Christmas Came Early

After coordinating repairs on the 93 Miata T-Car it was turned over to me for a few hours to do my worst on the home course. It felt great to get back in the car and even better to take it up into the red zone on 35. The road has been repaired in patches since my last excursion up here(April) and the road surface is a mixture of bumpy new asphalt, pitted old concrete, and slippery terafirma pushed onto the road by the wind. To say a horrible job was done is an understatement.

The car felt solid, planted in a way that only a Miata can. It gave confidence in every corner and the straights were managed without issue. The brakes were spot on every time and showed no signs of fade, shifting was direct and precise(if not a little notchy from 2nd to 3rd at high rev). The tires did what the could and didn't give me any grief, nor did they make much noise. I think this is combination of the cold weather and the run being done around 60%. Even with the lighter course speed I could feel the difference in the early 4.3 gearing and the 4.1 I had in my car. The T-Car has proven once again to be a great control for any tests I run, and while the motor is down 20 Horsepower the revs are in the same place they always were, albeit a bit slower in speed. This confirmed that the gearing of the 4.1 car does indeed slow it down, as the 4.3 car could navigate the uphill return section in 3rd gear at the same speed the 4.1 car would be while going back and forth between 2nd and 3rd in each corner. Top speed was not affected, but the car lacked umph(no surprise with a tired 1.6) and I think a good compromise would be a 4.44 in a stock 1.8.

The only complaints were with the driver. Traffic was light and the night was clear bringing the conditions to about as perfect as they were ever going to be at 8PM on a Tuesday. The line was still there, just faintly visible and the braking markers were about the same, though my judge of speed is way off and my feel of the car is just at a basic level. I was braking way too early, turning in way too late at times, and I missed a few apexes. Having been out of the game for a quite a while, this doesn't discourage me, it only makes me want to get back to it even more.

Tuesday

Temp: 57 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry
Traffic: Yes, Light
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: 12:33.1
Time out: 12:01.8
Average Speed: 65/50 MPH
Top Speed: 87 MPH

Back in the Saddle

Took a quick run on 35 during the heat wave over the weekend. Construction on the initial 5 mi., all the way to Bella Vista's door step. Road still felt great even with the extra debris, car still felt planted. Braking markers are still there. Over ran a WRX on the way out, and got surprised by a manual converted 7.40i on the way in. Only disappointment was the BMW at Alice's, first time I've had a bad one there.

Monday

Temp: 34 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry, Icy
Traffic: No
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: N/A
Time out: N/A
Average Speed: 70/60 MPH
Top Speed: 85 MPH

First Run of the Year

The current setting feels much more precise than the last. The car stays planted where I want it while remaining responsive to any slight input. Heavier wheels are slowing initial acceleration some, but nothing that affects over all performance. Stock suspension is working harder and most likely won't hold up to the abuse of the larger tires. Attempted a short skid pad on Canada after the run, and track temps in the low 40s are not being kind to the summer tires.

Friday

Temp: 41 Deg. F
Weather: Clear/Foggy
Road Condition: Wet, Debris
Traffic: Yes, Light
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: N/A
Time out: N/A
Average Speed: 75/60 MPH
Top Speed: 90 MPH

Settings Update

Engine: N/A
Transmission: Stock 4.10 Rear no LSD
Suspension: Stock Springs and Shocks, Beatrush Front, Flying Miata Butterfly Brace and Frame Rails
Wheels and Tires: Volk Racing TE37v 15x8 Ft 15x8.5 Rr, Bridgestone RE-11 205/50 Ft, Kumho ECSTA XS 205/50 Rr
Tire Pressure: 29PSi Front, 26PSi Rear
Exterior: Garage Vary Front lip
Additions: Bride Stradia Seat, Momo Monte Carlo Steering wheel, Works Bell Quick Release Hub, Braille Carbon Fibre 6.5lb Battery
Current Goal: 10:00 Min.
Overall Goal: 8:30 Min.
Current Best: 9:58 Min

Tuesday

Temp: 57 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry, Debris
Traffic: Yes, Light
Heat: No
Inhabitants: Yes
Time in: 11.00.0
Time out: 10.50.5
Average Speed: 75/60 MPH
Top Speed: 95 MPH

First Rain

The first rain of the season came and went this past weekend. It was a small storm with relative low wind speeds and Temperatures that stayed in the 50s. The real beauty of the storm was the timing and the duration, lasting only two and half days. It cleared the roads of congestion and as it departed, left a surreal beauty. With the moon high in the sky Sunday evening, a test run was in order to calculate the distance between a dry run and wet run. Results were discouraging at best, even with light traffic times were too high to even be mentioned on the scale, but the run was not in vain. It confirmed a few small pieces of the strategy to run 35, as well as put the final nail in the coffin for the Sumitomo HTR 200s. I'm looking forward to the next wet run.

Tuesday

Temp: 84 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry
Traffic: Yes, Light
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: 11.29.6
Time out: 10.58.7
Average Speed: 80/60 MPH
Top Speed: 93 MPH
(night run)

Thursday

Temp: 58 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry
Traffic: Yes
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: N/A
Time out: N/A
Average Speed: 77/60 MPH
Top Speed: 89 MPH
(night run)

Thursday

Temp: 56 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry
Traffic: Yes
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: N/A
Time out: N/A
Average Speed: 75/55 MPH
Top Speed: 91 MPH

Friday

Temp: 56 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Dry
Traffic: Yes
Heat: No
Inhabitants: No
Time in: 11.05.7
Time out: 11.17.6
Average Speed: 75/55 MPH
Top Speed: 89 MPH

Thursday

Temp: 60 Deg. F
Weather: Clear
Road Condition: Mixed, mostly
Traffic: Yes
Heat: No
Inhabitants: Yes
Time in: 11.29.4
Time out: 11.44.1
Average Speed: 75/55 MPH
Top Speed: 85 MPH
(night run)