Because of the long hours I pulled in Miami working, I'll be taking some time in the morning this week to catch up with stuff around the house. Today that included removing the hardtop, the door panels, and door speakers.
I was going to give the miata a rest this week. But checking the weather shows a 'clear' spell. So I'm going to make the most of it. If I get real brave, I may remove the soft top as well. I'll see about getting some pictures posted soon.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Official Event Pics Up
Pictures from the official event photographer, from the Green group (i.e. the run group I was in) are now up. I'm the little red miata, with magic blue tape numbers, and front bumper.
Time Flew...
...when you’re working 10hour days in a sealed box. Add to that ~3 days without internet connection, and it'll explain why I don't have a post up about my first track day @ VIR with the miata.
14 hours, 855 miles, no top, not tunes, and 40-50degF OATs, and I was still grinning like an idiot when I got to Miami... other than getting lost in downtown miami. Google didn't know they shutdown I-95 4miles from my their prescribed exit; and my google-maps-phone thought my GPS coordinates indicated I was swimming in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Francisco. Fun times.
So, back to the track.
My instructor's name was Bernie. He drives a miata too. Only w/ race seats, and big sticky kumho vx710s.
We met right after the driver's meeting, and talked about what kind of driver I was, the miata... stuff he needed to know to be a good instructor. I also met Bill, who's parked next to me, and is running in advanced with his b18 swapped civic hatch; who's apparently not far from me in a home setting too.
Bernie took me out in the 'Advanced Group' to show me the line. He was complaining about the cold temperatures, and the tires not sticking as well. It was good to go out with him before my session, because driving the miata is quite a bit different than the Fit... or at least the way *I* was driving the Fit. Particularly turning in much earlier... and how much speed the car could hold through corners; or so I thought.
We ended up gridding late, ending up the last cars onto the grid, behind the skyline and M3. They were quite slow during the yellow flag warmup lap, with the first car out (and aggressively driven S4 Avant) catching up to us. We eventually got around them both, and pulled a little bit away from that S4. I eventually slowed up a little in the 'first' part of the track and let the S4 by under the tunnel. Braking was an area of concern, since I ended up doing my own bed-in, and it seems they weren't quite all the way bedded in. So we worked our way up to braking later and later...
especially into turn 14. Eventually Bernie said 'Brake at the 1'... and I did. However, something in the grey matter didn't like the speed and chucking the car towards roller coaster. So it went for more brake, which ended up locking up the brakes.
Cue the billowing smoke, with Bernie adding "Ok, turn in" before I went off the track. Getting back on the gas I was greeted a nice 'oscillation' in the tires. I tried to collect myself and ended up going off line through roller coaster. We kept driving, and worked up the speed again, ending the session 'ok'. We came back and took at look at the car, and didn't find a flat spot in the tires. I went out to the restaurant to record my thoughts, and download my video... which turned out like carp. During that is when the cold caught up with me.
Second Session
I could tell it was starting to warm up. The 'thump thump thump' of the tires is only bad in a couple of spots so I decided to keep on driving on it, Bernie didn't think it was a big deal; just cautioning me that if I locked up again there was a good chance I'd lock up in the same place. Apparently this can blow a tire.
The session went pretty well. I Passed a mustang after jostling around with a couple of CTS-Vs at the same time. The Mustang let me by under the tunnel, and I had to take the off line way through the upper esses. Bernie was happy with how I took it. Slow up a little to compensate for the bad line, and make sure to hit that first late apex to set yourself up for the follow-ons.
