I'm pretty sure you're much to Asian to be allowed to sing that song...

But that's what makes you so awesome!!

 

Hey Robin, if you're out there in cyberland somewhere...

Just wanted to discuss all that would be necessary for me to participate in the upcoming NASA event (the 23rd I think?). That blue car you saw on Friday is what I'd be driving. Do you think that'd be alright? Or should I wait till I get the black car finished? I was reading online something about how novice drivers can have an instructor ride with them to show them the ropes. Will this event have instructors like that? One of the most confusing things to me is the cone layout; how do you know what the cones mean and how to navigate them?

 

Yeah, I think that would be fine. There are a few things you need to check to make sure they are up to par though as they do a safety inspection before the event. Check your wheel bearings to make sure they are not loose, make sure the battery is secure, make sure there are no leaks that could get on the track and make things slick for everyone else, make sure tires are not dry rotted or showing cords.....ummmm, I think that should cover it.

There is always someone there that can ride with you and point you in the right direction. If nothing else Dave or I could ride with you and you could ride with us.

As far as cones go, I need to get to work but I will post tonight explaining the cones.

 

Since I goto the NASA events too (and so does Alex for that matter) I think I can answer some of the questions for you.
You can inded get a ride along from one of the experienced people there, it's not going to be a full on instructorial lesson though, but they will point where to turn, when to get on the gas and when to brake
and where the hell the course is going - which is really the hard part
If you get to the autoX early you do a couple of walkthrough's with some people and just ask what the cones are as you walk through
Basically you have vertical cones that will either indicate a gate to go through, a slolam to drive through, an object to go around, or just something not run over.
Then you have cones laying on their side, these indicate direction - ie what side of the vertical cones you should be on.
This'll make way more sense when you walk an actual course.

As for you car: make sure the battery has a tie down of some sort, yourwheel berrings are tight, you're not leaking any sort of fluids.
Anything loose inside the car has to come out for tech inspection - no mats, empty out the storage bins and glove compartment, remove the spare etc...

bring extra oil and coolant for the car

bring water and food for you

 

AW **** i NEW I SHOULD REFRESHED

 

stage 1

remove plastic housings in front of rad and AC stuff
drill holes for hood latch posts in crossbeam
remove metal burrs from drilling by sanding/grinding away
paint the bare metal from said sanding/grinding
installed posts should look like this


on top of the posts put some whiteout or tape rolled onto itself in a little roll
something to stick to the underside of the hood where the pins hit
(I actually used stome sticky leftover rice I had)
drill holes in those spots

Holes in my hood OMG!!

 

At least our explanations were mostly similar!

 

The Police are awesome.

Can I go down with someone and ride in their car to get some instructions? I don't think I'd be driving yet though because I need to get control of my car and I still have the Rev limiter set at 4000RPMs.

 

Strikes One, Two and Three... I can probably yoink a battery box from my white car, I can probably seal up the coolant leak, and the tires are just barely starting to crack a little bit... is that enough to matter? I more than likely wouldn't be driving aggressively at ALL...

If I go and just ride with either of you guys, would I have to pay the full entry fee? I may just do that anyways, that sounds like a better idea than my actually driving my first time ever even seeing one...

Dave: looking good man! But rice?? ... To many obvious jokes man...

..

Ricer...

 

Sure, you can ride along with me.


If anyone is interested....
http://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/894495647.html

Being a member of the "Richmond VA RX-7 Owners" thread could get you a serious discount over the price listed.

 

When and what time is this certain event?

 

November 23, VMP, first car off is 12 I would imagine.

If driving you need to be there earlier though, probably 9:30-10ish.

 

Wow, Dinwiddie is so far away!!! Can't imagine driving Roxanne down there. I'd probably get raped by gas mileage.......... Pierce, wanna car pool? By car pool I mean you drive down there, hahaha. J/k need to see if I can get that day off!!!

 

Are those yours? I was droolin over those yesterday morning. What kinda discount are we talkin? I'll need some rims for Dave's S5 eventually...

If you help me out with the gas I'd be more than willing to drive us down there. I'd really like to check it out...

 

fortunately for you guys guys I don't need another set of wheels

 

I know right? Mr. Moneybags...

 

I've got some FD wheels for sale =]

Robin knows that I'm awesome at doing business, hahaha.

I've sold everything that I've wanted to sell in less than 4 days within the ad =]

 

Dude, you're the man... Sell my Honda parts for me! Nobody on VAdriven wants em!

 

What parts are they? How much are you asking?

OMG!!! The clutch feels SOOOO much better. The clutch isn't as heavy as it was before =]

 

http://www.vadriven.com/forums/showthread.php?t=262181

Before, as in the stock clutch?

 

No, I think I've got a stage 2 or 3 clutch. It's pretty crazy, however, I'm loving it now after I've adjusted it. Now I can't wait to get my door handle and some new windshield wiper blades.

IT'S GOING TO BE COLD THIS FRIDAY, SO BRING JACKETS EVERYONE!!!!

 

yeah the FD I had originally had 6 puck clutch and a really heavy spring
that got replaced eventually with a stock clutch, I couldn't believ how light that was
In comparison the heavy duty Exedy clutch in the black FC that Saavedro has now requires twice the effort than the stock FD clutch

 

Really? That's a pretty light clucth compared to the one in my Honda... and compared to my dad's 88 GTI, That thing is a featherweight!!

 

I'm talking about fully engaging it but once you get used to that clutch you barely have to hit it and with the higher clamp load it engages much quicker too.
The lightest clutch I ever felt was in that S14, nearly put my foot through the floor.
The one in my old 325is was dead on perfect, the new 325i is a little on the beefy side and seems a bit fussy when your parking - I have never stalled any car as much as this 325i.
The Miata clutch is spot on (as one would expect) at it's current power level, but if you upped the hp to like 125 (from it curent 90hp) it would fry.
The white FC I haven't pushed hard enough yet to judge, but i definitely like ther black FCs clutch more so far.
It needs better braking before i do anything else - I think the current pads may be glazed or they don't grab as well as the Metal Masters on the previous car, it should brake better since I've got 4 piston calipers now but it doesn't.

 

So who's heading out tomorrow night?

I'm heading out. I hope my door handle arrives tomorrow and I can install it in time.