auto
30. Nissan GT-R Spec-V 7:34.46 163 '09 492 / 1680 Best Motoring
31. RUF RT12 7:35.00 163 '05 650 / 1573 Sport Auto
32. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:38.00 162 '06 480 / 1585 Porsche
33. Lexus LF-A 7:38.00 162 '10 560 / 1609 Sport Auto
34. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 7:38.00 162 '10 570 / 1430 Sport Auto
35. Ferrari 430 Scuderia 7:39.00 162 '07 510 / 1402 Sport Auto
36. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 7:40.00 161 '06 640 / 1805 Auto Bild Sportscars
37. McLaren Mercedes SLR 7:40.00 161 '03 626 / 1693 Auto Bild
38. Porsche 911 GT3 7:40.00 161 '09 435 / 1376 Walter Rohrl
39. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:40.00 161 '11 400 / 1415 Porsche
2012 Camaro ZL1 7:41.27
40. Porsche 911 GT3 7:42.00 161 '06 415 / 1395 Walter Rohrl
41. Radical SR3 7:42.00 161 '02 205 / 495
42. Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce 7:42.00 161 '09 670 / 1664 Sport Auto
43. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:42.90 160 '05 513 / 1437 Jan Magnussen
44. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:43.00 160 '03 381 / 1360 Motor
45. Pagani Zonda C12 S 7:44.00 160 '02 555 / 1250 Sport Auto
46. Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI 7:44.00 160 '09 525 / 1620 Sport Auto
47. Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series 7:45.00 159 '07 507 / 1745 Berndt Schneider
48. Gardner Douglas GD T70 Spyder 7:45.00 159 '10 710 / 900 Dario Margutti
49. Porsche 911 GT2 7:46.00 159 '00 460 / 1430 Sport Auto
50. Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 7:46.00 159 '07 530 / 1520 Auto
51. Jaguar XJ220 7:46.37 159 '92 549 / 1470 John Nielsen
52. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 7:47.00 159 '06 620 / 1748 Sport Auto
53. Wiesmann GT MF5 7:47.00 159 '08 507 / 1380 Sport Auto
54. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:47.00 159 '09 500 / 1570 Sport Auto
55. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:48.00 158 '06 415 / 1375 Sport Auto
56. BMW M3 GTS 7:48.00 158 '10 450 / 1543 Sport Auto
57. Lamborghini Murcielago 7:50.00 158 '02 580 / 1800 Sport Auto
58. BMW M3 CSL 7:50.00 158 '03 360 / 1385 Sport Auto
59. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:50.00 158 '08 385 / 1425
60. Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series 7:51.00 157 '09 670 / 1870 Sport Auto
61. Lamborghini Gallardo 7:52.00 157 '03 500 / 1613 Sport Auto
62. Ford GT 7:52.00 157 '04 550 / 1538 Sport Auto
63. Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 7:52.00 157 '08 560 / 1530 Sport Auto
64. Mercedes CLK DTM 7:54.00 156 '04 582 / 1678 Sport Auto
65. Porsche 911 GT3 7:54.00 156 '03 380 / 1380 Sport Auto
66. Ferrari F430 7:55.00 156 '05 489 / 1450 Sport Auto
67. Caterham R500 1.8L K Series 7:55.00 156 '99 233 / 450 EVO
68. BMW M5 7:55.00 156 '11 560 / 1870 BMW
69. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:56.00 156 '00 420 / 1540 Sport Auto
70. Ferrari 360 CS 7:56.00 156 '03 425 / 1280 Sport Auto
71. Ferrari California GT 7:56.00 156 '09 460 / 1787
72. Porsche Panamera Sport Chrono Turbo 7:56.00 156 '09 500 / 1974 Auto Bild
73. Porsche Panamera Turbo 7:56.00 156 '09 500 / 1870 Walter Rohrl
74. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:56.00 156 '02 411 / 1414 General Motors
75. Porsche 911 GT3 7:56.33 156 '99 360 / 1350 Walter Rohrl
Would you like that in Manual or Automatic? The death of the six-speed car.
