My 2019 Miata

[DocWalt]

I had an actually prepped for autocross once... Since I miss having my own competitive car I'm building a car for 2019 (and beyond, hopefully)

https://i.postimg.cc/N0QDCmpP/image.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ti7UNac.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1UnPtKT.jpg

I've got a ton of parts sitting here to build a new car for next year :)
I'll add pics of the car at some point....

https://i.imgur.com/hhauNs9.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6fqE1sv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/39WYyLf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DqOKupm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1OkzRcQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/a50cW5o.jpg

[DocWalt]

More fun stuff arrived.

https://i.imgur.com/YGiSuTw.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/EG9CEWl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LP2DQeF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6VgF73n.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/FPHPvYe.jpg

I set up the perches on the coilovers for stock springs and street class legality

https://i.postimg.cc/MTzJ8Qrp/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/85p9YVjF/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

https://i.postimg.cc/BvNgrbzZ/image.jpg

More prep work and purchases...

https://i.imgur.com/MEL4WaE.jpg

Quite messy drilling them out for the fat shafts on the MCS shocks :)

https://i.imgur.com/q2DGLT9.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KXP1vYp.jpg

Picked up some 17x7 ET38 PF01s. Far from my favorite wheel but light and they fit over Brembos on the ND

https://i.imgur.com/b8reeLl.jpg

225/45-17 RE-71Rs ready to go when I kill those BFGs...

https://i.imgur.com/6wrFzlG.jpg

oh and some 225/45-17 nexens too :p BBS wheels need to go back to the owner though.

https://i.imgur.com/mmtfKR6.jpg

I'm likely going to pick up some 16x7 wheels and downsize tires to a 205/50-16 or maybe 215/45-16 if I'm feeling really adventurous :)

An exhaust came with the wheels/tires, but it's filthy and I need to clean it up before showing that off :devilsmile:

[DocWalt]

I'm in love with the color, too bad it's all gray and crappy today, it's kinda just "ok" in this light.

GT350 is gone, and yes it's the 181hp engine.

Some quick driving impressions:

The Recaros are terrific. Even at my height, 6'4", I fit well. Not touching the roof and plenty of room to heel-toe. I could not heel-toe in the ND1s I drove, so the telescoping wheel is a huge step forward.

Having never street driven an ND (only driven them at autocross) I'm not super impressed by the ride quality considering how soft it is. I think part of that is the crummy tires Mazda stuck on the ND. I also have a vibration at ~45 mph that feels like an out of balance wheel/tire, so I'll get that looked at. Maybe just flat spotted tires from sitting in the cold. It'll have new tires on it in the spring anyway for autocross.

Super smooth drivetrain and the engine feels really nicely weighted for a street car. Revs quickly and the revs drop quickly but not too quickly. My car definitely does NOT have the shift assist feature that was discussed previously, so it should drive really nicely on track.

Trans feels pretty slick and well connected. When it's cold the side to side movement feels slightly gooey, like you're pushing through a thick fluid, likely because you are

Brembo brakes... Well, they're good around town. I know what they feel like with stock pads at autocross and such and I'll be replacing the pads in the spring, I bet.

Engine noise is pretty nice Makes good noise on startup, driving around it doesn't make much noise at all, for better or worse. I'm still breaking it in, so no high revs yet. I've got a Goodwin race axleback to go on the car soon.

The Recaro seats are super nice. I've had Recaros in my prior few cars and these just feel nicer. They fit my wide hips better than my GT350 & Focus RS did, but they still hold me really well. Tough to tell full comfort levels with a winter jacket on, but they feel really nice. I'm really tall and cranked the leg support all the way up and it made a big difference for me. Before that I felt like I was somehow sliding forward even though I was not.

This is my first convertible so I threw the top down and drove home in the freezing temps last night. Heated seats on, heat turned up like 2/3rds, and I just enjoyed the drive. Fun experience :)

https://i.imgur.com/SQSpgTD.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6UZSbSH.jpg

[DocWalt]

A little more feedback on the car...

The infotainment system is really nice. Responsive and the general flow of the system makes sense 95% of the time. I'm a stickler for HMI stuff, so the fact that I don't have any serious complaints so far is good. I really like the album art feature, even if that's slightly silly.

The radio reception is pretty solid, though when it transfers between HD and non HD on the same station it is very audible, my Focus RS was more seamless and not as noticeable, for better or worse. I know the less seamless transition is technically more "correct" audio quality wise, but the non-HD should have had some EQ tweaking behind the scenes or something. Nitpicking this a bit, my BRZ was much worse at this.

Syncing a phone was easy, just as it should be. Haven't used it to make a call yet, but text messages are received instantly which is nice.

With a bit more miles, I'm learning to like the bottom hinged throttle a little more. Heel-toe is easy and requires only tiny blips. The engine is really free-revving and I love it. For a street car, I think Mazda nailed it.

My favorite thing so far is the control weighting just feels "right". Everything feels nice and nothing has an "odd" control weight that stands out to me. I drove a 981 Cayman GTS a few months back and it was really disappointing to me because the brakes were soft, the throttle was stiff, the steering was oddly heavy, the shifter felt dainty, etc.

https://i.imgur.com/Dqiq6aF.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GC8tHTwqfM

Doing some set up work on the data logger :)

I broke 100 miles today so I did a few pulls to redline. Felt way more solid than the ND1s I've driven, especially up top. Very noticeable difference.

When I got home I installed the GWR race exhaust, I was tired of how boring the stock exhaust was. I didn't expect any difference as I mentioned above, but it definitely makes more power. Feels even more solid up top and smoother everywhere somehow.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xal_A3TVwpM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hkOvp3X5Fk

[B-Man]

Is all that CS legal?

[DocWalt]

Is all that CS legal?

Yup! I'll be prepped pretty much at the limit of the rules, but that's good :)

My plan was to be ready for doing STR in 2020 or whenever the car is classed in street touring

[anyonebutme]

no torrington bearings on the springs?

[95gto]

Since picking on the drop in power would be too easy I will focus my critiques elsewhere....Mazda should have used a thicker steering wheel on these cars. The thin wheel seemed to detract from sportiness the rest of the package exudes.

[DocWalt]

no torrington bearings on the springs?

Not allowed in CS. I'll do it for STR+


Since picking on the drop in power would be too easy I will focus my critiques elsewhere....Mazda should have used a thicker steering wheel on these cars. The thin wheel seemed to detract from sportiness the rest of the package exudes.

Agreed, it's a bit thin and the material feels kinda not quality. That said, the material used on the GT350 wheels was pathetic as well. Why can't manufacturers use whatever the heck they made old leather wheels from?

[95gto]

Not allowed in CS. I'll do it for STR+



Agreed, it's a bit thin and the material feels kinda not quality. That said, the material used on the GT350 wheels was pathetic as well. Why can't manufacturers use whatever the heck they made old leather wheels from?

My GTI steering wheel is the best factory wheel I have had, I even like it better than my Evo VIII Momo wheel in my 3/S.

[DocWalt]

I like my GTI's wheel too. It's gigantic by modern standards but it's made of super tough leather and it just feels like quality. This modern crap is easy to scuff.

