Confused track/drift Eunos

[titch]

Figured since I was starting to spend more time on here, i'd get a build thread up, it's nowhere near as special as most of the cars on here, but, meh. There's lots of poor pictures, and a lot of them are of pointless stuff, I just never know what to add and what not to add, so I put most of them in...

The whole thing came about because my last car failed it's MOT (annual inspection) a month before I was due to go the the Nurburgring, someone suggested a Mazda, I found one on my phone, mailed the guy, and went to look at it the next day (less than a week before my holiday).

It's a Eunos S Special, so came with the Bilsteins, BBS etc, and some rather nice (mk2?) leathers...

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9293179.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9293178.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9293186.jpg

I went to the 'Ring, did this:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/karussell1.jpg

The car never missed a beat, and amazed me at how stable it was in corners, but felt as though it was lacking in straight line power. Managed a 10:54 BTG, which I didn't think was too bad considering i'd had it less than a week and there was some traffic at certain points (and I had the roof down, and lights up, just to bugger the aerodynamics ;))

Then went on my first proper trackday in it:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/DSC_2763.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/DSC_2816.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/DSC_3784.jpg

Showing off my poor driving:fp::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVIzZK8XDa8

Got a load of parts, with the main ones being some Panasports (14x6.5 ET19), and some coilovers.

Here's how it looked then, after respraying the Panasports, quite badly.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P2094770.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P2205312.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P2205313.jpg

Sold the Panasports (biggest mistake yet) and went back to the stock BBSs:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/190815_10150437278155074_603095073_18006170_685172 6_o.jpg

Sold the leathers, and did a bit of this:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/5580443844_ebcd674432_o.jpg

Then, bought some new wheels, some 15x6.5 ET32 Impul RSs:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P4095597.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P4095590.jpg

Fitted my Bride Zeta 2 and OMP harness:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P4175635.jpg

Did some more track time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KTegzlPpFA&feature=player_embedded

[titch]

Decided I was gonna keep it nice and comfy inside, and only strip weight where it didn't matter, so did the rear shelf, and took all the sound deadening out from under the carpet:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2011-04-25171136.jpg

Did more drifting:
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228047_10150187361586965_567771964_7397403_5939181 _n.jpg


Went to a show and got given a ticket for an autotest. Hey ho, it's free, why not. Went out round it, and ran a 28.something on my first 2 runs, and a 27.6 on my final run, but hitting 2 cones in the process, 5s penalty each, gutted. After watching for a bit, we asked what the quickest time of the day was. Turns out it would have been mine if I had a clean run.
Game on!
£10 down, another 3 runs purchased and back out. A few high 27s, and then, on my last run, a clean 27.2s. Ave it!!!! Car was an understeery little bitch out there though, courtesy of a pair of almost dead (well, one being completely dead after that) Eagle F1s. So what it'dve done with a set of decent tyres all round, I don't know. But I was bloody happy either way.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/226392_10150629742620381_804865380_18726372_129324 _n.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/225257_10150629742100381_804865380_18726366_414118 7_n.jpg

Did more track time, and for the first time, actually pushed the car a bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzrRImE_ZSo&feature=player_embedded

Plan of keeping the comfort went out the window, and the carpets came out...
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2011-06-24173637.jpg

Also, got my alignment done, my rear toe was 8 degree out, any wonder it wanted to oversteer so much...

More drifting:
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/268999_10150237491557473_521532472_7562756_528263_ n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268769_10150237490877473_521532472_7562740_4602819 _n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1xH1_eAr0g&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t84oGXExmtE&feature=player_embedded

Took the advice of the guy who aligned the car, and raised it a bit: then went for more track time.

