Really? Another Miata thread....

[rherold9]

First HPDE weekend in the NC Miata over this past weekend. I decided to play it safe and run HPDE2 again since it's been over a year. I was cleared for solo after the second session on Saturday. I skipped the last two sessions on Saturday as it was raining and really cold.



The rain turned into snow overnight and the first Sunday session was canceled due to fog and then I ran the remaining 3 session on Sunday as it warmed up to 50.



I slowly started to pick up the pace on Sunday. My instructor (Freddy) made me work on braking late on the back straight and just shifting to 4th for hogpen and planting the throttle. Well I eventually got the nerve to do it and boy it felt good and just stuck in hogpen while still having plenty of brakes. We started braking past the 1 marker in the car....

Freddy kept complimenting me on how the car felt. He was amazed how the car felt. I sometimes turned in early, sometimes turned in late, sometimes had crap inputs on downshifts, braking, trail braked, and hit curbs I shouldn't be hitting (inside of turn 3, inside of hopgen, etc.). The car would just stick and go. When in doubt just throttle it out and throw it in.



I couldn't believe myself how well the car felt dialed in for it's first time on the track. The car would rotate perfectly through 4 and stick even with the rear squealing the tires. The car would easily trail brake into T1, I would lift off the brake the rear would rotate slightly, I would stomp on the throttle and hold the wheel, and the car would completely settle itself through the whole turn. The car could hard trail brake through oak tree gapping a vette from the esses (see video). The car could be planted entering hogpen at 80 and stomping on the throttle.

This car also had brakes and then some. I started braking at 3-2.75 marker on the front straight and still have a little bit more brakes. I wouldn't push it much more on the front straight as I was getting close to the limit of the stock brakes stopping power. The ABS kicks in hard in this car as I found out this weekend. It lets you know it's there on initial hard braking, stops engaging with the same pedal pressure as the weight settles on the front, but would kick in again with more pedal pressure if I needed to stop more. Also, I started braking at the arrow on the back straight and that had even more brakes. I could push harder on the back straight as I let off the pedal every time, but I didn't have it in me to push it more. It's scary lol. The brakes had no fade and they just remained stiff.

Here is my final session on Sunday. I didn't realize how much I was pushing in some locations until watching and listening to the video. The tire squealing isn't as apparent with the helmet on, but in the video it's pretty loud. The camera angle makes things look pretty smooth and uneventful, but just listen and watch the whole video for the tires squealing at the limit lol. Also, check out Jake abusing Taylor's GTI in the beginning hahaha. That cars rear end was everywhere so I kept off a little.



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[ScottyB]

i love fatmiata

super glad it continues to work out for you, i've always been curious what this platform could do if it was developed smartly for track work. you're putting in some really solid laps with it.

also, nice 5-to-3 double-clutch at 7:45, at least i think so

[rherold9]

i love fatmiata

super glad it continues to work out for you, i've always been curious what this platform could do if it was developed smartly for track work. you're putting in some really solid laps with it.

also, nice 5-to-3 double-clutch at 7:45, at least i think so

I do to. This my be getting a little forward thinking, but I think it may be safe to say this one will be staying around awhile...

I appreciate it and I'm surprised myself how good either the chassis or the MCS suspension is making the car so amazing to drive

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[rherold9]

Some pics I decided to pick up since it was the cars first time on track. Hopefully the last track weekend without a hard top... 12 weeks later and I still haven't received the DG Motorsports race top. I really hope the wait is worth it with their move and the top is good quality or I will not be a happy camper.











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[D_Eclipse9916]

You have done this thing right, ya gotta let me drive this thing one time!

[Senor_Taylor]

How much space are you going to have under the hard top with your helmet on? I know on NA/NB tops it starts to slope on the sides and it's hard to turn your head.

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[rherold9]

You have done this thing right, ya gotta let me drive this thing one time!

Sure, I don't care. I just need to figure out how to get the seat lower for you tall people

How much space are you going to have under the hard top with your helmet on? I know on NA/NB tops it starts to slope on the sides and it's hard to turn your head.

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More room than the soft top. There is a bar that runs right above my head on the soft top that stops me from being able to comfortably run with the top up as my head touches it.

