my first track day was insanely fun
 

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Obviously I got faster and faster with each session. I turned 1:41 track times...almost identical to 2 2006 boxsters. I had one session where 8 of 10 laps were constant battles with both porsches. 96whp ftw!

I'm totally hooked now, or course. I pretty much destroyed the slew of turbo neons and blown cobalts. I was also surprised to pass up a coupe mustang GT's. I knew miatas were strong on this track but I had no clue they were this strong. I was on shitty kumho 711's in 44* weather too.

Nice

I speculate that 230whp in this car would be ridiculously fast.

yes, but also much more demanding to drive. no more flooring it without worrying.

yeah. It was really nice to be able to stomp on the throttle and not worry about all hell breaking loose.

I took a highway onramp accelerating WOT around a couple of corners, one in 2nd, one in 3rd. Once I was on the highway, I said to my friend in the passenger seat,

"Cool, I can do that WOT with the new tires."

His reply:

"That's a problem."

:)

yeah, i thought i missed being able to do that in autox situations. but now that i have a real LSD, it is much more fun than N/A. today was a blast.

on the last couple sessions I started to learn a faster line, and managed to break the inside rear tire loose in 3rd gear...obviously my vlsd is dead but I was proud of hustling that 96whp beast in 3rd gear, and overdriving the diff.

230whp is fast and fun. And if you cant max out NA HP then you got the wrong suspension sounds like you are set up pretty well though alot of driving the car is setting it so you can run your line and feel interact with the car better. Great job hustler.

I'm so happy I payed the extra $50 to get my car cornered with the last aggressive alignment. The car was very easy to control, and drifted evenly out of corners. The suspension was predictable enough that I was trailbraking out of 4th gear (75-80mph) on the second session.

Knowing the car pays off with one ness of horse and rider. :bigtu:

Its really awsome that you got out there and nothing on the car broke! I'm really looking forward to the track one day. Good to hear you had so much fun your first time out.

Wow. I hope you happy with yourself destroying and classic BRG miata like that.

No for real. Good for you. I cant wait till the season opens up here.

Track driving is fun, isn't it!

I remember my first track day a year ago this weekend I was taking cobras out and I was all stock baby :D.....that is until they got on the front straight and i topped out at like 110 haha

:sadwavey:

track days are great. esp in a stock miata or one with R compounds. even on tight tracks you probably dont need 2nd or 1st, you just sail around corners.

a miata with stock power can beat up on all sorts of faster cars.

:bigtu: :bigtu: :bigtu:

Guess the 144k miles wasn't a problem. Very cool, sounds like you had great fun.

Which track were u at? I wish we had something like that round here. Gotta go down south this summer to get some real tracking.

Sounds like you had a good time. Iwhs I could have come, but the car still isn't running due to a damn fuel leak... Anywho, maybe next time.
-Michael-

Hallett

bet that dent slowed you down though

I can't wait unitll our first track day, it's still 5 or 6 weeks away though.

fuck yeah it did.

Adrenaline is addictive.

Sweet dude

Nah, the dent makes you go faster; like dimples on a golf ball. :D

.......or speed holes.

This shit opens my eyes.

Me: :eek4:

Definitely need to ditch the turbo project and put that cash towards track events. Right? ;)

I'm going to start with the 1.8, rear end, and brake swap. I have money to play with right now, that I won't have when I get a new job that makes me local while incurring a pay-cut. I also would like to get a truck and trailer to pull the miata to the track. I can't decide what to do.

Awesome man, its just autocross for me this season until the Riverside Motorsports Park is built next year or something ... ill be a 20 minute drive from it. I went to my first autocross this season and the second one ever and had a great time, but im jealous and want to go on an open track.

I didn't do the truck and trailer thing until after I completed my first full year of showroom stock racing. And yes, I crashed at my first race (tire exploded) and broke a tie rod, which left me looking for a way to get the car home. It worked out- worst case you just pay a tow truck. Just depends on where you want to (or can) spend the dough.

I autocrossed for three years before doing an open and track event. After that I was hooked. Autocross soon fell by the way side - just couldn't match the fun factor. But I still say autocross is far more difficult than road racing. Definitely focuses more on the driver than the equipment- primarily because you don't have the long straights to let the engine run away from the competition (not that power doesn't help in autocross).

For me it was dedicating an entire day for about 6 minutes of "fun". I also could care less about the competition aspect.. and that seems to be the drive for autoXrs. HPDEs and open track days are just so much more rewarding to me as a wrencher and driver.

I agree. I loved going out there for 15 minute sessions and "picking fights" and running away from cars that literally cost 20x more than what my miata is worth. Where the auto-x may take a better driver to be competitive, the road course is a thrill. I auto-x'd my old turbo vw a few times, and never had this kind of thrill like I did running from that porsche, and eating up those mustang's.

or increase both funds ;)

can't wait to get mne back on the track!

+1 on the increased seat time for a track day vs. an auto-x. Not bashing auto-x as it is really fun, challenging, and hones your skills. But the longer times on the road course, other cars on the track as well, and no need to 'work' when not on the track is pretty darn sweet.