[j2k4]

So, Doc - your car exudes, huh? :biggrin:

[DocWalt]

It's fun to drive around with the top down like an idiot in the freezing temps here :)

[DocWalt]

I installed the rear MCS shocks last night. Noticeably better ride quality than the Bilsteins, but that wasn't the point. :)

I expected an increase in ride height with the higher gas pressures and fat shock shafts, but thankfully it's not noticeable over the Bilsteins.

https://i.imgur.com/Zw4XvQA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/eftkDvz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mDOeluf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/FBfTYcH.jpg

Unfortunately, no events until next year. :( Likely debuting at the Charlotte Champ Tour (perfect place to debut a new car is a national event, right? :) )

Installed the Karcepts front swaybar & finished up the MCS install today

Started the day with taking a cutoff wheel to a brand new car...

https://i.imgur.com/0Tl4hFQ.jpg

I was way too excited about the zerk fittings, I hate having to take stuff apart to lube it and this is awesome!

https://i.imgur.com/ycnipnF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RSw4zn4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/r3J9T95.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9bdphd5.jpg

A little throwback for the NA fans :)

https://i.imgur.com/Iv05Zhj.jpg

[DocWalt]

https://i.imgur.com/xdaVyOj.jpg

Final ride heights. 14-3/8" front and 14-3/4" rear. Maybe slightly higher than stock (1/8" or so?) but well worth being on WAY better shocks.

[j2k4]

Guy who works for me has an MX3.

It exuded when I walked past it the other day - I was almost overcome, barely made it to my vehicle. :rolleyes:

[DocWalt]

MX3 with v6 is one of the cars I have always wanted... Total POS but neat

[DocWalt]

Went for a really fun drive, took some pics:

https://i.imgur.com/jAk9eSf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nTZnzBK.jpg

I went home and washed my car. Sealed the paint with jetseal and the ppf with xpel sealant. Stupid shiny :) Did some 303 fabric protector on the top too. Reconfirmed my great dislike of detailing though, not helped by finishing in the dark.

https://i.imgur.com/sKdRD6M.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qQTt8ru.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/kFFTAA3.jpg

[Maximal]

Following this build for sure and looking forward to when you get it to an event.

I'm super happy with our Mazda DDs (6 and CX9) and if I had a bit extra money, and could get something reasonable for the Stealth, an ND would be in my garage.

[stealthee]

It's a ghost. :p

[DocWalt]

Wow, it is a ghost!

The ND is such a blast, Mazda is killing it recently with good products across the lineup. I'm really excited for SkyActiv-X, seems like a logical next step in keeping the ICE around longer.

Greg E has an ND (or two?!?), he loves his too.

[Maximal]

Yeah, trying to get motivated to actually do something with my car so figured I'd jump on here...sucks this place seems dead. :(

But yeah, I've heard a ton of good things about the ND and am completely sold on Mazda in general. I'm thinking about replacing my 6 with something this spring but Mazda has some many solid options (6, CX-5, new 3) that it's going to be hard to choose. If NY winters didn't suck I'd DD an ND in a heartbeat, it's just tough to spend 25-30k on a fun car at the moment (damn kids).

[DocWalt]

Yeah the Miata is far from practical... I fit in it OK and I'm a big dude, but it's tight and the storage space is hilarious.

[DocWalt]

I whipped up a mount for my RaceCapture Track and tested it out. Not super snug in the cupholder mount, but considering it weighs so little, it works great :)

For anyone doing this you need to swap the X & Y channels on the RaceCapture or it flips the lat/long accel data in SoloStorm which is more than a little confusing.

Here's the STL file: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1mJCq_ri9pm7vSTWIz_AUnu-jzuNofLoa

https://i.imgur.com/LFur34p.png

https://i.imgur.com/cqUIQA6.png

https://i.imgur.com/ay8WEcF.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vQCsmRk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/SMleFWf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/40NWQkN.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/D3Np7v3.jpg

I had two mounts printed and the first one was a little loose but the second one was tight. If anyone gets one of those mounts printed up that isn't snug and wobble free, add some sticky felt as shown.

https://i.imgur.com/x68iOSm.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhBPJj1L1sA

I tested my ND2 straight line for those that care about that... 3.61s 30-60 mph, 2.906s 30-55 mph

Also, went for a drive last night :)

https://i.imgur.com/vf8cIim.jpg

[95gto]

So compared to your BRZ, how fast or slow does the Miata feel? I know it doesn't pack the power of a stock BRZ, let alone one with mods, but is the power difference jarring or negligible?

[DocWalt]

So compared to your BRZ, how fast or slow does the Miata feel? I know it doesn't pack the power of a stock BRZ, let alone one with mods, but is the power difference jarring or negligible?

It's faster straight line than my modded BRZ was with just a muffler on the Miata.

[anyonebutme]

But can you drive it like a total asshole and it still make you look good like the BRZ was able to, lol. What I liked about the BRZ is you can do it wrong but it doesn't really bite you back, like stabbing the brakes mid corner and not ending up eating grass. Related, will the brakes handle track or is it a required upgrade like the BRZ?

[DocWalt]

Brake pads are required upgrade. When I put on race springs and alignment (need front upper arm offset bushings to get over -3 camber) it'll definitely be more nervous than the BRZ was on the limit, but not overly so. Just a much shorter wheel base car... Plenty of rear aero lift too.

Stock springs are 156/100 lbs/in front/rear... I'll likely end up somewhere like 750/350. Motion ratios are as follows:


Front: 0.65 (Min: 0.63; Max: 0.67)
Rears: 0.87 (Min: 0.86; Max: 0.88)

Global MX-5 cup cars (track focused instead of autocross, and with über pimpy DSSV inverted coilovers) are on 600/350 spring rates, for comparison.

FWIW 100% prepped for street class my Miata will likely be faster at autocross than my ~95% prepped for STX BRZ was.

[j2k4]

So - it easily out-exudes the BRZ, then...:biggrin:

[95gto]

It's faster straight line than my modded BRZ was with just a muffler on the Miata.

I would not have expected that, however a quick review of the revised 2019 power to weight ratios would easily suggest the ND has more HP and TQ per pound.

[DocWalt]

So - it easily out-exudes the BRZ, then...:biggrin:

Sure :p


I would not have expected that, however a quick review of the revised 2019 power to weight ratios would easily suggest the ND has more HP and TQ per pound.

Yup! Even the 2016-2018 was quick, stock for stock it was quicker than a Twin, around cones and straight line. Probably track too :p

[anyonebutme]

Just too bad it looks like a Miata, lol. Although the Fiat looks more Miata than a Miata now.

[DocWalt]

Just too bad it looks like a Miata, lol. Although the Fiat looks more Miata than a Miata now.

Honestly, I much prefer the looks of the Fiata...

[B-Man]

:gaytard:

[j2k4]

:gaytard:

Wait - are you saying...

[stealthee]

Honestly, I much prefer the looks of the Fiata...

Funny thing is, I never even knew the "Fiata" existed until about a year ago. I followed my boss over to the Dodge dealer to drop his truck off for a recall issue and saw them on the lot. I scratched my head and asked WTF it was. After looking into it I figured it out. I to this day have NEVER seen one on the road.

