Corvette C7 Drive with Car Chase Heroes

Having never driven a Corvette, I felt it was time to address this as I've been lucky enough to drive some of Americas finest cars.

The C7 is the 7th generation of sports car produced by Chevrolet, as you can see from the photo's it is rather sleek and it looks like they have taken some styling lessons from Italy.

The C7 comes with a 6.2 litre V8 that sends 455bhp to the rear wheels via the 8L90 8 speed paddle shift gearbox. This gives a 0-60 of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 175mph.

It also has an active fuel management system that deactivates 4 cylinders when cruising.

Getting in is easy and the seat is comfortable, the interior in this car is grey plastic although the dash is nicely lit and easy to read. To start the engine, put your foot on the clutch and press the start engine button and the V8 barks into life. Pull the gearstick back to D and accelerate and you are underway. 

 

Track footage and photo's, the footage is in glorious silence so feel free to make up your own commentary. 

https://youtu.be/8yLFHoRIE4Q

Driving this car is great fun but in the rain has the feel that if you put too much power on the car would spin. Having said that the car did feel good in the corners and handled well when I did have to go off the racing line a couple of times to overtake other cars. The engine sounds great and the acceleration feels quick when you put your foot down, the brakes also feel sharp when they are needed.

The view over the bonnet has good visibility so you know where to position the car with ease.

So all on all, my first introduction to driving a Corvette was a good one and left me smiling due to the car's performance. One day I will try a C8 hopefully in the dry.

For further information about this and the other cars and locations that Car Chase Heroes operate, please visit:

https://www.carchaseheroes.com/

 

Wake Up Wilton Hot Hatches and Hot Estates

I attended the Wake Up Wilton Hot Hatches and Hot Estates event. This is the first event I have been to at Wilton House in 4 years. 

Although it was cloudy and rain threatened, it stayed away and a wide range of cars turned out for the event. 

It was great to catch up with friends and to see a good turnout of cars and people. 

Photos

Ford Focus Z TECH S Black Edition.

Toyota Yaris GR Circuit.

Volkswagen Polo Sport TDI Sport.

Honda Civic Type R VTEC Turbo.

Renault Megane Renault Motorsport Cup Coupe.

Mini John Cooper Works GP and a cat .

Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Peugeot 106 Rallye.

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG.

Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.

Mercedes Benz AMG A45 S 4Matic Plus.

Audi A4 S4 Quattro.

Renault Clio Renaultsport Trophy 182 and Audi A4 S4 Quattro.

Mini Cooper S Works.

Ford Escort RS Turbo.

Volvo V60 Polestar T6 AWD.

Ford Focus RS.

Ford Focus RS.

Mini City E.

Audi A4 RS4 Carbon Black Quattro.

Ford Mustang GT.

Fiat Panda 4x4 Sisley.

Ford Escort L.

Mitsubishi Evo X.

My favourite car from this event was the Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.

Which is your favourite?

For further information on these events, please visit 

https://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/events/wake-up/

 

1966 Batmobile Replica Drive with Car Chase Heroes

It's that time of year again where I have my annual track day with Car Chase Heroes.

All was ready and booked but as you will see, the weather did not get the memo and it was to be a hugely wet day. The last time I was at Abingdon Airfield, I drove the Dodge Hellcat on the wet so at least my luck and the weather has been consistent.

After arrival and booking in it was straight into the sighting laps, these are usually conducted in a BMW or an SUV, but today as I'd booked in at the start of the day, some of the fleet cars were used for sighting laps, so I jumped straight into the passenger seat of the Ferrari 458, once these were done, it was into something much different.......

This, a replica of the George Barris built 1966 Batmobile.

I first laid eyes on this watching reruns of the Batman T.V. series starring Adam West and Burt Ward during the 1980's. 

While a lot of people enjoyed the fight scenes and the Bat Fight Words such as BAM, SPLATT and POW, the star of the show for me was the Dynamic Duo's car.

 Like one of the T.V. cars this is steel bodied weighing nearly 3 tonnes with a 6.2 litre (368 CU) V8 that produces 250bhp, linked with an automatic gearbox. The basis of this car originally was the 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept car that Barris bought from Ford for $1. 

As I was in the waiting area, an instructor in a hat approached and called out "Bruce Wayne" I nodded and called back "Dick Grayson". I smiled and followed him to the Batmobile.

I took a few photos while he sorted out a couple of things and then got in.

I love the interior of this car, there are some nice details but most of you will notice it's not identical to the series car but it's fun. The Batphone gets used a lot.

Once ready, it was time to head out onto the track.

This car is keyless and the engine was already running when I got in.

There is a button you press on the front of the gearstick and pull back into drive and ease on the accelerator and you are away.

Track Photos

Driving this around the track you soon learn a few things about this car. Because the car is open cockpit, the rain get you from above, due to the shape of the windscreen, the rain flies off it and onto from every angle. 

Before we left the Pit Lane, the instructor said that "the steering rack in this car is held together with chewing gum". Once underway, it's easy to understand his opinion. There is also a fair amount of body roll on the corners.

Because of the weight of the steel body and underpowered engine, it goes nowhere very quickly. If Batman were indeed to chase the Joker in this, the Joker and his gang would leave Batman in their shadows.

Holy Aston Martins Batman, James Bond is catching us.

Get lost Bond, this is our crime to solve.

Driving this car around the track is very sedate but the good part is it's like being in a moving motor show where everyone else is quicker, overtakes you and waves as they go by. 

The engine makes a great noise when you put your foot down and it's very comfortable to drive.

This car though is one that leaves you smiling for the simple reason you are driving a Batmobile, how many times in your life will you get to do this unless you are Batman? It's also makes the people around you smile for the same reasons. It brings back memories of youth, a T.V, series and it's a great looking car.

For further information about Car Chase Heroes, please visit

https://www.carchaseheroes.com/