2020 Corvette C8 Duels Dodge Viper ACR At Laguna Seca: Video
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With the 2020 Corvette C8 now out in the real world, the Bow Tie brand superstar is showing up at racetracks to bring the heat. Now, we have ourselves a good old-fashioned showdown on one of the most iconic racetracks in the world, Laguna Seca, against the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette and a Dodge Viper ACR.
Brought to us by YouTuber Speed Phenom, the video clocks in at 11 minutes, 10 seconds, and is packed to the brim with action behind the wheel as the Corvette C8 puts down some hot laps. We’ve seen Speed Phenom’s videos before, such as his on-track comparison between the 2020 Vette and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, but this particular video shows the YouTuber’s first visit to Laguna Seca.
Even so, the kid clearly has talent, quickly getting up to speed on the challenging high-speed race track. No doubt making the job easier is the performance of the 2020 Corvette C8, which looks perfectly at ease navigating tricky corners like the Corkscrew and Andretti Hairpin.
Indeed, Speed Phenom and his 2020 Corvette C8 are so quick, he quickly slots behind a blue Dodge Viper ACR. With its enormous aero treatment and mammoth V10 engine, the Viper is plenty fast, inching away from the C8 on the straights. However, as soon as a braking zone comes up, Speed Phenom quickly reels it in, getting right up on the Viper’s bumper by the apex.
Some traffic puts the battle on pause, but eventually, the 2020 Corvette C8 gets the point by down the front straight. We’ll count it as a victory, at least by track-day standards.
If you love the new Corvette, and want to see it on maximum boil around the incredible Laguna Seca Raceway, then make sure to hit play on this one.
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He makes some solid videos. I’ve watched a few before.
I’d love to trailer my C7 Grand Sport to Laguna Seca and give it a rip. That’d be a lot of fun!
It transpired from the video that the C8, basically a car taken straight from the dealership, has an advantage on the curves over the Viper, which is not alien to tracks has a few mods in it. I too agree the C8 was the victor. SpeedPhenom definitely has a talent. However, I would have love to see the outcome of the dispute, had the driver been Randi Pobst, a 24k professional driver and a Laguna Seca veteran.
Might note the new 911 in the rear view mirror.
The Stingray is a great car for the money but the real dominate cars are yet to come. This car bench marks the more expensive models but the real fun is still to come.
Vipers are old news.
Adalberto – Why?
Austin has some unusual talent as a driver and as a personality. He also has a lot on the ball. He’s shown a willingness to get in there and mix it up. His videos are not a non-stop soap opera of modifications and he shows the kind of sense that could make him the President, one day…about things that he shouldn’t comment upon, he doesn’t. He knows how to keep a secret. Beyond that, he and his magnetic personality, just like C8 ride control, stay hooked up to the ground. Then watch him compliment other drivers on their cars. Because it doesn’t make sense that a kid loving a car and putting up content on a vlog, there is some jealousy, when a base Corvette with a high wing and race seats runs squircles around a lot of his competition. AF
@Alex,
Thank you for your reply. I can gather from it that I’m not so sure you like Austin(?). Also, that you believe the videos have been “modified”. How old is he? 19? As a veteran teacher of adolescents, I can tell you that for a gifted kid that can afford to buy a C8 Corvette, and a Mustang GT 500 among others maybe, his hobbies seem very “healthy”. He is not a professional car journalist yet, but he could have a future as one. He doesn’t have a control of a car like car journalist, professional race driver Chris Harris does, but Austin is pretty good already considering he can be Chris’s son. Now, as a physicist with a hobby for videos and cars I can tell you that his narrative and descriptions, without using technical terms most likely he doesn’t know of, about the behaviors of various cars while on straights or cornering are 100% in agreement with what’s expected. I truly noticed that at some point in one of his videos, Austin mixed contents of other videos, but he was just trying to make a point, I guess. Thanks again!
