At Pfadt Race Engineering we have always tried our best to give back to the Corvette community who has given us so much over the years. Part of this commitment to grassroots racing comes in the form of our Corvette Contingency program, as well as a new program we’ve recently undertaken with our friends at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The National Corvette Museum is currently developing the NCM Motorsports Park facility, which will include a new 2.9 mile road course and become a new center for all things related to Corvette performance. Upon hearing this news we knew that through our relationship with factory GM Racer Johnny O’Connell we could help their cause. By teaming up with Johnny and the NCM we’ve developed a program to donate a portion of all proceeds from Johnny O’Connell Stage 1 purchases through the NCM, directly to the NCM to help build the new facility!
What this means for you is by purchasing a Johnny O’Connell Stage 1 Package directly from the National Corvette Museum you are helping one of the worlds largest Corvette associations come one step closer to giving every Corvette owner what they’re looking for, available track time! Not only are you supporting a great cause, but you’re purchasing a fantastically balanced suspension package that will make your Corvette easier to drive fast without sacrifice to ride quality or road manners.
Below is a copy of the National Corvette Museum press release with some more information about the donation program as well as the Johnny O’Connell Kit.
1/17/12 – Bowling Green, KY
In a continuing effort by the National Corvette Museum to provide the best experiences for their loyal customers, they are now adding the official Johnny O’Connell Suspension to their line-up in both their popular on-site and online stores. In addition, Johnny and Pfadt Race Engineering are donating a portion of the sales to the construction of the exciting new NCM Motorsports Park to be completed in the fall of 2014! This 2.9 mile race track will be a new focal point at the NCM for all things that are performance related, illustrating the very core of Corvette heritage.
Johnny O’Connell, 4 time winner of the prestigious 24 hours of LeMans race in France with the factory Corvette Racing team, has been a Corvette icon throughout the last decade of Corvette history. Getting his start with the Corvette Racing team early in its development stages, Johnny led the team to numerous American Le Mans Series championships and now claims the moniker of the most successful series driver in history; all accomplished with Corvette. Johnny is integral to Corvette Racing development and the technology that has transferred from that program down to the Corvette production cars that you and I drive on the street everyday. Johnny bleeds Corvette through and through and represents the ideal authority on the level at which your Corvette should be handling and performing at.
The Johnny O’Connell Signature Suspension line is the result of combining the professional driving and development skills of Johnny O’Connell and the engineering expertise of Pfadt Race Engineering to give you a suspension package tuned to perfection. Pfadt Race Engineering is the ultimate source for Corvette suspension performance parts to really get your car hugging the turns, and has done so for over the past 6 years right here in the USA. This suspension system has gone through countless engineering revisions and A/B testing on the race track, mountain passes and stretches of pot hole riddled road to provide you with a suspension that produces racecar-level road holding ability and the drivability you would expect from your daily driver.
The Johnny O’Connell Stage 1 Performance Package is manufactured for ALL C5/C6 Corvettes, and consists of three important upgrades: Shock Absorbers, Sway Bars and Endlinks. The engineering of these parts was dedicated to making this a “set it and forget it” package that Corvette owners could install and know it was tuned correctly, right out of the box. The rear sway bar is still adjustable for Corvettes with aftermarket wheel and tire packages, and therefore different balance than factory Corvettes. The most important aspect of this performance package though is its positive effects on ride quality. Gone are the days where performance upgrades meant you had to sacrifice ride quality, this package addresses both for the street performance enthusiast.
Go to [url]www.pfadtracing.com[/url] to see the official development video featuring Johnny O’Connell and Pfadt, and to see exactly what you can expect in performance and ride quality gains from this package.
Thank you from Johnny O’Connell, the fine folks at the National Corvette Museum, and Pfadt Race Engineering!
Following in the footsteps of the recent launch of our premier Double Adjustable coilover the Feather Light Generation DAs, we are announcing the little brother with many of the same features: The Feather Light Generation SAs (Single Adjustable).
