Z33Taxi

Parts being ordered soon

Z33Taxi

Went ahead and purchased everything I need to remedy my slipping clutch. Found out I got a nice 7% raise at work so I went ahead and signed up for Watkins Glen next month as well. This will be my first time revisiting a track. I'm really hoping that since I'm familiar with WGI and that I had track time this month I'll have a good weekend. I'm hoping to test for HPDE3, WGI is where I got approved for DE2 last year.

I know I'm a bit away from it, but I've been giving it some thought I've where I'd like to end up with the Miata as far as what class I'd like to race in. I think I would fit it around TT5/TT6. My whole goal was to put reliability and seat time over mods, but I think if I nestled into either of those classes I can accomplish both of those goals. I don't know a lot about classifications, but from the research I've done its align with the modifications I've already planned out: Xidas, full exhaust, cage, sways, 15x8 w/ 200tw tires. I have 0 exp with aero so thats just more to research or I can go the BTM route. Who knows.

I can see myself sticking with the Miata as my primary track vehicle for a long time. Eventually I would like to get into a 996, but only because I'm a porsche fan boy. Hopefully by this time I will be joining you guys in the Mid-Atlantic region as the current plan is to move to Virginia.

flier129

iTrader: (7)

Do the stuff in bold, then do 15x9s and 205/50/15 R7s. Put the car into TT6 and get your feet wet on preparing, competing, and winning in TT. Then it will be MUCH easier moving up into TT5 and beyond. Trust me...... lol

I'd do this combo for TT6, especially for WGI.
2450lbs
131rwhp avg
205 R7s on 15x9s
Xidas, sway-bars
Good brake pads, 1.8 brakes
6-spd and 4.3 final-drive, refresh torsen
Cage
radiator ducting, flat "under-tray" back to the start of the sub-frame, Singular hood louvers - all of this is BTM aero


This build will also translate well over to ST6. The top miatas running at nationals in 2019 in ST6 ran setups like the above +/- a few hp or lbs. 2450lbs gets you 0.10 modifier back, though.

Z33Taxi

Can you expalin exactly what BTM aero is? I thought it meant base model aero, meaning if it didn't come on the car as OEM.

Quigs

iTrader: (2)

Where in VA are you planning on moving? Will be sweet to have another Mid-Atlantic Miata looking to jump into either 5 or 6 as I am working on doing the same.

There is a whole section in the rules that allow for certain "modifications" that you can do for "free" to maintain the BTM aero credit. BTM aero is whatever the car came from the factory with in it's lowest base trim. So, an OEM trunk spoiler on a Miata kicks you out of BTM. However, they have allowed certain things for track reliability and safety sake that still allow you to claim BTM aero credit of +0.4. The hood louvers and flat undertray up to the centerline of the front hubs are two examples of things that are allowed while retaining the credit. If you look at the ST5/6 rules you'll see all the things allowed.

Z33Taxi

I know I've been waiting for you to make an update! There are so my green Miatas prepping cars.

I plan to move to hopefully within 30-45 mins from Richmand OR The Hampton Roads area. I was stationed in Norfolk/NN for a few years and all my closest car friends still live in VA and recently my parents move their too, so there's no sense in me staying in NYS.

Z33Taxi

Anyone have any experience doing TT with SCCA? It looks like they have novice and beginner classes that don't require you to have a comp license? If that's the case it will be a supplement until I get my license in NASA and prep for ST6/TT6

Z33Taxi

Lots of Fedex packages arrived today!

Got bored and bought a 40$ valve cover on FB marketplace

Z33Taxi

Some photos from Lime Rock Park

Z33Taxi

Had the SuperMiata clutch and 9 lb Aluminum flywheel installed over the weekend. I love putting lightweight clutches in cars. My first was with my 350z and that thing was a beefy dual mass heavy boy. Switching to a lightweight flywheel made that car feel completely different. Not as nig of a change with the Miata, but there are noticeable differences in the up revs and deceleration. To break it in I'll be driving the car to work and back, then a nice trip through the Adirondacks.

I was told the install was super straight forward. Normally I do my own work, but without a lift or super tall jackstands knew I didn't want to be on my back doing that work by myself. The job only costed me $375, which was well worth the convenience.

