Car looks very controllable when the back end steps out...good for learning.

Congrats on what looks like an excellent HPDE car. You're doing it right starting with a "slow" car.

Hope to see you at a couple NASA-SE events this year.

So far the car is very controllable on oversteer, which I like. I'm having tons of fun with the NASA-SE group, they're a blast to be around. Hope to see you out there.

Nice laps. I've never seen posts put into the inside curbing before.

Dat frame rate tho +:likecat:

I'm surprised many of them are still standing, after watching some of the spec races, they mow those things over all the time haha.

Really enjoying the ultra 30, need to get a Bluetooth mic next so we can all hear that massive 1.8 work it's magic.

When I'm not distracted from watching racing while in the garage I actually get a few things done. Finishing up last minute race week prep to head out to Road Atlanta this weekend. Nothing major as I've already re-bled the brakes and checked all fluids. I had already done foamecotomy V1.0, but needed more out of my stock seats until I go full safety craze at the end of the season. I found another 2" of foam to remove and now I fit much better "in" the seat, rather than "on" the seat. I figured it's good to add lightness too.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...16f7e905b7.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6f9dd82b07.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6ecb5de147.jpg

I've been reviewing my footage from my last event at RA and have also been watching footage of faster guys to see where I can improve. I will definitely focus on T1 and T5 to try and reset my PB this weekend.

A week ago I made it back down to Road Atlanta for the NASA-SE June Jam. Fun was had by all. I continued to work on my lines and try different things through some corners where I feel I could make up more time. The video below is how NOT to enter T1...



Needless to say I learned A LOT from that entry into T1 and proceeded to nail it every session afterwards the rest of the weekend. Flier was kind enough again to give me a ride so I could see his lines and try to learn a thing or two on Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning I proceeded to lay down my fastest lap and set a new PB at RA with a 1:52:8. Unfortunately I had changed my mounting location for the Virb and apparently when you eat the curbing coming out of 10b your soft top latches will deploy and your camera will rotate...



I do believe there is just a bit more left out there with this current setup, albeit I'm still happy with that time on an overweight street car on street tires, which leads me here. The more I would compress my brake zones, the more I would struggle to keep the rear of the car planted. I had to ensure that ALL of my braking was done before turn in and I was back on the throttle or else I was getting loose. The rear end is unloading crazy fast and I had to drive around that the entire weekend. Monday after the event I had a long discussion with an Ohlins engineer about the issues and we've reached the conclusion of raising the spring rates and lowering the ride height to help tame the weight transfer. I've got a few tid bits coming in the mail to start this process but they won't be here in time for the next event which is this Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

I'm having a blast tracking the car, but the little spin I took at T1 kinda sets a bigger picture in my mind. Either I tone down my driving until I get all the safety gear this off season, or go ahead and begin procuring the gear now. It seems that the seed has been sewed and Barry and I are in this for the long haul.

Had an awesome time last Thursday running with SCCA Track Night in America at the new Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. They've added a few really tight turns to the infield which, in all honesty, is going to be comical to watch a cup car try to handle. I definitely need a hard top... see image below.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b20209157d.jpg

Car ran great, seemed a little slow on the oval but it's to be expected without some nice aero.

Here is my fastest lap there for the night. Had fun battling with a Porsche in the infield, but he would get away on the oval.



Post event I decided to do a health check on the car and give Barry some fresh blood, err... oil. This little scratch is from my exploration at Road Atlanta.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...aa57cc9056.jpg

Got some goodies in the mail which will help me get a little lower in ride height. These goodwin extended top hats were very easy to install and their fit/finish is very nice.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...29bae5f63d.jpg

Which leads me here, I am in the process of setting up my new ride height and I think I'll target somewhere between 4.5" and 4.75" on all 4 corners to see how that feels. I'll also be changing out my front springs for a higher spring rate to help combat with all the nose diving Barry has been doing.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...c3a145b166.jpg

Little dude is always happy to be riding in "his" racecar. This is the max Carolina squat I can acheive. Looks like the lowest ride height I can run will be around 4.5" in the rear, so I was able to gain about .75" worth of travel with the top hats. We are in the "off season" for NASA-SE so I'll try and dabble with a few more TNiA events at CMP to hold myself over until the next race weekend.

