TxMC final round / updated season points
#103
Friday was fun! Thanks to tann3r and 0086 for letting me hot lap your cars. It's fun to feel how other drivers setup there cars.
Thanks to Jeff for trusting that I wouldn't break his car, though, he knows that I'd be fixing it if I did. Jeff drove the turd to TWS, drove to Austin, double dutied the car at HHR and drove home with the only problem being a coolant nipple bursting. i'm beyond stoked that the car was so solid.
It's great to see that everybody was quicker from the beginning of the season to the end. That's the whole reasoning behind why we did these events. Hopefully next season will be met with faster lap times and more people showing up to the events. maybe spoolin' will have a working miata by then, too, so the poor guy can get some lap times in.
Here's what I'm estimating based upon where we, as a txmc collective, sit on lap times. Not one of us has a car serious enough to compete with the unlimited Cali miata challenge guys, so we can't say, "well the cali guys are 8-10 seconds faster than specs and so should we." Aero and big power costs money. I don't have rich parents or a badass job that allows me to buy those things, yet. Until we can build a "proper" unlimited, world crushing miata, we'll just call unlimited class "Super Modified".
I'll just keep building on jeffs car until it's fast enough.
The 1:58 I ran was fast and I'm excited. Let's eliminate the passenger that was riding with me, stiffen the chassis, dial the new suspension in a little more and add aero. On paper, I should be looking at a low 1:56, maybe a high 1:55. With Hoosiers on the car, who knows......
I know that the red Radical SR3 was running 1:45s and he's a solid driver. I don't believe that matt's car could touch those radical times. mechanical grip is still a big factor for our cars.
Thanks to Jeff for trusting that I wouldn't break his car, though, he knows that I'd be fixing it if I did. Jeff drove the turd to TWS, drove to Austin, double dutied the car at HHR and drove home with the only problem being a coolant nipple bursting. i'm beyond stoked that the car was so solid.
It's great to see that everybody was quicker from the beginning of the season to the end. That's the whole reasoning behind why we did these events. Hopefully next season will be met with faster lap times and more people showing up to the events. maybe spoolin' will have a working miata by then, too, so the poor guy can get some lap times in.
Here's what I'm estimating based upon where we, as a txmc collective, sit on lap times. Not one of us has a car serious enough to compete with the unlimited Cali miata challenge guys, so we can't say, "well the cali guys are 8-10 seconds faster than specs and so should we." Aero and big power costs money. I don't have rich parents or a badass job that allows me to buy those things, yet. Until we can build a "proper" unlimited, world crushing miata, we'll just call unlimited class "Super Modified".
I'll just keep building on jeffs car until it's fast enough.
The 1:58 I ran was fast and I'm excited. Let's eliminate the passenger that was riding with me, stiffen the chassis, dial the new suspension in a little more and add aero. On paper, I should be looking at a low 1:56, maybe a high 1:55. With Hoosiers on the car, who knows......
I know that the red Radical SR3 was running 1:45s and he's a solid driver. I don't believe that matt's car could touch those radical times. mechanical grip is still a big factor for our cars.
#105
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Here's what I'm estimating based upon where we, as a txmc collective, sit on lap times. Not one of us has a car serious enough to compete with the unlimited Cali miata challenge guys, so we can't say, "well the cali guys are 8-10 seconds faster than specs and so should we." Aero and big power costs money. I don't have rich parents or a badass job that allows me to buy those things, yet. Until we can build a "proper" unlimited, world crushing miata, we'll just call unlimited class "Super Modified".
I'll just keep building on jeffs car until it's fast enough.
I'll just keep building on jeffs car until it's fast enough.
#106
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Damn it, lost my nice reply.
Short version. I'm about where I want to be at with the car except for maybe a front brake upgrade. Otherwise I am going to drive, drive, drive, and tune, tune, tune, until I think I cannot possibly get any more time out of it, then maybe look at serious tires, suspension, hard-core weight reduction, etc. The driver is the weakest link in the chain right now.
