Cliff notes: from a roll, a C5Z pulls my SRT-8 about 1 to 1.5 CLs.

Spotted what might have been a lowered C5Z in traffic up ahead. I knew he was an enthusiast judging by the way he left one of the lights.

As I caught up to him after another light (limited access highway, no traffic, excellent conditions), I noticed the cool, black, aftermarket wheels, WICKED exhaust note, and possibly a tuner's decal in the lower, center rear window.

I caught up in 2nd gear at 55mph, he knew I was interested. I 3-honked, made sure he was game and we hit it.

My hopes were dashed in about a second (or less) when he pulled about 1, maybe 1.5 CLs ahead of me and that's where he stayed at WOT until we both let up, me in the powerband of 3rd gear.

He was real cool, I asked if he could u-turn to go again but he had somewhere to go as I did too. I couldn't keep going and traffic was building again.

He asked my mods/power, I told him 400rwhp (91 oct tune) and he said he just did exhaust. And said he was in 3rd gear. Sounded like full exhaust.

Soooooo my conclusion:
I think trap speed differential between my car and his is probably 5-6mph, assuming both under IDEAL condtions (113-114 vs. 119-120) Since we started off at the peak of my powerband, and I suspect he shifted from 2nd to 3rd, I would say the race was pretty representative.

If he had gone from a low speed roll, him powershifting, to the mid teens, it wouldn't have been pretty (for me).

 

Your car's problem is it just weighs too much to take on a ZO6. I had one for five years, put down 352 RWHP when new, and stock, it did pretty easy 12.5s (by which I mean no mods at all, and stock tires, too).

 

No doubt about that! Even worse in the twistys. Price to pay for a large 4door and a big trunk.

EDIT: sig. updated. ran him in my 398/422 91oct tune (rounded up when I talked to him...)

 

Well, the advantage is that you can take a lot of rowdy friends along, and the car is actually useful when you drive to Home Depot

 

To be honest, I'm quite surprised the Vette didnt pull on you harder. I raced an SRT-8 Magnum with full exhaust, intake, tune, and cam from a 40 roll in my Pop's bone stock 08 Z51. I gave him the hit and still put 3 links on him before I hit 110 mph. I suppose the magnum is a little heavier than the Charger and this may be the difference in outcome.

 

Actually if you consider that 40mph is the dead spot in 2nd for an SRT-8 and the cam doesn't make a dramatic difference (neither does H/C) your race sounds spot-on.

Mine was as well if you take into account I started in my powerband in 2nd at about 55mph. If the Magnum had done so, it would have been a LOT closer. But still, obviously, not a win.

 

No this race was planned, some friends called this guy up. He drove 25 minutes to meet up with us and lose his pride lol.

We raced three times, the second time was a 60-65 roll, again I gave him the hit and started out in 3rd gear which was a lil too high, but yet again I put3 links on him by the time I got to 125. The third time was the same, 65 roll, 3 links. Idk what the weight difference is between the Charger and the Magnum, I'd imagine a couple hundred pounds.

It was still decently fast though, for a bus lol.

 

It's only about 100-120lbs iirc. I really wonder if he actually has a cam and what his numbers are. I would assume if it's that modded he would know to hold the gear and ESP partially/fully off.

I'm really curious about his numbers though.

 

Only 100 120 lbs? My '02 ZO6 was supposed to weigh 3085 lbs, but bone stock and with about half a tank it weighed 3175 lbs with me not in it, on a certified scale accurate withinabout 25 lbs. According to YahooAutos and two other sites I just checked, and SRT-8 has a curb weight at 4100 lbs.

 

The Charger is listed at 4160lbs. A search on google shows the Magnum SRT-8 at 4260lbs.

I weighed my fully optioned Charger at 4100lbs with about 2gal. of gas on a 20lb variance scale. So for all practical purposes, the Magnum is about 100lbs heavier. Of course, gas, tires (5lbs RSA vs. F1s) and options all make a difference.