Blackbird

Miatas are terrible time attack cars.

x_25

Jebus.

And this is with the car technically set up for Limited but just hohos slapped on, yeah?

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Really happy to be shifting well now. But as it often is, I've traded one challenge for another. The steering has been recently de-powered. Done the right way, welded and plugged by Blackbird Fabworx, but man it is a lot of work to hussle this thing with the grip it has. Definitely more difficult to be precise when you have to muscle it around than when it had the power steering. I have a solution arriving in the mail soon, but respecting the cardinal rule that if it's working DO NOT MESS WITH IT one week before a big event... I will be running manual steering for COTA. Better eat my Wheaties.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Yep

LukeG

Weather in Austin is beautiful right now btw. It's been mid-70's and a little overcast all week. Stoked to see all these crazy cars.

Teams | Super Lap Battle USA

Blackbird

Now you understand my pain from Creampuff, the car is actively trying to hurt your arms...

BMWidmer

Dang, I never thought about all the additional effort with your level of aero. I guess 10 situps and 10 pushups a day won't cut it! lol

SchmoozerJoe

iTrader: (2)

Awesome! Just signed up to get my tickets now... I'll be heading over from Houston for this.

flier129

iTrader: (7)

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Shake weights and Miatas. The circle is complete.

Blackbird

I'd hit them up with a full bio and a request to become the title sponsor of the car.
They'd have to fork out some cash, and you'd have to go up on the podium every time while you're shaking the weight, with a fat bonus check for every time you're being interviewed on video while using the shake weight.
Win-win.

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

Well hell if it makes me look like that, i'll mess with a Shake Weight.

Scaxx

Don't act like you don't use one every morning, we know the truth

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

Oh yeah. 2 hands baebae.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Full inspection after SOW is done. Several small items to address (which is usual) but nothing major.



We have a couple new sponsors coming on board for 2019 which I'm really excited about. More on that soon but I need to get them integrated before COTA, and wouldn't you know it the vinyl plotter just took a dive! Outsourcing decal production to a local shop this morning and getting the embroidery shop going on suit patches, etc.

Also going over lots of spreadsheets and on the phone with a few of our partners to fill out the spares list. I want to be sure that if we have anything go sideways that we have everything we need to fix it and get back out on track fast. I don't have space to bring a spare motor or trans but we should be able to handle anything other than a major driveline failure.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

More and more spares going in the box.



Got some valuable sim time in yesterday. A buddy of mine, Connor, is a pro driver in Pirelli GT4 and he has a killer rig setup that he practices on daily. Occulus VR, four corner shakers, speed-based fans, etc. He very generously let me get a bunch of time in on COTA and even gave pointers on fastest line and where I should make adjustments. I got about 90 laps in, feeling much more confident about the track than I was before. It's inspiring watching him drive, he just hops in and is on pace and hitting every mark by the third corner on the out-lap and his mid-corner corrections are super precise. I guess that's why he does this for a living For me, it was a day away from the car but one of the most valuable for getting ready for COTA.

bigben

That is some serious level of preparation. Whishing you all the best for Cota, pretty sure you can put the pressure on the high horsepower machines! Can't wait to see you throw it in the esses!

SchmoozerJoe

iTrader: (2)

I was just wondering what kind of exposure/sim time you were going to have for COTA before arriving... glad you were able to get some virtual "seat time" before next week.

curly

iTrader: (25)

Great prep work indeed Ryan. Just finished prepping one of your competitors with 650awhp, but his aero isn’t nearly as developed as yours. It’s a power track, but it should be an interesting battle with so many fast turns too.

Blackbird

COTA is interesting in the fact that is both a power and aero track.
With one straight being insanely long and the other straight going way uphill you need all the straight line speed you can get, but at the same time, the esses and the section after the back straight should reward aero grip.
It'll be interesting to see how things balance out.
I have a feeling Ryan and I will spend some time tinkering with the aero to improve straight line speed by the means of drag reduction while we're there.