The Feather Light Generation SA coilovers are a completely new design for the Pfadt family of Corvette suspension. Most notably, this product separates itself from the competition in the following ways:
INVERTED DESIGN: Placing the majority of the mass on the sprung side of the chassis allows the control arms and outboard components to react quicker and easier without the additional weight of the coilover itself. The result is a suspension system that responds faster to changes in the road whether its highway, local roads, or track surfaces. The less weight that is on that outboard suspension, the better your car will behave – you’ll have a better connection between your Corvette chassis and the ground. Make sure your next set of coilovers are inverted.
LIGHTWEIGHT, HIGH STRENGTH MATERIALS: Gone are the days when coilovers need to be made of corrosive steel components. The Feather Light Generation SAs are an all aircraft aluminum body which boasts high strength and very low weight. With the body and spring perch being manufactured out of anodized high-strength aluminum, you no longer have to worry about corrosion locking the two together. The materials in the new SAs allow pain-free height adjustability with ease with our threaded body. All non-aluminum components (upper mounting stud, lower mount mono-ball) are treated with corrosion-eliminating processes such as chroming, heat treating or using stainless steel. Don’t settle for heavy steel components.
BOA MOUNT, THE NEW STANDARD IN CORVETTE SHOCK UPPER MOUNTING: An idea taken directly from its much more expensive bigger brother, the Feather Light Generation DA; the new BOA mount is a no-compromises solution to Corvette shock upper mounts. Our mount is a zero-maintenance, completely sealed design that allows the FULL articulation required for the Corvette suspension. A common problem in coilover mounting for the Corvette is how to effectively mount the upper shock to the chassis without losing much shock travel and articulation. Common solutions are a clevis design that severely limits shock travel and will effect ride quality, and a “pin top” design that relies on compliance in consumable rubber bushings to deflect and bind the shock, creating an unsealed mount needing eventual replacement. The BOA MOUNT suffers none of these shortcomings as it is a solid mount similar to a control arm ball joint (quiet, durable, maintenance free), that is locked in place and then articulates with the suspension utilizing a low friction internal monoball that is sealed from the exterior elements. On top of all of this, the installation procedure could not be any easier. A simple easy to torque washer and nut retain the whole assembly. If your coilover doesn’t have the BOA mount, be aware of the potential future problems. Take a look at the video to see the new BOA MOUNT in action!
THE CIRC SYSTEM, A REVOLUTION IN REMOTE CANISTERS: A premium feature on the SAs that is unique to Pfadt is the CIRC (Concentric Integrated Remote Canister) System. The idea behind this innovation is to implement a standard racing concept – the remote reservoir – in a lightweight, easy to install package. We integrate the remote reservoir with the shock to maximize suspension stroke for a very smooth ride on the street. The CIRC more than triples the gas volume over a standard coil over. Accomplishing this was no small feat because the remote canister is actual mounted radially AROUND the shock body itself. The result: a large gas volume that keeps the shock operation consistent over a wide temperature range and throughout the stroke. The bottom line: Consistency and performance over the life of the shock. This system permits the entire shaft/piston assembly to operate quickly, efficiently, and last a VERY long time as wear is at a minimum. Get the most advanced racing remote canister on the market for your street suspension. Anything less is a compromise in ride quality. Take a look at the following illustration to see how we package the upper BOA MOUNT and CIRC SYSTEM for maximum shock travel and extreme lowering.
EASY ONE-STEP RIDE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT: We make ride height adjustments easy to give you the ultimate control in setting your ride height and corner balancing your car. Included in our coilover kit is the single tool that you need to adjust the perch and tighten the set screw to lock the perch in location. Very simple, strong, and reliable. This single perch adjustment is a result of having ALL of the suspension travel required for the Corvette built into the shock body, since features like the BOA MOUNT and CIRC SYSTEM are used to maximize travel and stroke. Any other design is forced to limit the travel range. Our design is the most optimum for the Corvette and will deliver repeatable results time and time again.