In 1964 Bob Dylan famously sang, "The times, they are a changin". Now, I don't think he was talking about cars at that point in time, but, the song seems terribly applicable when looking at the transmission shift being seen in the American vehicle market today, a shift that was made all the more apparent by the admission of Chevrolet executives that they expect more than half of the new 2012 Camaro ZL1s they sell to be purchased in the two-pedal, automatic, form. What?!
That's right: Chevrolet is producing a 580 HP, MRC Suspension, monster of a Pony Car, and they expect more people to want to buy it in Automatic than Manual. To me, this is insanity. I come from the generation of drivers who worship the clutch pedal for all of its power and potential, and who can't imagine driving a sport vehicle without one, but it seems that my generation of driver is becoming an anomaly. The current most-powerful Camaro, Chevrolet's Camaro SS of over 400HP, sells over 70% of its vehicles in Automatic, and there's reason for this.
Can you imagine driving this 580HP beast with only two pedals? Is the move from Manual to Automatic, even in the performance vehicle market of today, ultimately a good one?
Once upon a time, the only reason to go to Automatic was for the ease of it. A talented drive could shift with much less delay than automatic transmission had, and had control over their RPMs when shifting. Beyond those numbers, larger numbers of gears and more race-friendly gear ratios meant that manual vehicles were built, quiet simply, to outperform their two-pedal counterparts. Today though, advancements in technology have made the Automatic transmissions in most cars just as performance viable as manuals (and, in the case of some Ferrari/Lambo level vehicles, more efficient and race friendly than a human being can even manage). The up-tick in Automatic sales over the last many decades, based primarily on their ease of use, has also lead to an interesting phenomenon: fewer and fewer and fewer people are able to drive a stick shift, and this is a self-perpetuating trend, also, because as fewer people who can drive stick-shift exist there are fewer people with that knowledge available to teach the newer generations of automobile drivers how to handle the three-pedaled transmission. Ultimately, the Automatic transmission has killed the Manual slowly over time, and in the modern-day (where ZL1's sell more than half their vehicles in Automatic, and the base Corvette sells Automatics at a 65% tick) we live in, it looks as though we're seeing the final swan song of the stick-shift car.
Of course, and this is the hardest part of all of this for me to swallow, this isn't a bad thing. The demise of the manual means that, eventually, automobile companies wont even need to bother with the manufacturing and production of two different transmission types, and the cost of the transmission--as a component of the vehicle--will go down. Also, with the incredible advancements in technology I've seen in my lifetime, and the advent of Automatic assisted Manual transmission options--like the world-famous, Porsche derived Tiptronic and its counterparts--Automatic or Automatic Assisted Manuals (Manumatics) can actually lead to increased performance numbers. In fact, most of the world's most high-end performance cars, like the aforementioned Porsche line, utilize some form of Manumatic transmission.
Am I happy about this? No, I'm not, but I'm also a cranky old man with an extreme nostamania. Do I understand this? Absolutely.
So, what do you think? Is this shift in transmission a good thing or a bad thing? Should I, as a car enthusiast and automotive nut, lament the death of the manual transmission? Will the experience of driving, even without the involvement of the left-foot and the feel of the clutch engaging and disengaging, remain the same? What do you think? Me, I think something is lost in an Automatic, but this thinking probably has me lost in the past in the modern Automotive market.
Camaro ZL1 Preview Video – Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser Talks About the New ZL1 Camaro
There's not a whole lot more that we can say about the Camaro ZL1 that isn't already public knowledge. The ZL1 is going to be a certifiable monster on both the road and track thanks to its LSA powerplant, aerodynamic exterior upgrades, improved exhaust, intake, and Brembo brakes. Of course, even when you already know all of this about the ZL1, it's nice to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, and that's exactly what this video does. Al Oppenheiser, the chief engineer for the Chevrolet Camaro line, proudly displays a new ZL1 Camaro in all of its glory at a GM Oshawa Plant Homecoming Event. The ZL1 in the video is absolutely gorgeous, too. Done up in red with black stripes and a carbon fiber active hood "mohawk"--as Al calls it--the new ZL1 Camaro is definitely an eye-opener. The new aggressive body pieces, including improved front splitter, side rockers, and rear spoiler, really give the new Camaro a more aggressive look when coupled with the 19x20 offset wheel stance. Other visual touches showcased in the video, such as vertically stacked fog lights, new rear diffuser, and huge gaping air intake scoop work really well together to make this one of the best looking Camaros you'll see anywhere. Al's definitely a proud father, and it's worth watching the video just to see the aspects of the vehicle in question as he goes over each one, so enjoy!
