Tuesday morning we left for Vegas from Anaheim to attend the SEMA show. Drove the Z on its first trip. Left around 10am. Was cruising on the 15 freeway about 45 miles from Baker, I was doing 90mph where posted limit is 70mph...it's so desolate that doing 90 seems to be the minimum to stay awake. No one is near me for half a mile in front or rear.

There was a tree next to the freeway...one of those shrub like trees...actually i think it was just a big shrub, big enough to hide a cruiser in comfortable shade. The moment i get next to the shrub i saw the black front corner fender of the cruiser, COP!!! Slammed on the brake but it was too late...i saw him peel out in dust through the rear view mirror so I just pulled over. He came up behind me and we went through the motions and I ended up with a citation. First ticket in like 5 years...grrrrr. Damn cruiser was completely hidden...never saw him until i was right next to him, my friend in the passenger seat never saw him either. Talk about a buzzkill...all stoked to get to vegas and the show now i got this ticket hanging over my head and the resultant fine...goddammit. Lucky for me, I was planning on taking a speedo shot doing 150+mph...I think maturity just prevented me from doing it and maybe spending the night in jail. But in all honesty, doing 90mph in an empty flat freeway with nothing but desert all around seemed to be par for the course...after the ticket I was doing 75-80mph getting passed by convoys of minivans doing exactly what i was doing before, 90mph. Oh the irony...and it wasn't even end of the month.

 

Question...did you have a radar detector?

 

Answer...No.

Addendum to Answer...not yet.

 

Jim:

1. Check out the new stealth install of the Valentine V1 posted today just under the mirror. Best install i have seen to date. Let me know what you think.

2. What is the status on the SC? Lots of peole interested but limited info. Can you helps us out with what is up?

Jeff - Zland

 

Sucks to hear that.
Get V1. It has helped me numerous times.

 

helped me the other night...cops were hidden in pitch black area...couldnt even see them when i passed them (barely)...V1 spotted them from more than half mile away!

 

I don't know the status of the supercharger. As you may already know, DreamWorkes is taking orders for estimated January delivery. I was told that the design is complicated enough such that manufacturing hurdles also have to be cleared in terms of machining and castings...something not surprising in light of the all-in-one design basically involving manufacture of a complete upper intake manifold including intake runners. I am to receive a production unit for CARB testing as I understand it so I don't expect anything until January.

 

i got caught doing 94 in a 65 goin down the mountain on 5 N @ 1:30 am......that ticket hurt

 

Wow, that is actually quicker than I thought it would be. I hope you keep us posted on the details and performance impressions once you get it.

If you look at a recent poll I created, approximately 40% of the people completing the survey stated the Vortec was the most likely SC they would purchase. Most of the comments related to Vortec related to reputation of reliability of that company.

The Dreamworkes was 2nd most desireable SC to buy which is surpizing considering it surpassed the ATI and Stillen SC'ers which are both already out. People tended to like the dreamworkes SC because of its unique design. I think that is it get carb legal, proves to perform well, and is reliable, it will give the Vortec a competition.

 

I will definitely keep everyone informed. Once the numbers are out, I would have a hard time believing that the Dreamworkes unit would beat out the Vortech for one simple reason...people like to make their decision based on final numbers, price and power. At the beginning of all this, the development team was adamant that they would go with the roots-type for best performance powerband under the 6600rpm redline. Who cares if you make 600hp at 6400rpm, you get max power when you're shifting which isn't an ideal situation (hypothetically speaking but the point is the same when referring to useable power). I am a believer in the Dreamworkes cuz I've seen the torque numbers on their other projects...how about max torque at 2500rpm. Some people may talk about drivetrain stress lighting up the tires off the line...i don't care about off the line (and if you're a good driver you should be able to feather anyways)...i care about power through the straights and out of corners...i don't want to have to wait for the power to build up exiting a corner chicane and I definitely don't want boost surge coming out of an off-camber corner. Hey but that's just me.

You've seen the pics...how many other companies develop that way? Let's face it, most of em are "slap on and make it fit", turn the boost up until it breaks then go back a couple of psi for sale. Look at Stillen's unit...why would a reputable company have to call a customer back and make them pay to get rid of the pinging with extra stuff even at cost? And they're going to continue selling the non-intercooled kit admitting to the fact it runs hot and pings?

I can't make predictions of which is better. That is a personal choice. I think it's unfair to ATI with the maxhax situation and no2. But i think it's a chance we all take when considering forced induction. I don't believe anyone can blame anyone else when driving under boost when the car didn't come that way. I do believe that DreamWorkes intent to make the best gains with daily streetable driving and being street legal is a great option for those wanting more out of their Z while minimizing risks as the development team has taken painstaking design steps while eschewing the notion of being first out to capitalize on the market. Either way, it's great for all of us looking for power to have the variety of options.

BTW...I am still pissed about my speeding ticket and the utter humiliation and irony of being passed by minivans doing the same speed i got cited for.

 

Got to SEMA (and back) from the shop in under 3 hours. With my V1 I was able to find the cop's.... ran between 90 and 140mph the whole way. What a rush!!

 

Sorry to hear that Jimster.

Unfortunately a V-1 is the way to go on road trips on the 15 or 5. It saved me from 3 or 4 tickets on a drive to SF (and allowed me to go 124 mph). Otherwise I'd be braking before every little bridge or every overpass.

 

I got hit by a laser motorcycle for doing about 60 in a 45. There wasn't anyone around and it's a 4 lane divided highway. <sigh> Not much to do about laser. I do like the V1 tho, and it's saved my @$$ on a number of occasions. A little tip from a cop friend of mine, and one I've been following for years tho: In addition to getting a good stealthy install of a radar detector (see link in sig ), never EVER slam on your brakes. It's tantamount to admitting guilt, and will never help.

 

I did between 90~120 to and back SEMA... lucky for me didn't get cought