Third Session
That slow M3 from the first session picked up speed, so I let him by. Well, I caught him again, since he was ending up off line a lot; he just seemed to be using more of his engine this session. So, while I hounded him in the corners, he pulled away on the straights. Most likely his instructor was saying to stay out in front, if I'd let him by that meant I thought he was going faster. Meanwhile the 2 CTS-Vs caught up to us, and I let them by. Then I caught up to the M3 again, heading into 14. Bernie was egging me on, to get up on him so we'd get a run going down the front straight. I knew he was going to brake early, so I pulled by brake point back 200ft, trying to use my superior comfort with braking to close the distance. Well that worked too well, as he grabbed more brake than I expected... Hello Flat Spotted City! This time it was the right front. However, I did the right thing, got out of the brakes to stop the lockup and kept it together a little better going through roller coaster. The M3 still wouldn't let us by, and Ryan Fitzgerald was closing up in his well driven 330i so I let him by on the front. I finally got around the M3 going under bridge 6a-7 after hounding him through the bottom esses. Good times, hooked up some areas better. Almost over did it in the lower esses once. Even with all that, I got signed off solo for last session of the day :)
Last Session
Was doing pretty well, had to jostle with some of the cars... and was keeping up pretty well with the Red 'vette after I let it through. Then I got concerned when I got to Oak Tree 1/2 through the session and saw the black flag out. "Man, what'd'I do!?" So I moved over down the back straight and let out of it a bit, signaling the vette by... didn't want him riding me as I was trying to go into the pits for my talking to. But he just sat there, so I waited 'till I got to the top of the hill, and saw from that flag station that the whole track was black flagged. So we all went in and waited for one of the R32's to get pulled in on a tow truck, from what looked like turn 1. After that we got let out under 'green'. I don't know how it happened but the white RSX got around the 'vette and was raring to go. Let him go at the tunnel then tried running hard in a couple of areas, and realized I was starting to get a bit tired... then about two laps later, going down the back straight I looked at the gas gauge which had been
at 1/4, was now on the bottom line. That wouldn't be good to run out of gas, and have to get towed back in, I was by myself and decided to call it a day.
I ended up not going back for the second day. I was worried about my tires, and the impending snow... which might or might not cut the day short. I spent that $160 on two new front tires instead, banking on the fact that it'd be better to have two round tires for an 850mi trip. Ended up with Kumho Solus KR21's (?), which seem ok. I think I'll probably match the rears up with the same Kumhos at some point... and see if I can fit the enkei's from the fit on the miata with their OLOA Kumho's still on. Could make for some better track time fun... and would help the budget a bit.
Ok, end of my book for now.
14 hours, 855 miles, no top, not tunes, and 40-50degF OATs, and I was still grinning like an idiot when I got to Miami... other than getting lost in downtown miami. Google didn't know they shutdown I-95 4miles from my their prescribed exit; and my google-maps-phone thought my GPS coordinates indicated I was swimming in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Francisco. Fun times.
So, back to the track.
My instructor's name was Bernie. He drives a miata too. Only w/ race seats, and big sticky kumho vx710s.
We met right after the driver's meeting, and talked about what kind of driver I was, the miata... stuff he needed to know to be a good instructor. I also met Bill, who's parked next to me, and is running in advanced with his b18 swapped civic hatch; who's apparently not far from me in a home setting too.
Bernie took me out in the 'Advanced Group' to show me the line. He was complaining about the cold temperatures, and the tires not sticking as well. It was good to go out with him before my session, because driving the miata is quite a bit different than the Fit... or at least the way *I* was driving the Fit. Particularly turning in much earlier... and how much speed the car could hold through corners; or so I thought.
We ended up gridding late, ending up the last cars onto the grid, behind the skyline and M3. They were quite slow during the yellow flag warmup lap, with the first car out (and aggressively driven S4 Avant) catching up to us. We eventually got around them both, and pulled a little bit away from that S4. I eventually slowed up a little in the 'first' part of the track and let the S4 by under the tunnel. Braking was an area of concern, since I ended up doing my own bed-in, and it seems they weren't quite all the way bedded in. So we worked our way up to braking later and later...
especially into turn 14. Eventually Bernie said 'Brake at the 1'... and I did. However, something in the grey matter didn't like the speed and chucking the car towards roller coaster. So it went for more brake, which ended up locking up the brakes.
Cue the billowing smoke, with Bernie adding "Ok, turn in" before I went off the track. Getting back on the gas I was greeted a nice 'oscillation' in the tires. I tried to collect myself and ended up going off line through roller coaster. We kept driving, and worked up the speed again, ending the session 'ok'. We came back and took at look at the car, and didn't find a flat spot in the tires. I went out to the restaurant to record my thoughts, and download my video... which turned out like carp. During that is when the cold caught up with me.
