MME @ Zoom-Zoom Live, Sunday, 10/2

[altiain]

That was a lot of fun! The performance challenge was cool - I had top time one hour, lugnutjon got the top time the following two hours (and top time of day as well, unless majik beat him after we left). Listening to Speed World Challenge driver (and man on the mike at the performance challenge) Stu Hayner give Jon grief was hilarious.

Good to see so many of the MME crowd out there. We got a lot of free publicity with the cars parked in front of the event, plus plenty of plugs from Hayner while we were all running the performance challenge.

I have to say I liked the new Miata, a lot more than I anticipated that I would. It's a little soft (although I have no idea if any of the cars I drove today had the Suspension Package or not), but I'm interested to see what a set of decent shocks and a big front bar will do for them in Stock. The power was good and linear, the steering was pretty crisp, and the brakes were nice. One thing is for sure - it would be a much more comfortable long distance tourer than my current Miata.

It's a good car, and I hope Mazda sells a ton of them. I wouldn't trade the '99 Sport for one, but I might just buy one down the line to supplement the Sport.

[Majik]

That was a great time. Unfortunately on my last run I tried too hard and spun the car so Jon got my by .2 I almost got a rerun for timer error too, but they said I couldn't since I spun. One thing I noticed, when I started to spin, I put both feet in and it felt like the car accelerated Was that the ABS freaking out because the car was sideways? Either way they weren't happy, and I was leaving anyway. I got a cool little Miata model. Like Altiain, I also really enjoyed the new MX-5 more than I thought I would. You could tell it was a miata, just different.

[Tim the Teacher]

I ended up with a GT4 software also because of the 32.988 time on the Jinba Attai! And I was proud of my autocross time of 34.3 twice. It was the first time I have driven the Miata in a controlled run and it was a lot of fun!
I noticed I sat a lot lower in the MX-5 and wasn't completely comfortable with it. I felt I was straining to look over the dash. It was good to see all of you again.

[Majik]

I felt I was straining to look over the dash.

I noticed that too, it seemed like I couldn't see the cones as well as in my car. It felt a little awkward, but something that you would get used to after driving the car for a while.

[Billy Blaze]

Well, I had an awesome time.
That was my first legal racing experience and I am most likely going to get addicted to it.
The golf ball thing I did within 1 second, but didnt get anything for it.

The time match thingy I ran 2 seconds too fast.

And performance challenge my first time was 10 seconds off the mark, the second time I felt good about except someone working the track ran across in front of me to set up a cone so I had to hit the brakes...don't even think that one registered, I was able to take an extra run because of that and got within 4 or 5 seconds of the mark which I feel good about with it being my first day of doing that.
I think I got like 7 runs at the whole shabang.
Had a really great time and can't wait to do an autocross event in my 99.
My opinion of the new MX-5 was better than I thought it would be but I like everyone else won't be running out to get one.
I heard some of you guys encouraging me, I appreciate that...I wish we would have had some more time to chit chat.
See you guys soon at the next Autocross type event or sooner.

[blackzx3_13]

I noticed that too, it seemed like I couldn't see the cones as well as in my car. It felt a little awkward, but something that you would get used to after driving the car for a while.

My 5'0" girlfriend could see fine. She says your all pansies

I won the gran turismo demo as well. I had like 65 points or something.

[Miatamoto]

I noticed that too, it seemed like I couldn't see the cones as well as in my car. It felt a little awkward, but something that you would get used to after driving the car for a while.

I'll third that comment. My fastest time was a 30.8 with one cone. I took a second run but cooked the tires coming out of the second corner and they were toast after that. It was pretty much one continuous power slide for the rest of the course (still managed a 31.8 though). Scared the crap out of my wife and put on a good show for the crowd.

[Kiliwizz]

Fantastic event - though more cold beverages would have been nice!

The performance challenge was well set up (though the first turn was a tad tight and there was a fast turn with slide-off into the staging area). Managed a not too bad time though wasn't pushing too hard (not my car)!

