Li'l Stinker (NC Content)

[Johnnie]

I forgot about this thread!

Let's see, back in April 2013 I was getting ready to install a roll bar.
Here it in May of 2013.
Install was easy, but required wedging into the car with the z-fold top up for part of the job. If I had to do it again, I'd just go ahead and remove the soft top to avoid all the extra contortions.

Toward the end of 2014, I got a set of lightweight 17x7.5 +42 Motegi MR125 wheels for street duty.



The MR125 is a wheel that only looks good from certain angles and looks awkward from some other angles. I wasn't completely satisfied.

Around that time, I got a deal on a set of used RPF1s in 17x7.5 +48 This had been my first choice for street wheels all along. The Motegis are now stacked up in the garage minus tires.


Scotty at Spinnywhoosh made me some center cap decals


This spring, I had to do some pretty aggressive cutting (wet-sanding, to tell the truth) to get the cone rash off the car. Cone scuffs come right off if you clean them off promptly. If you let cone scum bake into the paint for months on end in the FL sun, it's a different story.

Shiny again, I went back for the monthly reapplication of cone rash.


I got a tune somewhere along the way, raising the rev limit, which helps squeeze out a few extra mph in second gear.


Last winter, I had grown tired of looking at the ugliness that is a poorly maintained polished hood, so I painted it flat black. (not pictured, because it really doesn't look very cool) When I can put back a little something extra, I am having the hood returned to its original Sunlight Silver.

[Johnnie]

Back to stock. After a few years with the 320 mm Momo, it feels somewhat akin to driving a bus. Untitled by John Evans, on Flickr

[— Phatmiata —]

what if you polish the hood and clear coat seal it, would that help keep the shine?

[Johnnie]

what if you polish the hood and clear coat seal it, would that help keep the shine?

Too late. I painted it flat black last year. I'm going to have it returned to body color soon.

[— Phatmiata —]

The Devil went down to Florida. He was lookin' for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind. He was willing to make a deal
When he came across this young man autocrossin' his Miata and drivin' it hot.
And the Devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said;

"Boy, let me tell you what."

"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a auto crosser, too.
And if you'd care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you.
Now you drive a pretty good Miata, boy, but give the Devil his due.
I'll bet a Miata of gold against your soul 'cause I think I'm better than you."



The boy said, "My name's Johnnie, and it might be a sin,
But I'll take your bet; and you're gonna regret 'cause I'm the best there's ever been."

Johnnie, rev up your engine and drive your Miata hard.
'Cause Hell's broke loose in Florida and the Devil deals it hard.
And if you win you get this shiny Miata made of gold,
But if you lose the devil gets your soul.

The Devil opened up his Miata and he said, "I'll start this show."
And fire flew from his exhaust tips as he revved his Miata to go.
As he pulled the Miata across the starting line it made an evil hiss.
And a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this.




When the Devil finished driving, Johnnie said, "Well, you're pretty good ol' son,
But sit down in that chair right there and let me show you how it's done."

and he drove...

"Fire on the Mountain." Run, boys, run!
The Devil's in the house of the rising sun;
Chicken's in the bread pan picking out dough.
Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, no.




The Devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat.
And he laid the keys to that golden Miata on the ground near Johnny's feet.
Johnnie said, "Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again,
I done told you once—you son of a bitch—I'm the best that's ever been."




And he autocrossed again:

"Fire on the Mountain." Run, boys, run!
The Devil's in the house of the rising sun;
The chicken's in the bread pan picking out dough.
Granny, will your dog bite? No, child, no.

[Wesramos]

The best thing I've read all year way to make the song 10x better hahaha

[— Phatmiata —]

for the guys that don't know what we're talking about, here is a more modern version of the Southern Classic that was animated, pretty funny. I wish they had used the original song by the Charlie Daniels Band though.

[Johnnie]

I lol'd. Good one, Phat!
Edit: The more I think about it the more I like it. Made my day!

[Johnnie]

On the brakes in the finish chute at our club's season finale. I would go on to take out a wall of cones and rip up some plastic under the right front bumper. It'l all zip-tied in place, but I'm going to have to get an order together.

[Johnnie]

Sanded off the crappy matte black paint and back to bare aluminum. It's not great, but I like it better than the matte black. Not sure what's next. It will do for now.

[— Phatmiata —]

It was polished, what happened ???

[Johnnie]

It was polished, what happened ???

I got tired of trying to maintain it and thought I was going to paint it. I put matte black on it. Didn't like it.

Can't afford a proper color-matched paint job right now, so I'm back with bare aluminum.

It's going to patina ugly really quickly, but I'm formulating a plan to get it cleaned up and get some clear on it. I may go just short of full polish and try to work a satin effect. Got to get some abrasive paper for the DA sander and figure out what kind of coating to get.