photos by: the author
When Cadillacs Attack: Low Elapsed Times Commence
Cadillacs are mostly known for being luxurious vehicles designed to transport old people to early bird specials, or the occasional shuffleboard tournament. Historically speaking, they’ve been aimed at a more mature audience. That’s not to say they’ve always been slow. Even back in the Northstar days, those cars were relatively quick. However, when the V-series line of performance cars hit the showroom, people knew Cadillac was now serious about performance.
Of course, when you supply the public with a performance car, there is a segment of the population who will try to see how fast they can make it. No matter what kind of car it is, if it’s fast from the factory, people will massage it to make it even faster. That segment of the population congregated at Orlando Speed World (OSW) this past Saturday.
Billed as the Cadillac Attack, ATS-Vs, G8s, SS’ and Camaro ZL1s were also invited to participate, as well. If you wanted to see 9-second Caddys, and fast Camaros, OSW was the place to be. We witnessed many an eye-opening performance during the event, and at the end of the day, a Quick 16 class was arranged so he fastest Cadillacs at the event could battle it out for track supremacy. The ZL1s also faced off in a Quick 8 to find the quickest ZL1 on the property.
For some background on the CTS-V line, the car was introduced as a sedan in 2004, and featured a 5.7-liter, 400 horsepower, LS6 and a Tremec six-speed. This, in a Cadillac!!! The CTS-V was aimed at competing with the Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG, BMW M5, and the Lexus IS-F, and would run in the low 13s right out of the box. The 2004-’05 CTS-V has an LS6, but the 2006-’07 model boasted the 6.0-liter LS2 engine. The LS2 also was rated at 400 horsepower, but the extra cubic inches provided a broader torque band. The first generation CTS-V was only available as a four-door sedan.
Things became way more serious with the second generation CTS-V. The second generation CTS-V production began in the summer of 2008, and introduced as a 2009 model. The second generation V boasted a supercharged LSA engine. Cal Hartline tells us the LSA is basically an LS3 engine with a roots-style 1.9-liter supercharger. The supercharger used in the second generation V is an Eaton TVS supercharger featuring a water-to-air intercooler. The supercharger pumped out 9 pounds of boost to deliver 556 horsepower and 551 ft-lbs of torque.
The second generation V had a paddle-shift automatic transmission option to go alongside the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual offering. With the extra horsepower, the second generation V could get through the quarter-mile in roughly 12-seconds flat. Additionally, the second generation also included a coupe and wagon beginning in 2011.
These days, the 2016 CTS-V comes in four-door sedan only, but we think the 640-horsepower, 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged engine and eight-speed automatic will keep everyone from crying about the lack of body configurations. A 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, and quarter-mile times deep into the 11s!!! What is this world coming to?! When the CTS-V was introduced back in 2004, we knew it wasn’t your grandfather’s Caddy, but this is getting a little ridiculous, and Cadillac couldn’t be happier. Performance is now a huge part of Cadillac’s game, and we get to reap the benefits.
At the 1st Annual Cadillac Attack, we saw the fruits of Cadillac’s labor.
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- Race organizer Cal Hartline wouldn’t have been able to put on such an event without many sponsors coming on board to donate prizes and component packages for many in attendance, and to help cover the cost of the event.
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- Redline Motorsports, Weapon-X, Aldo Welds, Hartline Performance, VADDER, Commando Racing Gear, Jokers Performance, Fore Innovations, Vengeance Racing, Dynospeed, Nitrous Outlet, Metco Motorsports, GP Tuning, Krazy House, Eric’s Automotive, DSMlights Tuning, Blaise Cowan, VMAX, Mont Motorsports, Fasterproms, X-RPM, Kraftworks, Alky Control, CFM, and Adam’s Polishes all helped to make the event a success.
Many Espino won the Cadillac Attack Quick 16 class in his CTS-V sedan. Manny was consistently running low 9s at Orlando, even though his best overall time is an 8.97. Manny almost equaled that time, saving his best pass for the final round Ray Gardocki with a 9.14. Weighing his car at the conclusion of the event, Manny’s V weighed in at a robust 4,420 pounds. Not to put Manny’s fighting weight on blast, but with him in the seat, the car weighed 4,650 pounds at the event. Hey, someone has to drive the car!
With the supercharged LSA engines, the common mods we saw at the Cadillac Attack were those surrounding intake and exhaust improvements, smaller blower pulleys, a nitrous kit, and the occasional cam swap. The majority of cars in attendance boasted the stock transmission, converter, and rear end. Even the stock gear in everyone we talked to. To see the times many people were running, that is quite an accomplishment to do using so many stock components.
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- The biggest problem we had at the Cadillac Attack is that the CTS-V was only available in a limited amount of colors. It seems black and silver are the most popular, and maybe black is the fastest color. However, seeing a Cadillac pull the wheels on the way to almost mid-9s is a treat.
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- This is Rich Rainey in his CTS-V on his way to a 9.73 at 142 mph. Rich made it to the second round of eliminations before being bounced out by Blaise Cowan.
Other GM models came through Orlando Speed World’s gates to do some testing and tuning, or for other enthusiasts just to take in the action, and support their friends. A couple Chevrolet SS sedans and Pontiac G8s are seen here posted up in the pits.
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- The most race-oriented CTS-V at Cadillac Attack was the coupe of Jerry Groves. The event was the car’s first outing, which is a brand new build.
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- Featuring twin turbochargers, Jerry’s V was good for an 8.96 at 162 mph. That was the quickest pass at the event, but we’re sure as the car gets more laps, it’s going to run even quicker as he sorts out the car.
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- This ATS-V coupe made several laps during the test and tune session, slowly widdling down to an astonishing 11.14 at 118 mph. Even in stock form, the ATS-V is capable of running in the 11s, and this car was reportedly 4 days old. It was even wearing paper tags. The ATS-V is powered by a 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 putting out 464 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque.
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- With both a manual and automatic available in the ATS-V, this one had the eight-speed, paddle-shifted automatic. This car would 60-ft like crazy, but we weren’t able to see any of the car’s incremental times. Just know that if one of these gets a jump on you, good luck catching up.
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- Another turbocharged entry at the Cadillac Attack is the CTS-V coupe of Blaise Cowan. Blaise’s CTS-V coupe features a Mahler Engines-built 416-inch LSA engine with ported heads, and Garrett twin GTX3582R turbochargers.
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- The V makes use of 18 pounds of boost, while guzzling E85. Blaise’s V still has the stock transmission and rear end, and he made it to the semis before bowing out to Ray Gardocki.
Orlando Speed World’s Wade Rich did his best to work with the soupy Florida weather the day of the event to provide a sticky racing surface. The day was mostly overcast, and with the majority of racers on radial, Wade was a busy man. There were very few on-track episodes during the day, and only one car had to be retrieved because of driveline damage.
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- We ran into a familiar face in Sergio Rojas, and if there was a car show at the event, Sergio’s 2012 CTS-V coupe would’ve won. All of his cars – no matter the make – are always clean, and well built. Sergio’s coupe is Opulant Blue Metallic, and many people remarked at how it was the nicest car at the event. Sergio’s V is also fast. He ran 11.0s like a bracket car, and without the Nitrous Outlet nitrous system engaged. He was mostly seeing what he could run with the stock tires, and 11.0s without the nitrous was the best it would do at the event.
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- Sergio’s V features an LTZ Stage 2 cam, Kooks long-tube headers and intermediate pipe, a New Era cold air, Snow Performance methanol kit, a Nick Williams 102mm throttle body, Lingenfelter supercharger and lower pulley, a Kraftworks underhood ice box, and an ATI damper. The combo is good for 14 pound of boost, but Sergio said the IATs were still getting up there during each run. Sergio said his car is rather portly, especially since the car has a rather rowdy Rockford Fosgate audio system with 12-inch subs in the trunk. Sergio is still working on bringing in the nitrous system, but that would have to wait for another day.
Billed as the Hot Rod Realtor, Warren Greenlee hauled his 2013 CTS-V wagon down from Mooreseville, North Carolina to attend the Cadillac Attack. Warren’s wagon features a stock bottom end, ported heads, ported stock supercharger, ported intake, a BTR 3 cam, 102mm throttle body, Kooks headers and intermediate pipe, a Nitrous Outlet 125 horsepower progressive nitrous system, and Eibach springs. Warren uses Mickey Thompson ET Street 295/45 radials, and reports his best time in the car is a 9.90 at 139 mph. We witnessed him make several low 10-second runs at the event. Warren sells real estate out of the car back home, and we’re sure many a client has been treated to a full-throttle blast during the purchase process.
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- Though billed as the Cadillac Attack, the race also allowed Camaro ZL1s to compete, and have some fun. Stephen Vigoa brought his KraftWorks-built ZL1 to the event. Stephen’s ZL1 features a KraftWorks cold air and Comp Cams custom cam, a Nick Williams 102mm throttle body, Trick Flow GenX heads, American Racing headers, a Fore Precision fuel system feeding ID850 injectors, and a Nitrous Outlet system. “The car is still on a stock bottom end, stock transmission and converter, stock axles, stock driveshaft, stock rear end, and stock blower,” Stephen says.
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- With KraftWorks’ Jay Healy handling the tune, Stephen’s ZL1 won the Camaro ZL1 Quick 8 class. After the Cadillac Attack, Stephen went back home to his local track and ran a 9.26 at 147 mph to break the ZL1 record. Stephen tells us since the car still features the stock transmission, he drives the ZL1 quite often on the street.
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- Vengeance Racing had several cars the event, ranging from a few CTS-Vs to a Camaro ZL1. As you can see by this photo, Vengeance specializes in tuning and building CTS-Vs, ZL1s, and Corvettes.
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- Every car Vengeance had at the event was fast. Brian Landfried piloted his CTS-V coupe to a personal best 9.21 at 153 mph.
This Chevrolet SS made several passes during the day, routinely running low-12s. The Chevrolet SS is a pretty rare car, featuring a 6.2-liter LS3 engine rated at 415 horsepower. Initially only available with a paddle-shifted automatic, but later available with a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual, the SS is basically a rebadged Holden Commodore from down under. The SS is a very capable sedan that is both at home making a trip to the grocery store as it is making a trip down the 1,320.
Aldo Mireles hauled to Orlando Speed World all the way from Texas with his Aldowelds 408-inch CTS-V sedan. We’re glad someone brought a different color V so we could differentiate his from the crowd. He also differentiated himself by pulling the wheels more than once. The engine in Aldo’s V uses the stock heads and blower, but with the aid of a Nitrous Express spray lid system and an Aldowelds cooling system. The car has a full exhaust using Corsa components, and an Aldowelds air intake system. Aldo reports the transmission was giving him fits at the event, but he was still able to extract a 1.38 short time, and a 10.31 at 139 mph. Aldo says the car is his daily driver, and the Cadillac Attack was the first time it has ever been on a track. Unfortunately, Aldo also broke a half shaft at the event, which cut short the fun. Hopefully, the event won’t be Aldo’s last time at the track.
Michael brings years of automotive writing experience to the table, with his unbridled love for late-model Mustangs and classic American iron seeping through his pores.