It was the first trackday i'd done since getting the car aligned, so I was eager to see how it went. On low-mid speed corner exits, it still oversteered somewhat, but it's a hell of a lot more stable overall. I managed to pass a few Elises, and even an Exige later in the day (despite my camera dying), but sharing the track with 3 Atoms and 2 Lotus 2Elevens, along with a host of other Lotus meant I was getting my arse well and truly handed to me most of the day. Got a couple of vids, and a fair few pics of the car. Going back out after dinner, and I actually got told by the organisers to back off a bit, because I was pushing a little too hard. :oops:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_0156_exposure.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_3832_exposure.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_0742_exposure.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfR-1FUihnk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ3UALqh6ZA&feature=player_embedded

Got, and fitted an OEM front lip:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6141/6002287180_8d1723fb8b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/titchster/6002287180/)
MX5 at Awesomefest 2011. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/titchster/6002287180/) by titchster (http://www.flickr.com/people/titchster/), on Flickr

Did more drifting:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/skid.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/310521_10150292898312473_521532472_8138179_3496553 _n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hrDmwWxKjc&feature=player_embedded

[titch]

Resprayed the wheels, and bought a Personal steering wheel, the difference from the OEM Momo is unreal:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6066/6106693297_4e2eb7229d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/titchster/6106693297/)
What's going on in here? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/titchster/6106693297/) by titchster (http://www.flickr.com/people/titchster/), on Flickr


Got hold of a Fujitsubo Legalis R, and a pair of canards (they probably do FA, but they look cool):
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9189675.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9189668.jpg

Moar drifts:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/310499_10150305228287374_508632373_8141860_9150061 _n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpTHuxaqpEc&feature=player_embedded

Wall tap:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/311690_10150302364591965_567771964_8389847_1562635 594_n.jpg

Did this:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/PA159775.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2011-10-17003109.jpg
132.2bhp, and 115lb/ft.

More track time:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_2622.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_2878.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/PA219854.jpg

Only got one vid on the day, and I was really lucky I did, since I have a rather 'interesting' tussle with a car that I think I would have struggled to post, without being called a liar. Bloke came over for a chat after, and was a great guy, and even admitted to being on track tyres (someone later said he was on R888s)... Oh, and note me shouting 'Catch it, catch it' half way through, he got the mother of all tank slappers, what must have been full lock, to full lock, to full lock, before actually managing to catch it! I wanted him to catch it, purely on the basis that I was having so much fun. My proudest car related moment yet:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOMEu5Tjyv0&feature=player_embedded

More track time still (pretty poor vids), my brakes had gone through their first proper heat cycle earlier in the day since fitting new pads, so I wasn't on full attack:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/OA0V1587.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/OA0V1665.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/OA0V1763.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn-8MHau9o0&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDXYIDaD2iI&feature=player_embedded

Bought some new wheels (ET50:fp:) Volk NRS copies.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P1031020.jpg

[titch]

More drifts:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/IMG_4045.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/JL4C1147.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/JL4C1152.jpg

Fitted a pair of aerocatches and cut my back bumper (after inspiration from here and CR):
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2012-01-11173852-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P1281071.jpg

Got a matching Bride, and did some more skidding:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P1121054.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7029/6777601757_ece96af311_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cradotography81/6777601757/)
IMG_0523 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cradotography81/6777601757/) by CallumCraddy@Trackblog (http://www.flickr.com/people/cradotography81/), on Flickr
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404288_332452233455997_302737843094103_1008042_201 8481430_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420689_332927276741826_302737843094103_1008981_487 612332_n.jpg

And, most recently, swapped the OEM 1.8 rear brace bar for one a guy over on Nutz made, sure there's probably no advantage, but it looks cool:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2012-02-08144320.jpg

[morr]

Great work so far! Good to see you're getting plenty of seat time.

[Frenchmanremy]

Nice thread!

[George]

It's good to see a car that actually is driven like it should:)

[chavy]

great videos! what coilovers are you running? are you N/A?

[stormin'norman]

Oh man loving this! Your drifting shots and video have me wanting to give it a go at some point.

[titch]

Cheers guys, it's a helluva lot of fun, that I do know!

George, I feel famous now, having seen a picture on your FB page! Haha.

Chavy, yes, i'm still N/A, do really want boost, but simply can't afford it ATM.

stormin', Lexi plays a fair old part in me still having this, you get so much track time that I get major jealousy, haha!

[Blackbird]

You need to do some thinking about your life and how to maintain it.
All that good fun that you're having with your car can turn nasty in a split second.

Moti

[titch]

I know exactly what you're on about, and it's been in the back of my mind for a long time, hopefully, it'll not be too long before a roll bar makes its way in there, it's long overdue.