I think we need to lobby hard to Nitto to make a NT01 in a 245/15 or wider version. That would be so much nicer on the wallet than expensive, short life Hoosiers.
I finally got around to some more weight reduction last night. Between the stereo remnants, right side passenger window and hardware, and the passenger airbag I removed ~ 30 lbs. Goddamn the passenger airbag is heavy.
Videoz of two laps. The camera ran out of tape before I ran my 2:01.3. I think these are in the 2:02 range. No gauge overlay yet. The camera jittering is from the video compression. It is a lot clearer watching from the camera tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AM-tFbNHL4
Short version. I'm about where I want to be at with the car except for maybe a front brake upgrade. Otherwise I am going to drive, drive, drive, and tune, tune, tune, until I think I cannot possibly get any more time out of it, then maybe look at serious tires, suspension, hard-core weight reduction, etc. The driver is the weakest link in the chain right now.
I think we need to lobby hard to Nitto to make a NT01 in a 245/15 or wider version. That would be so much nicer on the wallet than expensive, short life Hoosiers.
I finally got around to some more weight reduction last night. Between the stereo remnants, right side passenger window and hardware, and the passenger airbag I removed ~ 30 lbs. Goddamn the passenger airbag is heavy.
Videoz of two laps. The camera ran out of tape before I ran my 2:01.3. I think these are in the 2:02 range. No gauge overlay yet. The camera jittering is from the video compression. It is a lot clearer watching from the camera tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AM-tFbNHL4
Last edited by ZX-Tex; 11-22-2010 at 11:46 AM.
#108
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I thought about this a lot yesterday. I'm at the point where I can add aero to the car and turn up the boost, but I'm not going to. I'm already uncomfortable without a cage and my wallet hurts. Decreasing the useful life of tires, brakes, fuel, and whatever else I destroy will not work out considering I'm taking the next couple months off to financially recuperate. My pot o gold has run out.
but that's the kind of thing that takes some time to figure out at a track, that's why we're doing less tracks next year but hitting them twice, so we can get better aquainted with them, that alone should bring times down, plus the guys that do make changes will be able to try them out at the same track to get a better gauge on how effective the mod was.
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Had lunch with RLogan, comes here sometimes, NASA Instructor. As far as a bench mark time for the high-HP Miatas, getting into the upper 1:50s is good, with a 1:55 being quite respectable.
He confirmed he ran some 1:53s in his race-prepped FFR Cobra. He is fast, and so is the car.
He confirmed he ran some 1:53s in his race-prepped FFR Cobra. He is fast, and so is the car.
#111
Wags,
I agree that our "unlimited" class pales in comparason to the Cali crew, but I thing we should still follow the same class names as the original MC spells out. It seems like Unlimited has the lowest turnout an Cali, likely because of the costs involved. I'm sure I would get beat by the Mod class in Cali..
Hustler,
I agree, while my car is far from the Unlimited Cali cars, I too am not interested in going to much more without a cage, and that's not going to happen. I'm not interested in gutting my car and I'm not interested in a spending battle either, even though I'm lucky enough to do it if I wanted to (benefit of being old).
Spoolin,
Not sure what we can do to promote the ranks, but I think you are on the right track. Following the NASA circut is expensive and I believe that hurts attendance. Running with hpde's would be better, but I'm not real comfortable with the sneaking around we would have to do. After running TT, I'm pretty sure I would not be comfortable running "flat out" in an hpde, even in the highest run group. No transponders is also a challenge..
Thoughts/Suggestions for next year,
PCA does TT. They have offical timing. This past year, PCA ran TT twice at MSR-C and likely will next year. They also run at the MineralRing, but I perfer proper tracks.
David (miata_racer) apparently organizes PCA TT down south..see where I'm going? You could do 2 up here and 2 down there to start. Guys could get some points/fun in their own area and travel if they want to the others. Put in more throwouts to keep interest up if they only want to run local.
HHR is kinda "midway" is it not? Couple of events there?
