Thank you mustanghammer. I can't begin to tell you how much fun I'm having. I did miss out on three races last year due to alternator failure (had to be towed home on a flat bed ) or other electrical issues. I've since upgraded to a bigger 75 amp alternator and have re-wired the car again. This year it's been 3 races completed without any issues. The car is extremely stable and confidence inspiring so I've decided to leave it alone and concentrate on driving smoother. Of course I'm always at the tail end of Improved Touring A but I don't care as I'm having an absolute blast. The APEX PRO Digital Driving Coach is a great tool for a beginner like myself. I have data that I can now use in conjunction with my GoPro video. I apologize for thread jacking. @mustanghammer - please feel free to critique and thank you for the great advice

 

Hopefully 2Tallfor7 does not feel hijacked as the discussion has moved away from advice about his rear suspension. But as most of the racers chiming in here have had their racing season shortened or dissolved, we get excited about talking first-gen race-cars. All the advice here has been solid but 2Tall, build it the way you want and feel free to share. I have always appreciated the advice and knowledge that this site offers. I joined this site looking for a source for parts but found it to be much more valuable than just that.

Back to the original topic... If you do not have a set or tires and wheels in the size you plan to run, I would invest in that, even if they are old and used. I could not have built my rear-end with out it. At first, I used some spare tires and wheels off my track Miata. I wish I had a old set of cantilever slicks as I discovered that they bulged out on the middle of the side-wall more than I anticipated and discovered that the clearance went from good to marginal.

I enjoyed watching mikevillena's video. You really do look like you are having fun. I really can't critique about other drivers' style or skill but noticed two things: I think you slow down more than is necessary for passing cars. It is quite generous and polite but faster cars shouldn't expect you to lift, alter your line or braking. The other item is that your transmission seems to rotate a bit on cornering. Makes me wonder if mine do the same. Will make sure to watch for this at my next race.

 

Yes, the gearbox does move around a bit. I might have a broken engine mount so I'll take a look. As to my "deferring" to faster traffic, I'd rather lift and stay clear as much as possible as the leading group were having a spirited race amongst themselves. My race group included STL Miatas and MX5 Cup cars with experienced AND aggressive drivers. If you've ever seen a Spec Miata race, these guys are twice as "enthusiastic" As it was, I compromised several laps but I got good data and was consistent. Most of all, I had a TON of fun! AND, I got the final sign-off from the Chief Steward so I can take down the "X" on the car. Next race will find me with a Full Comp License and I won't be as deferential.
EDIT: BTW, I was waving like a newly crowned beauty queen at the corner workers as I have spent several seasons volunteering as a corner worker myself and I know what a thankless and sometimes miserable job it is. As we used to say: "No wave, no save".

 

Check your front motor mounts to make sure they are not broken and or loose. If they aren't broken, check the transmission mounts. If you don't find anything loose or a part failure consider adding a torque brace. Racing Beat sells them and I would consider one even if all your mounts are perfect. A Torque Brace is legal in IT and on an RX7 it keeps the shifter centered so you don't have to hunt for a gear.

It depends on how a fast guy catches you and how much advanced warning you have. Generally, the overtaking driver will expect you to stay on the racing line. It may seem like moving over is the sporting thing to do but more often than not it is the dangerous thing to do. Trust me, guys racing in a pack see a back marker as a pick that they can use to set up a pass. If you move over for them, at a minimum you mess up their passing strategy or worse, they run into the back of your car.

In my experience none of the IT guys that were slower than me (and there weren't that many) never cut me a break. In fact I learned allot about throwing a one-move block from an ITC Fiesta that I used several years later to hold off another IT7 competitor.

 

I know we have gone way off the topic, but racing is racing. Mikevillena....mustanghammer is absolutely correct, you must hold your line, and let the passing driver make his pass. I have seen some really bad crashes when a passing driver made a particular corner a certain way in order to come out fast, but offline, in order to pass, only to find the slower car pulling over in front of him. Broken ribs and smashed cars. Another point is that if you are on the brakes, or coasting, you are not on the gas. I think you will find that if you brake later, and shift faster, you will carry more speed. That involves heel-toe, so you can do it all at once.

 

@ mustanghammer and 10cc - Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. In my defense, I am entirely aware that initiating and completing a safe pass is the responsibility of the passing driver although the driver being overtaken also plays an important part. In all of the instances where I lifted and moved over, I had plenty of warning because I was paying attention to the flag corners and my Wink mirror. You might even notice that I acknowledged the blue flags shown by the corner workers by nodding my head or a hand gesture. In two instances, I knew that the faster car was going to catch up with me at turn in so I slowed long before the corner, stayed to the outside and was clearly pointing them past. Had I been in a much faster car or with a more developed "race craft" I would have stayed on the racing line. There was a race earlier in that month (MCSCC Summer Classic) where I was at the tail end of ITA and was mixing it up with the very fast ITB drivers. Unfortunately, I don't have GoPro footage as my camera was broken. I borrowed this from my friend Goby who was definitely at the very sharp end of ITS. Skip to 12:09. My friend was running 2nd overall to the other ITS BMW in front of him. They caught up to my battle with the fast ITB cars. I'm orange/black 27.
@ mustanghammer, I will definitely be looking at the engine and gearbox mounts. Again, my apologies for thread jacking.

 

Gotta say that you need to get into the habit of holding the line regardless.

 

Both mustanghammer and your point is taken. Thank you.