[titch]

Bought a hardtop, yes, it's white (Honda Champ White, to be precise), plans are to do/get it done black at some point. And, on a smaller note, i've fitted a 'Mazda' sticker on the front bumper, similar to ones that were on some of the early models, but it's slightly bigger, and i'm not too sure about it.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P2191255.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P2191246.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P2191259.jpg

Car was clean on Friday, pretty upset 'cos it was filthy by the time i'd got back from picking the roof up. :(

[titch]

OK, I've avoided this forum for the past month, because I've been intending on selling up (and coming on this forum would've dissuaded me within seconds), but i've decided against it (for the 4th time in a year), so I thought i'd head back across.

Roof's went for spraying. And before I got it back, I sold it.:cry2:

Tagged along with a group of friends to a 1/4 mile event, just to see what the Mazda would run. Googling gave loads of forum posts from people saying they'd run mid 16s, so meh. I knew I wasn't gonna be setting any records, but i'd have an idea what it runs.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/431689_10151388997190074_603095073_23698312_499320 221_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421636_10151388998065074_603095073_23698314_785187 220_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426975_10151388954680074_603095073_23698071_495753 128_n.jpg


Despite Parada Spec 2s being utterly, utterly shit, and this being the first time i've launched the car properly, so it all being practice, and varying launch techniques, I was impressed with the times.
First run, against an Impreza estate that ran a 12.9 was a 16.04 @ 85.70mph, with a 60' of 2.46s.
Second run, against an RS4 Avant that ran a 12 flat was a 16.003 @ 86.35mph, with a 60' of 2.44s
Third run, against I can't remember what, that ran a 13.5, was a 16.004 @ 85.87mph, with a 60' of 2.41s


So, very consistent, but also tells me that i'm so, so close to running a 15, all it would've taken is for me to ditch the passenger seat before I went down, or a better set of tyres, and i'dve been in the 15s without doubt.


I then did a run in a mate's EP3 Civic, he'd been running 15.9s all day, and ran a 15.1 on his last run, first time i'd ever driven a Civic, so I wasn't even remotely used to it, and I ran a 15.1, so I reckon with a bit of practice, I coulda done a 14...

It was on that day, seeing an EG Civic running mid-14s that got me wanting a Civic again, so I started to put the car back to a more habitable state.


In went the carpets. Gay heavyweight spec, but it's actually a really nice place to be now, if ya get what I mean?

Got a bit of a cool phone pic...
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/2012-03-23131643.jpg

Went out and got a video of the exhaust, something i'd been meaning to do for some time. It's on it's side, but that doesn't matter, since there's nothing to actually see anyway...

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/th_DSCF1022.jpg (http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/?action=view&current=DSCF1022.mp4)

And then, the weekend just gone, I went and did some more drifting (the game changer, I realised that selling would be a pretty dumb thing to do):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/6933546110_98f8b6968f_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/7079613937_7ec7bcbd61_b.jpg

Pics from ej9.co.uk, obviously. Check out his post here. (http://ej9.co.uk/?p=1049)



So, now, plans are to get:
- A roll bar,
- Some lower offset wheels, so they don't look lost in the arches, although i've got no idea what style yet,
- Possibly a new exhaust, thinking of getting one custom made, so I can have it a bit louder. Just need to decide what style tailpipe to go for, two options i'm considering are;

Angled (like Corksports):
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm205/Dadombomb15/DSC_0613.jpg

Or, downturned (like J's Racing & Toda exhausts for the Hondas (only single exit though, obviously))
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Jp3v6pE1T0I/S9oyv5edFBI/AAAAAAAACnk/0TSUVPcBPrY/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG

And, i'm also considering some lock spacers or the such like to help with angle when i'm skidding...

I'm also looking at a spoiler-less boot (trunk) and now i've got some paint lying around that I was gonna use on the interior, i'm thinking about using it to make stuff like the lower arms look more prettyful.

[WASABI]

Titch,

Great story so far! What fun, with all the seat time, and in so many different racing types; is there anything this car can't do? Subscribed for updates.

-Jim

[titch]

Hurr, win at drag racing? Or a stance competition?:teehee:

[WASABI]

Hurr, win at drag racing? Or a stance competition?:teehee:

True, but, at least you can compete at least!

http://www.dragtimes.com/Mazda--Miata-MX5-Drag-Racing.html

[titch]

Touche.

[titch]

Couple more cool pics from the drift event, check out the smoke, yeah buddy!

