Return With Us Now To The Days Of Silent (Track) Film
by
Jack Baruth
Published: August 11th, 2010
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Nothing but bad news from the video recorder; even when it was working, the fabulous sound of the supercharged CTS-V’s V-8 was left out.
This is a reasonably quick pit-to-pit lap of Monticello in the CTS-V Coupe. I was 3mph short of the local instructors at the end of the back straight. I’ll blame it on (the admirably fit) weight of my passenger, AutoGuide’s senior editor Colum Wood.
In the video, you can see the site of my off-track mishap and get a feel for what it’s like to push this very quick coupe around the track at cornering pressures of 1.1g or more. Don’t forget to click it to “480” to get the full resolution from the instruments.
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I was making gearchange sounds in my head the whole video. Of particular note was the G-meter. I've always thought the fastest driver was the one who could quickly and smoothly peg the car's G-limit approaching and going through every turn that would benefit from it. By that metric, you must have been blazing.
I dunno Jack, the part of the tape where you "Ooops", it seems as if your arms are virtually crossed over each other. Thus, you are not pulling down on the wheel to turn it with the same muscles you would if the wheel were straight. So it brings up eternal question: When does one take one's hands off the wheel in a sharp turn? (I would have repositioned my hands, but I'm no Tazio Nuvolari either!)
So Jack, are you going to give it the ultimate endorsement and buy one? At least the wagon version?
More bench racing... Not all CTS-Vs are created equal. Comparing my lap of Monticello's with John Heinricy's. Before the long straight, my lowest midcorner speed is 47mph and my speed at corner exit is 63. John's lowest midcorner is 45 and his exit is 64. At the final "chiclet" of the kink I am doing 134, he is doing 142. Hmm. Assuming I outweigh John by maybe 40 pounds, and Colum weighs 170 or so...