Add in AX. Cali does it, we should too. 1/2 points or even full points to attract more potential entrants to the fold (still have at least the same trackday minimum Cali does). 2 ax'es in the south and 2 up here..Does not matter if they run ES, STS, STR, SSM as their times would be grouped seperate into proper MC classes afterward?
So right there, you have 2 PCA TT (south), 2 PCA TT (north), 2 ax (south), 2 ax (north), and 2 HHR. There's 10 events right there..all with timing, no sneaking around. Add a couple of NASA days (north/south) into the mix. Pick and choose form the list above. Or, just ignore it all and do what you will. It's your bag baby. just tryin to help.
Next year,
Will I be back to defend? Dunno. I really like running TT, but miss running with the guys in hpde. I've thought of running in stock or mod (depending on how my other miata points add up) for a change of pace and to see other miatas on the track with me (tired of the vettes lol.). Or I might just play more golf and poker and throw down with hookers and blow. Always fun too.
I do hope TxMC continues next year. And I hope it gets bigger and better.
Gotta run and figure out how to add "2010 TxMC Unlimited Champeen" to my sig.
I agree that our "unlimited" class pales in comparason to the Cali crew, but I thing we should still follow the same class names as the original MC spells out. It seems like Unlimited has the lowest turnout an Cali, likely because of the costs involved. I'm sure I would get beat by the Mod class in Cali..
Hustler,
I agree, while my car is far from the Unlimited Cali cars, I too am not interested in going to much more without a cage, and that's not going to happen. I'm not interested in gutting my car and I'm not interested in a spending battle either, even though I'm lucky enough to do it if I wanted to (benefit of being old).
Spoolin,
Not sure what we can do to promote the ranks, but I think you are on the right track. Following the NASA circut is expensive and I believe that hurts attendance. Running with hpde's would be better, but I'm not real comfortable with the sneaking around we would have to do. After running TT, I'm pretty sure I would not be comfortable running "flat out" in an hpde, even in the highest run group. No transponders is also a challenge..
Thoughts/Suggestions for next year,
PCA does TT. They have offical timing. This past year, PCA ran TT twice at MSR-C and likely will next year. They also run at the MineralRing, but I perfer proper tracks.
David (miata_racer) apparently organizes PCA TT down south..see where I'm going? You could do 2 up here and 2 down there to start. Guys could get some points/fun in their own area and travel if they want to the others. Put in more throwouts to keep interest up if they only want to run local.
HHR is kinda "midway" is it not? Couple of events there?
Add in AX. Cali does it, we should too. 1/2 points or even full points to attract more potential entrants to the fold (still have at least the same trackday minimum Cali does). 2 ax'es in the south and 2 up here..Does not matter if they run ES, STS, STR, SSM as their times would be grouped seperate into proper MC classes afterward?
So right there, you have 2 PCA TT (south), 2 PCA TT (north), 2 ax (south), 2 ax (north), and 2 HHR. There's 10 events right there..all with timing, no sneaking around. Add a couple of NASA days (north/south) into the mix. Pick and choose form the list above. Or, just ignore it all and do what you will. It's your bag baby. just tryin to help.
Next year,
Will I be back to defend? Dunno. I really like running TT, but miss running with the guys in hpde. I've thought of running in stock or mod (depending on how my other miata points add up) for a change of pace and to see other miatas on the track with me (tired of the vettes lol.). Or I might just play more golf and poker and throw down with hookers and blow. Always fun too.
I do hope TxMC continues next year. And I hope it gets bigger and better.
Gotta run and figure out how to add "2010 TxMC Unlimited Champeen" to my sig.
#112
So right there, you have 2 PCA TT (south), 2 PCA TT (north), 2 ax (south), 2 ax (north), and 2 HHR. There's 10 events right there..all with timing, no sneaking around. Add a couple of NASA days (north/south) into the mix. Pick and choose form the list above. Or, just ignore it all and do what you will. It's your bag baby. just tryin to help.