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/bux4.jpgå
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/bux3.jpg


OK, so, onto the new stuff....

When I was considering selling, the carpets went back in, and TBH, it's a nice place to be again, it's like being in a normal car once again, but I don't feel as connected to the pedals anymore. Meh, i'm getting used to it now.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/377f7a9c.jpg

Can just see my 'new' head unit in that pic too, iPod connectivity FTW.


And, in my bid to make myself happier with the car, i've started to change a couple of bits, first up, I hammerited some of the bits in the arches, doesn't look particularly tidy with the wheels off, but with them on, it doesn't look bad, and from behind it looks cleaner underneath. I also fitted a boot lid without a spoiler, for a simpler look, and most noticeably, a new set of wheels.

14x6 OZ F1s w/ 185/60 tyres. They're ET36, and TBH, don't sit too bad in the arches, but i'm contemplating 25mm spacers... They're relatively light too, if the delivery note was anything to go by, they're roughly 13kg each, with tyres. Can tell they're considerably lighter than my old ones, that's for sure.

(Tyre shine fail, grey tyres look shit...)


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/265ba631.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/Untitled-18-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/Untitled-19.jpg

[NAautoxer]

panas looked the best. impuls looked pretty bitchin too.. not feelin the others. glad you're having fun with it!

[titch]

I loved the Panas, pretty gutted I sold them, pretty happy with the new ones, though.

[titch]

Nothing massive to report just yet, although a change of wheels are already on the horizon. Fed up of not being able to find 14" tyres in a decent size, for a decent price. So i'm going back to 15s, and something I know i'll be happy with. images/smilies/smile.gif Anyway, did Japfest. Epic weekend, loads of sun, loved it.

Couple of pics I found on Nutz:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2143.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2457.jpg

Then did PPC In The Park. Not sunny, not ideal weather, but a great day, non-the-less, and I decided to do a bit of track time there this year, just to see what Mallory was ilke. Track time was... hectic, and I think both of my videos are unusable, courtesy of me getting annoyed at people out dragging me on the straights and holding me up in the corners. Seems normal track etiquette goes out the window more at that show than any other...
But, on the other hand, the track itself doesn't seem bad TBF, maybe need to do a proper day there at some point. I did, however, manage to drive into one of the gates coming off track, which upset me a bit. But, surprisingly, not as much as i'd expected.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/IMG_5105.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/IMG_8936.jpg

Couple of days after that, I finally got round to swapping my non-locking aerocatches (complete with a missing bolt) for a pair of locking ones. So now, I can ditch the OEM latch. Also resprayed my front lip, since the Japfest pictures pointed out to me just how bad it had got.

So, today I decided to go out and try for a few pics of it. Head out, roof down, sun almost starting to set, that magical hour, where everything starts glowing orange. Then, suddenly, a few spots of rain on the windscreen, no biggy, i'll pull in at the upcoming lay-by (400yds marker) and get a few shots, before it rains properly. Before i'd even got to said lay-by, this happened...

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282747.jpg

Well, suppose we were asking a bit too much with almost a week of nice weather... Decided to brave it, and get a few shots, before the lightning got any closer.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282748.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282750.jpg

Within half an hour, it looked to brighten up, so I set out again, this time heading the opposite direction, where, oddly, it was bone dry.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282776.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282767.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282782.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282793.jpg

And the interior, as it stands, with carpet et al.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P5282806.jpg

On the way home, you could actually see where the rain had, and hadn't been. One moment it was dry, and then, suddenly, the road was completely sodden. Weird. Anyway, yeah, new side mounts for the driver's seat are on the way, so that'll sit lower soon. New wheels coming, which, I know will need a pair of tyres. And, hopefully, i'll be able to afford a roll bar (and maybe, although unlikely, a hardtop?) at some point before I head back to the 'Ring. In other news, exhaust's staying, after the track time at Mallory reminded me of just how nice it sounds under full load.

[titch]

Got a few bits done recently, starting with something i've been wanting to do for a while now, and that's painting the arms etc, it's not brilliant, in fact, it's a mess, hell, i've missed the under side of the top arms, but, from behind, the arms etc look considerably cleaner, so that's good.