FLOATING PISTON INTERNAL DESIGN: The most effective internal design for a performance shock that needs to last a lifetime of street use is the floating piston design, or “non emulsion” design. This design separates the oil volume from the gas volume and allows each to operate consistently despite changes in external conditions. In a standard emulsion shock, the oil and gas are free to mix together and can result in inconsistent performance when operating at low speeds and high speeds respectively. This is not good for the operation of the shock, as inconsistent performance correlates to inconsistent control of your Corvette’s wheels and suspension. Enter the “floating piston” style that isolates the two volumes and moves freely within the shock cylinder. Our floating piston design utilized in the Feather Light Generation SAs will keep your Corvette’s suspension predicable and controllable for a precise feeling on the street and track. GM’s Z06 and Z51 shocks don’t have oil and gas compromises, neither should your coilovers. Be sure to run floating piston shocks on your Corvette. Take a look at the diagram to see how the designs differ.
SIMPLE AND ACCESSIBLE DAMPING ADJUSTMENT: Have you had a hard time adjusting your current dampers because the adjuster is at the top of the shock, hindering your ability to make quick changes from street to track? That will not be a concern for users of the Feather Light Generation SAs because of the inverted design, which places the adjuster on the bottom of the shock in an easy to access location. No special tools are required, and no “adapters” that can frequently break are necessary. All that is required is your hand to grasp the easy-touch rotary knob on the bottom of the shock and dial in your setting with a precise and repeatable feel. The shock adjuster will adjust compression and rebound in one device, so you will not need to be an expert to keep both dialed in at all times. Up front you will feel 40 distinguishable settings with the rear having 24. The adjustment range encompasses soft to stiff valving for customers wanting to fine tune their ride quality or race track set up. The valving in this system will allow you to run very comfortably on the street and then increase the damping for track use if needed, or even higher to accommodate custom spring rates that you spec for your specific Corvette. There will be no guesswork in where to dial in the suspension as we provide a comprehensive tuning guide with the coilovers. When you purchase a Pfadt Feather Light Generation coilover, your purchase doesn’t end at the sale. We are here to continue helping you with our entire package of set-up documents and technical help online and via phone. We help you use your new products effectively to get the results you want. Don’t settle for a company that doesn’t.
DURABILITY: As part of Pfadt Race Engineering’s ongoing effort to support the Corvette community with the best and most advanced chassis and suspension products, the Feather Light Generation series of coilovers (SAs and DAs) are the pinnacle of street performance, track results, and unbelievable reliability. Part of our evaluation for these coilovers has been our in-house, Pfadt-designed, DAMPER DURABILITY RIG. We have run all versions of current coilovers through rigorous testing on this machine for weeks which simulates tens of thousands of miles and literally millions of cycles. Being able to control the testing allows us to test at worst case scenario forces and articulation angles. We’ve also track tested and street tested the SAs to cover the complete set of circumstances. Take a look at the video below and get and idea of what a Pfadt coilover goes through to qualify it as suitable for a Corvette installation.
Overall, the idea of moving to a Corvette Coilover suspension is going to give you a huge leg up on other Corvettes in terms of handling and street drive-ability. Removing the transverse leaf spring and OEM shocks will yield a true independent suspension which eliminates any “crosstalk” and harsh ride that the OEM suspension is known for. Not only will this solve any unwanted driving characteristics, but it will also give you the ability to tailor your Corvette’s ride to your specific taste with a large range of ride height and damping adjustments. Whether you want a stiff ride that is nice and low, or a soft ride that is comfortable and at stock ride height, our Feather Lights will accommodate all of the possibilities. If you get a new set of wheels and need to adjust to accommodate the new sizes: no problem. Your new stance is just a quick turn of the spring perch away.
Give us a call today to discuss the specifics of our new Single Adjustable coilovers and how they can transform your Corvette into a predicable, precise handling machine on the street and track. We have relied on over 5 years of Corvette coilover experience to now showcase all of the data we have collected and optimized for this design. Engineered and tested in Utah, made in North America, take advantage of our hard work on your Corvette and reap the benefits.