[anyonebutme]

Seen at least two here. On paper I figured I'd like the Fiat better with it being turbo and all, but I hear it's the worse of the two.

[DocWalt]

Fiata trans is stronger, the engine is a laggy POS on stock tune but apparently wakes up a LOT with a tune and BPU. They tuned it to be laggy which is stupid. They sound insanely good with an exhaust too, IMO.

Stock for stock no way would I choose the Fiata.

[anyonebutme]

Stock for stock no way would I choose the Fiata.

Have either of us owned a stock anything, ever?

[DocWalt]

Got my Miata aligned the other day. Here's the before:

https://i.imgur.com/kOZd74J.jpg

and then the after:

https://i.imgur.com/HbV3Wih.jpg

On the street I can't tell a difference at all, maybe it tramlines a bit more? Should be way better for autocross though! If I drive really aggressively it will still ride the outside rear bump stop which makes it nicely loose. I may end up trimming the front bump stop a little bit to loosen it up even more, but that will be down the road after an event or two, I think.

Drilled a hole in the silly factory shock tower braces and painted the holes:

https://i.imgur.com/u8VEtcP.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OELxBQW.jpg

Now I can easily get to the adjusters for the front shocks :) I was a little concerned that rushing to adjust them with the knobs would be a pain in the butt, so here we are. I can just drop an 8mm hex driver down the hole and easily adjust now.

https://i.imgur.com/oOx7FAx.jpg

I took advantage of the nice weather today and washed my car, slapped the Karcepts sticker on to thank them for all of their help on this project.

https://i.imgur.com/w3n5lyV.jpg

Slapped the class numbers/letters on to grab a pic or few

https://i.imgur.com/lyrRmYt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8drytot.jpg

I also slapped the front Mazda sticker on. I have two more, one for each rear quarter panel. It was a bit windy today and I didn't feel like messing with the larger stickers.

https://i.imgur.com/kvFOIkT.jpg

[DocWalt]

Put the rear quarter panel contingency stickers on. Shiny :)

https://i.imgur.com/TbUBqPx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1O1B66Y.jpg

[j2k4]

Gonna quit your job and drive pro... :biggrin:

[DocWalt]

Gonna quit your job and drive pro... :biggrin:

I wish...

[DocWalt]

For those ND guys using RaceCapture, I updated my definitions file with fixed brake pressure. I had to write a script to read the CAN message and process it to fix the bizarre thing Mazda did with the value rolling over.

I also rescaled the steering angle to be based on the physical degrees of the wheel, instead of -100/100% value.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RbTzCGrJPPZs30WU5E4Ori00IDsybH_X


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNalVtw_xUc

[DocWalt]

My first event in my ND2 before Charlotte next week. Possibly the bumpiest, grittiest, roughest surface I've ever driven on. A stock Miata shouldn't get wheel spin in the middle of 2nd gear, haha. Effectively useless as a TnT, but I had a lot of fun! I didn't get to use any of the advantages of the ND2 and all of the disadvantages were in play. Oh well.

I was in really good company in PAX at least :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwJTNFY_qm4

The meatier autocross tires really fill out the wheel wells much better

https://i.postimg.cc/4NBPJjwL/7sFyl5O.jpg


Important mileage milestone, haha

https://i.postimg.cc/nLQGGrxg/dqlTpCv.jpg


Gridded up next to a really rare car!

https://i.postimg.cc/nrnKx1mf/fmXovCF.jpg


Got a nice pic of my car behind said Porsche :)

https://i.postimg.cc/FR5gWvsR/VTj4MyG.jpg


PAX results:

https://i.postimg.cc/bv7r1NY6/fQuhIcD.jpg

[j2k4]

Go Pro, young man. ;)

[DocWalt]

I finished 3rd in class at the Charlotte Champ Tour and 15th overall on PAX index. Not a bad result. The car felt REALLY good.

See my videos below:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zJWnGu1pL0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDHefma14m8


My codriver's videos as well (he finished 6th in class on the back of a sloppy day 2 performance after a solid day 1):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTPZqXYnfCE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E02otOIYOIM


My car is currently in pieces ready to go to a body shop however (entirely unrelated to the autocross, thankfully). Unfortunately the entire trip pretty much sucked from start to finish. I'll share more details later.

[anyonebutme]

You took pics of the front and underside, right?

Just another reason I have zero desire to go there. That place is full of retards and cops.

[DocWalt]

I went over to the dragon after Charlotte and met up with a friend and his friend. Some assclowns tore past Killboy store/Deals Gap at 80 mph with the sheriffs there eating lunch witnessing it. We left shortly after to head out. Our first pass together was at a relaxed pace, me having never been there before and all. We caught some morons going slow while using the entire road. One of said morons decided to stop dead after a blind corner to build a gap to the cars ahead and accordion effect and I got smashed into my buddy's car by his friend. The guy behind me had ZERO chance to stop. Hell, I barely stopped before hitting my buddy in the first place... None of us were hurt, it's just an enormous PITA.

Depressing as fuck de-modding a car to go to the body shop. The remote canisters were mounted literally right where the car is all smashed up but didn't get damaged thankfully.

https://i.postimg.cc/FzGBXXMf/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/gcK5Z3xY/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/sDDL91W5/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/YqnsXkNZ/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

You took pics of the front and underside, right?

Just another reason I have zero desire to go there. That place is full of retards and cops.

Cops were cool, no citations for the accident (for us anyway). Retards were not cool.

[anyonebutme]

I really don't get the point of going to a twisty road and then try as hard as you can to straighten it up by running a "line". I see so many people crossing the line for no reason, it makes no sense to me. Not to mention everyone there would get their ass waxed by an older dude on a yellow Gold Wing, lmao. To me it's just too twisted to have fun on, while a few miles south is much better roads that you can hold a decent speed on.

[DocWalt]

We drove those roads first :)

[DocWalt]

https://i.postimg.cc/0jrHD0rg/80823219-MG-0053.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/kX6p5skK/80823220-MG-0505.jpg

[anyonebutme]

You found a codriver taller than you?

[DocWalt]

^^ Nah, codriver is shorter than me, but more upper body apparently.

Finally have the car back and re-prepped it last night

https://i.postimg.cc/fbDyW7HQ/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hGsjXJwz/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/gJ008zFM/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/MTrpYCzz/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

Autocross with NNJR SCCA at MetLife stadium in the Meadowlands. I ran Pro class and finished up a solid 6th overall and 6th in class. The car felt great, but not quite perfect. I might trim the front bumpstops a bit to get a bit better steady state cornering performance.

Here's my run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtiRWaGpqyU

Here's my codriver's run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naIrQxreHr0

[DocWalt]

4th in PAX & 1st in CS for me. My codriver was 9th in PAX & 2nd in CS.

Here's my fastest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQk9vxmqfjc

My last run, really fast besides one really obvious, painful mistake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFF0pozQ39M

My codriver's fastest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GtALkQBOzQ

[j2k4]

You're a driving fool, Doc - your buddy isn't bad either. ;)

That Storm software is pretty slick - don't know why I didn't notice it last time...

[DocWalt]

You're a driving fool, Doc - your buddy isn't bad either. ;)

That Storm software is pretty slick - don't know why I didn't notice it last time...