[Scott]

Your car makes me want to build an NC

[rherold9]

Your car makes me want to build an NC

I would say yes, but I'm a little biased. Come drive it at the track! 

I'd allow most alumni who have driving experience ride shotgun for a session to see how the car does then drive it for themselves. Hyperdrive works too.

[rherold9]

So, I finally got into contact with DG Motorsports. First time I've gotten a person on the other line after 5 different calls. Supposedly their new shop caught fire. I ordered on 12/28 and just found out now. Not sure when it happened, but I can get a refund or have free shipping. I think at this point I'm probably going to take the refund and look elsewhere.

That will now set me two events on track without a hardtop when I was expecting one 5 weeks ago (original estimate was 6-8 weeks). Quite unfortunate for the shop and it's customers, but still a little frustrating on my end.

Recommendations on a lighter hardtop that isn't going to break the bank? OEM is too heavy. I really don't care or want to send the hard top to get painted so something like the carbon fiber layered+gel coat from DG was very attractive. Not to mention the lightweight.

Treasure Coast?

After looking around for a short time I guess I'll be waiting longer which just plain sucks. I don't see anything else and Treasure Coast doesn't look too promising. They said another 30 days minimum before they start making products again. SOB.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Why do you want a hard top? For speed reasons or?

[rherold9]

Why do you want a hard top? For speed reasons or?

Yup, a lot smoother aero = speed and lower track times. Also, looks. NCs look great with hardtops. OEM hardtop is somewhere along the lines of 40-45 pounds while DG is 16-18 pounds. Hell of a difference. I sent an email to Carbon Miata to see if they'll make one. I also can go out in the rain if I'd like to without completely ruining my interior. Also, be nice on cold days at the track as well as hot days at the track. Finally, it just feels safer when you have something over your head.

[Jake]

Will you be removing the soft top assembly?

[Scott]

Will you be removing the soft top assembly?

Might as well cage it too  #slipperyslope

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Mazda Motorsports sells fiberglass "race" hardtops for the NC.  It's not fancy carbon, but take it to Maaco and have them paint it body color, it'll be cheap, they painted my SM car for $300....

Hardtop

[rherold9]

I do not plan on removing the soft top at this time, but that can all change depending on how deep I get into this car. It will be removed if I decide to get serious with TT5/ST5 which looks like the only way I would do well if I got serious.

Thanks for the link Scott. I didn't know this was a thing. I'll apply to their program and snag one up I guess depending on what DG says. Still won't have one for April. Sighhhhhhh. At least for Hyperfest I will. I'll follow up on Monday with DG to get final word before deciding on what to do as the lady who answered was not by her computer.

Edit: After looking at the parts store after applying I do not see the hard top for the NC Miata. lmfao. Guess I'm 100% stuck on waiting. SIUybuhigjkhblragfbhjklzrsfdahbjklbhjlvrfdsabh jlrgashbj lagfrswbhjlaersfgbhjlkrsgfahbjlkrasghbjkhjbkzasrghbjkgarsbhujoleWFRJKNHL waerftnkml;awsefnkj; FUCK

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[Scott]

Edit: After looking at the parts store after applying I do not see the hard top for the NC Miata. lmfao. Guess I'm 100% stuck on waiting. SIUybuhigjkhblragfbhjklzrsfdahbjklbhjlvrfdsabh jlrgashbj lagfrswbhjlaersfgbhjlkrsgfahbjlkrasghbjkhjbkzasrghbjkgarsbhujoleWFRJKNHL waerftnkml;awsefnkj; FUCK

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Check your text, it shows up on my account when I search by part number.  Your account might not be fully active yet.

[rherold9]

Check your text, it shows up on my account when I search by part number.  Your account might not be fully active yet.

So, once I did a search out of the specific model year of the NC in a generic search of all parts it found it.. sick website Mazda

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[rherold9]

Anyone can help a man out and pick up this hard top? (ahemmmm DJ? who else????) Beer, money, handjobs (or is it blowjobs?) from RJs Mom, whatever it takes. Either Summit Point NASA or VIR (Hyperfest) or if you happen to be swinging within a few hours of Richmond I'd be down to meet up...