P.S. - It's definitely worth the wait on buffering to watch this car in full 1080p video glory.
June Sales Figures Posted by Chevy/GM et al
General Motors posted sales figures for the last month and the year to date, along with the rest of the industry, and is up 11% for the year. Great news for the guys and gals at GM. I figured I'd also post up Fords sales figures as well just to get another company's look on things. We've all heard that the recession is over, and although it doesn't feel like it, things are starting to turn around. Finally. It will be a slow process for sure, but the figures are proof that more vehicles are being taken and deliveries are up from a year ago. Altogether GM is up 11%, and Ford is up 14%. Also of note, it looks like the Mustang has trumped the Camaro for the first time in months, even after the introduction of the convertible into the Camaro lineup.
Blendmount Radar Detector Mount for 2010 Camaro
We're all familiar with our cars, and how fast they CAN go. I'm not saying we all drive well above the posted speed limit but when your right foot feels a little heavy some added precaution goes a long way. There's an old saying in the car world that has sort of a double meaning, "Speed costs money—how fast do you want to go?" This not only applies to the exorbitant amount of money we could spend on our cars to get the results we desire, but it also applies to the risk you run when you drive, shall we say, less than how Johnny Law would like you to in your car. A speeding ticket not only costs you up front, but on the back end as well with higher insurance, etc. So, keeping that risk in mind—you can safely assess that if you speed, chances are you'll get tagged. So, you bought some peace of mind and snagged a top of the line radar detector.
Good call.
Now you have to mount that sucker so it stays put. Good luck. Many have tried, and many have failed and felt the pangs of frustration with the use of a suction cup mounting system. It never fails, eventually it will fall off. And if you bought a $300-$500 dollar radar detector, then the last thing you want to have happen is for it to come crashing down onto the dash, and then try and fool with getting it to re stick to your windshield while you're cruising down the road. Not cool. Not surprisingly, more than a few have attempted to come up with a solution. I've seen everything from superglueing the visor mount to the windshield, to drilling the detector into the mirror housing and screwing it in place, to duct-taping visors to roofs, and a hundred other terrible ideas. Your car deserves better and so does your radar detector. Blendmount, out of Cotati, California has come up with a great solution. Their mount has taken the multitude of bad ideas and come up with a combination that solves all of the common woes and mounts the detector cleanly and efficiently.
The Blendmount detector mount mounts to the mirror stem itself, and then the detector mounts to the clip stemming from the Blendmount. No wobbling, no falling suction cups, no constant hassle to get it situated just right. Once it's in, it's in—but still quick and easy to remove for security reasons or to transfer the detector to a different vehicle. The other great thing about this mount is it's compatible with an array of different equipment. The mounts are designed for Escort, Valentine One, ScanGauge II, even Bully Dogs for the diesel crowd. The fitment varies from make to make, but these are designed to work with the widest array of vehicle manufacturers possible. Due to the shape of some mirror stems, the Blendmount might not work but most vehicles are covered. For the Camaro however- the team at Blendmount have gone so far as to make sure we V8 loving folk have been well taken care of. The Camaro mirror is shaped slightly differently than a regular rear-view mirror due to the technology (on mirrors equipped with the AutoDim function) inside of the mirror. However, Blendmount has decided that they weren't going to leave out the Camaro crowd due to its awkward mirror shape. In fact, they designed a mount specifically for the Chevy Camaro.
We installed the Blendmount on our 2010 Camaro SS with a nice new Escort 9500IX detector. We also used an Invisi-Cord that plugged into the back of the mirror and got rid of that unsightly coiled power card. The installation was very simple and the final completed product looks OEM and keeps the detector neatly tucked up under the mirror.
Camaro ZL1 Automatic?
