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track crew: were / are you afraid of your car on the track?

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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 11:04 PM
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Default track crew: were / are you afraid of your car on the track?

I've had the "more driver than car" scenario for a while (according to 3rd party observation) and never had it the other way around. I've never had to worry about throttle control on a 90whp car.

I'm kinda nervous about getting out on the track in a higher hp car whenever the car gets together.

there's not much of a penalty for looping a 90whp car, where the kind of speeds a 250whp will generate can end in disaster. I've never looped or gone 4 off in the 60-something sessions I've run.

Any thoughts?
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 11:15 PM
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You just have to respect the power. No more being belligerent with your right foot; you have to slowly feed the power in and experiment with how much the back end can take in each corner. As a rule of thumb, I will not use WOT in 2nd unless I am DEAD straight, and I have to roll into WOT in 3rd.

Start by changing every 2nd gear corner on your local track into a 3rd gear corner, and that will get you started.
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 11:31 PM
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yeah I've been either full throttle or full brake exclusively at the track. I have one more NA track day next week.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 01:33 AM
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If you've done 60 sessions you'll be fine. Just take it easy at first, I'm sure you'll catch on. Just back off if you smell your brakes.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 07:56 AM
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If your tires and suspension are good you should be able to feel it out rather well i find sometimes my **** does overwhelm me though. This can be good and it can be bad to date it hasn't been very bad but it has come close a few times. Respect and good reflexes/experience are very good things to have in a high hp miata.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by magnamx-5
If your tires and suspension are good you should be able to feel it out rather well i find sometimes my **** does overwhelm me though. This can be good and it can be bad to date it hasn't been very bad but it has come close a few times. Respect and good reflexes/experience are very good things to have in a high hp miata.
well I've been driving on street tires the whole time...now that I need 15" track wheels for the brakes, I'll have r-comps too. I guess I'll just baby it, and hopefully if anything goes to ****, it will be in a low-speed corner.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 09:31 AM
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like Sav says with the throttle, it will need the same kind of modulation you've been giving the brake. You may also need to adjust your line to compensate for increased speed in some sections of the track. It doesn't take a large power increase to cause a line change. I went from a stock miata to a viper and felt like I had it under control and was driving hard in two laps with special consideration to braking points and throttle application (line wasn't a big issue at this track).
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 11:09 AM
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hustler, if you're running <250 rwhp, you're not going to kill yourself. it's just not enough power to get into trouble in a miata. I mean ANY power is but realistically, you have some experience. you'll know after turn one. just remember, the throttle is not a binary switch.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 02:28 PM
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after two laps you'll be one with the car again.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 02:45 PM
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hustler is afraid of his own vagina.
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 02:49 PM
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hustler -

short for: Pregnant women, Breastfeeding mothers, Menstruating women, Women on menopause, children, old people, and animals.

animals, old people, and childern can't read, so i guess that makes you a bitch!
Old Sep 29, 2007 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Braineack
hustler -

short for: Pregnant women, Breastfeeding mothers, Menstruating women, Women on menopause, children, old people, and animals.

animals, old people, and childern can't read, so i guess that makes you a bitch!
I'll take "children and animals" for 500, Alex.
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 12:48 PM
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with appx 60 session under your belt you have nothing to worry about, common sense is your friend
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by whaaamx5
with appx 60 session under your belt you have nothing to worry about, common sense is your friend
I'm tired of shitting on the FWDs, mustangs, gtos, and all that crap. Once I can get into the STI's, Evo's, and vettes then I'll probably have more confidence. I'm just bored all the time out there now. Turbo build time is now.
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 01:08 PM
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damn, look at those skinnies on there:
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 01:43 PM
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my first track day ever was at 170rwhp with insuffient brakes/tires. I was told to go into hdpeII my next trackday.
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 01:52 PM
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Get some good track pads, even for the BBK. You won't regret it.

Also,

Originally Posted by y8s
hustler, if you're running <250 rwhp, you're not going to kill yourself. it's just not enough power to get into trouble in a miata. I mean ANY power is but realistically, you have some experience. you'll know after turn one. just remember, the throttle is not a binary switch.
You can get into a LOT of trouble even with just 200whp. I scared the crap out of an instructor at Thunderhill after going through turn 2 and catching two completely separate 4th gear slides, both throttle-induced. I would throw the keys to a stock Miata to just about anyone for a track day; a 200whp Miata is a serious machine, and 250whp Miata can be scary fast.
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
Get some good track pads, even for the BBK. You won't regret it.

Also,



You can get into a LOT of trouble even with just 200whp. I scared the crap out of an instructor at Thunderhill after going through turn 2 and catching two completely separate 4th gear slides, both throttle-induced. I would throw the keys to a stock Miata to just about anyone for a track day; a 200whp Miata is a serious machine, and 250whp Miata can be scary fast.
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by hustler
I'm tired of shitting on the FWDs, mustangs, gtos, and all that crap. Once I can get into the STI's, Evo's, and vettes then I'll probably have more confidence. I'm just bored all the time out there now. Turbo build time is now.
i feel your pain, i've been wanting mine yesterday...
im close though...few more things and its of for proper tuning...all i really need is 550's and WB and then the fabricating...which in my opinion is the easy part...:gay:
good luck to you
Old Oct 1, 2007 | 02:10 PM
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Dude you think too much.

Turbo NA > all others
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