Chevrolet Corvette C5 Salt Flat Racer (1999)
Gail Phillips is no stranger to the Bonneville Speedway flats having raced the flats for over 11 years. She holds numerous records, one of the most prestigious being the 7th woman ever to be inducted into the 200 mph club.
In 2006 she piloted her patriotic 1999 Corvette to an average top speed of 190.15 mph, breaking the 28 year E/Grand Touring record. Surprisingly her car, despite coming with one from the factory, didn’t have an LS1 motor installed at the time of her record breaking run. Instead it had an ever dependable small-block between the fenders.
The SBC motor was chosen in part for its reliability and simplicity, but it was also utilized to meet class requirements. The E/Grand Touring class limits displacement to 260ci and her motor squeaked in just under the barrier. Still the motor made an impressive 445 horsepower which combined with the C5’s low coefficient of drag proved more than enough.
The car also still runs stock brakes and it’s the parachutes sticking off the back doing most of the work bringing it back down to more common speeds.
Model created for Instagram #mocaroundgang 61st build challenge #saltflatspeeder hosted by @f1elevenbricks
Chevrolet Corvette C5 Salt Flat Racer (1999)
Gail Phillips is no stranger to the Bonneville Speedway flats having raced the flats for over 11 years. She holds numerous records, one of the most prestigious being the 7th woman ever to be inducted into the 200 mph club.
In 2006 she piloted her patriotic 1999 Corvette to an average top speed of 190.15 mph, breaking the 28 year E/Grand Touring record. Surprisingly her car, despite coming with one from the factory, didn’t have an LS1 motor installed at the time of her record breaking run. Instead it had an ever dependable small-block between the fenders.
The SBC motor was chosen in part for its reliability and simplicity, but it was also utilized to meet class requirements. The E/Grand Touring class limits displacement to 260ci and her motor squeaked in just under the barrier. Still the motor made an impressive 445 horsepower which combined with the C5’s low coefficient of drag proved more than enough.
The car also still runs stock brakes and it’s the parachutes sticking off the back doing most of the work bringing it back down to more common speeds.
Model created for Instagram #mocaroundgang 61st build challenge #saltflatspeeder hosted by @f1elevenbricks