05-06-2015, 11:01 AM
Just thought I'd say I didn't just slap a list together oh this sounds good moment. I read on several forums about this same discussion and since I know you guys have spent years around this I thought it would bring up good discussion :thumbup: . There are just many many variables between cars original safety, mods, situations, etc...
Not sure where a Mazda3 would class at all. HPDE4 or somewhere in TT as DJ mentioned?. Speed3's do quite well in Grand Am/IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Series so the platform is decent it's just they have another 100+ hp/tq than I do, but weigh about 400 more pounds than a sedan regular 3.
Yes, that's what I want discussion wise is too recognize risks, what I'm getting myself into, and possible other options, such as, Navin(don't know you real name)/Joey mentioned. Mazda made the safety of the car ideal for road conditions, but getting into track conditions is a different ball game. I agree with you. Everything is very situational and the harness bar is temporary where I 'think' I could be fine with for a year or two with 4+ HPDE weekends as I don't plan on running more than a street tire or pushing my car as I don't have another car for a daily. I understand that there a freak things that could occur that are out of my control. What I've seen from these posts here and some accidents on track. Freak accidents will happen whether I'm using stock safety measures or not. Would I be safer with a full track set-up? Maybe. Would I be safer with stock set-up? Maybe.
Do you think then side mounts just bolted in are the best over the sliding?
Won't lock by itself anymore and I don't know why.... Thank you for the option. Cons of it getting jammed in an accident or something of that nature??
Hmm. Good option. Would that be considered just a roll bar or half cage? Also, I was reading what you said about using the seatbelts on for street use on other forums. That's what I think I'll do if I go through with this. Cons of this set-up are?
I also don't know of any Mazda3 specific shops so getting one custom made could be quite expensive? Any directions to places near Richmond or HBurg to do this would be nice. (NOVA? Maryland?)
The point of this was to discuss what I mentioned early. And of course I will go my way and do what I want. Doesn't everyone? I for sure hear people out on what they say no doubt. I do admit to things I do at times and if I don't it does not mean I don't realize it. You act like I do this all the time. I don't know what is with you calling me out on a lot of what I post. I don't go around doing it to you. It is pretty annoying and gets old pretty fast. I also don't need to conform to what you think is right when you make posts on what I say. Sure some of what you say is correct I get it.
I guess I'm glad a don't own a Subaru then. I'm not sure what will happen in the future, but right now I for sure what to give this car a run for its money and see what it can do. What TT would I even be in after HPDE? That's probably almost 4 years down the road so it would probably change. Just food for thought now. Thank you for the support!
I appreciate the concern for my safety and you don't want to see me hurt or make a mistake. I also thank some of you for saying that I should do it or not trying to say no. I know this isn't a 'normal' or you see everyday track car.
Kaan Wrote:what class do you intend to run? you just going to do lapping days? I'm not sure where a mazda 3 classes
Not sure where a Mazda3 would class at all. HPDE4 or somewhere in TT as DJ mentioned?. Speed3's do quite well in Grand Am/IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Series so the platform is decent it's just they have another 100+ hp/tq than I do, but weigh about 400 more pounds than a sedan regular 3.
Jake Wrote:Do what you want, but recognize that the risk is 100% there, even in the "slow groups" as things just happen sometimes. Mazda engineered your car to perform in a certain way as it sits now when you crash it. When you start taking away some of that designed-in safety, you better hope whatever you put in its place manages to function well enough.
I'm not trying to discourage you from coming out, but I've seen a lot, much like Kaan. Just want to make sure you're educated before you rip apart your car.
Yes, that's what I want discussion wise is too recognize risks, what I'm getting myself into, and possible other options, such as, Navin(don't know you real name)/Joey mentioned. Mazda made the safety of the car ideal for road conditions, but getting into track conditions is a different ball game. I agree with you. Everything is very situational and the harness bar is temporary where I 'think' I could be fine with for a year or two with 4+ HPDE weekends as I don't plan on running more than a street tire or pushing my car as I don't have another car for a daily. I understand that there a freak things that could occur that are out of my control. What I've seen from these posts here and some accidents on track. Freak accidents will happen whether I'm using stock safety measures or not. Would I be safer with a full track set-up? Maybe. Would I be safer with stock set-up? Maybe.
Do you think then side mounts just bolted in are the best over the sliding?
navin Wrote:If you sliding around in your seats, perhaps pick up a CG lock for your seatbelt? <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.cg-lock.com/autocross.html">http://www.cg-lock.com/autocross.html</a><!-- m -->
Or just lock it in if you can.
Won't lock by itself anymore and I don't know why.... Thank you for the option. Cons of it getting jammed in an accident or something of that nature??
SlimKlim Wrote:A Weld-In 4-point would leave the car streetable, it would become a two seater but its not like you'd be climbing over scaffolding to get in and out of it. Get a 4-point bar, fixed backs, 5 point harnesses and retain the seatbelts for street use. :dunno:
Hmm. Good option. Would that be considered just a roll bar or half cage? Also, I was reading what you said about using the seatbelts on for street use on other forums. That's what I think I'll do if I go through with this. Cons of this set-up are?
I also don't know of any Mazda3 specific shops so getting one custom made could be quite expensive? Any directions to places near Richmond or HBurg to do this would be nice. (NOVA? Maryland?)
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:As usual, Ryan will say "I know" even after examples and goes his own way anyway or change his mind and say he knew it all as well.
You might want to talk about how 2 of our own MMers have totalled their cars on track in HPDE (one rolling over multiple times and the roof curled around the roll bar, thank god he had one). If that had been a harness bar instead of roll bar, he wouldn't have been happy.
This reminds me, our club has not had good luck with subarus, both were subarus!
Not that I am not supporting you. We all started with our own project cars (me in my gsx back in the day). You will track it for a couple years and then probably pick up a "pick your race car class" here after fighting the car and running it in a bad class. The Mazda 3 can slot in TT just fine and that's after you go through HPDE. I say go for it.
The point of this was to discuss what I mentioned early. And of course I will go my way and do what I want. Doesn't everyone? I for sure hear people out on what they say no doubt. I do admit to things I do at times and if I don't it does not mean I don't realize it. You act like I do this all the time. I don't know what is with you calling me out on a lot of what I post. I don't go around doing it to you. It is pretty annoying and gets old pretty fast. I also don't need to conform to what you think is right when you make posts on what I say. Sure some of what you say is correct I get it.
I guess I'm glad a don't own a Subaru then. I'm not sure what will happen in the future, but right now I for sure what to give this car a run for its money and see what it can do. What TT would I even be in after HPDE? That's probably almost 4 years down the road so it would probably change. Just food for thought now. Thank you for the support!
I appreciate the concern for my safety and you don't want to see me hurt or make a mistake. I also thank some of you for saying that I should do it or not trying to say no. I know this isn't a 'normal' or you see everyday track car.