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Here's the story...
lllustrated Corvette Series No. 91 - 1991 ZR1 Speed Record Holder
"ZR1 Corvette Shatters a 50-Year Speed Record With a 175.885 mph
Average 24-Hour Speed!"
Racing
Corvettes have had a long history of durability problems. There are
many accounts of Corvette racers setting track records and winning pole
positions, only to have parts breakage put their cars out of the race.
The success of the Showroom Stock and the Corvette Challenge cars
proved that the new C4s had what it took to win long races. So it was
only a matter of time before someone tested the new ZR-1 under racing
conditions. Enter Morrison Motorsports.
On
March 1 and 2, 1990, the Morrison Motorsports prepared ZR-1 Corvette
shattered the 50-year old, 24-hour speed record with an astonishing
average speed of 175.885mph with a "near-stock" ZR-1 Corvette! The
details of the ZR-1 speed machine are a genuine testimonial to the
quality of the new ZR-1.
In
1940, David, "Ab" Jenkins set the 24-hour speed record with his "Mormon
Meteor III" racer. The huge 5,000-pound machine was designed by Augie
Duesenberg and used a 850-horsepower, 27.5 litre aircraft engine! In
1940 Ab nailed the record with an average 24-hour speed of 161.18mph.
The record stood for 50 years. Many attempted to break the record, and
all failed... until the ZR-1 arrived.
The
ZR-1 speed record attempt was the idea of Pete Mills, a west coast
automotive writer. Mills saw potential in the new ZR-1 and pitched the
idea to Corvette racer Stu Hayner. Corporate connections can be
helpful. Hayner talked with Chevy's John Heinricy who pitched the idea
to the right people inside GM. Tommy Morrison was also brought on board
with the plan and the project was approved by the GM brass. The only
change to the plan was to also run a stock L98 Coupe.
The
FIA rules mandated that a speed record car must carry "non-consumable"
spare parts in the event of a breakdown and the driver wasn't able to
get back to the pits for repairs. Consequently, the ZR-1 had to carry
an additional 300-pounds of spare parts in two suit cases lashed to the
rear roll bar supports of the full roll cage! Drivers were expected to
be able to fix the car if something broke.
The
ZR-1 was essentially stock, with the exception of racing wheels and
slicks, an EDS telemetry system, a 45-gallon fuel cell, and other
assorted racing and safety parts. The suspension was stock, minus the
anti-roll bars and the rear used a 3.07:1 gear set. Extra oil coolers
and differential coolers were added and the headlights were replaced
with racing lights. The stock L98 Coupe was similarly prepared.
The
7.71-mile Firestone test track in Arizona was chosen for the speed
record assault. The track had 1.5-mile long straights and 2.35-mile
curves that allowed the car to be driven nearly flat-out. There were
three lanes to the track and no guard rails, making driving at high
speed a concentration challenge. The L98 coupe ran for 6 hours before
it was pulled so that it could be shipped to a car show in Geneva.
The ZR-1 ran nearly
flawlessly for 24 hours with only one minor repair. At the end of the
day, the 8-driver team broke 3 world records and set 4 FIA records.
After breaking the records, Tommy Morrison took a 2-lap victory run at
full-throttle! The ZR-1 Corvette was proven to be a solid performer.
How sweet it was!
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