Yep. The latest fad in high performance factory cars is to include the automatic in the equation. That way, everyone can enjoy it. While the diehards are surely upset about the "slushbox" addition to the family of the unreleased power monger, the real change in GM's logic was customer demand. So, if you don't like it—don't blame GM. The customer base that was partly responsible for the public opinion poll was the forum www.camaro5.com. The poll showed, out of 1,967 people polled 1,303 were in favor of an automatic transmission, and 664 people were not in favor. There you have it. More than 50% more people that wanted only a manual wanted an automatic transmission option. So, in other words, out of everyone polled, only a third of those polled wanted a manual (DIY) transmission. This comes as a surprise to most folks, considering the diehard community that comprises the Camaro scene, most figured a manual-only option was the diehards' only response. This however would be wrong.
Chevy has been holding Q&A sessions over at camaro5 which have been an awesome move from their marketing department/PR. Oh how technology moves. The sessions have been mostly a reiteration of information already divulged, but in terms of driving interest, I believe it has worked wonders for the ZL1. The final announcement for the decision on the transmission came last week at the Oshawa homecoming for the ZL1, where one lucky member of the forum was awarded with the chance to cruise around the parking lot in the ZL1 (What? You didn't think they were going to let him romp on it did you? Come on…). The decision was announced by Al Oppenheiser, GM's Chief Engineer for the Camaro on June 11th. Along with the automatic option, Oppenheiser alluded that the ZL1 will have a slightly higher final output than that of its cousin, the CTS-V from which its 6.2L supercharged LSA is sourced from. Also of note, but of no surprise, is the availability of the same Performance Traction Management on the ZL1 that is found on the Corvette ZR1. In the Corvette, PTM incorporates launch control, as well as the normal traction control, active handling and selective ride control systems.
So, over 550 horses, ZR1 PTM, with the option of an automatic, and the excitement of a 12 year old girl at a Bieber concert.
Now all we need is to see it in action. And maybe get those top secret 'ring times.
Just a little something to keep your appetite whet:
Camaro Still on top for Sales
The Camaro has been steadily upsetting the Mustang and Challenger in sales and deliveries taken since its debut. How big is the gap, you ask? Not small, and seems to be constantly maintaining a healthy distance from its competition over the last couple of months. It seems that the Camaro can't be stopped when it comes to the actual showdown. The Camaro has consistently topped Ford's beloved Mustang's sales for the 7th consecutive month. The delivery figures for the trio of American muscle rank the Camaro at the top by a margin of 22,342 cars as of May 2011 since April 2009. The year to date difference is 10,069 more Camaros have been sold than Mustangs, and 23,498 more Camaros than Challengers. The year to date number of Camaros taken for delivery is 40,275. So, in essence, almost 25% of what the Camaro has delivered is the lead on the Mustang. Not a bad sign for Chevy. Also considering the fact that the convertible has just been released in Camaro form, which should spark some more interest for a different demographic, not to mention the impending release of the monstrous ZL1 in the upcoming model year—Chevy should be proud of all it has accomplished thus far.
With a lot of Chevy's proverbial eggs in the same basket in their big push with the Volt, it's a great thing to see the Camaro still being a steady performer in a battered and rocky market. The upcoming release of the ZL1 should prove to be (hopefully) very successful, with the amount of hype it has received over the past year and a half. The supercharged LSA that Chevy has kept so tightly under wraps has proven to drive interest continually skyward. We couldn't be any more excited, and I'm sure the rest of the market that has so patiently waited for its release, poised and ready to drop the hammer, is ready to keep Chevy on top. Much awaits a very anxious market in the upcoming year, good on ya Chevy.
45th Anniversary Camaro Unveiled at Indianapolis 500
This past weekend was an exciting one for the automotive world. There was the Indianapolis 500--one of racing's biggest events that was met this year with as thrilling and exciting an end as we've ever seen. There was also the Coca-Cola 600 which had an almost equally exciting finish as NASCAR's biggest figure ran out of gas on the final lap. In addition to the races, a few other things were going on. Chevrolet was busy celebrating its 100th year (a birthday it shares with the Indianapolis 500, actually), and, the Camaro was celebrating its 45th birthday. How did they celebrate? How about by unveiling a new, 45th anniversary, special edition Camaro to act as pace car at the Indianapolis 500.