Second Session
I could tell it was starting to warm up. The 'thump thump thump' of the tires is only bad in a couple of spots so I decided to keep on driving on it, Bernie didn't think it was a big deal; just cautioning me that if I locked up again there was a good chance I'd lock up in the same place. Apparently this can blow a tire.
The session went pretty well. I Passed a mustang after jostling around with a couple of CTS-Vs at the same time. The Mustang let me by under the tunnel, and I had to take the off line way through the upper esses. Bernie was happy with how I took it. Slow up a little to compensate for the bad line, and make sure to hit that first late apex to set yourself up for the follow-ons.
Third Session
That slow M3 from the first session picked up speed, so I let him by. Well, I caught him again, since he was ending up off line a lot; he just seemed to be using more of his engine this session. So, while I hounded him in the corners, he pulled away on the straights. Most likely his instructor was saying to stay out in front, if I'd let him by that meant I thought he was going faster. Meanwhile the 2 CTS-Vs caught up to us, and I let them by. Then I caught up to the M3 again, heading into 14. Bernie was egging me on, to get up on him so we'd get a run going down the front straight. I knew he was going to brake early, so I pulled by brake point back 200ft, trying to use my superior comfort with braking to close the distance. Well that worked too well, as he grabbed more brake than I expected... Hello Flat Spotted City! This time it was the right front. However, I did the right thing, got out of the brakes to stop the lockup and kept it together a little better going through roller coaster. The M3 still wouldn't let us by, and Ryan Fitzgerald was closing up in his well driven 330i so I let him by on the front. I finally got around the M3 going under bridge 6a-7 after hounding him through the bottom esses. Good times, hooked up some areas better. Almost over did it in the lower esses once. Even with all that, I got signed off solo for last session of the day :)
Last Session
Was doing pretty well, had to jostle with some of the cars... and was keeping up pretty well with the Red 'vette after I let it through. Then I got concerned when I got to Oak Tree 1/2 through the session and saw the black flag out. "Man, what'd'I do!?" So I moved over down the back straight and let out of it a bit, signaling the vette by... didn't want him riding me as I was trying to go into the pits for my talking to. But he just sat there, so I waited 'till I got to the top of the hill, and saw from that flag station that the whole track was black flagged. So we all went in and waited for one of the R32's to get pulled in on a tow truck, from what looked like turn 1. After that we got let out under 'green'. I don't know how it happened but the white RSX got around the 'vette and was raring to go. Let him go at the tunnel then tried running hard in a couple of areas, and realized I was starting to get a bit tired... then about two laps later, going down the back straight I looked at the gas gauge which had been
at 1/4, was now on the bottom line. That wouldn't be good to run out of gas, and have to get towed back in, I was by myself and decided to call it a day.
I ended up not going back for the second day. I was worried about my tires, and the impending snow... which might or might not cut the day short. I spent that $160 on two new front tires instead, banking on the fact that it'd be better to have two round tires for an 850mi trip. Ended up with Kumho Solus KR21's (?), which seem ok. I think I'll probably match the rears up with the same Kumhos at some point... and see if I can fit the enkei's from the fit on the miata with their OLOA Kumho's still on. Could make for some better track time fun... and would help the budget a bit.
Ok, end of my book for now.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Dark Side
I've been pulled over to iRacing finally. It helps that I finally have a dedicated place for the my G25 to sit; and it's got some extra room for the displays to grow :). The chair situation is still 'temporary', but its enough to get some time in.
The plan is to grab VIR, and try and get some laps with the soltice so I'm ready to go for the trackday on monday... and a bit more intune with RWD dynamics. Then I'll see just how far down the rabbit hole I want to go with my 3mo purchase.
It'll also give me something to do when we get snowed in again tonight ;).
The plan is to grab VIR, and try and get some laps with the soltice so I'm ready to go for the trackday on monday... and a bit more intune with RWD dynamics. Then I'll see just how far down the rabbit hole I want to go with my 3mo purchase.
