2014 SCCA Runoffs
10-08-2014, 10:06 PM
#1
2014 SCCA Runoffs
We have a car there in STL. Some of you may remember this car as the Rental, later renamed Super when we caged it. It's actually running a 1.6L becaue we done blowed up the fancy 1.8L we built for it just a few weeks before the event.
Last qual session is tomorrow. Race Saturday in the morning. Oscar Jackson Jr is driving it. We're not quite making the power we had hoped so he has his work cut out for him. The handling however, is fantastic. Probably the best balanced Miata I have ever driven. One last tuning adjustment tomorrow we think will find us some oomph. If we can find another 12whp, we'll be in the hunt for the top step I think. I'm back at the shop so hopefully other folks that are there can post pics.
A few details on the car (that we can share): 6 spd x 4.875 OS Giken diff with our SuperMiata tune, MS3 Pro ECU, Xida double adjustables, 15x7 6UL with 205/50/15 BFG R1-S tires, APR SCCA spec GTC-200 carbon wing and some DIY front aero, Racepak IQ3 dash, Carbotech XP12/XP10 pads on our SuperMiata/Wilwood 11" big brake kit, awesome orange stripes and splitter that make it look just like a million dollar WEC LMP1. Original nose got tore off in a testing accident 3 days before the event, thus the unpainted/striped nose
Last qual session is tomorrow. Race Saturday in the morning. Oscar Jackson Jr is driving it. We're not quite making the power we had hoped so he has his work cut out for him. The handling however, is fantastic. Probably the best balanced Miata I have ever driven. One last tuning adjustment tomorrow we think will find us some oomph. If we can find another 12whp, we'll be in the hunt for the top step I think. I'm back at the shop so hopefully other folks that are there can post pics.
A few details on the car (that we can share): 6 spd x 4.875 OS Giken diff with our SuperMiata tune, MS3 Pro ECU, Xida double adjustables, 15x7 6UL with 205/50/15 BFG R1-S tires, APR SCCA spec GTC-200 carbon wing and some DIY front aero, Racepak IQ3 dash, Carbotech XP12/XP10 pads on our SuperMiata/Wilwood 11" big brake kit, awesome orange stripes and splitter that make it look just like a million dollar WEC LMP1. Original nose got tore off in a testing accident 3 days before the event, thus the unpainted/striped nose
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10-09-2014, 12:49 PM
#7
...
WHAT?!?
For years you've been saying you have no interest in STL because you wouldn't want to drive a car "that is no fun to drive" (I'm paraphrasing). Now you're saying an STL car w/ ZOMG 7" wide wheels and tiny 205 tires has fantastic handling and is the best balanced Miata you've ever driven?
I haz confused.
Did you drive it at the 1.8 weight or the 1.6 weight? The 1.8 race weight of 2635 lbs seems like it would tough to manage on 205 tires.
I was bummed last year when Oscar was registered to race the Runoffs in STL but then couldn't make the race. Good to see he's out racing this year. My old team mate is driving an '06 Si this weekend. I think he's currently P4. I'm surprised how "ok" he's done so far. We thought the civics wouldn't fare so well at Laguna.
What caused the 1.8 to blow, if you don't mind me asking (I'm sure you do...)? Drago had one blow at road Atlanta in March and I think his was a rod failure from too many revs for too long.
Wish I was out there...oh well. First time in like 4 years I haven't raced at the Runoffs... maybe next year.
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10-09-2014, 02:17 PM
#10
Wait...
...
WHAT?!?
For years you've been saying you have no interest in STL because you wouldn't want to drive a car "that is no fun to drive" (I'm paraphrasing). Now you're saying an STL car w/ ZOMG 7" wide wheels and tiny 205 tires has fantastic handling and is the best balanced Miata you've ever driven?
I haz confused.
...
WHAT?!?
