Are you fucking kidding me? I find this out AFTER I leave?

Hi Cordy,

I spread the news of the Catfish at TIDM (Treffen In Der Mitte - something like "meeting in the middle") - Germanys biggest MX-5/Miata meet of the year 2013 with ~400 MX-5 around...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378109816

REPRESENT!

Perfect, thanks! I think IL Motorsport needs one to show off their product. :)

Pre-update update
 

There's lots of stuff going on, from my visit to Competition Werkes in Oregon, to some recent CFD data generated by Creaform. I need to sift through it all before putting it in a cogent form. Until then, here's a teaser rendering generated by the engineers at Creaform. Teaser alert: with our most street-oriented layout, the Catfish generates negative downforce. :bigtu:

Hmm something doesnt seem right. Low pressure right at the front where the flat wall is? No way.

Don't chime in just yet...lots of pictures and explanations to follow...

Negative lift?

Okay, I finished the back end of a double root canal yesterday...PAIN. And pain medication. If I'm slurring my words in real life, then my written word is going to suffer a bit too. :drool:

The most basic Catfish street platform would include a windshield, no splitter, no canards and even no rear diffuser, the Catfish generates downforce.

I need to discuss the findings much more with the Creaform engineers before adapting them to any physical changes. Our goals were to a) establish a baseline and b) make sure that there were no unexpected or dangerous aerodynamic issues. No and no means win and win.

The colors represent velocities and not pressure.

Oh that makes sense.

aka lift, but i dont think you meant that :D

Did I mention the pain pills I'm on? :)

NEW Trailer design for the Miata....lots of 'em :)
 

I've got some good news...I've got a design challenge contest happening now at GrabCAD. It's a source for industrial engineers, designers, scientists, and all-around geeks. LOVE the site.

The challenge is to create a Catfish trailer design that not only is light and easy to use, but will fit inside a single car garage.

The result so far has been some really cool, really innovative trailers. Some of these trailer designs even lower the car to ground level, so there's no need to mess with ramps, etceteras. I'm hoping that the results will help create a trailer that the Spec Miata and track enthusiast community can use for their cars (Catfish and Miata = same size).

I've noted on the challenge that after the wheel was invented, the trailer soon followed. That's probably wrong, as cavemen were probably dragging deer on improvised tree/trailers before the wheel was ever around. Therefore, we're solving an age-old design and focusing the result on the Catfish-Miata.

If you have the skills--or know someone who does--there are already some really cool designs that can be downloaded and made. Just sign up with GrabCAD (free) and download what you like. I'm spending some cash for the contest, but I really hope it comes back to the community in the form of a useful trailer design. :)

I like the one that lowers a-lot. Just remember, that if you want it to be miata workable you need to be able to open the door once its on the trailer. I have yet to figure out how to drive on, get out, close the top and close all the windows without having the door at least a little open. Or it just needs to be able to mount a winch.

Good point. That's not something I'd considered on door-less Catfish. :)

New Catfish Color Renders
 

Attachment 89374

Attachment 89375

Attachment 89376

Attachment 89377

Attachment 89378See all of them at the site, but here are some of my favorites. We finally have a red Catfish render. :party:

New Wilwood setup, New Infinit-Fab
 

Attachment 91709

Attachment 91710

We've gotten lots of goodies prior to the SEMA show in November. A new Wilwood front rotor set with Dynapro Powerlite calipers is matched with sport rotors and Wilwood rear calipers from Flyin' Miata out back. These are the proprietary rear calipers with the built-in mechanical emergency brake levers. I'm happy to not have the clunky stock e-brake caliper hangin' out back.

I also dipped into the pocketbook for a set of Infinit-Fab seats and their seat brackets. I love these seats, and the fact that they support 4-5-6 point harnesses. I'd recommend them to anyone.

Crazy build, amazing work!

Your stuff is always awesome but that seat does not look great, especially for us track guys.

the various color options look amazing

Those seats are Lotus copies, which are a great design that fits 28-40 waist sizes some how.