They were done about a month ago, so they look a mess again in the pics, but never mind.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/0a4a9a5c.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/1923b91c.jpg


Changed the exhaust rubbers on the back box for some uprated ones too. No gains, but I had them lying around from my old car, so figured why not put them to use?


Interior's back to lightweight/looking like a mess mode. Well, it's saved about 2kg, superlightweightmobile. Can see in the picture that i've finally got my driver's seat mounted on the super low mounts.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/99c6168f.jpg

And then, got a friend (who I only ever seem to get in touch with when I need taking somewhere, lol, sorry man!) to take me to pick up my old wheels the other day. They've been sat unused, they've still got my old Rainsports on, and even still got the remainder of the tyre shine on that was on them when I sold em!

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/64442cf3-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/d0f17263-1.jpg

Crappy pics, but meh.


Oh yeah, notice the lack of white spot on the back bumper? Hammerite. Yes, up close, it looks an absolute mess, from a distance, and on pictures, it looks spot on. And, tbf, even up close, it looks better than the big white spot...

Got a pair of 5mm spacers off a mate for free, so chucked them on the back, obviously they've not made a massive difference, but it does look a little bit betterer. No pics though, cos i'm nice like that.


New gear knob turned up. Many thanks to SS. GarageStar knob, with a 2.75" extender. It extends the throw a bit, but it's not a great deal, and it's nice with it being a bit closer to the steering wheel. Makes it feel smoother through the gears too.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/3b3b702e.jpg

Got my sunstrip on, just in time for Blyton. Which, might I add, went well. I had slight brake issues through the day, one of my rears was binding slightly, but not enough to stop play, new pads ordered, next month i'll get some new discs and fluid ordered, and get all the new stuff on. Had fun, shared the driving with a friend who's not done much track driving for a while, so figured i'd help him get back on track, lol. And I just loved the day, was there with a group of friends, who, although I had no chance against - they were all running sticky tyres, and a couple had big turbos - just made it a great day. Although, I do now want stickier tyres. The Rainsports are great, but I just can't help thinking it'll be a weapon on proper tyres.

I managed to chase down another MX5 that i'd seen was on sticky tyres. Went for a wander down after, and it was on Dunlop D03Gs, and a quick peek under the bonnet revealed a turbo... Odd though, since mine was actually quicker on the straights too, so i'm not too sure what the story was. Also managed to chase down an Elise when I took a mate out, much to his amusement.

Only photo i've found of me on track so far is from Javelin's site...
http://www.javelintrackdays.co.uk/trackday/index.php?view=image&format=raw&type=img&id=6781&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=13

Will need to get round to buying the CD at some point, so i've got some decent pics, since I completely forgot on the day.

And the only video I got was of me chasing down the turbo MX5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tQ_ag55RQo


A bit gutted the camera wasn't on when I was out at another point - I thought it was actually on and my drift experience finally came in handy, when going round a long left hander (Lancaster, for those who know), the rear let go, I threw a bit of opposite lock on and held it, quite scary, since it was the only part of the track where there's something to hit, but I felt like a complete hero when I managed to sustain the slide, and not spin.

Exhaust rubber slipped off at some point during the day, and, erm, melted a bit, lol.
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/cd85ca1b.jpg

Few pics I got of the car, which IMO looks mean as hell with the combination light out:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P6202887.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P6202886.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P6202881.jpg


And finally, my pair of 5mm spacers turned up today, so i've now got 5mm all round, not a massive difference, but a difference still.

Before:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/0923f4e9.jpg

After:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/6a235a27.jpg



So, yeah, as said, new pads are ordered, new discs and fluid next month, then it can all go on, can't believe how quickly this thing chews through pads, they only seem to last 6 months at a time, yet it's so efficient on them when it's on track, unless there's a problem, they don't fade, they bite hard constantly, and they've got plenty of stopping power, even on cheap pads.
Will be needing new tyres too, i'm hopefully gonna be getting some part worn Rainsports for quite cheap, but ideally, I want to slowly move onto more sticky tyres, so i'd like to get round to buying a pair of Federal 595 RS-Rs maybe next month, and then maybe a pair in August, just in time for my 'Ring trip.

Still need a roll bar/cage at some point too, and then, I can start to consider more power.

[titch]

So, uhhh, yeah, where were we?

