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Old 10-22-2011, 07:03 PM
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Default Side Mirrors

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?
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Old 10-22-2011, 07:16 PM
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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
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Old 10-22-2011, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by ThePass
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.
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Old 10-22-2011, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by ThePass
All that said, you don't need your side mirrors for the track - just the rearview, so it shouldn't matter.
-Ryan

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.
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Old 10-22-2011, 08:31 PM
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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.
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Old 10-22-2011, 10:23 PM
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slickauto.com has what you want bro. Rad speeds..
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Old 10-23-2011, 01:27 AM
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Originally Posted by ThePass

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
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?
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Old 10-23-2011, 02:39 AM
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Guess I should have mentioned that I have convex mirrors inside of the car.... so the side ones are redundant.
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Old 10-23-2011, 03:09 AM
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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
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Old 10-23-2011, 03:10 AM
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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?
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Old 10-23-2011, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
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?
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.
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Old 10-23-2011, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by TURNS101
slickauto.com has what you want bro. Rad speeds..
That's the APR mirrors.
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Old 10-23-2011, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by spoolin2bars
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?
Can you post a link to a set of the plastics ones? There are a ton of mirrors for sale on ebay.

Track: Back straight at VIR in VA.
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Old 10-23-2011, 10:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
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?
There are other cars on track capable of the same and greater speeds. Kinda nice to know where they are coming into a brake zone.

With good aero, the Miata it's not that unstable at high speeds. Better than I would have thought.

Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
Maybe you could modify the stock unit to not fold back?

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.
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Old 10-23-2011, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Gearhead_318
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
Because we sometimes share the track with a Radical SR4, retired 430GTs, and other general six-figure racecars that rape. Also, the RB bumper made my car stable above 140mph, I've never been north of 158mph or so.
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Old 10-23-2011, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by fourwhls
Can you post a link to a set of the plastics ones? There are a ton of mirrors for sale on ebay.

Track: Back straight at VIR in VA.
oh really? nice! i love VIR. i'm gonna try and make it out next spring. i was hitting about 135mph but only running 10psi back then. (215whp) i wanna try it @ 15psi (252whp) plus all the other mods i've done since 2008 i've been running 6-8 sec. faster this year at regional tracks. If i could knock even 4 or 5 seconds off my VIR full best lap, (2:17.xx) i'd be stoked. i was only able to take about a dozen laps due to offs, wrecks, (not me) and sharing the weekend with 3 race series and the time attack i was in. that kinda sucked.

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; 10-23-2011 at 05:14 PM.
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Old 10-23-2011, 06:46 PM
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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
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Old 10-24-2011, 07:43 PM
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30 Minute epoxy in the seams? Not that elegant but why spend money on mirrors you don't really need anyway.

I think my best around VIR is in the 2:38 range (N/A & street tires)
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Old 10-24-2011, 08:22 PM
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Stupid simple solution....

Tighten the 10mm nut on the driver's side and 8mm nut on the passenger's side.

Done!

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Old 10-25-2011, 12:02 AM
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good solution? yes?
Attached Thumbnails Side Mirrors-32246200096_large.jpg   Side Mirrors-32246200094_large.jpg  
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