Modern Z/28 Performance Kits Shave Seconds on the Track

z28_performance_kit_7

Images: The Block

When you’re racing a road course, every second matters. Increased power will certainly help you shave seconds off of your lap times but more times than not, true performance comes down to the handling capabilities of your ride.

Chevrolet knows all about this and has worked for years to come up with the latest and greatest suspension upgrades for its wide variety of vehicles, especially the famed fifth-generation Camaro. And according to The Block, one of their latest offerings may just be the best yet! Check it out below!

z28_performance_kit_6For most road course racers, suspension and handling is 90 percent of their build, with the ultimate goal being to out handle the competition for better lap times. So when someone tells you you may just be able to shave a couple seconds off your lap times by installing two performance kits on your fifth-generation Camaro in a single day, it’s obviously going to peak your interest.

That’s exactly what the recently debuted Chevrolet Performance Z/28 Performance kits did for avid racer Todd Napieralski and his Total Performance Racing Camaro. Napieralski works very closely with Chevrolet Performance when it comes to testing products and getting them accepted into the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) scene.z28_performance_kit_4

One of the products Napieralski has been working on homologating into the SCCA circuit is the Chevrolet Performance Z/28 Suspension Kit (PN: 23464729). This kit includes complete front and rear DSSV shocks, front and rear sway bars and end links, front control arms and upper and lower rear control arms. Napieralski and his team reportedly installed this kit on Napieralski’s 2011 Camaro SS in just eight hours at the shop. They also installed the Z/28 Aero Kit (PN: 23489551), which gives the fifth-generation Camaro more downforce to keep the car planted not only in the straight-aways, but also during high-speed cornering.

z28_performance_kit_5On the weekend of August 23rd, the Total Performance Racing team competed in the SCCA Northern Conference US Majors at Grattan Raceway in Michigan with the Z/28 performance kit-equipped Camaro. Napieralski’s brother Rich piloted the 2011 Camaro SS and told The Block, “I cannot believe how good this Z/28 suspension package is. The Multimatic DSSV shocks are phenomenal. I could put the car where I wanted it lap after lap. When you can do that, it is nothing but fun!”

While the car certainly had more performance appeal on the track with the added Z/28 performance kits, the Camaro proved to have better track times as well.

With the kits, Rich Napieralski was able to drive the Camaro to a new SCCA Touring 2 Class track record and two race wins at the Northern Converence US Majors. The car was also able to take a 25-second lead across the finish line on the runner-up car, a Porsche 911, during Sunday’s race, knocking two seconds off of the Camaro’s previous lap best.

z28_performance_kitThe gains in performance from the Z/28 Suspension and Aero kits is undeniable and should be taken seriously by any fifth-generation Camaro-wielding road racer. After all, you don’t get two-second drops in lap times with the installation of any two part numbers very often, and certainly not with ones that only take a day to install on your car!

 

About the author

Lindsey Fisher

Lindsey is a freelance writer and lover of anything with a rumble. Hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles - she's owned and driven it all. When she's not busy writing about them, she's out in her garage wrenching away. Who doesn't love a tech-savy gal that knows her way around a garage?
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading