ECR October 24?

[smartmx5]

I sat in the Lemons car at Track Dog Racing tonite. It has a full Spec Miata roll cage with petty bar in it.


The crown of my head was higher than the top of the bar. No helmet.

How tall are you?

[MINI-P]

MINI-P,
What run group will you be in and what color is your miata? I will be out there and maybe I can meet up with a few of the fellow MME. I will have a black SM with yellow rollcage, and, oh yeah, yellow wheelsl!!! I am one of the instructors. (I wanted to grow up and be like Ken-O )
Alan Smart

Funny you mention Ken-O in your post as I have his old car. It's a silver 99 with silver hard top. I'll be #177. I'll probably be in Blue. Rick knocked me back a group when I got the Miata. I was running in Yellow at in my STi. I've only run the Miata in the rain at MSR. I'll look you up on Saturday. Weather's looking good for now. Fingers crossed.

Patrick

[BenRomans04]

I'll be there in a black civic #187. Should be running in blue, but not positive yet...

[Nails]

How tall are you?

5'12"

[BenRomans04]

5'12"

Hahaha, you mean 6 foot.

[MINI-P]

5'12"

Must have a long torso like me. I'm just 5'10" and barely make it under. And I have a race seat bolted to the floor. From what I understand with a "factory" hardtop and the "broomstick" rule doesn't apply. Could be wrong.

[smartmx5]

5'12"

They must have it set up for those F1 racers. Somebody as tall as 5'14" could drive my SM.

[smartmx5]

Must have a long torso like me. I'm just 5'10" and barely make it under. And I have a race seat bolted to the floor. From what I understand with a "factory" hardtop and the "broomstick" rule doesn't apply. Could be wrong.

You are correct. Looking forward to meeting you, Patrick as well as Ben and wingnut2u. The weather looks like it will be great!!!!!!

[MINI-P]

Well, Saturday was a blast. I still have a long way to go to get the most out of my Miata for sure. What a fun car. This was the first time I've driven it in the dry, on a track anyway. I ran the first two sessions with street tires then switched to the RA-1s that came with it when I bought it. Holy smokes, what a difference. My first time to run R-comps and I don't think I can go back. Every session I saw my times go down from a fastest lap the first session of the day at 2:17 to fastest lap on the 4th session at 2:10. The 5th session I was tired and kept making mistakes and only got a 2:11.There's quite a bit more in the car and judging from the video a huge amount from my lines. I'll post some video when I get a chance and get some critiques. Any way it was great to meet you Wingnut and Smartmx5 (I was hoping to get you to ride with me but with us following instructor/red group and then blue right after us, I never got a chance to find you in the afternoon. I could have used the instruction for sure.), hope to see yall at MSR in December.

[smartmx5]

Patrick,
It was good to meet you as well. Also, nice to meet Mike (wingnut2u), and very briefly on the grid, Ben Romans. It was a very good day overall. A little slippery in the morning until the water dried up at a couple of turns. I think my best time might have been about 2:13. I had my Rains on since I didn't have any shaved RA1s available. I would hope I could take 1.5-3 seconds off my times with Drys. Patrick, your times are respectable, especially since you are still learning the car!!! What WHP do you have?

Mike,
My wife said she heard a very bad sound coming from your Boxster. What happened? Hope it is OK

Alan

[MINI-P]

Patrick, your times are respectable, especially since you are still learning the car!!! What WHP do you have?

When Gary owned it, it dynoed at 217 hp and 187 ft/lbs.

I really have to get used to not having ABS. I'm used to braking until ABS kicks in then backing off just a touch. Now, I'm braking and braking and then bam, locked up fronts. That's why I went off going into T6. I tried to brake a bit later and locked em up and had no choice but to take it straight off. No damage and not even any mud! Whew.

Didn't know Mike had an issue with the Boxter. Hope it's okay.

[smartmx5]

When Gary owned it, it dynoed at 217 hp and 187 ft/lbs.

I really have to get used to not having ABS. I'm used to braking until ABS kicks in then backing off just a touch. Now, I'm braking and braking and then bam, locked up fronts. That's why I went off going into T6. I tried to brake a bit later and locked em up and had no choice but to take it straight off. No damage and not even any mud! Whew.

Didn't know Mike had an issue with the Boxter. Hope it's okay.

T6 is a scary place to go off!!!! Glad everything is ok. Yeah, once you get used to the lack of ABS, you will have learned to have a lightfoot when hitting that middle pedal. As I a sure you have learned, just back up a bit on your braking spot until you get the braking down. When your tires start to lock up, curl your toes. It will relieve a pressure just enough on the pedal to 'unlock' the tires. I have flat spotted several tires.... As for your car, I know it was cooler than normal temp for the day, did you have any overheating issues?

[MINI-P]

As for your car, I know it was cooler than normal temp for the day, did you have any overheating issues?

Stayed right between 200 and 215 the whole day which is pretty much where it runs in street driving. The only thing I overheated was the brakes and that should be fixed with the Willwood BBK I bought from Cliff on the way home :) Apparently they weren't big enough for his LS1 Miata. Oil was still on full at the end of the day, too. glad about that.

[BenRomans04]

Had a great time out there and I believe after just my second event I'm into solo blue but not sure. I would still like to have an instuctor, espcially at new tracks :scary:. Here's two vids. The later one I got a little sloppy because it was the last run of the day.

[MINI-P]

Looks like some nice driving there Ben, especially for only your second event. Sorry I missed meeting you out there.

Here's my two fastest laps: a 2:11.0 and a 2:10.8 according to the performance box. I know I still need lots of work. Any and all advice is welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1BsHmHII3o

[BenRomans04]

Thanks, I need to get a performance box. Its hard to tell times, just off camera footage.

[BenRomans04]

My fastest on camera time looked to be about 2:27, but that was the last heat of the day and I went off course a little, hehe. But this 91.8whp slush box civic with absolutely no sway bars is about to get a make over. She needs some improvements....

[MINI-P]

Here's some video of me chasing a yellow C6 Vette. This was the session before I switched to R-Comps so I was still on street tires. It didn't quite end the way I'd have liked it to. But at least nothing got hurt but my pride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27thYYcWYNU

[goofygrin]

ha! That's a safe off for sure!

[smartmx5]

Pat,
Way to be safe getting back onto track and then getting out of everyone's way. Did you happen to chase the C6 with your R-comps? I bet that made a huge difference. He has just a tad better mechanical grip than you.

What camera were you using? The video is very crisp and clean. The audio did not seem to distorted either.

Good run,
Alan