Really? Another Miata thread....

[rherold9]

TL;DR - Feeling meh atm. I beat my goal, but knew had more in it. Weather wasn't fun and wouldn't make up it's mind. The tires I bought a year ago for spares were bricks and made in 2013 so I had a couple ice skating sessions. Only able to run 3 sessions on the dry RC-1 tires where it wasn't fully raining and the track wasn't very wet. I need to buy wet tires. Vids to come vs the paragraphs of writing

Attended Dominion with NASA-MA in TTD this past weekend. My goal was be within 5 seconds of the fastest guys which were Matt Huffman in his RX8 and Ahmad in his BRZ/FRS. I had never driven on this track besides touring lap speeds in a track attack and a track cross for only 7 of the turns so I had no idea what to expect time wise. I just knew I'm 5 seconds behind Matt at VIR so that's where I wanted to be at Dominion.

Before I moved to RC-1's a ran the RE-71R's in the rainier sessions. They did fine. My only backup were stock 205 all-seasons' and the RX7 wheels with Yokohoma S. Drives I bought several months back. I did not think to check the date code until after I put them on the for 2 sessions and felt like I was going to die. My ass cheeks were so quenched up from fear when I was driving air probably couldn't even penetrate them. 2013 date code, tires rock hard, never got heat, slide front and rear multiple times. Could not put power on unless wheel was 100% straight. Felt like a fricken Corvette out there. Running a 1:56 and just a hazard.

All on track pictures are from Cabell working his magic! . The ones standing still in the paddock are from my Pixel. Pictures are mostly just random order in random sessions



At least the RX7 wheels don't look half bad:



After feeling like I was dying after the first two sessions I made a call to switch to the dry tires on a semi-wet track and ran a 1:51 on the 2nd lap before a Honda Civic broke and we got black flagged. So I lost 5 seconds on the second lap without even pushing as I was slowing like I was going to spin on the S. Drives. It was drizzling on and off all day but finally stopped once lunch came around.



After lunch I gave Cabell a ride as it was a warmup session. We had a little battle with a NA Miata with a high compression build pushing 160whp and on huge tires 235? street tires. I pushed a bit more as I got used to the drying track that was damp in a few spots still. Managed to hit a 1:41 with Cabell in with plenty to spare. Gave me a lot of confidence to push more for the last session of the day that was timed.



My goal was a 1:38. On the 2nd lap of the final session about halfway through rain started to come down lightly so I stayed off 100% but pushed a little more than I had before as I thought it would be the only dry lap. I managed a 1:37 and backed down. After a lap it stopped raining and was mostly drying up on the line after a few laps. I pushed again. Predictive 1:36 and dropping per corner with still leaving time at every turn. I over-slow for T7 as I never tried braking super late and hard yet. So, I was able to apex a bit earlier holding the wheel in the same place. In my brain I said I know I'm early and I'm going to slide but let's send it for the fast time. I kept full throttle apex out. I drift it a little and save it since I knew it was coming. I'm only a couple inches away from the track now and turn back in like normal but the left rear tire goes off. Car snaps right and I'm full lock slide so I put both feet in and come to a stop sideways on track. Don't go off track but there is a red corvette who was behind me about two semi lengths or more that catches me during the slide, so I get DQ'd for causing an unsafe situation for the corvette. Feels bad.




So, final posted official time ends up being a 1:51 from the 2nd session of the day. Just plain embarrassing. I know the car has a ~1:34 in it with a good driver. I could probably hit a 1:35 my next time there if I got a whole dry weekend. This 1:37 was 2 seconds off the original track record for TTD that is now a 1:33 by Matt Huffman. The top TTD guy ran 1:33s. Scott Merker in his aero'd and lighter NC ran a 1:35. He's got tons of seat time in his car. So I beat my goal for the weekend with a 1:37 but it frustrates me to know I could've been close to good/faster drivers. I'm significantly under prepped and under experienced in comparison so it feels good somewhat I guess that I'm starting to slowly get faster (yes, I'll mention this to the moon and back until I have the confidence to know I'm fast vs being arrogant when actually slow; fuck off DJ).



I think my competitiveness is already biting me. I'm getting mad at an okay time my second ever 'dry' session out there. The only alone 'dry' session I've done... the other with a passenger lol. I think I'm also a bit drained from how much money legit rain tires I need will be. Sunday morning session was wet/dry in parts along with some typical HPDE3 drivers holding up traffic with not giving a point or giving a point and drag racing people. Only got about half a session in the morning before gas light hit. The rest of the day was a wash of rain and I was not going back on the sketchy tires. Especially once I saw the FRS wreck after hydroplaning on the front straight. I left at lunch. Waste of a day. Makes me sick to think of how much money I'm going to need to spend to be fully prepped and ready for next season and TT5. Doubt I'll be able to get the car fully prepped so I may just run HPDE4 and risk my life instructing to save money on entry fees. I also like the feeling of teaching someone and seeing them progress so I'm not just in it for money but it's a bonus for sure!



It has rained at every event this season except PittRace? So, I guess I'm done wasting seat time/money not driving because of the wet and will not be out driving until I pick up wet tires. I just need to take a chill pill and realize things take time. I'm super excited how close I'm getting for me and my car so my competitiveness I think is starting to come in a bit.



The real question is if you don't have a competitive mindset will you ever be a fast and top driver? I say nope.