Signed up at 11:30 time slot on Sunday

 

I ran 42.60 seconds in the MX-5. I know I suck. I only got one lap in but I plan on being there on Sunday around 8:30 to see if I can shave some seconds off that time and do some of the other events. I am impressed with the new Miata.

 

THat was awesome! I had a blast today. I managed a 37.68 on the mx-5 track. I went back and raced it again, but I was a little shaky after just flirting with the girl directing us which car to drive and I pulled a 39.5. Hehe, I asked her if she wanted to ride with me. She said she couldn't, so I said my buddy would cover for her. I think she would have

Good times, good times... I must say, that rx8 is one incredible machine.


~Dan

 

so how does it work? Do you get to drive a lot or just a little bit? How long does it take from the time you show up to the time you're all done?

 

The lines to drive the cars is what sucks. It took me like 2 hours of waiting before i got to drive the MX-5. That is why I am going early tommorrow before the rush of people get there. That time on your preregistration doesn't mean squat. Pretty much first come first serve basis there. It was still fun overall.

 

Can you drive more than one car in more than one type of event?

I would like to drive an RX-8 for my own curiosity and also a new miata to compare it to my S2000 and give some feedback to my buddy who is seriously considering the miata.

My time slot is 11:30... would you say I should just show up early? or do you think they won't let you in?

 

Show up as EARLY as you possibly can!! registration made no difference, and neither did your check in time!!!!

Dan

 

I was really impressed with the Miata. It handle superbly and the power was amazing. 170 horses for this light car. Amazing! Only used 1st and 2nd gear through out the whole course. Too bad I am considering purchasing a RX-8 or I would get the MX-5.

 

I saw the Orange Elise arrive, and later in the parking lot, but I never did find people connected to it. Somewhere between Fredricksburg and the beltway I met up in traffic with another first gen. We played lead and follow to the event. His name is Alex, we hung around the first couple of events then lost touch. He said he does not come here too much, and I forget the forum he said he frequents. Later I met up with David Lne and George Samuels, and David let me drive his wonderful GSLSE. It is a truly awesome.

 

We were there parked in the far corner of the lot with the Elise. I spent abot 2 hours in the Lotus, and it was a cool little car. It is a bit loud (it tends to drone) runnig at 80mph, but it rides well. Only 2 things i didn't like - no arm rest (as a passenger I would have liked one instead of the hard sill), and no lumbar support in the seats (very much like my Kirkey race seats in the Midget).

We were actually 2 cars behind George Samuels in his 2nd gen when we left.

I was really impressed with the MX-5, and diappointed in the RX-8. This was the first time for me to drive either car. The despite the body roll and pitching, the MX-5 stuck well and responded well to driver inputs and was fun. The RX-8 just felt a bit numb and big and on my short drive I had problems getting the car to rotate through the corner.

I bagged the other drives as the line had become too long. It was ashame since I wanted to drive the Mazda 3 since I will probabbly be buying a 5-door soon.

 

I do agree with you about the Elise seats. I just love how truly stiff the chassis feels. I suppose it could use a few more creature comforts, but that is what a second car liek the 3 is for... I did drive the 3 a couple of times there. It was the car I liked the most really. I admit the MX5 stuck nicely, but it moved around so much that I was a little un-nerved about the car. It would cause me to lose concentration with the body yaw, pitch, and roll. I am not used to a Miata either, I guess a Miata driver would feel better about it.

 

performancechallenge = 50pts.
matched time gymkhana = 25pts.
jinba ittai experience = 55 pts.

I think I was ripped off when redeeming my points because I only recieved a hat. I think I should have recieved two of them for having over 49pts. in two events.
Oh well, maybe next year.

Billy

BTW, Lt. Dan!, I need to talk to you... I ended up buying the 84 GSL from Yusuf.

 

I agree with RX-Midget....

The RX-8 felt tight from the point of view of body roll, but actually was kinda an understeering dog. Maybe another course layout would have shown what it can do better.

The new MX-5 wallowed like a fat girl at the all you can eat buffet, but once you got used to the roll, it did stick well and was FUN to drive. (kinda like a fat girl).

My first lap out in the MX-5, it was rolling so much that I was instinctively backing off ... I was worried it would spin. You see, in my Honda S2000, if you feel it rolling that hard, you WILL be spinning/fishtailing. My first time was a 39.x seconds which was so-so.

The second time out, I decided to drive it harder and see what happened. I was hanging the tail WAAAYYY out at one point, almost drift style around 3 consective turns. Never out of control... just kinda sideways hahahaha. Really fun and controllable. That effort resulted in a low 37 second time which was under the "time to beat" target, but not best of the day or anything.

If I had tried again, I'm sure I coulda shaved more off, but the line was getting pretty bad by this time.

Overall, fun event! Two thumbs up for the MX-5 except for the body roll... and a "meh" for the RX-8.

Brian

 

42.xxx sec both times on the Performance Challenge.

24.7 sec on the ball thingy, but I dropped all three. 37 the 2nd time, but I didn't drop any.

22.7 sec on the Time Matching Gymkana. Time to match was 23.000 I drove the 6. I got too fast in the 3 the 2nd time around and got a 21 something.

I lose.

I don't like the dash or top of the windscreen on the new Miata. ***** up my view.

I'm happy they had manual tranny cars this time around though.

 

Yep I ran a 41.401 today and the wife beat me by running a 41.102. I was there early so got to do more events and laps. Does anybody know who was selling the FB that was on display with the DC Mazda Club?

 

Thanks for the info about the 3 since I didn't get to drive it there. Anyone else have any comments about how it was to drive? I really want one and the $500 Mazda coupon from Zoom-Zoom will come in handy!

I did test drive a FD later that day that was for sale, but I'm going to pass on the car. It broke up real bad over 3000 rpm about 50% of the time, boost would bounce around, and it was just not as nice as I remember this car being several years ago.

Brian

 

yes I had a blast with the miata and thought the rx-8 was a POS. I was really disapointed in that car. That was my 3rd year in a row and hope next year they go back to slot times instead of the lines from hell.

 

I want more track time.

 

Here is my write up about my experiences from the event.

http://racecarstuff.com/?m=20051114

Curious what anyone else thinks.

 

That was mine.

Dan

 

Hey calvin thanks for getting a shot of my blue MX-6 in the FB pic that you took. I feel special now. lol

 

I actually took a fair number of pictures, but I jsut haven't had time to get them all online.

 

Did you guys all get your pics at the start line yet? Just go back to www.zoomzoomlive.com with your registration info and they should have your pic!