Z33Taxi

This weekend was a bit of a disappointment for me. I still had a great time, but didn't go as planned. My goal for this weekend was to make it into HPDE3, but I wasn't running as good as I wanted to so I didn't end up testing. There were a ton of crashes, I think 7 or 8, so the sessions were delayed and many of HPDE2 sessions were black flagged. My very first session was cut short by an S2000 who crashed on the warm up lap, under yellow, because he decided to go out on Hoosiers and smash into a wall. Another session was cut short on the 2nd lap when a BMW Z3 M crashed into the wall. Both incidents happened leaving the toe and going up the boot. I had ordered tires because my rt615k+ were on their last legs and didn't inspire much confidence .

My best lap time was a horrible 2:39
My Current setup:

Engine:
-Monsterflow intake
-SuperMiata radiator
Suspension:
-Stock
Drivetrain:
-Factory 3.9 Torsen
- SM clutch
- SM 9 lb Aluminum flywheel
Interior:
-Spec Miata ultrashield seats Driver/passenger bolted to floor
-Hard dog double diagonal w/ harness bar
- Racequip harnesses
-Momo Steering wheel w/ Nrg hub and quick detach
Brakes:
- DTC60 Front
- DTC30 Rear
-Centric blanks rotors
-FM SS brake lines
Wheels/Tires:
- Kosei K1 15x7
- Falken Azenis rt615k+ 205/50r15



Here is my very first on track spin. I was starting to enter the bus stop faster and faster. However, my driver's side tires went too far on the left chicane causing the car to bump up a bit. This left my foot off the gas and upset the car's balance. I was able to get on the throttle and save it before it got too nasty


This is the session that took place after my spin. Its also where I had my fastest lap of the weekend a 2:39.6



Here's what I know a need to work on:

1) Death grip: I dont know why I grip the wheel so tensely. I'm not nervous at all while driving on track, even after my spin I was fine and finished the session after pulling into the hot pits. I feel like I'm muscling the car around the track and that's not good when trying to go fast

2) Short shifting/corner entry: My entries are kind of slow. My rationale is that on some of these turns I'm at the very top of 3rd gear or 4th gear and I don't know whether I should take it in that gear or down shift. I got some advice from a spec Miata driver to shift early and then down shift right before the turn. I normally shift as close to redline as possible, but maybe that's not the thing to do. I also need to improve on my heel toe. I usually just rev match, brake then turn in.

3) Suspension setup: I told myself I was going to start making mods until I felt I needed them instead of just wanting them. The last 2 track days, Lime Rock and WGI, have shown me that I understand the dynamics of my car and I think I'm starting to approach the point in which the stock suspension needs to be improved. I try to run several lines, throttle control, braking points and even the ones I feel work best feel like they are being limited by my suspension. The big Grip kit is on my winter list and I think it'll be beneficial.

Quigs

iTrader: (2)

I just went through this same process between 2018-2019 with a lot of the things you mention here, so I figured I'd share my experience.

1) Death grip will start to go away when you are truly comfortable with the track/line. I was having similar issues where I felt very tense on the wheel and had to keep telling myself to loosen my grip. But I wasn't nervous at all as I could go full speed while carrying conversation with my instructors while I was in DE1 and DE2. Now that I'm in DE3 and have been to each of my local tracks enough times that muscle memory has started to take over, and my eyes are looking up better because I truly KNOW the line and what's coming up next, my grip has relaxed significantly. I can now put the car exactly where I want it and don't feel like I'm forcing it so much. I think it's just the build up of experience where now I know what's coming and what lines I like so the rhythm between me, the car, and the track are all much more in sync. I think that's just all the the part of learning.

2) Learn to heel toe brake. It's the only way to be consistently fast. And by learn it, I mean learn it and then master it to where you don't even need to think about it when you downshift and your brain just naturally tells your feet to do the right things. Until you do that and get your entry speed more consistent I would personally hold off on changing shift points quite yet. They may just end up changing again once you start consistently performing heel toe into corners. Same goes with learning to trail brake once you feel your ready for it. That will increase your entry speed a bit as well, but you'll need to get through truly learning heel toe first.

3) I had all the same exact issues when I was on stock suspension for my time in DE1 and DE2. Big Grip kit was the ticket for sure.

Still enjoying following along with this thread. Hopefully my experiences from going through the NASA ladder myself with similar build path helps at least a bit.