Went and did some more skids. Getting happier with how i'm doing every time.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/43fg546y.jpg

Figured i'd better get the interior painted before a show that was upcoming (that ended badly, with me leaving not only my camera at home, but my ticket and stand pass, if you're gonna fail, do it properly, eh?). The interior's nothing particularly special - it's been brush painted FFS - but it still looks much tidier than before. ECU cover/passenger footplate is probably my favourite bit, rattle canned, and not even prepped or primered.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/033d4c61.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/51bd881d.jpg


Stuck some grip tape in, for anti-slippage, but to stop my shoes rubbing through the paint, as they'd done before.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/c00cc632.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153165.jpg


Fitted new shifter boots, and a Delrin tip from MiataRoadster.

Before:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/9c966ac1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/03e60b8d.jpg


After:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/9088f606.jpg



And, most recently, i've done the one thing I shoulda done as soon as I bought the car, and got a roll bar in. Carbing 4 point to be precise. I'm really surprised at how much of a difference it's made, the car doesn't rattle or squeak half as much as it did before.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153149.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153150.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153152.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153155.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153157.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P7153160.jpg


Booked onto an evening track session on Tuesday evening, so very interested to see how noticeable the difference of the roll bar will be on track. Also means I can mount my camera on one of the rear legs, rather than trying to get it high enough while mounted on the harness bar.

[titch]

So yesterday, I was at Cadwell Park for an evening session, once again, it's done me proud.

Absolutely love this little car. Was really happy to pass a couple of cars that should've left me for dead - a 996 Carrera S for one - and did very well against a friend's car that i'd expected to absolutely annihilate me. Very happy. Had my camera mounted on one of the roll bar rear legs, so it's in a different location to normal, and gives quite an interesting viewpoint, can see the pedals, but not very far ahead of the car.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_6034.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_6035.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_6083.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_6159.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/XSP_6217.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/016.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/020.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/074.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/077.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/096.jpg


And my video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PoPLCF-W_A

The rattle on my way to the track started on the way there, and seems to be the rear shelf, very annoying. The high pitched faint rattle on track has been there since I got the car (the noticeable rattle on track is the camera/mount), and i'm 99% sure is a heat shield, and the squeaking i'm fairly sure is suspension related, hoping it's not my coil overs. :(

[titch]

Went up to my good friend Ricky's yesterday, and got him to fit me my oil temp and water temp gauges. Water temp gauge isn't actually functional ATM, but it's in so that it kinda evens it all out.

Crappy pic of the gauges, but that's to be expected from me by now, lol...
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5%20vs%20Civic/P7233336.jpg

Got home, washed, polished and waxed the car, then went for a drive up to the Cat & Fiddle (often said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the UK, courtesy of the many bikers who've had incidents on it, it's an awesome driving road...) with a mate:

Absolutely love this picture, car looks so clean:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5%20vs%20Civic/P7233340.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5%20vs%20Civic/P7233316.jpg

[titch]

So last weekend I went to a rolling road day, same rollers as i've run on before, and the car made 4hp more (136bhp vs 132bhp) and more torque too, all that's changed is we've advanced the timing to 16deg BTDC, so it obviously makes some difference.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/d3b5a814.jpg

Tried on a BGW:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/4cc4b466-1.jpg



While I was there, I got talking to a mate who was there to look at buying another MX5 (a turbo one, which he's since took me out in, fuuuuuuck me it's awesome), and he mentioned he'd be breaking his old one (the BGW above actually came off his). That meant a hardtop i'd owned previously was back for sale, and he had a load of other goodies available too. I said i'd buy the hardtop back, and also his KG Works ducktail... (this first one's one of my favourite shots of the car so far)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P8163495-1.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P8163508.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P8163520.jpg

Rattle canned the hardtop black, and while it's not an even remotely decent finish, it's now black, instead of red, so that's better than nowt.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P8173610.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P8173613.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P8173617.jpg

[tsingson]

A lot of great track shots man! Keep it up!

[atank]

Looks like lots of fun!

[titch]

Cheers guys, a lot of fun it is!

[titch]

So, just back from the Nurburgring. 2nd time there with the car, 3rd time there overall. Best year yet. Car was awesome as ever. I 'didn't' time any laps, and 'didn't' do a 9:48 (with a 100kg passenger too)... So I 'wasn't' almost a minute quicker than the last time I 'didn't' time my lap when the car was standard. I've got no doubt it could go faster without a passenger, and if I were to treat it like a proper track, but I have no intentions of doing that and risking doing damage and running up a bill.

