Guardiola

iTrader: (1)

Hello turbo peoples

My name is Ben. I own a 2003 LS with 75k miles.
I am married and have a new baby at home. My awesome wife had the idea to set aside a "car fund" just for upgrades and entry fees. So I am collecting suspension parts and saving up for a nice coilover system and rollbar.
I know it must sound strange, but this is my first car. In the past I have always owned trucks and jeeps. I bought the car two summers ago to have something fun to drive to work.

I was involved in rock crawling for many years before I moved to the city. Since there are no places to go rock crawling, I have made the switch to Autocross. It is a fun transition from heavy and slow (a good thing on the rocks) to light and fast.

I recently joined the Tarheel Sports Car Club for Autocross, and some track days. I will make the leap to turbo-goodness once I learn to drive with stock power.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like fun. Post some pics!

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

We've got some members in NC that can help you find the track crowd. Once you go track you never go back.

Guardiola

iTrader: (1)

I am really itching to get out to VIR. It is so close, but I know I can't do track days until I get a roll bar. Coilovers are just higher on my priority list at the moment.

Would be great to get some seat time with someone local that has done some mods.

I will see if I can get some pics of the car up this weekend.

ScottyP3821

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to miataturbo.net! Your a lucky man. Wife that lets you have car funds.

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

Once you get relatively quick at the track (relatively means significantly slower than competitive) , that rollbar will seem like a higher priority.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

Thanks for joining, Guardiola!

FatKao

There are at least 3, maybe 4 if he posts on this forum as well, other Tarheel members floating around on here. Our VIR event is in April, start saving up that roll bar money. (Tarheel gets a discount on Hard Dog bars as well)

e:
Were you the new member who showed up to tonight's meeting? I think he had a Miata.

Guardiola

iTrader: (1)

I was the guy sitting in the very back. Didn't sign in or anything.
I will have to call HD then and get myself moving. Maybe the suspension can wait after all.

I got an aggressive alignment over at the Digital Chassis and broke a ball joint "testing" it

Benchmark told me I had a tie-rod going bad too, and that I might as well go full-blown and do the coil-overs while I had it apart. So I've been saving for ball joints, tie-rod ends, RB sway, 949 endlinks, and Ohlins DFV.
I have the money for everything but the Ohlins ready. I would jump on Xida, but I am getting the Ohlins for less than the Xida.

Need some love from the club to help me fix the thing. Just need someone to babysit, make sure I don't hurt the car... or myself >.>;

Guardiola

iTrader: (1)

Update on the suspension.
Got the bad popping creaking noise fixed for a grand total of $0.

The Ohlins deal I had fell through, so I sprung for the RB sway and 949 endlinks from Emilio (should have them on Friday). I also ordered some new boots for everything since they were looking shabby. I even have enough left in the fund for the roll bar too.

I called Bethania and they told me they don't give a discount to THSCC. They said they can help with shipping, but I think I am close enough to go pick it up. Just trying to decide between the M2HC or M2HCHT. Going double diagonal with either. Looks like I might make VIR in April after all.

asmasm

iTrader: (1)

This year's auto-x schedule is going to be NCCAR heavy but the circuit-x events are super fun and very much worth the drive.

A few of the miata guys in the club are moving from CSP cars to building PTE cars so you should have company for both auto-x and track events.

Dunning Kruger Affect

The drive out there isn't too bad, I picked up mine in a Ford Focus.