Thanks Kevin! We're both pretty decent :p

[DocWalt]

I pulled off my first PAX win in the Miata! My codriver, Jon, was 2nd in PAX! Small gap too, only 57 thousandths of a second.

Here's Jon's fastest run:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwFV3fMmzyQ

Here's my fastest clean run:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyHsoWNwU_o

and my fastest dirty run (about four tenths faster and way prettier looking):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q9VrB2ol3k

[DocWalt]

I won C Street at the 2019 Toledo ProSolo and I was also top qualifier for Super Challenge. Weather heavily impacted the event, unfortunately. :(

Here's a playlist of Jon's videos & mine of our fastest runs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyilmbF2Ll5fM8fto76xvG08UNJHERF_T

[j2k4]

Doc can drive in the rain? :huh:

[DocWalt]

yeah I drove in the rain a bunch this event. the weather sucked.

[DocWalt]

1st & 2nd in PAX again today for us.

Here's my run:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8MP3xzA3yw

Here's Jon's run:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeVKy9ZZCxU

[DocWalt]

Philly SCCA ran the Al Holbert Memorial autocross this weekend. I finished up winning my class. I was 2nd in PAX on Saturday and 4th in PAX on Sunday.

Here's my Saturday run (I was a little bit surprised by my time when I finished my run, haha):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w899b3_HLnQ

Here's my Sunday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfVguQYQKhU

My codriver Jon finished 2nd in class after struggling on Saturday, but pushing me hard on Sunday.

Here's Jon's Saturday video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzmTvqx6QdQ

Here's Jon's Sunday video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPgvq8YiPY0

[DocWalt]

Unfortunately not familiar with Harry's or the Emprum, sorry. Wild weather though... and lucky nobody was hurt with the car fire. Runs are looking good!


Today was crazy hot, I saw temps of 105F on the drive home! I finished up 6th in PAX at NNJR today which is a huge achievement for running in first heat with the rest of the fast guys in 3rd heat.

Here's my fastest:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32scSfoQFeM

Jon's fastest (he was faster in places but never put together a solid run):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuYNwsP9IYE

[j2k4]

Philly SCCA ran the Al Holbert Memorial autocross this weekend. I finished up winning my class. I was 2nd in PAX on Saturday and 4th in PAX on Sunday.

Here's my Saturday run (I was a little bit surprised by my time when I finished my run, haha):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w899b3_HLnQ

Here's my Sunday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfVguQYQKhU

My codriver Jon finished 2nd in class after struggling on Saturday, but pushing me hard on Sunday.

Here's Jon's Saturday video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzmTvqx6QdQ

Here's Jon's Sunday video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPgvq8YiPY0

Rockin' that course - found your rhythm right away and kept it. ;)

[j2k4]

Unfortunately not familiar with Harry's or the Emprum, sorry. Wild weather though... and lucky nobody was hurt with the car fire. Runs are looking good!


Today was crazy hot, I saw temps of 105F on the drive home! I finished up 6th in PAX at NNJR today which is a huge achievement for running in first heat with the rest of the fast guys in 3rd heat.

Here's my fastest:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32scSfoQFeM

Jon's fastest (he was faster in places but never put together a solid run):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuYNwsP9IYE

See what you mean about Jon - he's good, but doesn't seem as practiced as you are.

What car fire?

[DocWalt]

See what you mean about Jon - he's good, but doesn't seem as practiced as you are.

What car fire?

copy/paste mistake lol.

Jon has tons of experience, but we've been testing tires and setup stuff and he's not a fan, so we're going back to the old setup.


https://i.postimg.cc/25p5T7RD/image.jpg

[FeaRpb]

zoomzoom

[j2k4]

zoomzoom

Doc has way too much fun.

I fear for his health...

[DocWalt]

https://i.postimg.cc/7LNxqm0T/image.jpg

trailer mods

[j2k4]

A good one, too. ;)

[anyonebutme]

I was going to write some shit talking about trailering a street car to play in parking lots and all that, but really I'd be a hypocrite in some way.

[DocWalt]

Competed at the Oscoda ProSolo this weekend. Pulled off a 1/2 in class with my codriver, Jon :) Car was feeling really good, neither of us really nailed a run we were truly happy with, but Jon really pressured me on Sunday!

Here's my best left side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA9u8uQIVvE

Here's my best right side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqiH9YukWSc


Here's Jon's best left side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ArM3ptbVY

and Jon's best right side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSZb023YbI

[j2k4]

A tribute to video study...nicely done.

[DocWalt]

I helped design the course today on one of our little lots. I drove pretty well, but man the car just wasn't good on this course/surface. Pulled off a 5th in PAX and a tiny margin over Jon.

My fastest run today:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sXFMVgtR10

Jon's fastest run today:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY0QLb9Wzbg

[j2k4]

Sounded like Jon got a LOT more rubber than you did...sure couldn't tell what the problem was from your run. :huh:

[DocWalt]

Won my class at NEPA, 7th in PAX. Car was feeling good before heading off to SCCA Solo National Championships!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDlHRlei_PE

First up was the SCCA ProSolo Finale. I ended up 4th for the year with not my best driving. I put together a really solid run on the left side but had red lit on the tree and that was that. Could have won, but oh well.

Here's a playlist of the ProSolo Finale videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyilmbF2Ll5cytsSsFQlPvbi8wh69dC04

Here's my videos from Solo Nationals in Lincoln, NE. Good for 2nd in CS. Not very happy with my East course run. Those slow 90 degree corners with walls or other pinches on exit sucked. If I never see those again I'll be happy Otherwise the East course was awesome. West course was also a ton of fun, and I drove it much better (slalom was a little sloppy on this run, found ~1.5 tenths on run 3 but blew other stuff by changing setup and making the car too pushy)

East:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBbfC-CVwwU

West:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23yvxRvhs0M

Jon's runs. He struggled with the silly 90 degree corners on East more than me (thanks to him for warning me that they sucked!) and he put together like 95% of a run beating me on West course but ended up overshooting a corner

East:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgCzbDI37wM

West:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9Jv7X2heQ

[j2k4]

Frigging work PC won't render the vids....have to wait to watch. :sad:

[DocWalt]

Tied for 3rd/4th in PAX today... Weird.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0t8IfIAAJQ

Had my buddy Sang codrive too (PrimeAKF11 or something like that on 3S forums)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94mSKdrKQjQ

[DocWalt]

Started my STR build last night after a frustrating Philly autocross where I coned away my only runs that felt "ok" so here's the header install. Suspension later this week, hopefully.

https://i.postimg.cc/DzksJm12/IMG-20190915-172922.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/LXynTsgg/IMG-20190915-175705.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/BQRPktYx/IMG-20190916-082815.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/vmsg8kdT/IMG-20190915-200622.jpg


https://youtu.be/rHY5k644ET8


Video of the Philly SCCA event will come soon too.

[DocWalt]

Sunday I did Philly's event at Warminster. Won my class and 8th in PAX. Coned away a much better result
Clean run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vihKS81AwAY

Dirty run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gek3cA-2UQ

[DocWalt]

STR prep is complete (ish...) There's lightweight brake rotors, a tune, diff bushing inserts, and wheels/tires to come. Wheels/tires coming this week :)

Big thanks to Karcepts for all of the parts and thanks to my brother for taking care of me and getting work done :)

https://i.postimg.cc/5yV2C87D/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/8cmPBsxc/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/05YQqHrv/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/RV8KWD1Y/vHNFQN0.jpg

[DocWalt]

Went for a scenic drive today :)

https://i.postimg.cc/vHqvP3fL/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXxr_0RSwjg

Quite a bit of firewall flex with moderate braking force...

[95gto]

Is there sufficient room to install a brace? I wonder how much the firewall on my 86 flexes when I push hard on the pedal.

[DocWalt]

Is there sufficient room to install a brace? I wonder how much the firewall on my 86 flexes when I push hard on the pedal.

I'm designing a brace, yes.

Do a brace for your 86. I had one. Big improvement IMO. That had similar flex to the ND, go look up Grimmspeed's videos testing their brace.

[DocWalt]

I got my preliminary wheels & tires ready to go for STR. :) Waiting for my 6ULs to show up at some undetermined point in time, haha.

https://i.postimg.cc/kgzsXzxF/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/25WwqGGp/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/W3P70ZYd/image.jpg

Excuse the filthy car, it rained today. :(

[FeaRpb]

You have all the fun

[j2k4]

Yeah, he's been having mine, too.

[DocWalt]

I try anyway :)

[anyonebutme]

I'm designing a brace, yes.

Do a brace for your 86. I had one. Big improvement IMO. That had similar flex to the ND, go look up Grimmspeed's videos testing their brace.

He means real 86.....AE86. So I bet it flexes even more so.

[DocWalt]

He means real 86.....AE86. So I bet it flexes even more so.

oooohhhhh.... yeah, forgot he had that.

[95gto]

He means real 86.....AE86. So I bet it flexes even more so.

When the day comes that I actually start a build on that car I foresee lots of braces being required.

[DocWalt]

I did a shakedown at WDCR yesterday and won PAX. Brian Karwan coned away ~7 tenths, so the finishing order would have been flipped. I did improve while running noncomp and found consistent time, matching my AM times even on a changed course that added 2-3 tenths. I did have a flyer in the PM that was a LOT faster, but +3 (turned in on them like a doofus)

https://i.postimg.cc/ZKYC5yLm/image.png

https://i.postimg.cc/BZ7G2L04/image.png

Even more fun, I had an STR stalwart in Noel Leslie in my car to help me dial it in. With a couple of changes it was magic :)

Noel's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5FQvhPzE3g

My fastest official run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fatb8yzlAM

In the PM, I ran noncomp and made some car changes and it felt even better :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVcUyh1kpLw

[95gto]

Your car always looks like it just eats slaloms

[j2k4]

Hooooooooooseeeeeeel!!!!!!!

That was pretty damned smoove, Doc...:biggrin:

[DocWalt]

BTW Brian Karwan is the 2019 STR national champion. By transitive property and all of that I'm now national champion?!? At least I'm a bench racing extraordinaire :D


Your car always looks like it just eats slaloms

Philly special baby!

Philly region's home site is a runway so we do a lot of slaloms lol


Hooooooooooseeeeeeel!!!!!!!

That was pretty damned smoove, Doc...:biggrin:

Thanks :)

[DocWalt]

I've now run the Karcepts setup for two events and did very well at both. Coned away a half second PAX win yesterday, had to settle for second with my last run being in the damp...

Excuse the lack of audio, water in the mic connector.

My clean run, then my dirty run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrexfdf5ngU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONcuHj_bUfQ

Jon's run, he ended up a couple spots behind me in PAX, but less than a tenth off!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFbLyDaGKCI

[DocWalt]

https://i.imgur.com/RGgcOQ6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/B0ejbkx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sBKS55y.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gv4ubG9.jpg

[anyonebutme]

The pic of you doing a burnout with the starter pointing made me laugh for no reason. "Go forth and slaughter those cones!"

[DocWalt]

The pic of you doing a burnout with the starter pointing made me laugh for no reason. "Go forth and slaughter those cones!"

LOL. The starter in that pic is awesome, he does great poses and he'd totally do that



Went for a nice fall cruise today

https://i.postimg.cc/csjsD7HR/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/pVMPv2Ky/image.jpg


Got home and tore down an ND1 diff that had an OS Giken LSD installed. Reinstalled the stock diff into the ND1 pumpkin. The OS Giken LSD will go into an ND2 pumpkin and then get swapped into my car :)

https://i.postimg.cc/tbKqWz8y/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/npkn8frc/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/MqxzrpWF/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

Man, STR is the best. I pulled off a first in PAX and third in raw, only behind an SM car and a DSP car (both much faster classes that SHOULD be faster than me in raw time)

My fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e68kF1x-jJI

My codriver, Jon's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zuWWW1Yt_o

https://i.postimg.cc/5N7Hvq65/IMG-20191103-163800.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/WbbFhfbb/IMG-20191103-163816.jpg

[95gto]

Your run video would be funny if you bleeped your own celebratory swearing. The run looked really good though.

[j2k4]

Cussing is bad form.

Now I can only watch while wearing ear plugs...:sad:

[anyonebutme]

Almost Nathan levels of flannel there guy........beard next?

[DocWalt]

Your run video would be funny if you bleeped your own celebratory swearing. The run looked really good though.

I was tempted to do that, lol


Cussing is bad form.

Now I can only watch while wearing ear plugs...:sad:

My car sounds like butthole, you aren't missing much


Almost Nathan levels of flannel there guy........beard next?

Wait, you've seen my FB pic, you've seen my facial growth lol

[anyonebutme]

I haven't, but just did. I'm now dead.

[DocWalt]

Built up my ND2 diff with the tweaked OS Giken diff :)

https://i.postimg.cc/rwzNr6Xf/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/3x6CjL3Y/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

Swapped to an OS Giken diff :) Bit under 4 hours of work time, mostly by myself. Had my dad help with the jack while I was dropping and reinstalling the subframe.

https://i.postimg.cc/TPXWtdtZ/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/hGbQwkwh/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/NMs2wNqD/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/j5MwqzRb/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

Installed the Aurora Auto Designs lowering rails on my Recaros. Quite a job... but well worth it, now I can wear a helmet and fit under the roof and I'm 6'4" tall :)

https://i.postimg.cc/0yyjH2br/image.png

[j2k4]

So, this is a "Doc-Lowering" mod...

[DocWalt]

It is indeed. It's amazingly different driving to work with such better visibility

[B-Man]

Hear much about the new XS class?

Nevermind I might be making shit up. I can't find it again, could've sworn I saw it come through in an e-mail. Was supposed to be modified cars on street tires, similar to CAM.

[DocWalt]

Hear much about the new XS class?

Nevermind I might be making shit up. I can't find it again, could've sworn I saw it come through in an e-mail. Was supposed to be modified cars on street tires, similar to CAM.

Nah, you're not making it up. XS seems fun. I am currently in possession of a spare trunk lid and will be ordering a spoiler to mess around with those classes. Without a turbo I'd not stand much chance but it would be fun, lol

[B-Man]

Once I put headers on my corvette, I think I'm stuck to either that or CAM-S. Not sure how competitive I'd be in either.

[DocWalt]

Once I put headers on my corvette, I think I'm stuck to either that or CAM-S. Not sure how competitive I'd be in either.

I'd suspect CAM is the way to go. My ND can run XS-B and it would probably win every event I ran in XS because I suspect the competition will be weak for a while. CAM is finally getting some legs under it, most of the time stock cars are faster...

A bit more to come in the near-ish future for me and XS/BSP-lite stuff...


Today I installed the Flyin' Miata sequential turn signals that my brother gifted to me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SlQxpBM1yI

[j2k4]

Kewl!

[DocWalt]

Corner balanced my car last weekend:

https://i.postimg.cc/tgPgmK9F/image.png

https://i.postimg.cc/zG2WrYmM/image.jpg

Also, installed the Blackbird Fabworx spoiler on my spare trunk lid:

https://i.postimg.cc/8CFvkXNC/image.jpg

[anyonebutme]

I have words about that spoiler, but I'll keep them to mysled, lol. SCCA and their points......

[DocWalt]

I have words about that spoiler, but I'll keep them to mysled, lol. SCCA and their points......

Meh, go ahead. SCCA doesn't use points system anyway, only NASA does that ;)

For the record, the spoiler is for an entirely different class and literally only for messing around. STR is an aero free class :)

[DocWalt]

Been working with Karcepts on a tune for the ND2s for a few months now... Like 99.9% done finally! Celebrated with some fresh 93 octane, my local gas station finally has 93, saves me 10-15 minute trip to get the high octane :)

https://i.postimg.cc/rwgP1nHt/image.jpg

[stealthee]

Wawa didn't have 93 before?

[DocWalt]

Wawa didn't have 93 before?

Nope! :(

I installed the AWR motor mounts today. I had Tony from AWR get some "custom" softer inserts for the mounts, 62 durometer instead of their normal 70, 88, or 95 duromater options.

They're a good deal heavier than stock because they're made of steel. They won't break when you launch it or sky it off curbs :)

The install was straight forward. The only real special torque spec you need is the 50 ft-lbs for the cross bolt through the mount. The rest of the hardware just gets torqued to OEM spec (~28 ft-lbs works for the 6 bolts and two nuts)

NVH isn't bad. Definitely noticeable vibration at idle and there's a good bit of "tingle" in the pedals at lower RPM cruising (like when the cluster aggressively tells you to upshift to 6th at 30 mph...) and the wheel and seat have a bit of a constant vibration. Highway cruising isn't a noticeable difference from stock. When on the throttle hard or higher in the revs it just feels like the engine is more solidly connected to the car and any vibration is high frequency and not really in your face. Absolutely no new noises or anything like that. I've had a wide range of mounts on my prior cars from literally solid aluminum mounts to soft STI Group N mounts so I feel like I have a decent level of experience with different mounts and these are solidly in the middle of my experiences.

Now for how they perform... Damn :) If you've ever launched an ND at autocross/drag strip/whatever or even on the street you'd know how horrible the wheel hop is. I did diff mount inserts when I installed my OS Giken LSD and it helped a LOT, but man... Holy shit it launches soooo smoothly now! I have never had a car launch like this, just chirp and bit of spin and tracks dead straight. Really fun! On top of the silly launching difference, the way it behaves on throttle transients is massively improved. Less flopping about and it just feels super direct. I love how responsive it feels.

I've had the AWR uppers for a while and Tony whipped up a custom one for me to clear my silly header, great customer service

https://i.postimg.cc/prGMdv4P/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/sfwrmPXb/image.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/65qNm74q/image.jpg

[DocWalt]

https://i.postimg.cc/63K1hgfS/image.png

threw on some new daily driver rubber

[FeaRpb]

Randomly popping in to post in this thread.

[stealthee]

Its Pheven

[DocWalt]

New wheels arrived today :) Titan 7 T-R8 in 17x9 4x100. Ridiculously light! I'll mount up the autocross tires eventually, but with the season on hold for a while I'm not in a big rush...

https://i.postimg.cc/VLKDvhfJ/image.png

https://i.postimg.cc/bvtT6NQn/image.png

https://i.postimg.cc/xCGP2xpT/image.png

https://i.postimg.cc/kGfFVVd0/image.png

[FeaRpb]

Fancy

[j2k4]

And here goes Kenny again...:biggrin:

What I wouldn't give to be half my age and ready-to-buy when Kenny moves on to his NEXT car.

[j2k4]

fancy

steven!

[DocWalt]

Finally got to do some autocross yesterday. Big thanks to Karcepts and OS Giken for support. Car is *extremely* fast and a butt-ton of fun!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAKMnd0HTSI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yWPtcznuf8

[anyonebutme]

Are stiffer motor and tranny mounts legal in your class? Your stick moves quite a bit, lol.

[DocWalt]

Are stiffer motor and tranny mounts legal in your class? Your stick moves quite a bit, lol.

Yes. I had AWR motor mounts but they made false knock so back to stock!

I do have upgraded diff mounts. ND still has the power plant frame, so no tranny mounts

[FeaRpb]

Who wants to have a party?

[DocWalt]

I'll have a party

[DocWalt]

Did CPR SCCA yesterday. I took 2nd in PAX and Jon took 4th.

My video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8NZfVwdtUg

Jon's video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhrRrn4sHyQ

Got my new wheels installed today. Crazy light!

https://i.postimg.cc/4yjC8yz6/image.png

[DocWalt]

What a weekend at the Charlotte ProSolo! So good to see all of my friends again and glad to see that folks were being safe and smart about it :)

A hell of a competition with my buddy Jon Caserta codriving yet again!

Huge thanks to Karcepts for some last minute support the past week getting the ND2 tune 100% dialed in. It's really amusing watching a Miata run with an Corvette C6 Z06 to the first corner over ~200ft :P

OS Giken LSD and Motion Control Suspension doing work yet again. Crazy grip off the line and out of corners and after the Central PA Region event a couple of weeks ago I literally only added one click more on each rear shock knob and the car was about as perfect as we could ask for.

Here are my two runs:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSGKYpq8oKc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RWRFkHvHpI

and Jon's two runs:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAd5xPPpeL8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gthpYgdHz_M

At the end of the weekend it came down to a little better finish for me on the left and a little better finish for Jon on the right and we traded "wins" on each side. Thankfully I managed to pull off the come from behind victory after Jon led all weekend with some killer day 1 morning runs!

Unfortunately the Super Challenge was cancelled after some lightning delays, would have been really fun! Jon was paired up with Tomo and I was paired up with Alex Piehl for the first round.

https://i.postimg.cc/4NkJd2t9/image.png

Thanks to Perry B (autoxpix.com) for the pic!

[stealthee]

If you're supposed to hit the cones then you're doing a terrible job. :lol:

[DocWalt]

I hit a few :p

[FeaRpb]

you drive so nicely

want my panties?

[DocWalt]

you drive so nicely

want my panties?

plz ;)

[DocWalt]

These cars are stupid fun. NNJR today! I pulled off 1st in PAX, 3rd in raw. Jon was 6th in PAX and 7th in raw. We were P1/2 of cars on street tires :)

https://i.postimg.cc/MKF8ccGH/image.png

My run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqpS4GRowXI

Jon's run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6hToNVj4yw

[FeaRpb]

Dude nice work

[95gto]

So you are having more fun with a sub-200HP Miata than you had with a 500+ HP Mustang?

[j2k4]

You're gonna get a rep, Doc. ;)


Seriously, that's pretty fucking quick...

[DocWalt]

I was in the Apricot class today at Motorsports NE! I pulled off a win. Jon was close as usual though!

My run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO_bj7WuGSo

Jon's run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7axkaP2mqA

[DocWalt]

So you are having more fun with a sub-200HP Miata than you had with a 500+ HP Mustang?

For autocross and driving on the street, yes...

I did just buy a new track car though :)

[DocWalt]

Catching up on videos.

Philly event #1: 1st in PAX, 3rd in raw for me.

Here's my video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpEorAJKg8w


Jon's video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKHXyYFzs-I

[DocWalt]

NNJR was a bit of a mess, I was planned to drive my buddy Evan's RX-8 in STX but the driveshaft exploded in carbon fibery-goodness... I ended up running my car with my buddy in heat two. First heat my car run with Jon as usual and another buddy, Mike.

My run, 6th in PAX:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE_4myUgOBI

Jon's run, 7th in PAX:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSIsrsAsNKI

Evan's run, 9th in PAX:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ishosUOZX0

Mike's run, 43rd in PAX:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVkTBYmcUgE

[DocWalt]

Ran Philly SCCA's Holbert Memorial two-day event this weekend. I pulled off 2nd in PAX on day 1 and 5th on day 2.

My day 1 video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGSZTkz4vw

Jon's day 1 video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6u3SXCtNy4


My day 2 video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iy-r2GGFUo

Jon's day 2 video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okeBLEaSKXk


My huge spin:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psPCx4jmYYI

[DocWalt]

Today Philly SCCA hosted a "Mini-Tour" event where your best AM & PM runs were combined on two different courses. The weather made a bit of a mess of the afternoon, but it was fun! I won PAX by ~1.3 seconds and I won my class by a bit over 1.5s. Really dominant performance!

The Miata is working great with a little tweak after last weekend. Super happy with it, though my driving wasn't perfect it was more than enough!

My fastest AM run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qd3mpC5LSE

My fastest PM run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtSE_2sWW5I

[DocWalt]

NNJR SCCA had a special STR class challenge today that they called "STRmageddon" where both drivers in a car added the two drivers' fastest runs from their first five runs. Jon and I won that and won a TireRack gift card and a Karcepts gift card.

I won PAX and was 2nd fastest raw time only behind an STI with aero on gigantic Hoosiers... by a couple of tenths of a second.

Here's my run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRiDQINCEWE

Here's Jon's run. Jon tied for 3rd in PAX and 4th in raw time!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzJTEDYjUM

[j2k4]

Boy, Doc, I don't know how much more she's got in her, but this dial-in is a treat to watch.

My ear for Mazdas isn't super well-developed, it sounds like you're close to maxed-out and you still have good revs left. :huh:

[DocWalt]

Can probably wring it out to 8000 rpm, but meh.

[B-Line]

You drive like a crazed lunatic. I love it!

[DocWalt]

Great weather, lots of fun, super challenging course! I pulled off the PAX win and Jon codrove but I had a guest driver Wally (tall 350Z driver) as I owed him a codrive from a couple of years ago.

Here's my run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTbV1fS4mYg

Jon's run (P2 PAX, P2 in STR):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cuc-yglmjo

Wally's run (P6 in PAX, P5 in STR):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e79IVkFJzLc

[j2k4]

If I ever show up, you owe ME a co-drive.

Of course, I'd probably end up owing you a car, so...nevermind. :biggrin:

[DocWalt]

Hah, please don't wreck it :D

[anyonebutme]

As long as you don't moneyshift it into a braking zone and let the track personnel rip the tow hook off, you'll be fine. j/k lol.

11/10ths or nothing at all, that is the rule. Mistakes happen when you are using brain power for vehicle conservation and not driving....

[j2k4]

The thing to do would be let me make the last run; I'd collect all the cones! :lo5l:

[B-Line]

That thing turbocharged?

[DocWalt]

That thing turbocharged?

Nope, header & tune

[B-Line]

She moves pretty quick. What HP would you estimate it makes?

[DocWalt]

She moves pretty quick. What HP would you estimate it makes?

~190-200whp in a 2300 pound car. It scoots. Should be mid-high 13s in the 1/4?

[B-Line]

Yea, just the in cockpit video alone proves its fast. I might have to consider looking into miatas again. :nevreness:

[DocWalt]

What a day! My first time being the event chair, so I was in charge of things happening. Stressful!

Managed to pull off first in PAX with a flying last run! Second in raw time to a kart by .095 too! My buddy Matt codrive as well. He normally runs a BSP Miata with slicks & aero and crazy turbo noises.

My video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy0drrmuck8

Matt's video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWFi7k-UK3k

[j2k4]

Kwik...;)

[DocWalt]

Did NNJR SCCA on Saturday. Really really fun course. FAST! I pulled off a second place in PAX and 3rd in raw time. Jon didn't have a great day and finished a little further back.

My fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfTgaRdh3Uc

Jon's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feYMIiPvm3o

[DocWalt]

I pulled off my first overall fastest raw time today at NNJR! Fastest car full stop, I won PAX, raw, and Pro class.

Here's my run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MstK0svDnQc

Here's Jon's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXj9uhmK1ME

[j2k4]

Awesome possum...:)

[B-Line]

Triple threat! Congrats!

[DocWalt]

Second to last Philly SCCA autocross for 2020! I had a crazy close battle with Rich DiMarco for top PAX, 24 thousandths separated us! Jon was too busy winning an SCCA Time Trials event, so a couple of other local hot shoes jumped in his place. Darian T who normally drives a crazy BSP S2000 and Mark L who normally drives a C6 Corvette Z06. Both did well, just never perfectly nailed a run.

Here's my fastest clean run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yli0q1jcnfI

and my fastest dirty run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrd2pHcCtBw

Darian's fastest clean run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZh_ugon3lA

Darian's fastest dirty run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=all1VxObGUc

Mark's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08NNJHUrKgI

[j2k4]

That first run mad it look like you'd have to REALLY push to catch a cone...

[DocWalt]

That first run mad it look like you'd have to REALLY push to catch a cone...

I was apparently wobbling cones every run, people chasing them a lot. That run had at least two wobbled cones.

[j2k4]

Miata breeze...

[DocWalt]

At the same Philly SCCA event today, Jon ran my Miata with my buddy Nick. Jon finished up in 6th in PAX and won STR. Nick was 3rd in STR and 14th in PAX.

Jon's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVd7J8rsPVw

Nick's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhTw8nMz3_M

[DocWalt]

I took top PAX and top raw time at NNJR on Saturday, the car was fantastic. Made a small shock change with a nice step forward in driver confidence.

My video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpp41aXXg2E

Jon's video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTtxbO849e0

[DocWalt]

Saturday Jon & I did an NNJR SCCA event. I took top PAX with a crazy fun battle all day! Jon just never got a run together but had fantastic sectors.