#114
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You do know that you can run hpde 3/4 if you want right? I thought you saw me jump into the hpde groups to play with all our Miata brethren. Only thing is you might need to skip a tt session to do it if they are in a bitchy mood. Nicce thing about tt is once a year tech. You know hustlers running tt next year too.
I know all about pca. I'm an instructor with them and my friends and I used to be in charge of the coastal bend region of the pca. We used to put on great event here for super cheap until the navy made the airfield unusable. I was just instructing at a cbr pca event at h2r a few weeks ago. Eric is down with us coming to H2R whenever we want. Oh, and we were able to use the new rfid timing system so there would be no problems there. Pca at msr-h is a possibility. We'll probably do the NASA tws event in april, but likely will do a tws open track day later in the year for our second visit. I wouldn't say that we really "sneak" around. Other than not trying to "sign up" for txmc at registration, we pretty much are open about what we are doing. Most of the instructors know what were up to including the chief. At the tws otd we were at the grid with everybody in charge of the event taking lap times. You don't have to worry about being an outlaw. Lol ... we're really not doing anything wrong. I might buy a beacon type lap timer in case we run somewhere without timing. Auto-x, I'm just not feeling it. I can't imagine driving hours and taking days off work for it. I'm sorry, were just not south Cali where at a track day we can cone off the parking lot and have a quickie like they do. Once I get all the 2011 schedules from everybody, I'll see what we can figure out.
I know all about pca. I'm an instructor with them and my friends and I used to be in charge of the coastal bend region of the pca. We used to put on great event here for super cheap until the navy made the airfield unusable. I was just instructing at a cbr pca event at h2r a few weeks ago. Eric is down with us coming to H2R whenever we want. Oh, and we were able to use the new rfid timing system so there would be no problems there. Pca at msr-h is a possibility. We'll probably do the NASA tws event in april, but likely will do a tws open track day later in the year for our second visit. I wouldn't say that we really "sneak" around. Other than not trying to "sign up" for txmc at registration, we pretty much are open about what we are doing. Most of the instructors know what were up to including the chief. At the tws otd we were at the grid with everybody in charge of the event taking lap times. You don't have to worry about being an outlaw. Lol ... we're really not doing anything wrong. I might buy a beacon type lap timer in case we run somewhere without timing. Auto-x, I'm just not feeling it. I can't imagine driving hours and taking days off work for it. I'm sorry, were just not south Cali where at a track day we can cone off the parking lot and have a quickie like they do. Once I get all the 2011 schedules from everybody, I'll see what we can figure out.
#115
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FWIW I am also considering a NASA TT license for next year.
I think a couple of events at H2R is a good idea. Running with NASA is good too, and they should like it since it is a potential gateway to TT.
Nothing against the auto-x people but I am not feeling that either. It could also make things more expensive if people start running A6s and the like. In other words, if you want to go all out, now you'll want auto-x tires and track tires.
To keep attendance from being so crucial, score the top four or five events for the 'season championship'. That way if someone misses an event for whatever reason they are still in the hunt. I think this was brought up previously.
I think a couple of events at H2R is a good idea. Running with NASA is good too, and they should like it since it is a potential gateway to TT.
Nothing against the auto-x people but I am not feeling that either. It could also make things more expensive if people start running A6s and the like. In other words, if you want to go all out, now you'll want auto-x tires and track tires.
To keep attendance from being so crucial, score the top four or five events for the 'season championship'. That way if someone misses an event for whatever reason they are still in the hunt. I think this was brought up previously.
Last edited by ZX-Tex; 11-23-2010 at 01:16 AM.
#116
LOL. Outlaw. If everyone is cool that's ok. I just did not want to get banned from somewhere/group. Did not know it was ok to just jump from TT to 3/4 either. I thought you did cause of all your problems and missing sessions. No issues with timing? Just let em know beforehand I guess. I don't mind giving up a TT session to go and have fun.
As far as ax, nobodys going to drive for hours for one, I sure as hell ain't trailering to Houston for a 1 day ax, and I doubt anybody would be making the trip thisway for one either. Not even for full points. Nor do you have to set up a course. Ax happens every weekend, and you just piggy back on one of their events. Something to do between events and it's super cheap seat time. But if you guys are scared..