I really appreciated the tuition, went round three times and could really have spent all day at that stand (if I'd had all day around church etc). They had some really useful tips, I found out why I've been pushing round corners, for example. (Although in the lesson bit, the bloke was telling people to trailbrake all the time, the instructors in the cars were then telling people to please forget that bit!) I think at the next autox I'll be asking for more passengers... removing the obstacle of rubbish tires definitely showed up the inadequacies of my driving last S2K!

The RX8 was really good to drive - once you got used to the fact that it's somewhat heavier than the miata, can't be throttle steered much, and tends to terminal understeer (watch all the people sliding off the corner with adverse camber). The instructor did almost the entire course in 1st gear... that helped me see the light!

The new miata was nice, much more rigid than my NA, though it didn't seem a whole lot quicker and was a bit flat in the midrange, which disapointed. The chassis was the best bit, a much more modern chassis feel.

Tried the auto Mazda 3 on the meet the time event - it sucked big time. It seemed to go to about third and stayed there, irrespective of any throttle inputs, banging about on the +/- bits etc - so I just floated around the course, not much in control!

The one with the golf balls was frustrating - went all the way round on the button, and just kicked the last corner a little too much and lost two balls. Would have been 50 points, came out with zip. Booooo

Good day out, wife enjoyed it a little...

[altiain]

Tried the auto Mazda 3 on the meet the time event - it sucked big time. It seemed to go to about third and stayed there, irrespective of any throttle inputs, banging about on the +/- bits etc - so I just floated around the course, not much in control!

Huh... my take was just the opposite. I thought the Mazda3 was pretty good - it was relatively neutral and well sprung for a gussied-up econobox. I didn't have any trouble with the automanual shifting, once I figured out that the lever was wired backwards from my old Sportshift Prelude - push forward to downshift, pull back to upshift. I did a lot of shifting, going back to 1st for the corners and letting the car compression brake a little bit, with an upshift to 2nd before the finish and on one of the other straights. That worked well enough to get within 1/2 a second of the match time.

My wife ran it in auto mode, and it sucked - it would upshift to 2nd or 3rd when she let off the gas approaching a corner, and it wouldn't kick back down into 1st until halfway down the following straight. Definitely not the fastest nor most controlled way around the course.

[blackzx3_13]

The 3 reminded me of my focus a little, it has way bigger brakes though. I got down to .4 to the target time. I thought the rx8 think was kinda lame. The instructor seemed bored, and didnt really help me much. "ok now shift (way to early) ok brake, turn in, accelerate, ok go to the left." no feed back when I was done either.

[black roadster]

Since people are posting times...

My first time at Jimba Ittai I made it within 2 seconds of the 33.000 time frame. No balls lost. 15 pts awarded. Lost them all the second time and got a DQ.

For the Gymkhana I made it within 1 second of the 29.000 time frame. 25 pts awarded. Second time was too fast.

Finally the Performance challenge with a track goal of 31.5. My first run, I kicked the tail out and caught it but lost time. 32.8 was my time. 15 pts awarded I made my second run but one of those idiot corner workers on the bikes was one the track and I had to slow as I approached him. I got a rerun. My rerun time was 32.25. 25 pts awarded. Not to bad for someone who hasn't autocrossed in 5-6 years.

[channelmaniac]

I got 15pts for the Jinbai Ittai, 25 for the Gymkana (got within 1/2 second), and 15 for the performance driving... First run of 34.6 and second run of 32.7 - almost took 2 seconds off my time.

Not too bad for someone that hasn't AutoX'ed yet.

On the RX-8 course the instructor said entry/exit was good, but I wasn't looking far enough ahead and that was costing me.

RJ

[sammm]

I did terrible at the golf-ball thing. I was too conservative and busy watching the golf balls instead of the course. I think I got a 41 on my one and only attempt. Oh well, it was a stupid event anyway!

On the matched time thing, I got a 29.1 (dumb luck) driving a 3. Nice little car, but the automatic was a dog.

The autocross course was the best part of the day. Hanging around, talking smack...just like any other event. lugnutjon entertained the crowd and the announcers. altiain was handed the microphone and gave a nice dfwmiata.com commercial. My best time was a 31.0 (with the air conditioner running -forgot to turn it off after waiting for our turn in grid )

[altiain]

OK, while we're posting times...