Decided to "paint" my windshield surround to better match the soft top. I'm due to get a black hard top in the next month or so, still working on logistics from Rhode Island. I've also settled the suspension to 4.75" pinch weld on all 4 corners. Seems to feel good for right now.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...04140f3c2c.jpg

Had some spare time the weekend of MaTG, so I talked a buddy of mine to riding along and make a day trip out of it. We made our own Dam photo, soon to be photo shopped in later..

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...c7404edcb2.jpg

Of course we took a stroll on the Dragon.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...bcd31de6d1.jpg

And decided to get some booty shots with Old Glory.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...15e2f6bccb.jpg

There's another track night at Charlotte Motor Speedway next week I'll be attending. Looking forward to seeing how much time I can improve with the suspension less raked from where it was. I still need to get stiffer front springs but it'll do for now.

Are you planning on NASA @ NCCAR Labor Day weekend?

also...car is looking good

Yea I'm trying to make it out to NCCAR as long as the wife doesn't schedule a vacation during that time.... Trying to convince her that area is a great vacation spot this time of year haha.

Got some sweet goodies that are coming in later.... getting me closer to where I want to be.

I decided to to get new springs for the Ohlins in order to mitigate the nose dive during hard braking to see if it would help. I was only able to go up to 575lb without having to get them revalved so that's what I've done for now. If the rest of my build goes the way I have planned, I will be dumping the Ohlins at the beginning of next year and purchase some proper Xidas. These will do for now.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b8e4e6843d.jpg

It was a logistical nightmare, but with some amazing friends I am now a hardtop owner. This hardtop traveled from RI up to NY and finally down to NC. Better yet, I wasn't destroyed over the price! I'll give it a good cleaning and plasi dip it back black. I am currently waiting on the frankenstein bolts to come from Mazda, and hoping my mounting brackets come in soon. I'm eager to get it bolted on and see what the hype is all about.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7043ee6b18.jpg
Will get better pictures when it's on correctly.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6ff873dcc1.jpg

Next event is back at CMP which is only 2 weeks away. Still need to install everything and do a full fluid change before Barry gets any more abuse. My plans are to use Barry to get me through DE3 and 4, which will make me eligible for comp school. I'll then strip him bare and sell him back to someone as a good daily. Then buy a salvaged 99-00 and build a proper race car out of it.

FTFY!!

Guna have to agree on this one :D I'll probably agree even more after I do a bunch of cage and safety work on my car this "winter".

See, this is what I want to chat about haha.

Guna have to agree on this one :D I'll probably agree even more after I do a bunch of cage and safety work on my car this "winter".[/quote]

Haha, look forward to learning from your expensive route. :hs:

It's been a little rainy here.... Tow vehicle almost turned into a submarine. I'm really glad I wasn't in the miata. I have since found a new parking spot as well.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...378c85d105.jpg

Finally got the frankenstein bolts and brackets in so I could properly mount the hard top. I like it a lot.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...2bc5c8abcc.jpg

Also swapped out the springs on the front shock to something a bit stiffer. Let's see if this helps out any on my pig of a car.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...91c3d7cfd5.jpg

Oil change is done, still need to flush brake fluid and inspect them. I plan on getting the car back on an alignment rack next week right before CMP to make sure all of my ride height adjustments haven't pushed out the alignment too bad. Ready for some track day!

Looking good! I have your non-tupperware twin -- red 99, torsen LSD, hardtop, Ohlins and gold 15x9 949s! Probably done for the track season this year, but would be great to catch up with you on track sometime! I do a lot of AMP events with local groups but will probably shoot for a few NASA TT events next year as well.

Awesome, after watching some video of AMP, I'd really enjoy getting out there. I almost went out there for a TNiA event earlier this year but couldn't make it. It's no further from me than Road Atlanta. What are the local groups that run, I've seen JZilla but don't know any others.