Ekona Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Pfft, I’m not sure the aero is that effective on the NC roof up or down! just brake less, that’s the answer. Oh wait, you did try that as per the video above 😅 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam_Williams Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 Wow great comparison between the 350z and Mk3 MX5! Totally agree with your findings! I have both at the moment. Long term MX5 Mk3 owner, and recently acquired a Zed for a more GT experience. Both perfect for the right occasions. On the MX5, I have the Eibach springs, the wheels in motion fast road alignment, and run PS4s all round. That combination for me feels perfect balance budget wise to help the car feel better around the twisties. It is so flickable! You mentioned BBR. I have the 185 kit on mine and that feels perfect. A few folks go for forced induction and regret it. I obviously can't share personal experience in that regard, but to me, being able to drive to a greater % of the cars limit more of the time is what the MX5 is all about. Happy motoring all! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted June 20, 2022 Author Share Posted June 20, 2022 3 hours ago, Adam_Williams said: Wow great comparison between the 350z and Mk3 MX5! Totally agree with your findings! I have both at the moment. Long term MX5 Mk3 owner, and recently acquired a Zed for a more GT experience. Both perfect for the right occasions. On the MX5, I have the Eibach springs, the wheels in motion fast road alignment, and run PS4s all round. That combination for me feels perfect balance budget wise to help the car feel better around the twisties. It is so flickable! You mentioned BBR. I have the 185 kit on mine and that feels perfect. A few folks go for forced induction and regret it. I obviously can't share personal experience in that regard, but to me, being able to drive to a greater % of the cars limit more of the time is what the MX5 is all about. Happy motoring all! Yay, another MX5 friend. The FI thing is interesting, I’d love it for track but don’t really need it for road (occasional overtakes). On track I spent so much time hustling in the corners up to people only for them to nail it on the straight and then park on the next apex. One thing I’m defo doing is Ohlins coils and replacement bushes. It’s mainly for track and I’m hoping this will only improve things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam_Williams Posted June 20, 2022 Share Posted June 20, 2022 Excellent stuff. Nice to meet you!! 😁 I've seen so many threads on the forums where the MX5 is used as a baseline versus other performance cars, it's great! Usually it's us MX5 folk thinking "what next..." and ending up with some kind of mod to the Mazda instead after spending weeks deliberating! I must admit I did consider going Super 200 on the MX5 but I can't imagine going much further to be honest. I believe the engine is stronger in your iteration versus mine so I guess it'll handle more power better. If you did decide to go that route would be great to hear how you get on 😁👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted July 15, 2022 Author Share Posted July 15, 2022 Another fun day out in the Miata, this time at Blyton with opentrack, who put on a good day without too many cars and with some tuition opportunities thrown in for free too. Always good to get some feedback, especially after you’ve been around a track a fair bit and not making any headway. A couple of new lines, a new turn in point and a new brake marker and I’d took 1.5 seconds off - all for free and with no shipping time from Japan! Since the last run out at Caldwell, she’s now got powerflex bushes all over the front and rear suspension bits and speaking of suspension, Ohlins all around too. This is my first foray into coilovers, so I’m excited to tinker. Big shout out to the guys at BBR GTI who fitted the lot and set me up with their stock alignment to work from. First impressions are that the slightly scary floaty feel is gone, with much reduced pitch and roll, which is what I’d hoped for from the coilovers. I always felt a bit like I was bouncing around a bit with the car, instead of it going for a drive with me. It’s still sensible on the road, but obviously I now feel every change in road surface via the bushes. Little highlight reel of some red flags, couple of my laps and a non-consensual overtake - now I know how it feels to be violated #metoo Plus a few snaps. On the downside, the brakes have gone weird. I changed the pads for my first track day and all was perfect. Then on the last one at Cadwell I had a bit of a scary moment when I got to one of the bigger braking zones and had MUCH less stopping power. I put this down to pad fade, but similar happened at Blyton and before I’d got them particularly hot. I noticed that if I double tapped the brakes, I got a nice firm pedal and the pads were still working fine I don’t think it’s just air in the pedal, it doesn’t feel like the traditional sponge. Maybe pad knock back, possibly from less than perfect disks that have been on there forever??? Open to suggestions on this one gang. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEADPHONES Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 That Mini driver is probably bragging to everyone how he was a racing god on the day. I bet he's no better on public roads either. Hope he didn't put too much of a downer on what looked like a great day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted July 17, 2022 Author Share Posted July 17, 2022 On 16/07/2022 at 10:09, HEADPHONES said: That Mini driver is probably bragging to everyone how he was a racing god on the day. I bet he's no better on public roads either. Hope he didn't put too much of a downer on what looked like a great day. Not at all, the day was great and whilst contact would have really upset the apple cart, all’s well that ends well. Most of the straights are passing by consent, but that section is strictly no passing in the briefing. Like most things in life, it would work perfectly if there no bellends to contend with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 I've been busy with the old track slag. New pads and discs went on, ahead of a trip to Anglesey (see next post). Also I finally grabbed a photo of my sexy new Ohlins (now hidden under coiler socks) There is the gorgeous re-trimmed alcantara wheel (thank you Jack Royal) I've also been doing some angle grinding of the seat rails to achieve a significant drop in the (also re-trimmed) seats, which stops me rubbing my helmet on the roof (ooo errr) Most recently some whiteline ARBs went on. To supplement all the Ultra Racing scaffolding that I added to replace rusty bits And whilst I was in the garage, I was fixing to get corner weighting done, but it turns out she's actually pretty sweet already. I am absolutely loving driving her around now... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 I also snuck in a trip to Anglesey with Goldtrack last month. This was my first Goldtrack booking and they put on a fantastic day, with some top notch tuition from Calum Lockie, which was every bit as good as my experience with CAT Driver Training (and you know I am a fanboy of theirs). This was my first trip to Anglesey and the trip down was pretty... ...and the circuit location is fantastic (when the sun shines). It is such a great circuit, just fast enough for the MX-5 to run out of breath, but technical enough to give me a chance to catch up some of the faster metal and undulation changes really keep you on your toes. I will be back again in future, despite it's remote location. Well worth the effort to get there. I was very much the poor relation in the Mazda, there was a whole bunch of Radicals trailered in - some with supporting mechanics, a load of McLarens, ...plenty of Pork... ...the occasional Lotus and not much budget Jap goodness except me and an MR2 and a Celica (both chopped). This meant I had to watch my mirrors more than I'd like, but it was one of the best Trackdays I've done yet. I would defo recommend checking out Goldtrack for your circuit needs. As seems to be becoming the pattern, my mate George and his Mini were companions for the day. So far it's been neck and neck between us at Blyton and Cadwell, but I got fully chopped by him at Anglesey. P.S. yes I know I need to sort my heel and toe to stop the chirps on the rear wheels under braking! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Nice lap there Stu 👍 Try and find someone who runs the Coastal layout rather than the full GP, for cars with less power it’s much more fun and way more challenging 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 14 hours ago, Ekona said: Nice lap there Stu 👍 Try and find someone who runs the Coastal layout rather than the full GP, for cars with less power it’s much more fun and way more challenging Yeah the run up and down to the hairpin is just sitting there waiting for the corner but still loved it, I'll defo be watching for future days running coastal or, it seems a few providers run coastal half the day and then GP the other half - which sounds perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted December 20, 2022 Author Share Posted December 20, 2022 Snuck in a final track day of the year at Blyton in the Mazda. Arrived (after a dicey icy B road trip) at track at 7:45am and found the track to be white and temps around -1C, then proceeded to try and put up the tent with icicles for fingers. At this point I decided the whole thing was a folly and I'd have been much happier in bed with the money in my pocket. However, I was completely wrong. The sighting laps were hilarious, this is my first time setting off the ABS on what is meant to be a gentle familiarisation! But after those, plus a few brave souls heading straight out to tiptoe round, the track thawed and it was never high grip but it was certainly grippy enough to go peddling. Couple of former Z owners from here were out too. Paddy in his new banana, V6 swapped JDM MR2 - on semi slicks That worked out exactly as you'd imagine, with some gardening in a couple of areas... Also Matt was out in a sort of Z, just the wrong kind. As well as new to this forum (and currently Zed hunting) @PlanGT in his weaponised Mini Then there was the usual selection of interesting motors. Lunatics in Caterhams, where wind