My best run of the day on the autocross was 30.5, but I had my wife in the car as a passenger on every run. I picked up 50 points for having the fastest time of the hour the first hour I was there (on my first run ) - time, 30.7.

I got 25 points on the matched time gymkhana for getting a 28.8 on my first and only run.

I got 5 "participation points" for the Jinba Ittai deal. My time was horrible, although I didn't spill any of the balls!

[POS Racing]

It was a fun time! Best I could get out the NC was a 32.2 I kept getting the cloth seat versions so would that mean they didn't have a torsen?

The NC is OK but I may hold onto my collection of NB's for a while longer!

It was great seeing everyone, saw a few faces I hadn't seen in a while! Good Times, Good Times! :cool:

[Treibenschnell]

OK, while we're posting times...

Yes, since we're posting times... er, uhmm... I'll quit there.

Let me just say that both Kestrel and I walked out with free t-shirts... along with everyone else!!!

[wrxmr2eater]

Autocross - 30.9 and 31.5. Fastest time of the hour was 29.9 by a driver who had competed at nationals. They were letting him run whenever he wanted to show others what to do. . Second run I got the car squirrely in the decreasing radius turn and lost time correcting it.

Gymkhana - Both times a little more than a half second too fast (Miata and 6)

Jinba Ittai - Beat the posted time by 2 seconds. If you stayed in 1st gear the whole time it was pretty easy to do.

[jolberry]

We went Saturday...Got there around 10:45 and left at 2:45. It was hot and there was a lot of standing around waiting. We did each course only once.

Did terrible on the golfball thing, by the end on the course one of the balls was holding on to the edge and when I slowed down it fell out. I drove the 6 on the match time and was almost 2 seconds too fast. And the autox course I ran a 31.58 after standing in line for a little over an hour.

The RX8 course was too small for an under torked car. I kept hearing people say it is a slow car..well it's not when you actually have room to open it up and get the rmps above 5k.

I really enjoyed driving the NC and truly getting to test drive it, pushing it as hard as I could. Like most of you...I like the car but love my NB more.

[channelmaniac]

Autocross - 30.9 and 31.5. Fastest time of the hour was 29.9 by a driver who had competed at nationals. They were letting him run whenever he wanted to show others what to do.

If you are referring to the guy that the announcer kept saying "looked like a terrorist" that was turning in those times, he was part of the staff so his times weren't counting.

He was running hard to show that sub 30 second times were possible and to give Lugnut Jon some hell

And POS, yes, the blue car was rumored to have an open diff... Jon was using it as an excuse so the MC was going to go out there and show Jon up by driving the blue car, but he turned in a worse time than MY first run! It was funny and the other announcer changed the subject quickly.

Majik beat Jon's time to set the fastest time of the hour then Jon went out in an AUTOMATIC and beat his time.

It was a fun day. The only thing I'd do over would be to show up EARLY to get more seat time and shorter lines. Next year I'll sigh up for the first morning slots & get my butt up early.

RJ

[MadMerv]

Did anyone drive the automatic RX8? Both of them had the diff going out. Felt like I was driving with the parking brake on....... I only made one pass in the Miata. I think it will be a much better track car than an autocross car, It's got the slowest steering ratio of any Miata I've ever driven. I do think the car has lots of potential. It was nice to get an up close look at the suspension and the 'body-in-white' in the showroom. It appeared that the rear links are two piece, so might be adjustable by unbolting the inner end and rotating around the ball joints. If not, it would be easy to make adjustable ones. The roll hoops seem pretty sturdy, but they are too small to be of any real use. It was good to see that the tub is plenty wide to fit just about any seat closer to the tunnel and a roll bar or cage can mount much further out for more side protection. It's really strange that they spent so much energy into lightening some parts and completely ignoring other areas that would have reduced the overall weight more easily. The muffler is huge! So are the seats, not to mention all of the fru-fru stuff. If I wanted a Z4 or S2000 that's what I would buy. They could easily get this thing down another 200# just by getting rid of the junk. I would like a model that was just a basic sports car.....like Mazda started with in 1989 On the other hand, I think this will make a great Spec MX-5 or T3 road racer :)