Side Mirrors
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 447
Total Cats: 17
From: Suffolk, VA
I finally got my beast on the track a few weeks ago and quickly found out that the early NA mirrors just don't work at 168mph. The fold down at about 135mph.
Sooooo....
I could just put a set of 94+ mirrors, but I'm contemplating other options.
Either a set of formula car mirrors or some aftermarket replacement motorcycle mirrors.
Has anybody tried either with any success?
Sooooo....
I could just put a set of 94+ mirrors, but I'm contemplating other options.
Either a set of formula car mirrors or some aftermarket replacement motorcycle mirrors.
Has anybody tried either with any success?
All the motorcycle mirrors I've seen have stalks that are way too long to work on a car.
APR makes nice carbon fiber F1 style mirrors
I got a cheap set of F1 mirrors off ebay - they were supposed to be universal but came with a triangular baseplate instead of the simple two-hole universal plate that they had shown in the pic on their auction. I fiberglassed a new baseplate for them. They work great.
All that said, you don't need your side mirrors for the track - just the rearview, so it shouldn't matter. I'm probably going to take my passenger one off for aero.
-Ryan
APR makes nice carbon fiber F1 style mirrors
I got a cheap set of F1 mirrors off ebay - they were supposed to be universal but came with a triangular baseplate instead of the simple two-hole universal plate that they had shown in the pic on their auction. I fiberglassed a new baseplate for them. They work great.
All that said, you don't need your side mirrors for the track - just the rearview, so it shouldn't matter. I'm probably going to take my passenger one off for aero.
-Ryan
I have used my side mirrors to avoid dive-bombing Miatas passing me without a point before. Saved me at least one side-swipe collision. Now if I had a Wink panel mirror or something for a rearview, then I'd agree with you, but I was using a stock Civic mirror.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 447
Total Cats: 17
From: Suffolk, VA
I know I don't use them a lot, but I do use them and I'm not giving them up.
I found the APR F1 mirrors, but I'm not going to spend that kind of money.
I may order a set of sport bike mirrors off ebay and give them a shot.
Are yours manual mirrors? Take them out and find a different way to bolt them to the base. They use a spring. U might even be able to just up the tension, or hard mount them without a spring.
You don't use side mirrors? So you just say **** it, if someone dive bombs me I won't see it coming, so it'll be okay?
Guess I should have mentioned that I have convex mirrors inside of the car.... so the side ones are redundant.
If your going 168 mph in a Miata, which if I understand correctly is fairly unstable at really high speed, why are you looking in the rear view mirrors?
Maybe you could modify the stock unit to not fold back? Or maybe a MX-6 mirror?
http://market.autopartsfair.com/mazd...ign=mx_6mirror
Maybe you could modify the stock unit to not fold back? Or maybe a MX-6 mirror?
http://market.autopartsfair.com/mazd...ign=mx_6mirror
You can find mirrors just like the APR's on ebay. I have 2 pairs of abs plastic and. 1 pr in carbon. The plastic were even direct bolt on. All under $100. What track were you hitting those speeds on?
It is ALWAYS good practice to check your rearview coming into a braking zone. Great way to see if the guy behind you is trying to be a hero and blew it, or if they exploded a brake line or something. Or, less dramatically, if somehow you've become "that guy" who blasts off down the straight while you're holding up an Elise or something in the corners and need to give a point-by. On track you should be aware of what's happening 360* around you all the time, doesn't matter how fast you're going.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 447
Total Cats: 17
From: Suffolk, VA
With good aero, the Miata it's not that unstable at high speeds. Better than I would have thought.
I do need to pull my mirrors apart and see if I can tighten them up. Definitely something to look at before I buy anything.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
From: Republic of Dallas
If your going 168 mph in a Miata, which if I understand correctly is fairly unstable at really high speed, why are you looking in the rear view mirrors?
Maybe you could modify the stock unit to not fold back? Or maybe a MX-6 mirror?
http://market.autopartsfair.com/mazd...ign=mx_6mirror
Maybe you could modify the stock unit to not fold back? Or maybe a MX-6 mirror?
http://market.autopartsfair.com/mazd...ign=mx_6mirror
enough thread jackin', the mirrors. here's the carbon fiber ones i have:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/F1-CARBON-FI...sories&vxp=mtr
and these are the exact mirrors i have in plastic, but these are in carbon. these bolt directly to the car without modification. maybe the ebay store has the abs plastic ones available?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-F1-STYLE...sories&vxp=mtr
i painted the chrome parts blk. on mine.
Last edited by spoolin2bars; Oct 23, 2011 at 05:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 447
Total Cats: 17
From: Suffolk, VA
Your ebay links have expired, but I was able to search and find the mirrors.
Thanks!
I also found another option at Pegasus: https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pr...p?Product=5115
As for VIR...
I was doing high 2:14s when SC'd at 225 rwhp on 225 RA1s. My fast lap last weekend during my one and only full session was 2:06.9 at 375 rwhp on 10in Avon slicks. I'm sure there is very low 2min in the car and maybe even sub 2min with a "real" driver.
I guess I'll find out next spring after I spend the winter rebuilding my engine
Thanks!
I also found another option at Pegasus: https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pr...p?Product=5115
As for VIR...
I was doing high 2:14s when SC'd at 225 rwhp on 225 RA1s. My fast lap last weekend during my one and only full session was 2:06.9 at 375 rwhp on 10in Avon slicks. I'm sure there is very low 2min in the car and maybe even sub 2min with a "real" driver.
I guess I'll find out next spring after I spend the winter rebuilding my engine