Schroedinger

Nice to see your progress. Quig's point #2 is worth repeating; I'm a couple years ahead of you, and it's the same advice I still get whenever I get instruction from a coach or more experienced driver. The whole threshold brake/heel toe shift/ turn-in sequence is very complicated and unnatural at first, it just comes with repetition. I think your tendency to turn in early is primarily due to not looking down the track, but also related to braking. The goal of turn-in is to transfer the weight and get the car settled as quickly as possible, but it can only be done well when the braking and shifting sequence is complete. Rather than trying to brake later, I would start by trying to brake a little sooner and get everything cleaned up quicker so you can make a very deliberate turn-in and maintain corner speed. As you get more comfortable you can start pushing your braking points later. You can only do this well with your eyes down the track. By the time you turn in, you should already be looking at track-out and beyond.

The old adage is very true: if you want to get faster, work on your braking.

Z33Taxi

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I will say I was slightly disheartened, but its all in good fun, I'm not expecting the Porsche Works Programme to call me anytime soon. I am learning a lot through the process. Being able to articulate what I'm doing wrong shows growth in and of itself.

I think this is 100% it. I know my heel toe is weak so I was trying to compensate by braking super late. I was starting to trail brake especially after than main straight, but I was too slowed down even though I was braking at the 2 board. I even bought a throttle pedal extension, but there's a big difference from practicing on low corner street turns and going 90 into a turn.

Z33Taxi

Thought I was done for the year, but looks like I'm signing up for Palmer Motorsports Park to close out the NASA schedule for 2020.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

Good progress and good plans. I wish I had as clear of an idea of what I wanted to do when I first started out. I made the "buy cheap coilovers first then upgrade to Xidas" mistake, also had a roll bar welded in that had to be partially cut out to facilitate the full cage install. Had full poly bushings that I later converted to delrin. Had wheel and tire combos that needed to be sold for optimized setups and whatnot. Don't be like me and buy a bunch of **** twice.

Just keep following the advice of people on here and you'll be much better off in the long run haha.

Solid choice on clutch/flywheel combo. Made by Centerforce, they're local to me. Good people.

Aim for ST6. I wouldn't buy the big grip kit because it comes with poly bushings which suck. If I had to pick an order of operations for mods: Xidas, sway bars and endlinks, 15x9" wheels with some 225 RS4's or something, delrin bushings, poly diff bushings and nice engine mounts like Blackbird or Supermiata, maybe a Miataroadster short shifter, then low hanging fruit for power mods but only enough to get you into the class you want etc etc

Work on heel toe stuff. I have a manual car that I daily drive so when I was learning, every time I was slowing down I was working on that. It's actually much harder to do during light braking, so being hard on the brakes on track is a lot easier. Now I can heel toe in flip flops or work boots without consciously thinking about it at all and it's not something I think about at all on track anymore.

Braking, when you get on it, don't slam the brakes but push the pedal with some authority if that makes sense. And when you're getting off the brakes, ease back off of them instead of letting off super quick as that will upset the car too. The release is more important than most people think.

Learning and getting better will become a bit easier once you've got some of the planned mods knocked out. Keep up the progress man.

Z33Taxi

I've been driving the Miata more frequently with the sole purpose of practicing my heel toe more. Watching my videos I can definitely see where it would have been way more beneficial.

I think one of the main things I need to work on is braking earlier, quick and heel toeing, getting the car smooth and taking the corners. At Watkins Glen I was so wrapped up into braking as late as possible. It was nuts to think a year ago I was braking at the 5, but this year I was braking at the 2. I think the goal now may be to brake at the 3 and have the car settled and be back on the throttle at the 2. Covid has kind of ruined my chances of having any jump in the car with me, but I'm also working on being more social at the track events. I'm plenty active on social media talking to the racers in my region, but when I get to the track I just kind of hang out with my girlfriend and dog.

My winter goal is to remove some weight, from the car and myself, Xidas, sways and doing a bushing check and replace anything with delrin. I'm working on selling my house so I highly doubt I'll be buying much more than a few mods.


All and all I'm trying to stay focused on working on technique and seat time, as opposed to throwing modifications that hide my mistakes.

Z33Taxi

I'm doing my part of helping Kswap Miatas by buying their BP parts.

Quigs

iTrader: (2)

Damn, that a good deal. I would've jumped on that too!

Z33Taxi

Yea it was up for maybe 5mins before I told him I'd take it. Now I can finally get rid of the Cali header