High Speed Driving Days - North Weald 2025

[CaptainK]

Fully understand your concerns [you can hear a "but" coming, can't you?!] - but.... this is the last time, so it would be a one off and what a great set of memories! Bring the Vette - you know it's the right thing!!

On the subject of fuel consumption for a C3 Big Block, I have just dug out my original "Motor" road test from August 24, 1968 when they tested just such a machine. In those days, they calculated "touring" consumption by taking consumption midway between 30 mph and maximum speed less 5% for acceleration. The figure they calculated was 14.5mpg. However, given the max speed was confirmed at 145mph [with a 3.08 rear end], then the midway point is 87.5mph. So, if you cruised up at 60-65mph, you could well get around 18mpg or better. That sounds pretty reasonable in the circumstances! And, of course, a good long journey would do the car a world of good! I rest my case - thank you.

Handily, my 1968 Vette, despite the big block bonnet, is actually only a tiny 327/300hp model. Its also been modified by a previous owner to be running a 3.08 posi rear end, and the one and only time I measured its MPG on a run it was about 18mpg. That was before I changed carb as the previous (Carter) carb was having issues.

I have been seriously thinking about bringing the Vette this time - as I won't have a hotel bill to pay for this time, as staying with my wife's family as she's up with them handily at the same time (maternity leave, visiting with the baby for the week). So that's a good £50 or so quid saved for fuel. The issue stopping me now is the weather - I really don't know if I can do 220 ish miles each way driving the Vette in the rain. Its a hard enough beast to drive as it is - which is why I LOVE it for the driving fun - but over that many miles each way when raining? I'll see closer to the time. The FTO, despite also being "lively", is by far a more relaxing drive in comparison.

 

[CaptainK]

For a laugh, I used a fuel economy calculator online to see how much my 220 mile trip would be:
This assumes use of Super Unleaded at what apparently the website is the national UK average price of 148.29 per litre
Corvette at 18mpg: £82.38 EACH way.
FTO at 35mpg: £42.40 EACH way (to be fair, the FTO has been known to almost touch 40mpg on a long run, but 35 seemed fairer).

For reference, using normal unleaded at the national UK average of 135.61 per litre:
Baby Wagon at its value of 50 ish average mpg the computer says: £27.13 EACH way (though on a long run its MPG would be more, as 50mpg is its average over all types of miles I'm doing in it).

So yeah, cost of getting to the venue and back:
Corvette: £164.76
FTO: £84.80

So about an £80 difference in just getting there and back - which amusingly is MORE expensive than me taking the FTO and booking a hotel