A6's? Umm ok. Some of the TT guys run em (I've looked). Looks like I'll have to get some for the track anyway to try and stay in front of Trey and then there's this pesky V8 to contend with. Do 2 hot laps and done. Might as well ax with em too. At yesterdays final ax here, there were 23 miata (or more) and 1 (not me) was on hoosiers. Just trying to pull 1 or 2 of them our way.
Throwouts seem to be the key to maintaining attendance, but I wish I knew how. Someone on the NASA forum said that a series championship was akin to an attendance award, and it kind of rings true. But how to fix it?
Brainstorming is key. If we throw enough **** at the wall, some of it will stick.
As far as ax, nobodys going to drive for hours for one, I sure as hell ain't trailering to Houston for a 1 day ax, and I doubt anybody would be making the trip thisway for one either. Not even for full points. Nor do you have to set up a course. Ax happens every weekend, and you just piggy back on one of their events. Something to do between events and it's super cheap seat time. But if you guys are scared..
A6's? Umm ok. Some of the TT guys run em (I've looked). Looks like I'll have to get some for the track anyway to try and stay in front of Trey and then there's this pesky V8 to contend with. Do 2 hot laps and done. Might as well ax with em too. At yesterdays final ax here, there were 23 miata (or more) and 1 (not me) was on hoosiers. Just trying to pull 1 or 2 of them our way.
Throwouts seem to be the key to maintaining attendance, but I wish I knew how. Someone on the NASA forum said that a series championship was akin to an attendance award, and it kind of rings true. But how to fix it?
Brainstorming is key. If we throw enough **** at the wall, some of it will stick.
#117
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I am interested in running TT, but HPDE 3/4 gives me what I want "open passing" and I don't know that I have the money to do Saturday and Sunday events, that almost doubles the cost. I think people look at my car and think I have money to play...I decided years ago to not buy a new car and build that Miata, the money has run out and I can't budget more than $400 per month for the track.
Thoughts on progression and participation:
I've heard that NASATX was sold and unless you're in American Iron, this is a good thing. I'm not sure that anyone knows what this means for TT or something as grass-roots as TXMC. However, I prefer the open-track format over TT by a country mile.
HHR, let's do it no less than twice. It's probably easier to get people to spend a weekend in Austin AND run the track than get people to go to Slidell, TX.
Miatas at Hallett...did 5 cars show-up for TXMC/NASA at Hallett this year? Next year lets break away from the NASA schedule and do MaH instead, so we can have 80-Miatas to run with and sell this to. We all have transponders, its 4-hours of open track on Friday, 4-5 sessions on Saturday for <$250, and they feed you on Saturday night. I think I drove a total of 5-hours that weekend, so if you're going to drive from Mexico, make the drive on that weekend.
$10 is a great, cheap entry fee. I have $20 per event for TXMC, could you do more with double the cash to promote? What if we bought a 6UL for each class per season? Would that motivate people to compete? Are there any AMSoil dealers or smaller sponsors who maybe want a sticker on a car for a gallon of oil to the winner? If we can line-up a sponsor and they want to pay for a windsheild banner, so be it.
Several people ask me "what is TXMC" from the sticker on the hardtop. Let's all put them on our cars to promote. Also, please make some small 2011 stickers so we can add them for each year we've participated.
As much as I'd like to see a "no aero" class or something like that to steer clear of the cali-unlimited cars, let's worry about that when there's a big enough gap in performance to worry about it...so who is buying Matt Andrew's car?
Let's print out the SM record lap for each track, this may help people step their game up. (Damn Saini...DAMN HIM!!!)
Finally, why don't we have a prize for a complimentary TSA enhanced screening for each winner?
Again, thanks for running this Corpus crew. I've never competed before and it was great, motivated me to run 4-new tracks, and made a lot of great friends except for Sixace.