Here's my video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA4uQV11hGc

Jon's video from NNJR:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=racXhwhmd8w


On Sunday I did a Philly SCCA event and helped design the course. I ended up taking top PAX again!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5E18CT6pA

[j2k4]

One of my nurses just bought a brand new Mazda 3...think I got him looking for some events to run before and after he does the exhaust/intake stuff.

Hope he follows through - that little car is beautiful...:)

[DocWalt]

Good fun at NNJR, but testing out the new Nankang CR-1s on the Miata and RX-8. Not super impressed so far with the pace, but aspects of their behavior are really nice. They move around on the surface a lot which isn't super confidence inspiring.

My fastest, good for 2nd place in PAX:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBIMQrocouI

Jon's fastest:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qLE2Us3w60

[DocWalt]

2021 Finger Lakes Champ Tour:

A really fun weekend! Amy was fighting hard for a trophy/podium in STX and almost pulled it off while I was fighting for a podium as well in STR.

Jon & I went up Friday to do the Test N Tune in the Miata, we tested stuff and nothing really made the car better sadly, so we went into Saturday with a pretty mediocre car. We ended up making a car change for my final Saturday run that massively improved the car though!

Jon's fastest Saturday run (before the car setup change)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-nHnDKfSg

My fastest Saturday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdQfwBjxcUA

We went into Sunday feeling much more confident but I ended up coning away my fastest run and Jon had issues with cramping in his arms. Not a great day.

Jon's fastest Sunday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhFNW1eF7i4

My fastest Sunday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TmFyA0Wt7w

[DocWalt]

A really fun day of autocross on Sunday with Philly SCCA. We were at Ripken stadium in Aberdeen, MD for the first time in a long time for Philly. The site has some terrain features that make it difficult to make a super technical course, but we got a solid 45 second course with plenty of sweeping corners. Fun and simple and safe! Both cars were on the Nankang CR-1s again doing more testing/conserving tires for nationals... They seemed to work pretty well, grip is up to about what I'd expect from the Yokohama A052s finally after some minor car changes.


Jon and I ran the ND and I took first in PAX & STR and Jon had a hard fought battle to end third in STR.

Jon's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ATv4hkxqCs

My fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwQi0Aa6mJE

[j2k4]

Nice work, Jon.

Old hat, Doc. :)

[DocWalt]

Philly SCCA had their annual Al Holbert memorial event to remember Al Holbert and all he did for racing with the SCCA.
I won the big trophy after I took top PAX on both days! Really happy with my drive, especially on Sunday. My STR Miata performed great, big thanks to Karcepts for the tune updates and all of the support. Thanks to Motion Control Suspension and OS Giken for their parts support as well, all of the parts are working as a great system now!

https://i.postimg.cc/BbqRWjpy/213424598-10159096841806855-4786614790312972641-n.jpg

Here are my fastest runs from each day:

Saturday:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51_YFISBZ7k

Sunday:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxFx8QVJci4

I had two different codrivers this weekend. Mark on Saturday and Jon on Sunday. Both of them drove great and gave fantastic feedback on the car and really pushed me hard.

Mark's fastest Saturday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAN28QTYb3o

Jon's fastest Sunday run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsvlLdmAfQc

[j2k4]

By golly, Doc, you're becoming a legend - troo story. ;)

[DocWalt]

Fun day at NNJR, took second in PAX. I had Tamra Krystinik (national champion in DSP RX-8) codrive for some feedback on the car and so she could drive something new. Really challenging course and more testing on the Nankangs.

Here's my fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6bqu_jmLM

Here's Tamra's fastest run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Om0OcZtKco

[j2k4]

She's pretty quick in your car, eh?

[DocWalt]

She's pretty quick in your car, eh?

I mean, her first time driving an ND Miata... Not bad

[DocWalt]

Back onto the Yokohamas on both cars, hurray! SUPER close results. 40th in PAX was only 1.2 seconds off of first, wild.

My fastest, good for 2nd in STR and 6th in PAX:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeDo3Cb6nTY

Jon's fastest, good for 3rd in STR and 7th in PAX (exactly one hundredth behind me!):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxn45IkAg00

[j2k4]

And what's missing here?

[anyonebutme]

She's pretty

Fixed it for you

[j2k4]

Fixed it for you

So you did...

[DocWalt]

Final shakedown before nats at Mohegan Sun Arena with NEPA. Fantastic event! I pulled off first in PAX and Jon was not far behind, he was 2nd in STR.

My fastest:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyeZig3AWm0

Jon's fastest:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksOgZ8n2ZfI


I put together an interesting comparison video of Jon & I. We were pretty much perfectly matched until we got to the sketchier corners and I'd start pulling a gap.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH1beVkk4BM

[j2k4]

You have excellent vision, eh, Doc?

[DocWalt]

You have excellent vision, eh, Doc?

I try to :) I did pay for LASIK, haha

[j2k4]

Pretty sure I couldn't AutoX, cuz eyes.

[anyonebutme]

Pretty sure I couldn't AutoX, cuz eyes.

Sure you can. autoX is as much about the ability to visualize the course in your head than actually seeing the cones. Now if you lack both abilities then it may get harder, but not impossible. Worse case, we can light the course edges up like Formula Drift did St. Louis this past weekend, lol.

[j2k4]

Chris, I'm not even impressed with my ability to watch Doc's videos...I'd need to run a course twenty times to even think about running for the clock.

[DocWalt]

Quick SCCA ProFinale & Solo Nationals recap!

I towed out to Lincoln, NE using my dad's new Ranger (thanks dad!) and Eric Simmons drove my RX-8 out. No issues for either of us and we arrived safely on Thursday about the same time as Jon landed in Lincoln. I grabbed dinner with some autocrossers then went back to Omaha to pick up Amy from the airport to round out the day.

Friday, Jon & I did some Evo School test & tune and made some car changes and the car was fantastic for the ProSolo. Friday night we had a lot of fun decorating the Miata with some shark teeth that I designed back in 2018 and have had sitting around since then...

https://i.postimg.cc/7YNxgn71/image.png

After driving fairly poorly on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon conditions were terrible and essentially nobody found time. Sunday morning was primed for a battle. I ended up finding a bunch of time on the left side, but mostly on the right side where I was struggling. Due to some weird circumstances I never got a warm tire run on the right side, but it was still enough to take the 2021 SCCA ProSolo Championship for STR by 19 thousandths of a second!

My fastest left side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLqeNjOUimk

My fastest right side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7RBJfJ46SI


For the national championships on Thursday/Friday we had all sorts of issues... The car setup that was great at the ProSolo Finale was pretty bad and Jon & I both drove just "ok" so results were just "ok" and it was annoying. I finished up 4th and Jon ended up just outside of the trophies.

My fastest West side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0VG599vxNI

My fastest East side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3tFLMJqgeY

[DocWalt]

Jon's fastest West side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hHcM7OI30k

Jon's fastest East side run:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7TRB1mECwo


The weekend after nationals, I said bye to the Miata. It went off to another competitor that does SCCA events so I'm sure I'll see it around sometime!

[j2k4]

You're getting yet another car, then...;)

[DocWalt]

Hahaha....

:)