-Single Adjustment for Rebound and Compression
-Easy Ride height Adjustment at Spring Perch
-Custom Spring Rates Available
-Fully Serviceable
-BOA Mount
-CIRC System
-Inverted, Lightweight Construction
-Easy to acces adjuster on bottom, 40 clicks front, 24 clicks rear
When the Pfadt Racing crew built the Ring Spec 2010 Camaro we knew the Spectre 341 Hill Climb would be a prime event to display its ability. So we loaded up the truck and trailer and set off for the 2nd annual event held in Virginia City, Nevada. The Spectre 341 has an even longer history dating back to the early 1970′s, and was reborn in 2010 after some unfortunate incidents earlier in the decade. As we quickly saw, Spectre Performance host and run a fantastic event that has absolutely extraordinary aspects and even more amazing views to it! Most notably, it’s fearless leader Amir Rosenbaum the Grand Marshall of the event took every opportunity available to make sure each and every one of its competitors were aware of all the intricacies of the 341, and the fatal risks involved with potential mistakes. The event has seen its share of tragedies, as recent as last year. It was obvious the stakes were high and all of the competitors were on the same page.
Friday was orientation day, where Amir and crew took care of tech inspection, track tours and gave detailed reviews of conditions and driving lines. The racing began on Day 1 on Saturday. Aaron Pfadt piloted the Ring Spec Camaro with a full tank of fuel and passenger to a 3:56 time on the first run. Not bad for a 4100lb entry weight! After that Aaron never looked back, elevating the Ring Spec Camaro to Club 3:41 Status on the third and final run of Day 1′s morning session with a 3:39 @ 85mph average.
Day 1 finished with an afternoon session, and despite the weather conditions heating up the participants continued to post faster times as they began to really learn the course. A unique aspect of the Spectre 341 is the wide range of vehicle brands it attracts. The participants included exotics like a 775hp Corvette ZR1, Ferrari 612 California and a Nissan GTR, to tamer tuner cars like the Nissan 240SX and Subaru Impreza. With fuel burning off and Aaron becoming more familiar with the course, he posted a best time of 3:35 on Day 1 which was good for 8th of 40 participants. Although we were progressively shaving a second off of each afternoon run in our Camaro, we knew there was room for improvement on Day 2.
On hand was a fleet of pro-level builds from Spectre Performance themselves, piloted by various media representatives from magazines, websites and like. Spectre did a fantastic job creating a welcoming environment with everyone trading rides, talking racing, and telling stories while they weren’t in their cars waiting for another chance to make an impression on the 341 hill.
Day 2 started bright and early with breakfast and driver’s briefing at 8AM, the drivers all anticipating that at 8:30AM the 5.5mile 22 turn course would go green. Podium teams were well out of sight of the Ring Spec Camaro, all with much higher power to weight ratios. So Aaron set off on Day 2 to make up some ground on the others in front of him (Dodge Viper, Nissan GTR, and a C5 Twin Turbo race car). The Pfadt team came to prove a point that when built properly with the right parts and plan of attack, the 2010 Camaro chassis makes quite the contender when compared to its lighter more powerful counterparts. Even being outgunned by lighter and much more powerful competition, we felt the point was proven. With this goal in mind and the cooler track conditions, Aaron cut another full 3 seconds off his best time from Day 1 with a 3:32 time @ 88mph avg. Having obligations in Germany for the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring later that week, we knew the morning session would be our last before we would have to pack up and haul back to Salt Lake City to catch early flights to Europe.
With one run left in the tank, Aaron made one last attempt up the hill. Changing conditions and dust left on the track from eager drivers trying to best their earlier times caused Aaron to have a bit of an off. The off wound up ending Pfadt Racing’s competition three turns early on turn 19! Take a look at the crash damage!
The 3:32 time was good for an official 8th spot in a line up that saw a couple of people swap places. The damage done to the front end was more than worth the effort to place the Ring Spec Camaro in top honors in the exclusive 3:41 club. Pfadt would like to thank ALL of the Spectre Performance organizers, Kahn Media, FM3 Marketing, RePlayXD, everyone from the media such as Auto Week, Source Interlink, Power TV, Motorator, Car and Driver, and all of the safety crew and corner workers that came to Aaron’s aid when he stepped out of the downed Camaro.
