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Xidas 800F 500R with helper springs. SuperMiata coaxial billet mounts.
This being my fourth miata suspension install I like to think I know what I am doing. I only installed the coilovers, front and rear sways and end links. I did not get around to installing the poly bushings for wanting to read more about SADFAB's conversion kits. I also have a set of ELBJs waiting to go on when it comes time for an alignment.
Old Megans came off without hiccup and the new Xidas took their place. For the front I used the long-bolt method.
Fronts.
Rears.
And final shot of the coaxial mounts.
I have yet to really drive it, but the next track day will be Miatas at MRLS next month.
A short while later, I found that my brakes did not feel quite right. Upon inspection, I found my front right brake dragging. Thanks to Concealer, he informed me that I had my brake lines hooked up all sorts of wrong. My prop valve was going to the right front only and I even had my front and rear lines mixed through the use of various tees. It was a disaster.
I contacted GWR and Ryan helped me sort out my maze of hard lines. However, it could not be that simple, bending the lines by hand, I had caused a leak where the flare met the fitting and brake fluid came gushing out. I had less than a week before MRLS. I quickly called V8 Roadsters and they shipped me a new set of lines in two days.
We went to Home Depot yesterday to devise a plan to hopefully make it a quick swapping affair, while not having to remove the bumper, and I think we have a general idea of what we want to do. We won't be able to work on it next weekend, with me being at Roadster Cup, and George being in LA.
The Friday before the event, MiataMan00 had posted he needed some help buttoning up his car and I wanted to help. I arrived and met George, who was really nice, and proceeded to work on the car. All went smoothly, and only had a slight problem with the splitter mounts. Pizza was had.
Oil changed, brakes bled, and aero installed. All before 9. Not bad.
On to Saturday.
This was the third consecutive year that I would be making the trek to MRLS. However, it was the first year that I would be participating in the hot laps.
I arrived at Laguna just before the start of the drivers meeting. The meeting seemingly lasted forever. It was over 40 minutes long, and my legs were going numb from standing, but I was too excited to care. I had signed up for D, not having any experience at Laguna.
But, having prior track experience I was told to play nicely with the others who had much less.
41.
I parked near the MT group but decided I would introduce myself Sunday.
Being in D, the first session was a lead-follow. I was paired up with Jerry in his fastback NA.
This was the first track day with Xidas, and it felt like an entirely new car. Over the curbing, the suspension absorbed so much more than my old Megans. Body roll was also greatly reduced, and I had that much more confidence in the car.
MiataMann00 also offered me a ride in B in his car with turbo, aero, and slicks. He had a stock passenger seat, and it was wild.
The following sessions went smoothly throughout the day. It really was a perfect track day. With everyone being in Miatas the speed differences were almost non existent. The last session of the day I found myself playing with Flyin' Miata's turbo ND which was running in all of the groups all three days. Talk about a torture test.
I also was allowed to have my dad ride passenger. He borrowed a helmet, (thanks George!) and he had a blast. I think I may have scared him a bit, a decided to take it easy for the remainder of the laps.
It was a great day.
Sunday I would hang out with the MT group and get some ride alongs in the vendor's cars.
Even though I wasn't to drive Sunday, it was equally as fun.
I wanted to introduce myself, and say thank you to all of those who have helped me through the forums. And what better way to do that other than donuts?
I met, Aiden, Gordon, Stewart, along with many other of the guys. It was great being able to talk Miata, and put some names to faces.
MT paddock.
Not driving allowed me to explore the event further. I asked Andrew from Trackspeed if I could get a ride in Rover, his S1 car. Strapped in and heading to pre-grid he stops the car, and notices something does not feel right. He hops out to discover all of the lugs are damaged and falling off on one of the rear wheels. Whew, good catch, as 10 minutes later we would be cresting T1 approaching 121 mph.
I want aero so bad.
Immediately after hopping out of Andrew's car, the K Miata pulls into the adjacent garage, dust billowing from the under carriage. He just had an off in turn 9 and scooped up about half of the kitty litter with his splitter. I decide to help him clean out all of the rocks and we even use is splitter as a broom to clean up the garage.
I honestly, enjoyed scooping up the rocks, and thought to myself at what other event would this something like this happen? It was too cool.
50 lbs worth of rocks.
I was rewarded with another ride in the K Miata for half of the session.
The event was winding down, but still more adventure was to be had.
Scaxx had lost the nut retaining his upper control arm so his car was sitting at the campsite. I volunteered to help him push the bushing back into the control arm to be able to make the long trip back to Seattle.
Capri sun and air mattress boxes holding up front suspension.
He also bought a Fastback at the event and needed a way to transport it back home and being as he already had a hardtop it was quite the dilemma.