Hi Adalberto B. – My comments are my attempt to let my points stand on their own. Actually, I like Austin or as a vlog personality, I like his direction and what he layin’ down. I don’t know his age, but he’s the first kid I’ve ever seen with youthful somewhat rosey cheeks driving a car like an adult with quite a bit of talent. Chris Harris does have a great head-start on Austin, that’s for sure. Austin is creative in his content and mixes things up beautifully. He even show bits and pieces of a young Spielberg, if I can read between the lines. I’m not even sure he crafted his edited material to attempt to convince anyone of anything. It was clever anyway; the weight of the story provided a good sub-headline and there’s been no real fallout. I call that a success. Yes, I’ve noticed his cars and ownership. I mean there’s a lot to like. This young man shows up unafraid at a number of tracks and jumps into them and aquits himself quite well. His use of speech in terms that an audience can appreciate and understand is likely intentional. I would imagine he can pile it higher and deeper, but refreshingly that has not been his way thus far. right? And he doesn’t just drive the C8 and his youth and daring do allow him to offer up his (American Ferrari-C8) baby to others to ride in and even drive. Refreshing I’d say. He’s thrown in some family; a little drama; lots of real driving; discussed things occasionally such as tires and air pressures; sets a great example in a full-on driving suit and helmet (rather than a guy and his girl each driving over 170 miles per hour in a commandeered dry lake bed camping area (daring, youthful, irresponsible if not downright stupid). What’s not to like? Overall presentation is so good, that his points just keep coming out. He is growing and maturing fairly fast. I don’t know if he has the kind of talent and skill to keep improving in all aspects of his presentations and driving skills, but he has the makings of a guy who could be a test driver; could be a racer; could be a journalist or tele-journalist, and so many more things. He’s first on my You tube lists that I’ve subscribed to, with the idea of learning all I can about the C8. He even uses any team he has in a similar fashion to Jay Leno in some ways with regard to his vlogs. Hope that clarifies a bit. (me? Retired Probation Deputy after 37 years; family man; I also have a charitable foundation that I started and is in its 8th year. It’s small and its private and family, but it does some good. One of my foundation’s goals is the preservation of automotive history. As such the foundation annually supports the Petersen Automotive museum. On the other hand, education, fighting various cancers, supporting youth sports; supporting veterans and senior citizens are among the types of things my Foundatin has provided grants for. Just thought I’d clarify a little more. AF
@Alex Ford,
Thanks again for your reply, your thoughts, clarifications and your time. I am remembering now that I have already watched some other videos from that “kid”, But it was just yesterday that I just felt prompted to subscribe to his channel: “SpeedPhenom” after I read the article. What made me do that? Probably the relevance of the topics and the cars involved. Who doesn’t want to know more about how the new C8 performs beyond the written specs and benchmarks? Where does the C8 stand in the competition among other outstanding competitors? As a car guy, when I watch videos, my attention goes to the cars involved, more so than to the people involved. Unfortunately, cars do not write about cars, people do and, you know, humans always have their likes and dislikes, preferences and biases. What I like about SpeedPhenom, besides what was mentioned before are the detailed and accurate descriptions. Yes, the protagonist is indeed very articulate behind his own camera. Also, I find his motivation, hard work, commitment and good vibes contagious as well. I also value the detachment involved when committing his own valuable possessions to the track related high stress, wear and tear just to make a point and to answer questions to people like me, who cannot afford neither of those cars, but just dream and have a good time while watching the videos. What is SpeedPhenom missing to be more credible? Incorporating telemetry to his videos? Maybe more drone video support? Maybe inviting one outstanding personality in car journalism or a race champ? Well, all of the above can be just a matter of time and his “vlog” becoming more popular. And just yesterday, SpeedPhenom won another fan… LOL 😉 Again, TY 4 UR time. I just love to talk about cars in any possible way…Have a great day!
Watching this was a rush – felt like I was in the car with him (to the point of Vertigo)
Love these two cars but before you put them up against each other get somebody who can drive them. Doug demuro is not a professional automobile race car driver in any stretch of the imagination. Yes he gives great reviews and analyzes cars to Perfection. But his driving skills suck. Sorry YouTube phenom. You got to really know what you’re doing when you drive one of these cars. And the answer is yes I do know how to drive better. That’s just in case you’re going to ask.
Hey Doug you really suck as a driver. You are good at writing columns and analyzing cars. However, your driving skills suck. I really thought I was going to see a good race between the Viper in the vet and I probably would have if you knew what you were doing. As for the other driver? Substandard! I driven SCCA road course for the last 25 years and I’d be glad to put both cars to the test to get the real results.
Hi AB – You pretty much nailed it. As for me I won’t offer suggestions. I think at this point, I’ll just wait and see. AF