The new, 45th Anniversary Edition Camaro, is a thing of beauty. Continuing in the recent history of the Camaro acting as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500, Chevrolet outdid themselves this year when they unveiled this new Camaro. Done up in a gorgeous black with red accent color combination, this 45th Anniversary Camaro featured an aggressive new hood, stylish new trunk striping, RS-style tail lamp lenses, gorgeous white dash and door inserts, unique 20-inch wheels, and dark silver foglamp bezels, to really give a striking updated visual flair. Inside of the vehicle, custom interior work, badges, and stitching really set this Camaro apart.
The updates to this Camaro don't stop there. The new 45th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro also received all of the major upgrades in store for all 2012 Camaros. These upgrades, which will help address what few issues the Camaro has had, include a revised instrument panel, power-lifting passenger seat, a new smaller and more ergonomic steering wheel, new RS style tail lamps on all Camaro models, and a new spoiler made standard on all Camaro models.
For 2012, the Camaro is seeing a few performance upgrades as well. The LT, V6 Camaro will get the new LFX 3.6-liter V-6 engine. With direct injection, the new LFX is responsible for a 11-hp performance increase to 323 hp while still delivering the same economic 30 mpg on the freeway. The LFX isn't just more powerful, either. The new engine also reduces vehicle weight by 20 pounds, for a more efficient horsepower:weight ratio.
To improve the SS Camaros performance, Chevrolet is outfitting the V8 powered beast with a highly upgraded suspension package. The Chevrolet FE4 suspension package is being made standard equipment for all SS Camaros. The FE4 package includes retuned front and rear dampers, solid stabilizer bars, and 20-inch alloy wheels, which are all said to work together to improve cornering on the Camaro with sharper handling, flatter cornering, and reduced understeer--the issue most often cited with the Camaro SS's performance by major automotive magazines and reviewers.
In all, the new 2012 Camaro is exciting, and the unveiling of the 45th Anniversary Special Edition was a high-point in one of the most exciting automotive weekends we've seen in a long long time.
Camaro Taking Charge in the Drifting Scene
The Camaro, an unlikely candidate among the high revving, turbocharged import scene that makes up the drifting world, has made some big waves in the recent Formula Drift competition rounds. The big beast, with its roaring LS7, is far from the favorite competitor. The Formula Drift events take place over the course of the season which runs from early April until the first weekend in October. The events are a series of 7 rounds that follow a go, no-go head to head elimination format. The driver pool is narrowed down to the top 32 after 2 initial (non-consecutive) qualifying laps and then work their way down to the final two, to battle it out for the number one spot. Drivers are judged according to speed, line, angle, and whether or not they have the ability to hit their "clipping points"- basically the apexes and other racing lines on the track. The overall impression from a run also plays a major part in the decision- whether or not the run seemed sloppy, or rushed or panicked can affect the driver negatively if the opposing driver completes the track slower but has a more collected or calm feel to it. The judging is conducted by three judges that remain in the series for the duration of the season, promoting consistency of judging throughout the season.
The Camaro's are driven by none other than veteran Formula D drivers Conrad Grunewald who moved from his trusted platform of his C5 Z06 Corvette and Ryan Tuerck who migrated chassis's from the Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice. What this means is there are two solid performers tearing up the asphalt with two very well built Camaro's.
The Gardella Racing Camaro Tuerck is driving, is decked to the hills with suspension components from Eibach and powered by a reworked LS7. Engine management is provided by AEM, and traction provided by Nitto NT05 tires wrapped around Enkei RPF-01's. Braking duties are dictated by Wilwood, while combustion and ignition duties are given to NGK, Brian Crower, and Ignite Racing Fuels. An ACT clutch helps put the power to the ground, while the exhaust scavenging duties are provided by Kooks. Altogether not a bad set up- especially considering the car is fully race prepped being stripped, caged and lightened and more than likely seam welded throughout the body. Most of us will never know what a dream that car probably is to drive.
However, Grunewald's car is a different beast altogether. He opted for an LSA crate motor transplant from the CTS-V (can you say ZL1…?) modified and putting somewhere near 600 stamping American horses to the Hankook tire shredding rear end. The suspension department is covered by Eibach and Pfadt- two names born and bred for the race track. Luke Lonberger and BR Racing took charge of the build and tuning the car to Conrad's standards. Conrad left his previous car and sponsors after a disagreement and inability to reach a middle ground with more team management in Grunewald's hands, so after much deliberation he decided to move forward on his own. Conrad Grunewald Racing was born and GM and Hankook agreed to lend a helping hand. The press release from Hankook went like this:
LOS GATOS, CA – BR Racing by Luke Lonberger in partnership with Conrad Grunewald Racing reveal they are in the process of building a 2010 Camaro SS in preparation for the 2010 Formula DRIFT Championship competition.
