Well that was an unusual event. Odd reschedule started us pretty late, so they only ran elimination for high school and jackpot. Fun run grudge matches for the rest of us. Got spanked by a Z06 auto on my first pass, last 3 passes were against a 5.0 swapped miata. The organization was confusing for some people, I kept trying to take the left lane, and people would just pull up to the left of me
All things considered, they ran it pretty well, I still had tons of fun. Learning the new tires, couldn't find the conti ECS', so I tried the ECF's. They are surprisingly similar in ride quality and I had one 1.7 60' so they are good for me.

 

I got to Sonoma Wednesday about 8 to drop off my trailer for the open test day on Thursday. Drag racing was ongoing, so I wandered down to take a look but couldn't find a little green Miata. Sorry to have missed you!

--Ian

 

Awww, rats. It would have been nice to see you Ian! Our little cars get kinda buried with all the big muscles cars out there. For future reference, what we consider the staging lanes(what you guys consider the inside of turn 11,) are numbered 1-15 from West to East. I am usually one of the first 5 or 6 cars in lane 10, 11, 12, or 13. Lanes 14 & 15 are "Jackpot" class which I play on a rare occasion. I will also be wearing my red Sonoma Raceway shirt so people can spot me to ask questions.
Oh well, maybe see you next time

 

Next time I'll ping you ahead of time. They were calling "jackpot suit up" as I was unhitching the trailer, and started running the eliminations (at least that's what it sounded like over the PA) as I finished and walked over. I needed to get to the hotel and have dinner in time to get up early for the test day, so I just made the one pass down the line.

--Ian

 

I understand. Next time you might be able to use my guestroom. Especially if you are leaving the trailer at the track, although Ed was able to do a small trailer here. It is about 1/2 an hour or so away.
We had a fun event today. Even though I was out on the first round in both classes, my car ran beautifully, and I drove pretty well. Got a .007 sticker today, the only one I didn't have already. Also impressive that I did it during elimination on a big money race, one thing to do it when it doesn't matter if you go red. Saw lots of friends, had tons of fun, and back in the 11's. Only one 60' over 2 seconds

 

That's cookin' man, seriously impressive consistency and speed!

 

Thanks Ed! You guys are definitely making it easy to put the power to the ground. Stoked on my car currently

 

Went racing last week. I think my clutch is slipping with the stickier tires. It was a strange sensation on my last 2 good passes, swear it just pegged at 6500 and started pulling. And yes... I ran an 11.4 with a slipping clutch
I think I am going to get a brand new flywheel and a 405ft/lb ACT pressure plate, with a Super Miata puck disc.



Also had a chance to get my buddy's mustang operational. Just started tuning the thing, maybe I can run it on the next race.

 

FWIW, just throwing our puck disc in with our pressure plate you already have should probably be enough. In my opinion, if you're gonna go with an ACT pressure plate you might stick with the organic disc. Way easier to modulate. Course if it slips then you'll have more work to do.

11.4 with a slipping clutch, love it. Awesome.

 

I actually have the FM2 pressure plate paired with your organic disc. It's been a wonderful combo. I think I have a little more torque now, but wonder if my pressure plate is getting old, has to be 8 or 9 years in it now. I'm afraid I need the heavy annoying pressure plate with the puck disc. Maybe I will just slap the puck disc in, I can always go back in there, won't be the last time.

 

You don't need the puck, just the ACT pressure plate.

 

I said I want a new one.
I'll give the puck a try, almost 20% increase, puts the FM2 at the same 400+ as the act plate with the act puck anyway. Unless of course my plate is just dying.

 

My only concern is your launch. If you're slipping the organic plate at all right now, that's pretty much going to disappears. You can make it better with a lighter pressure plate, but your torque limit decreases as well. The extreme ACT PP and ceramic disc is about as bad as the SM twin disc with ceramic discs. Not that either is bad for track cars, but taking off from a stop on the street or trying to modulate 250+hp at the drag strip will be interesting. You've got way more skill than me though, my best is a 12.9, and I had to change tires and bushings to get there, because otherwise my ceramic disc would either wheel hop or spin the wheels.

 

+1 to what Curly said. I tried both at the drag strip. I'd blow the tires off or twist off a MSM axle with a puck clutch, and I had drag radials. The most consistent launches were the ACT Extreme PP + organic disk. Overheat the flywheel and it cracked/slipped from glazing, but the launches were 1.5x 60' at best.

 

I hear you guys. I am just not convinced that the FM2 plate is any different than the ACT extreme one. I am at the point where I have to do something, maybe turn it down some more. But damnit, I want to spank me some muscle cars.
I am going to at least try the puck at this point. No need to be concerned about my car, typical race, break, fix, rinse, repeat scenario.
I think I will just try the disc and then if I can't stand it, I will go with a new ACT PP, flywheel and SM organic disc. If I don't mind it but twist an axle, I will get beefier axles.
I mean, gotta do something.

 

Seems like a logical step forward.

 

FWIW if I had a setup like yours, I'd be cutting a couple holes in the bellhousing, building a duct, and piping cold air into the area to cool everything down after racing. What I always ran into was overheating that resulted in slipping. First couple launches were ok, but it would get terrible as it got hot.

 

Hey Pat, thanks for the great idea. I'm thinking about maybe welding a couple of short pieces of tubing to the trans backing plate. It will have to wait for the next time I am in there though.
Also a big thanks to Ed, Emilio and the 949 SuperMiata crew for always getting me what I need so quickly. Not to mention great customer service.


This is what's going in, car is already on stands.

 

 

They are the best! This is a great clutch.