Attneded second autocross, ran this time for the first time.
 

I went to the autocross at Castle Airforce base in Merced, Ca today and it was my first time running and it was a blast! I used my 97' with middle of the road tires (Daytona somethings 205/55) and an alignment 1.5/2.0 camber front rear and 1/16 toe in rear and 0 front. Otherwise, it is bone stock with ac/ps. First run got a 1:068 2) 1:072 3) 1:025 4) 0:589 5) 0:585.

There was also an FM2 turbo miata driven by the national champion in (?) class and his best time was 0:45 with slicks and a passenger. Overall it was a very positive experience and the tarmac was A++ being part of an airstrip ... very smooth and grippy. There were 3 karts running and those were nuts to watch. Also a completely (like freaking everything!) gutted BMW M3 with an LS1 motor and wide slicks, among others like a few formula modified cars, which were basically 2.0 4 banger F1 cars with 200 hp and 1000lbs! :eek4: :bowdown:

Now, more than ever, i cannot wait to get my turbo miata up and going. :bigtu:

be prepared to spin!

Funny I've only ever spun my car completely once, of course it was my first event running the turbo. But it had nothing to do with the extra power, well not directly anyway. Lifting mid corner is bad m'kay. Throttle oversteer on a Miata is pretty easy to control.

I spin it all the time autoxing cause I'm trying to go balls-to-the-walls. Both NA and FI. On the track however I never lose traction, brakes maybe, but not tires.

Be warned... I wish I had another almost stock miata to run in STS2. It really was just more fun. Autoxing a turbo miata with street tires and a VLSD is plagued by one tire fires out of every corner. Also, I was very competitve in STS2, whereas in SM2, my car is ridiculously underprepped.

Maybe I'll have more fun when I get a proper LSD and some slicks.

STS2 FTMFW :)...I'm going to stay there a while if I can find a header, at least until I can get another motor to build...and all of my turbo parts together.

I'm not out there to be competitive, so I dont really care what class I run and how well/bad I do.

That is why I have 2 Miatas. One to autocross in ES (competitive), and one to play with (fun).

So what do you think a 6 PSI Miata with T1Rs (205/45/16) with no LSD would be like? Licence to spin?

DB

Actually, the open diff will help you not to spin since one tire won't have power and lose traction. You will do many corner exits with one tire smoking though.

A big front sway bar will go a long way. It may also help to remove the rear sway bar to allow both rear tires to stay planted.

Got the FM sway in both front and back - with both set on the middle hole and adjustable endlinks on the back (I ripped the rubber bushings out of the OEM ones). You are suggesting to soften the back? BTW - I have never really worked on setting up the car so am a complete NU-BIE when it comes to that side of things.

Thanks for any advice!

DB

common autocross occurrance in a turbo miata

http://www.driftbasic.com/events/Dday/img_8657.jpg

I'd definately bias your setup towards stiffer in the front. The FM springs I feel are already a little biased to the rear. I'd set the swaybars to full stiff in front and full soft in rear.

pull the rear bar, or go back to OEM in the rear. You'll feel much happier you did. I felt so happy I gave my rear bar away.

i always get lost in the see of cones oh well if i have someone with me who knows where we are going i do pretty well.

I have helped a friend set up a STS2 1.8 w/ an open diff and we ditched the rear bar and went with a RB 1 1/8 hollow front. The car has 650# front and 450# rear springs and is very neutral. The rear tires stay planted better than my R package w/ a torsen with that setup. A well setup car doesn't need a rear sway bar. Go back to the OEM bar if you have too much understeer with no bar, but there is no need for a larger than stock rear bar on a miata unless you are trying to drift.

Not bad for your 1st time driving. The sea of cones gets better. You were faster at the end than the beginning, thats all that matters the first few times out.

i still perfer a real road cuorse ot bad that is so damn expensive.

I have already given some thought to my turbo setup as far as handling goes, and already have installed a FM front swaybar, and have KYB adjustables. Im leaning toward the cheapo ebay coilovers and nice nice rubber to finish off my suspension. After that, probably gonna lay off the mods for awhile. Ill be running a 90' open differential which I have heard are a bit stronger than the those made later on. I sure hope so.

I doubt there is truth to it, but you'll be fine.