We’re treading new territory, so it’s very exciting when we feel like we’ve crossed another barrier. “This journey has been a lot of ups and downs, but that’s what makes it so special. The last pass of the day netted the crew a 9.41, which is the new record for the fastest C8 Corvette. Of course, Hartford and the team we ecstatic about this pass, but was there more left in it? The short answer to this question is yes. The timeslip showed a 9.47 at 144.75 mph with a 1.3 60-foot time. You can tell something was different as the C8 blasts off in the video, looking to eradicate the record, which it did. The team added even more power to the car, trying to better the previous world-record-setting pass. The next pass would barely break ETS’s record as Hartford managed a 9.908 at 138 mph, but she was not done yet. The track crew prepped the track before the next hit, which helped significantly as the Corvette launched better, putting Hartford in the 9-second range with a 9.98. ![]() However, the C8 spun the tires and only managed a 10.20-second pass. First, they dropped the tire pressure and then upped the horsepower. With half of the day already gone, it was time for Hartford and crew to up the ante. This setup gives the team a fine line to walk for successes if it goes well or defeat if it doesn’t. If any parameter gets out of whack, the car will go into limp mode, thinking something is wrong. Since the C8 is still utilizing the factory ECU in conjunction with the Holley Dominator, everything has to be perfect on the tune. But after this pass, things weren’t looking so bright. The C8 was looking very promising with a 10.40 et right off the trailer on low boost and the street tune. On the first couple of passes, Hartford tried to burn off some of the 91-octane fuel left in the tank before switching to race gas. These wheels include a bolt-on beadlock ring machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, which secures the tires to the wheel to prevent tire slip during a hard launch. ![]() Forgeline developed the all forged GS1R line specifically with drag racing in mind making them the perfect choice for this outing. To ensure that the C8 had enough bite on the track, the Forgeline NW101 monoblock wheels were removed and replaced with a set of the companies GS1R beadlocks wrapped in Mickey Thompson ET Street tires. ETS has the current C8 1/4-mile record with a 9.95 and Hartford has intentions of smashing that time. There was only one thing to do after the incredibly successful dyno session, which was to hit the drag strip. Hartford’s C8 pumped a record-breaking 1,022 horsepower and 942 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. With all of the new additions, the car finally seemed to be responding, and we may add quite well. All of these modifications were necessary to work around the lack of tuning with the factory ECU. ![]() A Peitz Performance controller was installed to manipulate boost, and a Holley Dominator ECU commands additional fueling and methanol injection while under boost. ![]() With a new Texas Speed short block with forged pistons stuffed in the cylinders, the car was back together and ready to rock only to find more problems as more changes were made. The team then found the ends of the turbocharged combination as they hurt the engine. After the use of a nitrous system, to which they found the limits, they then moved on to a twin-turbo setup. While some mods have worked better than others, there’s always a limit. If you watch all of Hartford’s videos as the crew starts modding the C8, it’s evident that these cars are incredibly selective and don’t like to be modified. After taking delivery last March, I stopped at the dragstrip with a nitrous bottle on my way home across the country and was immediately excited for the potential and puzzle of this new platform,” explained Hartford. “I didn’t have any intentions of modding the car when I got it, but that didn’t last very long. Ironically, she never planned to modify the new C8 at first. Hartford has a YouTube channel where she continually posts content on her C8 and other cars the team builds. But, as with anything new, they’ve had their share of problems with the new Corvette. One team that’s been pushing the envelope with the new mid-engine platform is Emelia Hartford and crew. And while it looks like there’s not going to be a breakthrough any time soon, C8 owners have been working around the new Corvette’s electronics to push the limits of these killer cars. The GM encrypted code on the ECU has yet to be cracked, and companies are frantically working to solve this problem for tuning purposes. So far, the C8 Corvette has been a nightmare for the enthusiast and the performance aftermarket.
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