Thoughts on progression and participation:
I've heard that NASATX was sold and unless you're in American Iron, this is a good thing. I'm not sure that anyone knows what this means for TT or something as grass-roots as TXMC. However, I prefer the open-track format over TT by a country mile.
HHR, let's do it no less than twice. It's probably easier to get people to spend a weekend in Austin AND run the track than get people to go to Slidell, TX.
Miatas at Hallett...did 5 cars show-up for TXMC/NASA at Hallett this year? Next year lets break away from the NASA schedule and do MaH instead, so we can have 80-Miatas to run with and sell this to. We all have transponders, its 4-hours of open track on Friday, 4-5 sessions on Saturday for <$250, and they feed you on Saturday night. I think I drove a total of 5-hours that weekend, so if you're going to drive from Mexico, make the drive on that weekend.
$10 is a great, cheap entry fee. I have $20 per event for TXMC, could you do more with double the cash to promote? What if we bought a 6UL for each class per season? Would that motivate people to compete? Are there any AMSoil dealers or smaller sponsors who maybe want a sticker on a car for a gallon of oil to the winner? If we can line-up a sponsor and they want to pay for a windsheild banner, so be it.
Several people ask me "what is TXMC" from the sticker on the hardtop. Let's all put them on our cars to promote. Also, please make some small 2011 stickers so we can add them for each year we've participated.
As much as I'd like to see a "no aero" class or something like that to steer clear of the cali-unlimited cars, let's worry about that when there's a big enough gap in performance to worry about it...so who is buying Matt Andrew's car?
Let's print out the SM record lap for each track, this may help people step their game up. (Damn Saini...DAMN HIM!!!)
Finally, why don't we have a prize for a complimentary TSA enhanced screening for each winner?
Again, thanks for running this Corpus crew. I've never competed before and it was great, motivated me to run 4-new tracks, and made a lot of great friends except for Sixace.
Last edited by hustler; 11-23-2010 at 10:34 AM.
#118
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zx-tex/sixace, we had 2 drops out of 6 events - this last tws events made it seven. you think we should make it more than that? i think that's plenty.
nasa does the same thing. although since they are 2 day events, they allow 4drops (single days) or 2 full weekends out of 6 to still get full championship points.
i think the key is to run the more centrally located events. at those events there were 10-12+ entries. i can tell you that nasa's hallett, ECR, and TWS in august events are off the TxMC schedule. actually ECR is off nasa's schedule also. i'm not gonna make hallett a TxMC event unless there are a confirmed 12 driver's. it's super far for alot of peeps and don't wanna make it mandatory. i do plan on making it out there to battle with you guys though.
sixace, i think you answered your own question about ax (quote:
As far as ax, nobodys going to drive for hours for one, I sure as hell ain't trailering to Houston for a 1 day ax) but scared? i've been ax'ing since 2003. only thing faster than me here is a c6z on a6's. zx-tex might be scared! lol and as far as being cheap, not for me it's not. missing a day of work, plus gas, etc.. is alot for an auto-x.
nasa does the same thing. although since they are 2 day events, they allow 4drops (single days) or 2 full weekends out of 6 to still get full championship points.
i think the key is to run the more centrally located events. at those events there were 10-12+ entries. i can tell you that nasa's hallett, ECR, and TWS in august events are off the TxMC schedule. actually ECR is off nasa's schedule also. i'm not gonna make hallett a TxMC event unless there are a confirmed 12 driver's. it's super far for alot of peeps and don't wanna make it mandatory. i do plan on making it out there to battle with you guys though.
sixace, i think you answered your own question about ax (quote:
As far as ax, nobodys going to drive for hours for one, I sure as hell ain't trailering to Houston for a 1 day ax) but scared? i've been ax'ing since 2003. only thing faster than me here is a c6z on a6's. zx-tex might be scared! lol and as far as being cheap, not for me it's not. missing a day of work, plus gas, etc.. is alot for an auto-x.
#120
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Video now has gauge overlay from GPS telemetry
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...992#post660992
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...992#post660992