MiataMan00 and Scaxx trying to devise a way to bolt his hardtop to George's car. We were unsuccessful.
Luckily, a friend had a Jeep that we were able to throw the hardtop in for the trip back.
Filling up for the last time for the trip back home.
MRLS 2017 was amazing. It was sublime on and off track, and even better meeting everyone.
A few years ago, I first discovered Roadster Cup. It is a Miata specific series, based in Southern California, hosted by Extreme Speed track events. I attended their Buttonwillow event as a spectator this past summer, and ever since it had become a dream of mine to participate. I decided there was no time like the present to sign up. The next round was to be at the Streets of Willow, in Rosamond, California.
Streets!
I booked my spot a few days before the event, and got everything squared away. This would be my first real "event" where I would actually be competing for a time. I was excited. It was about a five and a half hour drive to the track and decided it be best to drive down the day before. I crashed at a friends Friday night, and decided to get a early start Saturday morning. The weather was set to be mid 60's and clear.
Brisk morning drive on the way to the track with absolutely perfect conditions.
I pulled into the paddock and was waved down by the fellow Miatae and greeting with a warm welcome. They had already marked off our spot with various items with enough space for all of us to park. I was handed a small American flag as a token from Brandon for my dedication to attend this event all the way from the Bay Area. Everyone was super helpful, accompanying me to timing, and even to sign up with Touda, the event coordinator. We were given a brief drivers meeting, and we off to prep our cars. I was put into Gold group, which was an open passing group, a first for me. Touda assured me I could always be bumped down, if I ever at all felt uncomfortable. I was given my number, and some Roadster Cup stickers. Seriously, these guys are the best.
Miata HQ.
Flag!
The first session of the day I gridded myself at the back, hoping to get a feel for the track. Out of pure excitement, I forgot to check my tire pressures and they were off by a country mile. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 28 psi.... hot.
The car was behaving strangely and I pulled in to give everything a once over. In addition to my tire pressures, my right Xida **** was spinning freely and my right rear damper was still set at full soft. Doh!
One of the other competitors let me borrow his air pump and pressure gauge. With my pressures now set, and damping sorted, I headed back out.
57.
The following sessions we were to be gridded based on our times from the previous session to help ease traffic. There were a total of about 22 drivers competing.
Everyone say hi.
I was one of the slowest cars throughout the day, still trying to learn the proper lines. (I am also not a very good driver.) Even though my times were not in the least bit competitive, I was probably competing for the most fun.
Photo credit: CaliPhotography
The last session of the day, I thought it would be a good idea to actually learn the proper line from someone who knows their way around the track. I had a quick chat with Jeremy, an amazing driver, and he gave me some quick tips. Sitting at the table behind us was another driver named Zee and he offered to even go out with me to show me the fast way around Streets of Willow.
I took a video of the last session, I apologize for the quality, sound, and general lack of skill, beforehand.
Me trying to soak up everything Zee was teaching me. (small catch at 4:50)
I was completely blown away by the organization of the Roadster Cup event, and how they maintained a competitive-yet friendly atmosphere. I stuck around for the awards at the end of the day, and got to hang out with the rest of the group just a bit longer. Funny enough, a Keurig was to be raffled off donated by Extreme Speed, as well as a track day for the next round at Buttonwillow. The running joke that was that whoever was the unlucky soul to win the coffee maker, would be required to bring it with them for all future events for us all to share.
The day had come to an end, and I decided to pack up to make my way back home. I was buzzing from excitement and that perma-grin from my first ever track day had returned. This event was my favorite to date.
Favorite picture of the day.
Photo credit: CaliPhotography
I said my good byes and began on my long trip home.
I am most definitely signing up for the next round at Buttonwillow, and bringing some friends with me.
Cannot wait.
Last edited by Bryan Z.; 12-05-2017 at 05:45 PM.
Reason: photo credit
I have used my soft top exactly zero times in the past two years of ownership. I also installed the front Jass hard top brackets and could no longer use the latches.
I decided it was time for it to go.
It was unnecessary weight, and will allow for more storage room in the car. I also found after adding brackets to my hardtop that the soft top would be the source of annoying rattles.
The car had the cleanest parcel shelf I had ever seen.
Holy crap. I have no idea how someone could make the parcel shelf look like that with a roll bar install!
Thanks? After chopping off entirely too much on my first NA, I wanted to have a much cleaner install on the NB. I used tin snips, as they allowed for a cleaner cut, compared to the cutoff wheel (less sparks and not as fun though).
09-11-2017, 10:23 PM
Big Grip Kit
0
Thanks for posting up the pics- looks like fun time were had.
