Drove a CTS V on the F1 track...

solo40oz · 12-08-2012, 10:19 PM

I was able to participate in a cadillac performance lab at the F1 track today (circuit of the americas near Austin for those of you living under a rock). It was pretty awesome...got to drive a CTS V around the track and also got to do some skid pad type stuff in the new ATS (didn't expect much from the ATS going in, but was very impressed after I drove it). So anyway, an engineer from Brembo was there giving a presentation and I asked why the roller skate pads were required on the SS but not the CTS. He sort of laughed and called them the 'Mickey mouse ears'.......and here is what i think i heard...apparently before the Camaro was released, GM was toying with the idea of making the Brembos an upgrade option, but at the last minute decided to make them standard...and that adequate noise testing was not performed before the release. When they realized that noise was a problem, they added the weights to the pads, because the caliper part couldn't be changed (I guess the weight/balance like this would normally be integrated into the caliper).

Another interesting tid bit of info is that it sounds like 'brake by wire' may become mainstream in the next 10 years...sounds like a better failsafe needs to be developed for that before it goes into production cars.....

SPCBA · 12-08-2012, 10:31 PM

Good stuff. Sounds like an amazing experience.

KMPrenger · 12-09-2012, 12:11 PM

I know throttle by wire is the norm now, but for some reason I'm still not likeing the idea of brake by wire either lol

MIKnam67 · 12-09-2012, 12:33 PM

I did the same with the V Coupe and V Sedan at Road Atlanta last fall. Awesome cars and drove them both as fast as I could within my ability but most of the ability was the CTS-V.
They told us before we drove that it wasn't our car or tires and there were no cops so drive em like you stole them. So I did.

ShnOmac · 12-09-2012, 12:36 PM

oldfriend · 12-09-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo40oz

I was able to participate in a cadillac performance lab at the F1 track today (circuit of the americas near Austin for those of you living under a rock). It was pretty awesome...got to drive a CTS V around the track and also got to do some skid pad type stuff in the new ATS (didn't expect much from the ATS going in, but was very impressed after I drove it). So anyway, an engineer from Brembo was there giving a presentation and I asked why the roller skate pads were required on the SS but not the CTS. He sort of laughed and called them the 'Mickey mouse ears'.......and here is what i think i heard...apparently before the Camaro was released, GM was toying with the idea of making the Brembos an upgrade option, but at the last minute decided to make them standard...and that adequate noise testing was not performed before the release. When they realized that noise was a problem, they added the weights to the pads, because the caliper part couldn't be changed (I guess the weight/balance like this would normally be integrated into the caliper).

Another interesting tid bit of info is that it sounds like 'brake by wire' may become mainstream in the next 10 years...sounds like a better failsafe needs to be developed for that before it goes into production cars.....

If that's what you heard from him , how come even todays Camaros has the Mickey Mouse hears on it then ?

cmb74656 · 12-09-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

I know throttle by wire is the norm now, but for some reason I'm still not likeing the idea of brake by wire either lol

Wait until someone introduces 'steering-by-wire'.

solo40oz · 12-09-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comrando

How fast did you get to go?

Pushed 120 (my buddy hit 140). That track was very tricky

solo40oz · 12-09-2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShnOmac

Cadillac is sending video sometime this week, I'll post when I get it

solo40oz · 12-09-2012, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfriend

If that's what you heard from him , how come even todays Camaros has the Mickey Mouse hears on it then ?

Not sure I understand the question, the conversation was about 5th gens

Denis · 12-09-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solo40oz

Not sure I understand the question, the conversation was about 5th gens

I'm assuming he meant that since the Camaro has been out for a few years now. How come they haven't gotten rid of the roller skates? And I assume the answer is that they didn't wanna do a bunch of R&D on new calipers when the roller skates seem to be working just fine.

Nessal · 12-09-2012, 08:43 PM

Brake by wire sounds scary.

Kyle2k · 12-09-2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmb74656

Wait until someone introduces 'steering-by-wire'.

Uhhmm...

solo40oz · 12-14-2012, 11:22 AM

Cadillac sent a video from the event:

12-08-2012, 10:19 PM	#1
solo40oz Drives: My wife crazy Join Date: May 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 740 View My Garage	Drove a CTS V on the F1 track... I was able to participate in a cadillac performance lab at the F1 track today (circuit of the americas near Austin for those of you living under a rock). It was pretty awesome...got to drive a CTS V around the track and also got to do some skid pad type stuff in the new ATS (didn't expect much from the ATS going in, but was very impressed after I drove it). So anyway, an engineer from Brembo was there giving a presentation and I asked why the roller skate pads were required on the SS but not the CTS. He sort of laughed and called them the 'Mickey mouse ears'.......and here is what i think i heard...apparently before the Camaro was released, GM was toying with the idea of making the Brembos an upgrade option, but at the last minute decided to make them standard...and that adequate noise testing was not performed before the release. When they realized that noise was a problem, they added the weights to the pads, because the caliper part couldn't be changed (I guess the weight/balance like this would normally be integrated into the caliper). Another interesting tid bit of info is that it sounds like 'brake by wire' may become mainstream in the next 10 years...sounds like a better failsafe needs to be developed for that before it goes into production cars.....

12-09-2012, 12:11 PM	#3
KMPrenger Drives: 16 Camaro SS, 15 Colorado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Posts: 13,943	I know throttle by wire is the norm now, but for some reason I'm still not likeing the idea of brake by wire either lol __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS - 8-speed - NPP - Black bowties 2010 Camaro 1LT V6 (Sold. I will miss her!)

12-08-2012, 10:31 PM	#2
SPCBA Drives: pleather and Chiclets Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: a line somwhere Posts: 4,206 View My Garage	Good stuff. Sounds like an amazing experience.

12-09-2012, 12:33 PM	#4
MIKnam67 MIC Drives: 2012 SSRS 6sp man Blk Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central FL Posts: 383	I did the same with the V Coupe and V Sedan at Road Atlanta last fall. Awesome cars and drove them both as fast as I could within my ability but most of the ability was the CTS-V. They told us before we drove that it wasn't our car or tires and there were no cops so drive em like you stole them. So I did.

12-09-2012, 12:36 PM	#5
ShnOmac Drives: 2006 Silverado SS, 2009 G8 GT Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PNW Posts: 13,313

12-09-2012, 08:43 PM	#12
Nessal Drives: Exige, Miata, Ghia Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: CA, Bay Area Posts: 2,309	Brake by wire sounds scary.