For years you've been saying you have no interest in STL because you wouldn't want to drive a car "that is no fun to drive" (I'm paraphrasing). Now you're saying an STL car w/ ZOMG 7" wide wheels and tiny 205 tires has fantastic handling and is the best balanced Miata you've ever driven?
I haz confused.
The other half is the close ratios at race speeds and that great diff combined with zero torques. So you're either threshold braking or WOT everywhere like a Spec Miata but with real suspension. The lack of power makes it easy to plant the car super early in every turn. Add 100whp and it would be a handful I'm guessing.
Lots of people break 1.8's when they try to spin them to 9k with certain combinations of parts. We figured out why but ran out of time to get a new motor built. Drago may or may not have figured it out.
Our car is far from optimized. It was sort of a last minute thing mixed in with several other projects at our shop. Given another 8 weeks to develop the 1.6 we could pull another 2s out of it, 12 weeks for a 1.8 an that would stretch out to 4-5s. Mostly moving weight around and engine development.
So yeah, I'm kicking around the idea of running STL in 2015 myself with a 1.8. COTA looks to be a power and aero track though, not so much mechanical grip (our strength).
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10-09-2014, 04:23 PM
#11
Yea the R1-S are the best DOT I've ever driven on, but I haven't tried the A7s yet. Apparently the fast Integras running at Laguna this weekend are qualifying on A7s but not sure if they'll last the race.
I realize the 1.6 runs at a significantly lighter weight in STL (~355 lbs!). I imagine with the same tires/aero/suspension those extra 350 lbs are going to change the handling characteristics pretty significantly (obvious statement is obvious?). I wonder if a 1.6 STL Miata is a well balanced fun to drive car and a 1.8 STL car is an overweight miserable pig.
Do you know what engine the provisional pole sitter is running? His car is registered as a '92 but that doesn't mean much.
2015 Runoffs are at Daytona, I doubt any Miata is going to be competitive there. K20 powered '99 Honda insight would be the car to have there. 2016 Runoffs are at Mid-Ohio, miatas will be back in the fight then.
I realize the 1.6 runs at a significantly lighter weight in STL (~355 lbs!). I imagine with the same tires/aero/suspension those extra 350 lbs are going to change the handling characteristics pretty significantly (obvious statement is obvious?). I wonder if a 1.6 STL Miata is a well balanced fun to drive car and a 1.8 STL car is an overweight miserable pig.
Do you know what engine the provisional pole sitter is running? His car is registered as a '92 but that doesn't mean much.
2015 Runoffs are at Daytona, I doubt any Miata is going to be competitive there. K20 powered '99 Honda insight would be the car to have there. 2016 Runoffs are at Mid-Ohio, miatas will be back in the fight then.
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10-09-2014, 09:09 PM
#14
What power do you think an MZR could make under the STL ruleset?
I know (I think) about what most k20 cars are making but I haven't a clue about the MZR.
The weight of a rwd 2.0 car would be a bit of a problem though. A MZR powered NB would have to race at over 2800 lbs...
I know (I think) about what most k20 cars are making but I haven't a clue about the MZR.
The weight of a rwd 2.0 car would be a bit of a problem though. A MZR powered NB would have to race at over 2800 lbs...
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10-09-2014, 10:41 PM
#15
What power do you think an MZR could make under the STL ruleset?
I know (I think) about what most k20 cars are making but I haven't a clue about the MZR.
The weight of a rwd 2.0 car would be a bit of a problem though. A MZR powered NB would have to race at over 2800 lbs...
I know (I think) about what most k20 cars are making but I haven't a clue about the MZR.
The weight of a rwd 2.0 car would be a bit of a problem though. A MZR powered NB would have to race at over 2800 lbs...
Anybody got a link to qual results? I only see live timing, nothing being recorded and posted that I could find.
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10-10-2014, 08:49 AM
#18
SCCA official results page -> The Sports Car Club of America Event Results
If you click on "qualifying 3" it will show the composite results / provisional grid
If you click on "qualifying 3" it will show the composite results / provisional grid
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