I was going to say. "Only 600 hp?" But that does makes sense, thats a lot of power and considering the z06 hp to weight ratio any more and they would probably be approaching formula one.

The answer to the other question is to completely reform our drivers training. Test need to become stricter and more frequent once you get above 55, they need to be comprehensive for first timers and license renewals should require actual class time at least every other year. I think that would save a lot of lives. You wouldnt believe the **** I see people attempt on the road everyday, oh wait... Yes you would.

 

You are right, horsepower alone is not the real problem but it is something easy to latch on to...all it takes for the government to step in is a couple of high profile accidents in high horsepower corvette's and we'll suddenly have a national crisis!

While a jackass is a jackass, most people who take a legitimate high-performance driving course come away not just with more knowledge and skills but with a changed attitude. So; I think any movement by GM or other nameplates to require or at least strongly encourage training/education is a good move; especially if it can be tied to an insurance deduction.

We have a similar concept in Tennessee with motorcycle endorsements on your DL...if you take the AMA safety course (a 2.5 day course with both classroom and actual riding) you get your MC endorsement from the motor vehicle bureau immediately and don't have to take the state test; you also get a break on your MC insurance.

 

Too much revenue comes from raping the citizens with speeding tickets... Technically on most roads you arent supposed to go over 65, 75 on some rare roads (nowhere near MD that I know of) so technically they arent likely train you to do something illeagal.

Its discrimination against motivated drivers! Every time I get stuck behind someone doing 45 I think, This is a person who should be doing community service for holding up people who actually have to be somewhere.

 

If you are driving fast simply because you have to be somewhere and you'll be late if you don't speed then you should have left earlier.

It's not an issue of training people how to drive fast or how to do "illegal things" with their cars...any idiot can push down the pedel and "speed".

It's about training people how to truly handle a vehicle...to make it "go" and "do" what they want it to do. Vehicles are subject to physical laws and since those laws don't change, it makes sense to understand them and how a vehicle acts/responds becasue of them.

You can't learn those things just from a book or by being able to recognize traffic signs or being able to park...those skills are needed but that's a far cry from being a skilled driver.

 

having to be somewhere as well as trying to make the 65 mile one way hike to work less time consuming... Ive been passed doing 80 on the DC beltway by PG county police more than a few times. It needs to be bumped up at least around here. Make it something people can get behind going after the nuts. Noone observes the speed limit and the off duty police are just as bad, Ive known a few. Its nothing more than a revenue generator.

I agree with what your saying but you have to admit, that if the govt were to do this you would be severly limited in what they would teach you. Where as if you take a performance class or GM included it in the package, It could include such things as learning to launch the car(as breaking traction is illegal), and How to react and properly handle the vehicle at speed.

 

We also have that here in OH. I personally think it's a great idea and a good way to encourage people to actually learn more about their vehicles, etc.

 

I think we need to worry about all the teenagers that can afford $8000 LS1's instead of the handful of older gents. that spring for a Z06.

 

Big time agree here. Theres a guy in my complex with a silver SS that spins the tires every chance he gets. Needless to say, I fear for the car's future.

That would be really cool. Maybe have a few Blue Devils and Z06's for the class and give the drivers a chance to really see what the car is capable of.

 

I think that is the way to do it

 

I can agree with most of what you are saying.... I'm all for special driving classes being included with the purchase price of a car like this. Heck, it'd probably be worthwhile, though far too expensive, to do it with ANY car.

One issue I can see, though, is logistics... unless Chevy is will to foot the bill for travel to and from and hotel accomadations, etc... you will have issues with people who do not live close to a driving school.

 

I think it's pretty simple, just build it into the price of the car. A Blue Devil is gonna cost like 100k anyways, and I'm sure Chevy could get it discounted or something if they go with one exclusive driving school, because that's good business for that school and great publicity for it as well.

 

Replace the joke that is "Drivers Ed" with autocross (even on karts) and we wouldnt need auto insurance.

(blanket statement, I know. Just read and move along )

 

I can only add that there was a new Z06 running last weekend's autox with us and the car (evidently) takes a lot of getting used to. As soon as he'd give the car any gas it'd go sideways, but the lot was cold and so were tires.

His best run was a 56.546. I went 57.214 in the GTO if you're curious and I'm a terrible driver (ftd for a car was 48.9xx).

 

He definetly wasn't driving well...I autocross quite a bit and we have some of the best SCCA drivers in the country in our region; it's rare that the C5s or C6s don't trke FTD (at least of the vehicles with doors)

 

Danny Popp took FTD for cars in an 86 C4. He's insane. I would have loved to see him run that Z06.