It'll also give me something to do when we get snowed in again tonight ;).
Monday, February 22, 2010
First Trackday
So, after braving the frigid north, the miata is back in to R&R for installation of a new AL radiator (the plastic one had hairline cracks in the plastic tanks), plus upgraded brake pads, and steel brake lines. They'll also go through the required inspection.
Inspection? Yup, because we're headed to VIR for our first track day on March 1st w/ TrackDaze. I've signed myself up for the 'Novice' class again, since this is my first time on-track with a RWD car. And I've only spent about 2 out of my 14 years driving non-Fwd cars. So i'd rather be in the more 'forgiving' environment of the novice class... although...
Looking at the list theres quite an assortment of cars in the novice class. With only 13 cars signed up, I imagine there's a pretty good chance the run groups will get combined to increase track time. I'll try to be more on-top of my video gear this time out. Which means I've gotta start hunting through the house to find it all after the winter break.
Inspection? Yup, because we're headed to VIR for our first track day on March 1st w/ TrackDaze. I've signed myself up for the 'Novice' class again, since this is my first time on-track with a RWD car. And I've only spent about 2 out of my 14 years driving non-Fwd cars. So i'd rather be in the more 'forgiving' environment of the novice class... although...
Looking at the list theres quite an assortment of cars in the novice class. With only 13 cars signed up, I imagine there's a pretty good chance the run groups will get combined to increase track time. I'll try to be more on-top of my video gear this time out. Which means I've gotta start hunting through the house to find it all after the winter break.
Winter Wonderland
120#s
That's the amount of sand I've been hauling around in the trunk of the miata, through the 30" of snow that fell on DC on Feb 4-5. I managed to breakout from VA on the 6th, while nervously watching the oil guage as I straddled unplowed snow along Rte 15 in Virginia. Because, once I got to Maryland, the roads were clear from there to New York... where I spent the last two weeks on a work assignment. The miata handled itself admirably... only getting out of shape when I got too anxious with throttle input trying to get up some hills at slow speed.
That's the amount of sand I've been hauling around in the trunk of the miata, through the 30" of snow that fell on DC on Feb 4-5. I managed to breakout from VA on the 6th, while nervously watching the oil guage as I straddled unplowed snow along Rte 15 in Virginia. Because, once I got to Maryland, the roads were clear from there to New York... where I spent the last two weeks on a work assignment. The miata handled itself admirably... only getting out of shape when I got too anxious with throttle input trying to get up some hills at slow speed.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Can Your One Lap Car...
Haul this?
Ok, so maybe Dubler's Jimmy and Amanda's Colorado could. But I get better gas mileage ;).
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Careful What You Wish For
You'll notice two posts before this one is titled "Let it Snow x3". Well, I'm not saying I caused the storm of the century (for DC), but I have to smile a little at the irony. Two weeks after that we get 23" of snow. I've got a picture I'll upload later of lil'Red absolutely covered, all the way above her mirrors.
Ofcourse, all that free time waiting for the snow to melt... between shoveling sessions, allowed me to play with the power window switch (now easier to get to, since the center console is out). After disassembling the switch (1x unsuccessfully, 1x successfully) I cleaned up the contacts and put it back together. Today, when I took the miata in to work I took the switch along and tried it. Bingo! Driver's side window works again. Although, both of them sound like they are working hard... so I may get to clean the mechanism after removing the door skins.
So, back to the snow part. I only had two 'oops' moment driving in to work both at the gas station. One time backing in to the pump, and the other trying to leave the station. I had to stop on a slight grade to let a car go by before turning onto the street. When I went to go again I couldn't get traction. Try 2nd gear start, still no traction. So I rolled back to the bottom of the dip, finally got traction, and took a different way around. I may have to take my father's advice and get ~100#s of sand to load into the trunk for better traction in the snow.
Ofcourse, all that free time waiting for the snow to melt... between shoveling sessions, allowed me to play with the power window switch (now easier to get to, since the center console is out). After disassembling the switch (1x unsuccessfully, 1x successfully) I cleaned up the contacts and put it back together. Today, when I took the miata in to work I took the switch along and tried it. Bingo! Driver's side window works again. Although, both of them sound like they are working hard... so I may get to clean the mechanism after removing the door skins.
