Well, looks like I'll need quite a bit of ballast for PTE and even SPM S2

1/2 tank, no driver.
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CMP in November?!

Maybe! Like always, it looks like the last CCR AX event is scheduled for that same weekend...

Well, you've done tons of those, come to the track instead!

More prep work for ViR/Hyperfest this weekend.


I actually washed the car, it's still a decent 20 footer!
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MmmmmMmm beer! If anyone went to MATG last year, we hit this brewery up on the Saturday beer-run. Planning to do that again, but probably not with as many ppl this time :rofl:
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Gotta get the stickers on the car somehow. Some love for SadFab.
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My super organized and never ending check-list:
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Put a new window in, regular glass. My old one was so pitted it was hazy and annoying to see out of, was on the verge of cracking in several places. Thankfully, my brother does this type of work so I got the hook-up in price and install
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This is version 1 of ballast for the car, 140lbs pictured here. I've got a 10" long and 1" diameter bolt thru the frame rail and floor-board, bolted with the washer shown here on top, and a 12"x3"x1/8" piece of steel that runs along the frame rail underneath. Straps are to help prevent it from wiggling, not to hold it down. With the strap tight it was surprising how sturdy it felt. Ballast is annoying to deal with, almost kind of stressful...."I'll just go ahead and bolt this 100+lb PROJECTILE in the case of an accident to my floor here, wcgw?!". I look forward to the day I don't have to use it.
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I believe this will be my spot for driver's side mirror. It's placed on the front part of the quarter-window frame, which is actually spot-welded on. I initially thought I would be unbolting it all, but it was a silver-lining being spot-welded on.
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I use an open trailer, so I need to set my windows back in to keep it "water resistant". This means I need to reinstall the quarter-window frame to slide the door-window in. I'll be practicing this reinstall, but it should be too horrible.
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Installed the cage padding, don't judge my zip-tie job. The padding isn't very bendy, so I had to cut it in sections to fit right. It's SFI rated high impact padding . I also know the adhesive on the inside of it will not hold up to my grabbing and sitting on it to get in/out. Not pictured is a piece right over my head on the main hoop.
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Last week when I was towing the car to/from my alignment guy I noticed my trailer is kind of tilted up, both empty and loaded.
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No pictures of after, but I lowered the hitch one setting and it actually seems to be better in pulling and stopping. Particularly when pulling up any incline from a stop, it use to "lurch" back, now it doesn't!



There's a few small things to do on the car. Check coolant level, put undertray on, and double check torque on several bolts I've touched. Really anxious to drive ViR again, it's been about 3 years now. I just hope it doesn't piss-pour rain the whole weekend.

I have purchased one set of Hoosiers for this car ;)

oh, contiginceeees?

A little late on the update, been busy with a new job and went up to Indy this past weekend. Drove up to pick up my dad's new-to-him miata:
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03 garnet red from vteckiller. My dad is wanting to run it in E-Street. We'll see how long that lasts :giggle:


Anyways, Hyperfest/ViR update!

Car did really well, much better than I thought it would to be honest. Saturday morning was the first time going faster than 5mph since the subframe swap, new SadFab MR-S hubs, cage, new seat, ballast, and a few other odds/ends. Conditions were wet to damp to dry through Saturday, so I was able to gain some confidence by the last session on Saturday.... night almost. Still wasn't sending it like I have before, was apparently fighting some mental blocks. Still a great time and a win in TTE.... only 4 so no Hoosier contingency :(




Hung with the 949 crew basically all weekend.
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It was great to meet them all and awesome to see the cars in person.
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What was even more impressive was their determination to push on even with some offs with damages. Props for never giving up!!!
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Dan was able to come over by Saturday night and drove Sunday. We entered the event as Team Just Gonna Send it again...... it was sent!

2:14.888 is 0.600 off the record and on par with the fastest miata TTE time! Keep in mind, this was the 18th heat cycle on these tires, it was a 2:30pm session, the exhaust fell off after oak tree, and my diff is basically open.





Next event is at good ole Road Atlanta in June. I don't know if I'll be able to touch the previous time set of 1:42.4xx since it'll be HOT, but I feel confident about getting into the 1:43s. Though, the car is much better with the recent changes in terms of responsiveness. I think the car has been "off" for quite some time :rofl:

That car sounds incredible for a BP...

Nice work so far!

With or without the exhaust?

Well, erm... both. But really with.

Road Atlanta was fun, as usual, and I would consider it a success! It was HOT!!!!!! Got the win on Saturday with 9 in class with a new PB of 1:43.615. Sunday I sucked and only managed a 1:44.3xx. I need to work on going faster on Sundays......

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First lap behind the gold mustang speaks for itself.... second lap is a 1:44.3xx, third lap in the video is the 1:43.6.


I had a vitrual best of 1:43.0xx for this weekend. Confident I could see 1:41s in cooler weather. Fix my mistakes in T3 and T5 and I could see high 1:40s.... Never the less, Luke had a legit 1:42.8xx on Sunday noon session.... very impressive. I'm glad I get to run with him.