chill must have been -10C And the AWD cheats Then a couple of Santa specials Cracking day out with Trackday Solutions, the lower than usual grip made for some epic moments, saved about £20 in petrol and probably similar in tyres & brake pads, and I managed my first big spin - glad to have got it out the way! Turns out the traction control on the Mazda is perfectly set up to make you feel both a bit of a hero and safe enough to take outrageous liberties, then point and laugh at you when you switch it off 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Muxlow Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 Nice. That does look blooming cold though. Kudos to the guys with the open tops 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy james Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 A track day with a free taster course in drifting! Looks fun but bloody cold. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted December 20, 2022 Author Share Posted December 20, 2022 9 minutes ago, andy james said: A track day with a free taster course in drifting! Looks fun but bloody cold. There was a strong briefing along the lines of, “this is not an opportunity for drifting!” 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 I remember doing a day at Castle Combe in similar conditions in an R300, -6c air temp and go knows what wind chill. Could only stand 10mins on track before rushing back to the truck to sit with the heater on 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlanGT Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 Definitely one of the top days this year. Also a new challenge of learning how to make the rear of the car stay in check on the cold surface! Roll on 2023 track season 😎 (and Zed purchase 👀) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted Saturday at 13:34 Author Share Posted Saturday at 13:34 It's been a bit quiet on Mazda life over winter, but 2023 track season kicked off this month for me at Cadwell. Not got many photos, but have a few vids and the pro shots. Setting the early morning scene here https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMY9FPt4T/ - yeah that's right, I'm down with the yoof on the Bebo and the Myspace and even the Tiktok. As you can see, it was a wet and wild day, full of red flags and ginetta juniors mowing grass, a nice Zed out, Mini Marcos and a few 2CV endurance machines. I didn't get much opportunity to compare my times last year with this, unless you count this side by side of summer time in the sun and the bleak winter ice cold track and rain. I love the wet days though for the slip n slide action, less fun in the paddock though. Since then I took her to Yorkshire Car Restoration, who started off as Mazda specialists, to take first strike action against then enemy of MX-5s, the dreaded rust. Despite mine being a very clean example, it still came with some rusty bits, most of which are in the bin and replace with suspension and brace upgrades, but you can't be too careful with Mk3s. The rear subframe and cills and rear arches love to rust, so before that set in, I had the lot wire brushed, converted and protected. They have both an interesting Youtube channel https://youtube.com/@yorkshirecarrestoration and a very friendly owner, who was nice enough to let me take a few snaps when I was nosing around the workshop. Mazda RX variants all over the place. Cheeky DB6 A fairly gorgeous looking Jaaaaaaag A bit of Pork that was having serious work done (check the youtube) Look at this rare little number. There was loads more, assorted MX-5s, a Datsun, BMWs, you name it. Not many photos of my car, I didn't ask, but the guys did take some photos, after I requested that my new bits and pieces were set to one side and kept free of rust treatment. The braces are not a problem but I did not want my lovely Ohlins all coated in schmutz. I had my cavity inspected and pumped (oooo errr) and blocked off to deal with one of Mazda's more curious choices (no it's not a drain hole). Although I didn't request photos, they were good enough to send me a few to show they'd respected my wishes. All in all, money well spent, which I am hoping will save me ££££££ in the long run. I can't speak highly enough of the company, easy to book and discuss work, all sorted on time and within a sensible budget. If you need rot sorting on anything and you're within a couple of hours of Doncaster/S****horpe, I'd highly recommend. As you can see, my little Mazda was the poor relation to some of the other stock, which made me feel a bit special lined up with all the prestige stuff. Now I', ready for the weather and more trackdays. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEADPHONES Posted Saturday at 19:16 Share Posted Saturday at 19:16 "you can't see anything and it's 3 degrees" You LEGENDS Wasn't expecting to see a Citroen 2CV! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted Sunday at 08:34 Share Posted Sunday at 08:34 Lovely work, enjoyed that. An alcantra steering wheel feels so sporty, nice move. Enjoyed that and love the vid with the commentary from Toto 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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