Located in Duluth, GA. He is willing to drive ~3-4 hours max.

[rherold9]

Got the Miata up in the air today to look it over before Summit Point next weekend. Everything was still tight. No obvious changes. Brake pads had like 90% life still. Didn't think there would be any changes, but always safer than sorry.

Double checked the brake lines. More plastic lining was torn away on the driver's side. Thinking of wrapping them up where they are tearing. No damage in the stainless lines themselves. The passenger side makes me feel a little more uncomfortable (first image) like it wants to chafe the line, but nothing is cut into it. No stainless fibers torn. I'll definitely be paying attention to this.

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[rherold9]

Hmmm. Where to start off. I guess overall I'm super impressed with this car. This weekend was my 2nd time in HPDE with this car. First time back in HPDE3 and first time back at Summit since November 2016 and in my opinion I feel like I was cooking it based on my times (more on that later).



I started off decently slow in the first session. Very cold track and the tires would not hold any type of grip. I started to push a little too much at the end of the session.



Entering into T10 so fast wasn't the brightest thing in the world, but I was confident in the car... If I would've stayed in the throttle instead of only keeping 1/4 in I would've been fine and saved it. My passenger front wheel went over the curbing into the grass and hit the large gap between the grass and the pavement after the curbing and upset the car snapping me around. As mentioned on social media I wasn't scared in the moment I was pretty confident I was going to save it from the start. The car is very predictable.



As Saturday progressed I got more comfortable with the car and being in HPDE3 again. It just felt right being back out there in HPDE3 even though it's been so long. The car was happy to do as I commanded. Slight tendency to understeer on trail braking into slower turns. Tendency to oversteer on longer sweepers if you enter too fast. Tendency to throttle steer the car by lifting in turns to rotate the car such as T6->T7.



I started to pick up more speed over the weekend and confidence over the weekend. Squealing the tires to the limit into turns. Braking at the 3 marker. Entering T10 at 80-85. Entering T4 at 95/braking into T5 at 95-98 felt sketchy, but awesome at the same time.



I started to get a weird shaking/womp womp in the steering wheel as I got faster. I couldn't figure out what it was. On right hand turns I felt it the most (driver's side loaded up). I looked over everything and it was all tight. DJ recommended swapping left-right on the tires. The problem still persisted. I eventually started to get it on left handed turns as well when really pushing it. All I eventually attributed was the tire rolling over the sidewall. I took temps after one of my last sessions and saw they were at 34 and 34.5 psi front. Seems weird it would be doing that at that psi, but I knew I was pushing to the tire limit. Next event I will start at 30 and 31 psi cold to see if anything changes (was at 29 psi cold). If not I have a mystery on my hands which I hope aren't wheel bearings.





On to videos... I mean I will admit I felt decently quick when I was keeping up with some certain vehicles out there. It also helped when I had two people compliment me on how fast I was going. I didn't really realize how much until I got an estimate from video. Looks like was running a 1:28.1 at the fastest...... Which made me feel super excited about how this car will do when it is "race" prepped vs the "track" prepped it is now as well as having me become a faster/more consistent driver. I especially know there is more time left on the table with my current driving ability. If DJ or whoever is fast jumped in I know it's a 1:27-1:26.9 car.



Future mods I still should do that will help with lap times:

• 225 Hoosier vs 245 RE-71R
  
• DTC-60 + Brake Ducts vs Stoptech Sport Pads
  
• 1.8 catless header + race muffler + dyno tune vs catted header, street muffler, and remote tune.
  
• Take weight out the car
  
• Aero
  
• Hardtop to help with aero/speed
  

My car sits at 2678 pounds with me in it (175-180 pounds) and just over a half tank of fuel. My guesstimate on power is 150-160wheel so ~155wheel makes it a 17.2:1 WtoP. I feel like the lap times combined with my driving ability, time in the car on track, and the way the car sits is pretty damn good.

Overall, I'm looking forward to where this car takes me. I feel like I could for sure surprise some people. Another odd build and another one that's decently quick makes me feel good.