C5 Corvette Crash VIR 

Yep, Corvette Corner is what I've heard it called. Mistakes happen, may as well help others learn.

I appreciate that

Thank you! Really appreciate the comment and positivity!! I hoped sharing my experience would help others and I'm glad to hear folks in the community find the content useful.

I appreciate it!

Thanks Anwar, that's what it's all about... make the best of what we're given!

Thank you, the support is awesome and much appreciated!!

If you had fun at charity laps and want to get on track, I'd encourage you to go for it. When the weather warms up find a group that does instructed novice sessions. If you're concerned about risk to your property out there, consider getting track insurance. The snap you see in the video is a result of the temps and the tire compound. Under typical spring/summer/fall track day conditions your C5 would be fine out there.

Thanks Marc!! I appreciate all the help from you and the crew at VetteNuts!

Yeah, they are sketchy for sure at those temps. They were awesome in the warmer months but I think I'll avoid them in anything approaching cool temps.

@hnel_on_track I was good once it got up into the upper 40s but still needed 2 or 3 warmup laps

Thanks, I appreciate the comment Charles. Before this happen I was torn... hoping to get into wheel to wheel eventually I need a car with a cage. Wasn't sure if I'd sell the C5 and pickup something already caged. Well, this happening made it possible to keep the C5 and get a cage!!

There are a lot of tire marks in that spot heading off in the same direction. Catches a lot of folks out. Hopefully you got your Z back up and out there.

@@hnel_on_track Mine had similar damage. Maybe a few more bent panels because it snapped around and hit the tires again on the driver side. I was able to drive it back to the pits. I had some professional bodywork done on rear and front quarter panels. Replaced a door , bumpers and hatch myself. Put a roll bar and race seats in it and it is still my track car. Hope you are still tracking yours as well.

Thank you. If it helps one other person stay out of a situation like this, it's worth posting up!

I appreciate the comment, thanks! Time has been tight with a lot going on with work and family. Getting the car back together has been slow going lately but once it's done I'll get some content up. Track insurance experience vid is on the list to post.

Yep, I'm all good. Safety gear did its job! Thanks Pab

Thanks! Safety gear did its job thankfully.

Thanks! Getting close to getting it on track again.

Thanks! Wheels are CCW C14 in 18x10, seller listed the offset as 50.8mm and I never bothered to measure. I seem to remember 21ish pounds. There are definitely lighter wheels out there but these were a good deal given that they're forged.

Hey Mark, glad to hear you're getting out on track in '23! I stuck with the leaf springs for two reasons: cost and simplicity Penske based coilovers are the gold standard. Whether the Spec Corvette ones or GSpeed developed units, they are expensive. I put the money elsewhere. Other part of it was to minimize the variables at play while I gained experience on track. I'm giving up some performance by having non-adjustable parts but it lets me focus on my driving. So far I have not felt limited by the leaf spring setup. In fact I just had some used T1 springs(stiffer leaf developed by GM for use in SCCA T1 racing) delivered and will put them on the car before next season. That was an inexpensive way to get some higher spring rates without going to coilovers. Down the road I may go all in with coilovers/drop spindles/full aero but that is a long ways off.

Thanks for you're response, I do have T-1 suspension in my notes as a option other than coil overs but watching you drive I don't believe I'll worry about that for awhile lol. Sway bars and shocks will do. I'll be subbed for you 2023 season!

Those ZL1 1LEs are beasts! Sorry to hear about needing to rebuild but like you said, making the best out of the situation and getting to tinker too! Good luck with your build

Yup! Once the panels are on gonna give vinyl wrap a try.

That's right, thanks Reginald!

Thanks Brian, should have it back together in the next month or so. Love yellow on the C5 BTW!

@@hnel_on_track cool 😎

Thought has cross my mind to be honest but not necessarily for looks. Taking the roof off the FRC/Z06 platform was a huge pain. Fixing this kind of damage on a coupe would have been easier. Probably going to do a bolt on roof once I get the cage in so I don't have to deal with the epoxy bonding again.

Na the C5 Z06 coup looks much better than the hatch back.

I did not think I'd see "bucolic" used in the comments for one of my videos, well played! Agree with you on the grass. To make matters worse there had been a lot of rain in the days leading up to this event so the ground was pretty saturated too. There was a significant amount of mud on the underside of the car. I'm not blaming the conditions. My inputs caused the car to spin but the factors mentioned above come into play when looking at the end result.

For sure. Thinking about taking the car further south in the colder months(Sebring for example).

@@hnel_on_track sorry that happened to you. I had Pirelli Diablos on my Ducati 916. I never fully trusted them even when warm. Michelins made it handle markedly better. Safe is always good.

Thanks Cole, tires lessened the damage for sure. Had it been steel barrier alone, I'd be looking and frame damage for sure. Silver lining I guess, could have been worse!

Thought has crossed my mind :)

I know, right? :(

@@hnel_on_track just take it one step at a time and im sure itll be back running well in no time, What exhaust are you running at sounds so mean in your vids.

Exhaust is stock from heads to tail pipes. Microphone placement is a big part of why it sounds so good :) I've got it attached to the inside of the bumper just above the muffler tips.

My inputs exceeded the grip available in these conditions and on this part of the track. That started the slide. The tire construction and compound in these temps played a big part of why the snap was so hard. The Pirellis on the car are full on race slicks. They need to build up heat to get sticky. For those temps, I should have run a tire that reached optimal temps fast. Live and learn.

Man that's a shame

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you've got something new in the garage to take its place

@@hnel_on_track Nothing yet. It took me 6 months to recoup. My kids have banned me from driving corvettes...we will see....