Side-note.... I HAVE to get some heat-reflecting something. I have SFI fire rated shoes, but not anit-cooking shoes. My foot is literally cooking and it formed this:
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:rofl:




I'm up in the air about Barber at the end of July. I might just skip it...... Luke's story time will explain more :doh: Definitely doing the AMP event before Miatas at the Gap since I'm helping with organization on it. If things go according to plan I'll likely go up to Mid-Ohio at the end of August..... I don't think I could do Grid.Life at RA. One blistering hot RA event a year is enough for me.

Oh man, I'm way behind....... uuummmmm

AMP was fun! Great turn out for the first Miatas before the Gap event and a wet one as well. Ran my car no ballast, so that was fun at 2250lbs ish. Let JohnWag drive the car for a couple of sessions as well.


Later on I did an auto-x in my buddy's E92M3. This thing is pretty sweet. We paxed 1st and 3rd at a local.




Heading to NCM this weekend. Gunning for the TTE record! Cross your fingers the weather holds out!!!


After some contemplation and complaining to NASA I'll be running ST6/TT6 next year. ~2490lbs at 137rwhp peak/133 avg. I'll be swapping in a 6spd and keeping my 4.3 final-drive. I'll eventually put in a MS to change maps, maybe have a detuned map for 6 and a max power map for "5".

I think we can change my thread title now too. Something clever for ST6/TT6?

Come down to Sebring on December 22nd. The weather is good here then.

I've definitely thought about it.... another TTE record to snatch!

Well, that date is just a track day with a club and not a NASA event. But it would be good practice and lots of fun and good weather.

Back from NCM. Got the win in TTE, but unfortunately no TTE record for that track for me. It's fairly technical so I would need more seat time to put down the faster times. Never the less, the track is a blast and I'll be going back soon.

Saturday started off damp.
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Did the first two sessions, warm-up while damp and another with a dry line. Noticed some pretty heavy "this bearing is fucked" noises. Went to the rear first since I had some recent trouble on those, both good. Checked front and driver's front had some play in it. This Moog bearing lasted 5 events for me..... I can see why so many people want better front bearings.
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Buddy of mine hooked me up with his spare! I was ready to go out the next session rather quickly. I'll be adding front hub to my spare parts list to bring.
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The steering was wayyy lighter after replacing the bearing too :rofl: Managed a 2:23.8xx that next session on Saturday, next session which was still good conditions got red flagged for a 944 that caught fire and we all came in without turning a lap. Next session felt WAYY faster, but it was actually slower, fuuughhckkk.



Good conditions for Sunday, tires at 10-11 heat-cycles depending on if you count the wet session Saturday morning. First session car feels great, but times were way off pace, but it was a super green track since it was first of the day.

2nd session at 10:00AM, felt good and motivated......


Too many mistakes, only managed a 2:23.5xx. :( Weighed in at 2438lbs at the end of the session.



Next event could be CMP in two weeks or RA first weekend of Dec or Roebling in Jan. Just depends on weather and budget.

Finished up my last TTE event, ever!

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I feel like my car and myself have done fairly well in the class. Multiple regional class wins, which ultimately funded my efforts with contingency Hoosiers.

A total of 4 TTE track records:
Barber - 1:46.0xx for me!
Road Atlanta - 1:42.4xx James | 1:43.5xx for me
CMP - 1:48.5xx James | 1:50.1xx for me
Roebling - 1:22.2xx James | 1:22.6xx for me

And a few times 0.5-1ish seconds off the records there:
Mid Ohio - Record - 1:40.8xx| 1:41.4xx Dan | 1:44.3xx for me(2 sessions total)
ViR - Record - 2:14.2xx | 2:14.8xx Dan | 2:16.0 for me
NCM - Record - 2:22.2xx | 2:23.5xx for me

Lots of variables in each circumstance of course. Heat-cycle count, conditions, if my engine was about to seize, if I had my head up my ass, etc. Admittedly, I've sacrificed some good sessions to actually see what the car can do. It might have taken away from "glory", but ultimately it's made me a better driver which is more important to me at least.


This weekend was at Road Atlanta, brought some ~13 heat-cycle tires so chances of getting the 1:41s were slim. The forecast for the entire weekend was complete dog-shit, so the motivation to mount up some stickers was slim to none. Never the less I went down there in the rain.... with only R7s. Saturday morning meeting was cold, damn near completely dark, and raining..... talked to some other TTE guys..... turns out they have wets. It POURED alll day so I didn't even go out on Saturday.

Sunday had a much better forecast and turned out great for the second half of the day. Finally got into the groove..... on the last session of the day lol.

Finally did a data overlay on my video!




Heading to comp school next month at Roebling. I have a few things to tidy up on the car along with 2x kill-switches. I'm going to make my best effort at ST6 at Mid Ohio next year with TT in the south most likely. Looking forward to some w2w finally!

Bunch of changes for the car and life. Heading to Roebling this weekend in TT5. Also started a part-time gig with Nine Lives Racing, hence the aero.

Current config...
2250lbs wet
131rwhp avg
15x8s 205 R7s
9LR big-wang 64" swan neck
9LR prototype airdam w/ 3" splitter

More updates later!

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Greg: +0.001 adjustment per rivet

Marcus: Hold my beer!