So, back to the snow part. I only had two 'oops' moment driving in to work both at the gas station. One time backing in to the pump, and the other trying to leave the station. I had to stop on a slight grade to let a car go by before turning onto the street. When I went to go again I couldn't get traction. Try 2nd gear start, still no traction. So I rolled back to the bottom of the dip, finally got traction, and took a different way around. I may have to take my father's advice and get ~100#s of sand to load into the trunk for better traction in the snow.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
And So It Begins...
With about an hour in the garage I've started the miata diet. The weight loss began with the easy things. Removal of the rest of the bits and bobs that came in the trunk (removed mud flaps, sun shades, koni adjustment bits, exhaust damper bob), and then came out the jack, the spare, the jack 'crank', the carpet, and the rear trunk carpet thing.
Then I moved into the cockpit, and pulled the center console, the sound damper around the shifter, the center console surround (after a quick chat w/ Greer, thanks!), and ze ra-a-dio (for all those people who have seen Stalag 17; and if you haven't, you better go Netflix it). I put the hazard and light flipper back in, and hanging for now. I may have to put the surround back in if I get HOA complaints. This'll also give me a chance to fiddle with the power window switch that's been giving me some trouble on the drivers side... and then I might figure out some creative way to re-mount it.
So, I've taken a bunch of weight out; although the wife wants be to put the spare and jack back in. I was also amazed at how much more audible the transmission and engine are with the eyeball vents, radio, and surround missing. Before you could hear the muffled gear selected click, and felt it more. Now it's unmistakable. Cool.
I looked at removing the door skins too, but had other things to get to, and so will leave that for another day. After the doors, most likely it'll be the top, rear carpet and parcel shelf. I'll keep y'all posted.
Then I moved into the cockpit, and pulled the center console, the sound damper around the shifter, the center console surround (after a quick chat w/ Greer, thanks!), and ze ra-a-dio (for all those people who have seen Stalag 17; and if you haven't, you better go Netflix it). I put the hazard and light flipper back in, and hanging for now. I may have to put the surround back in if I get HOA complaints. This'll also give me a chance to fiddle with the power window switch that's been giving me some trouble on the drivers side... and then I might figure out some creative way to re-mount it.
So, I've taken a bunch of weight out; although the wife wants be to put the spare and jack back in. I was also amazed at how much more audible the transmission and engine are with the eyeball vents, radio, and surround missing. Before you could hear the muffled gear selected click, and felt it more. Now it's unmistakable. Cool.
I looked at removing the door skins too, but had other things to get to, and so will leave that for another day. After the doors, most likely it'll be the top, rear carpet and parcel shelf. I'll keep y'all posted.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Let It Snow x3
It's been snowing today. And I had some activities to go to... so what car did I take?
The very practical, FWD, what I should have probably taken Honda Fit?
or the small, RWD, Mazda Miata... which everyone thinks is a death trap in the snow?
I took the Miata. :D
Because, after all, the Fit is still on Kumho Summer Tires, and the Miata has All Seasons. I've already had one harrowing experience w/ a Ford Focus on Kumho summer tires in the snow. The miata performed admirably, especially once I got it out of the parking space it had sat in for 4 hours this afternoon... with the help of some scouts.
Only thing I regretted? Not getting a picture of the dude plowing a footpath with his vintage Farmall tractor. :( Maybe next time ;)
The very practical, FWD, what I should have probably taken Honda Fit?
or the small, RWD, Mazda Miata... which everyone thinks is a death trap in the snow?
I took the Miata. :D
Because, after all, the Fit is still on Kumho Summer Tires, and the Miata has All Seasons. I've already had one harrowing experience w/ a Ford Focus on Kumho summer tires in the snow. The miata performed admirably, especially once I got it out of the parking space it had sat in for 4 hours this afternoon... with the help of some scouts.
Only thing I regretted? Not getting a picture of the dude plowing a footpath with his vintage Farmall tractor. :( Maybe next time ;)