Now I can race at Sacramento again! And if my car takes a dump, it won't **** the bed. Considering how long my car is in the tooth I am gonna call this Miata depends.



Beerbaron invited me to weigh my car while NASA was at Sonoma this weekend. Didn't actually get to meet him, but the folks manning the scale were nice enough to weigh me, 2366#'s without me, 2517 with my fat ***. About a buck fifty agrees with my bathroom scale, I will compare to the Sac scale next time I am there.

 

Found it in the Tecnas thread. 2416#'s at Sacramento with a full tank and tools, ect... So I basically am bringing 50#'s of fuel and crap with me to the track, which puts me in the 2560-2570 range total. We'll just say 2550 after a few passes eats some fuel.

 

Another cycle almost complete...

 

Went to my first autocross yesterday, it was super fun. It rained on and off so conditions were pretty slippery. My friend suggested we show up in the afternoon and we got a "discounted rate." I only spun out 3 or 4 times and only killed it twice. I wasn't timed, but seemed to improve by the end. I do think my car was relatively fast out there because I seemed to catch up to people a lot, could be that they had just spun out though.
Wondering what tire pressure you folks might run with 205's at an event like this when it's wet out?

 

Stoked on my new unicorn, the neighbor actually thought it was the Miata
Not sure what the plan is yet. I will probably run it in April, but then the Miata.

 

That should take boost just fine.

--Ian

 

Indeed
I also heard that Vlad knows how to tune these things to infinity

 

Dang, 2 days before the race and my clutch won't disengage. Of course I suspect the master and slave, but when I have someone push the pedal, the release arm definitely moves. Also the master is completely full, and I don't see fluid anywhere. The pedal feels strange, like a click, mid stroke. I'm guessing maybe something deeper inside. Need to get on it or I will be racing the slug Lexus again.

 

Broken fork pivot? Haven't seen it but I've heard of it happening. Borescope through the fork opening?

 

A good thought, one of my race friends suggested the same thing. I have actually had a broken pivot bolt before. I will post the carnage pics.

 

Sweet manual swapped SC! Plans for that car?

I applaud you for doing the emissions dance, I was confused for a sec when I saw a pic of the car with the OEM header.

Interested to see what the clutch issue is! Did it drive fine last you drove it, then broke after sitting? I hate when they do that, it's so much more unbelievable, like what could have possibly broken with it sitting?

 

It is actually a rare factory manual Lexus. No real plans yet, but my bottles are certified for 5 more years, that thing needs something.
I was actually playing with an MSM on my way to fill the tank. Smoked him bad up the hill, then it just wouldn't go into 1st at the stoplight. The pedal felt strange, and I had to start the motor in 1st to get going. I think the MSM guy wanted to talk, but I just had to get back home.

It's the pivot ball.



Can't quite get it out through the hole so... The tranny's coming out!

 

Took the thing for a spin today, nice and warm with excellent traction. Man, it is totally insane! I swear it can eat anything, with a downshift to 5th. I sure hope we get to run on 4/16, we seem to be having bad luck with rain this year.

 

If it's dry on the 16th then I'll be there -- for the open test day on the road course, that is.

--Ian

 

Aww man, I forgot to look for you today Ian, oh well, maybe next time. Hope you had tons of fun like I did.

Crap 60' timeslips, middle one is against a Plaid.


Was trying to launch gently this time, still spun after the sun went down.

 

Some people pay extra for that

 

I was there doing some shock testing, got a lot done in the morning and early afternoon, wound up leaving about 3 because I had finished the plan and wanted to avoid the worst of the traffic. So you probably wouldn't have found me anyway!

So did they kick the Plaid out for not having a parachute?

--Ian

 

Nah, the new rules allow 2020 and newer or something like that to run 9's. Might have to build an NC, because 2008 and newer can run 10's without a cage or anything.

 

[Old man voice] Back when I was a boy...

10 second cars were tube frame, tubbed, full cage monsters with flimsy fiberglass body panels.

Technology is awesome in so many ways.

The song "Black Sunshine" (1992) by White Zombie celebrates a Ford Mustang with 400 horsepower.