Mx5, Chapter 2

[smy0003]

What okibi said.
Looks awesome!

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[ManiacLachy]

Great write up and pictures as always. That track looked pretty greasy, nice work keeping it out of the walls!

Hope you keep better track of the clamp keys for next time ;)

[The American]

One of the Trapnell's shots from the Leyburn Sprints

[The American]

I've been looking for a second set of wheels so that I can have a second set with me for events. At the end of the Pittsworth Sprints, two of my tyres were at the point of no visible tread on 3/4 of the face, and on the inner shoulder had started to blister and come away from the carcass - no more life left, and probably had been flogged a little or a lot past their ideal use-by.

A second set of wheels would have allowed me to come prepared to switch before the end of the weekend, instead of **fingers crossed** making them last (whether they should or not).

Today I picked up six of these second hand:



They are not as light as the SSR Type C's I have, and they are heavier than TE37 (why did I sell those?!) and CE28 in the same size, but they are forged and made by the Germans and still only about 4.6kg in 15x7. They are almost identical in offset to the Type C's so there should be no noticeable change when switching between them.

They came with hub centric rings to suit 54mm


They've now got a secondhand set of A050s fitted, and the plan is to put some soft compound tyres on the SSRs.

[luzinit]

Have always like those wheels. Great write-up. Jeez, your mx5 seems to be doing really well, no doubt a combination of car and driver. Do you find your competitors get surprised by your times?

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[The American]

People don't generally seem to expect a lot from Mx-5's, and there are often a one or two curious people/competitors who come for a chat during events.

250hp Is a pretty good number for a 1100kg car, and I'm using good tyres - but I know from the times that some well-developed naturally aspirated and much older machines and drivers can do (particularly at Noosa), The car can and I should be quicker!

TBH, I miss the all-MX-5 competitions in Perth because the playing field felt much more level. Should turbo Mx5s beat turbo Silvias? Every day probably!

I went along to watch the All Mx5 day for the PSCRA at Lakeside a little while ago. Those are some serious Mx5s

[MJT_MX5]

Keep putting the videos up, i watch all of them.
Looks like the cars very predictable through the corners, always good seeing an Mx5 beat high performance cars.

[The American]

Thanks Matt! Here's a bonus clip from the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia's Driver Training Facility, which is sadly about to close. This was an 'Autotest' event. I had lot's of fun sliding at these, which is not particularly quick...

[The American]

Over the last two years I have run through 1 and 1/2 sets of medium compound Yokohama A050s, With the last pair from the original set giving their last at the Pittsworth Sprints. In practice, the medium compound worked really well from the start line in warm conditions. At Leyburn, there was a frost overnight and it was still very cool for the first runs on the second day. At Pittsworth, there was no frost, but it was very cool most of the day on the Saturday, and stormed that evening - at both events grip was missing for the first half of each run while the tyres picked up temperature.

I have had in mind that I would like to try a set of 'soft' compound tyres for another shot at the Noosa Hillclimb. Unfortunately A050's in Soft are out of stock and would not arrive until after the second and last Noosa Hillclimb for the year. Albion Motorsport/Tyres and More Strathpine had a set of Bridgestone RE11S in a soft compound for a good price and I decided to give them a shot



Not many people appear to have used these locally, and there is almost nothing on the internet about them so who knows. I will find out soon how they feel compared to the A050 (although those were mediums).

[plohl]

Keen to hear how they go.
I assume they were cheaper than the ao50's?
What sized did you get? 205/50?

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[The American]

We will see. There appears to be a bit of a back story to how they came to be in Australia, and no more are being brought in. They were cheaper than A050, but RRP according to shop was $417ea which quite a bit more expensive than A050.

They are also a little bit older than I'd like, but they feel very soft to touch.

[IanR]

Thanks for the video's to watch, always enjoy them. Nice set of wheels and good tyres, I have not used anything better than the nt01 nittos which are good value but yoko's are another level they say.
Keep up the good work.

[The American]

Thanks for the video's to watch, always enjoy them....

Thanks Ian, I think the collective forum is willing you not to sell yours (except for those who'd like to buy it), and instead, for you to go squash more giants at local Motorsport events.

-H

[The American]

Motorsport and not a single Mx5, not even mine!

I had the pleasure of an invite from a member of the Millmerran Auto Club to drive his car at the Reserve Raceway at Millmerran today. It was the second time in my life I'd dríven a Datsun Stanza and this one sounded a treat with its cams and (don't quote me here) twin, dual throat carburettors. I've never been in an ITB intake equiped mx5, but now I want to - definitely on the bucket list.

The track is on hard packed dirt and very little run off. A first timer in a falcon smacked the wall and bent his rear suspension. A regular put his Escort on its roof.

Perhaps my pick of the cars to watch was an RB30 powered Ford Escort- so much hp for so little car

Lots of fun was had today!

[Magpie]

I can help you out with your bucket list