Think new pads may soon be needed (Fluid most definitely will be, hasn't been changed properly (bleeding after new calipers aside) since not long after buying the car). Brakes were fine for the most part, but seemed to struggle with heat capacity, towards the middle of a lap (Wehrseifen - Bergwerk, the long uphill section after seemed to give them time to cool) they started to go a bit long and lose bite, despite me not having had trouble on any UK circuits, so I guess it's just the fact that the pads are already getting a bit thin and the fluid is shot.


Parked in the hotel:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9023820.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9013789.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9013791.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/3408.jpg

And a couple of shots i've found of it on track:


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/487493.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/377732.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/26.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/21.jpg


So, yeah. I wanna go back there already.


And a couple from JAE (I love it with the hardtop on, even if it is a bit hot on days like JAE was on):

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9084562.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/P9084564.jpg


Really think aside from painting the hardtop and wheels properly, and tidying the paintwork up, it's about done exterior wise.

[titch]

So... I went through the phase of selling it AGAIN. Had some guy looking at it for a swap for his EG Civic, but in the end decided it wasn't the best idea, since he has a kid. I started getting it ready to sell, put the carpet back in, sorted the rather serious oil leak (nothing more than the rocker cover thank God), got some fresh oil and rear brake pads, put a thread up on here for some seats, and was all ready to go and collect a pair from a guy...

But then a mate persuaded me to go up to Buxton again. I'll leave my car at home, and that way I won't be swayed into keeping it. How wrong I was, just being there, going out as a passenger with a mate (in a 5 series touring, of all things!) reminded me of how much fun it is, not only that, but how much of an awesome atmosphere there is. So - much to the annoyance of friends on FB - I decided it was staying again. This time, however, I intend on keeping it a bit tidier, the carpet's staying in, etc.

While I was fixing the aforementioned oil leak, I took the opportunity to spray my rocker cover. It's Metallic black, with a dusting of Peugeot Cherry red:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/A8EA31E9-F4A9-425C-8009-34C3C7F4AF58-1800-000001DA4DD43555.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/243C80CD-23AF-4983-A9F5-B17CB6CAED31-1800-000001DA5275A3E3.jpg


Then I did something i'd been wanting to do for some time, and removed the soft top. It was an extra 16kg (as weighed by myself) that I was lugging around. Not only that, but it was about as high up as it could be, ruining the CoG etc etc. So i'm a hardtop only guy now.


Not to mention the fact that the rear shelf looks considerably tidier without the soft top folded up on there.

Cue a couple of obligatory shitty dirty car whoring shots (phone, i'm afraid)...

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/D65D6138-0696-4F9F-9E94-321B785AEFFA-1800-000001DA3DEAAF6E.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/F48A5F15-0561-4CAA-A4B2-5D7B083986FF-1800-000001DA44DF1112.jpg


Couple of quick pics from a pretty huge event, that i'd forgotten about (read about the event here ;) http://titch.combustionpunks.co.uk/?p=267):

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/PA144802.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/PA144805.jpg


Went to Buxton, did more skids:


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/5344.jpg

Guess which was the outside tyre for the majority of the time:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/324.jpg


Went to a local Jap meet:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/43565.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/PB044918.jpg



Replaced my drop links, guess this could be the cause for a clunk i'd been getting...
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/234.jpg


Replaced my brake pads all round, rattle canned my front lip quickly (again), and rattle canned my ducktail so instead of it being grey/black, it's now black/black.

And, most recently, I got my hardtop bolted on with Jass' mounts. Chassis rigidity increased, less squeaks etc:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/10A2D248-1639-4B72-A707-E57D3DAECD88-2346-00000220CAB87637.jpg

Tight fit with the cage:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/9450D10B-A025-4032-A163-415D442C9964-2346-00000220D749D136.jpg


Number plate's relocated to the side, using a Jass mount too, looks 1000x better:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/220FF235474.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff26/titchster/MX5/2210365758F.jpg


All being well, that'll be about it now, a new pair of front wings will be needed at some point, a brake fluid change, and hopefully an MDF front splitter, but other than that, I don't intend on spending too much on it now.