"I am very excited to be able to drive such an iconic American muscle car in the Formula DRIFT Championship," said Conrad Grunewald, driver and owner of Conrad Grunewald Racing. "Our main goal is to have the Camaro ready for the 2009 SEMA show but our preseason testing should start immediately after the show. I have a great amount of confidence that BR Racing and Luke Lonberger can build this Camaro into a highly competitive car and I look forward to getting back out on the track."
Hankook Tire Corporation will provide tire sponsorship for the 2010 Formula DRIFT season. Grunewald announced the Camaro will use Hankook Ventus R-S3 tires on custom Forgeline aluminum 3-piece wheels. The car is to be controlled by Eibach's Multi-Pro-R2 two-way adjustable dampers and coilovers. A GM Performance LS-A supercharged 6.2 liter V8 controlled by the AEM Universal EMS and expected to make over 600 RWHP will power the Camaro. All body work will be constructed with carbon fiber from Seibon Carbon.
The pair of Camaro's placed… wait for it... wait for it… 1st and 2nd at Round 2: Road to the Championship, at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA on May 6th and 7th. This is of course after Grunewald's 1st place at Long Beach in Round 1. Grunewald is the only the second driver to achieve two consecutive 1st place finishes back to back (The first being Samuel Hubinette in 2007 in his Dodge Charger.) To see the two newest and most heavily watched (scrutinized for the car choice?) candidates soar to the top brandishing American muscle where Japanese power reigns supreme is a huge step for both of these companies and drivers and their respective teams. Both teams worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and although the season is still young, we can reasonably expect to see these two machines piloted by very capable drivers continue to place well over the coming months.
For more information on Formula Drift, visit www.formulad.com
For more information on each driver and/or his team visit:
http://www.gardellaracing.com/com/drift_about
GM Military Discount
GM has been renowned for their military discount for the past year, and now they're making it even better. In a bold move, GM has decided to expand their military discount to the spouses of military personnel and retirees through the end of May, which happens to be National Military Appreciation Month. What this means for military professionals, both past and present is that they have the ability to include their families in the discount that ranges anywhere from $500, up to $4,000 of the MSRP of Chevrolets vehicles.
Chevy has implemented a special badge for the cars purchased with the Military discount in the month of May. The badge is the iconic yellow ribbon that has become symbolic of military personnel support since 1979 in the United States. On the badge itself it reads "Honor and Valor" around the edge 
of the badge surrounding the ribbon. The badge can be applied (at the purchasers request) to the cars purchased using the discount, at no additional charge. Since the beginning of 2010, GM has applied the discount to over 70,000 personnel and their families with a value of more than $60 million. GM will also donate $100 to the charity Cell Phones for Soldiers. This charity, founded by two teenagers, is geared at helping servicemen and women deployed overseas have an available means of contact to loved ones at no charge. The charity was spawned after the teenagers, Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, heard a story of a deployed soldier accumulating an enormous bill from calling home to speak with his family. Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts old or unwanted cell phones and recycles them through ReCellular, who in turns pays Cell Phones for Soldiers enough to provide an hour of talk time which is then sent via phone cards to deployed soldiers. Since May 2010, Chevrolet and its dealers have collected more than 50,000 cell phones. Since the program began, proceeds from phone collections have provided more than 114 million minutes – or more than 200 years – of free calls home for U.S. troops.
Also in addition to the GM Military Discount is the $750 discount on selected Buick, Chevy and GMC models offered through USAA, the premier financial services group for the armed services. "We are committed to offering military professionals and their family members the best value in the industry," said Dan Akerson, General Motors Chairman and CEO. "As a former Navy man, I hold the highest regard for the men and women of our Armed Forces – past and present – who help keep our country safe and preserve our precious liberties."
So, if you or your loved one are currently serving in the military or previously served in the military (which includes the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard) in either Active Duty roles or Reserve Units, and you're looking at buying a new car- this would be the time to do it!