Wokstars M&M Roadster.

[Jeo]

Very nice!

[Pamex]

Looking awesome. :-)

I got rid of my soft top years ago. Have been running just hard top and can't say I miss it.

I did re-fit in for a little bit... so it was easier to move house with it. Then I sold it for a six pack of Asahi! Profit!

Long story short though, they are very easy to refit if you need to and if you didn't buy the car to have the topless experience, I don't think you'll miss it.

[Apu]

It looks great! More pics please!

[CheyneX5]

I agree, mo pics!

[wokstar]

Thanks guys! Now that the car is back I can finally get down to one of the Melb garage cafe meets too.

Pam: That's reassuring then!

I'll be getting a friend who is very handy with a camera to take some nice pro spec full car shots for me. So stay tuned!

[wokstar]

16.07.11 Roadster Photoshoot Fun.

With the new paint looking shiny, I enlisted the help of my photographer friend Silas to help me take some photos.

As we were both at a wedding the night before, Silas advised me that he'd be free the next day to take some photos and to think of a location. 'So I'll see you at 6:30am at my house tomorrow morning! Bring the yellow one, we can use it as a camera car for moving shots.'

Weary eyed, we showed up at Silas house after one of the coldest inghts in Melbourne. Our car doors were frozen shut and the grass was covered in ice! I still hadn't thought of a location, I just knew I wanted photos that capture how fun it is to go for a weekend drive with an MX5.

With that, I lead the mini roadster convoy to Cardinia Reserve where I knew the streets would be quiet and let Silas do what he does.

We actually ran out of time to take any rolling shots but I'm so happy with the photos it doesn't matter!

Please excuse the gratuitous amount of photos, but I really do like these pics!

Enjoy.

[davidau]

wow makes me want to paint my car to red......really nice photos!!!

[wokstar]

04.08.11 So Tyred

With my beloved RE01R's well and truly shagged, it was time for some new tyres. I picked up some RE002's the other week. For those interested they were $145 fitted and balanced.

I was actually after 205's, but after some test fitting we decided it would poke out too much so ended up with 195's instead.



I've done a quick test run through some back roads and first impression of the tyres are good! Will give a better review once I get to go for a proper drive in the car.

Thanks to Craig from Trackside Tyres:
http://www.tracksidetyres.com.au/

[ak_perth]

Your car is just perfect, so clean and tasteful (IMHO)... one day i'll buy myself some Works to put on my red Clubman! Better start saving

[wokstar]

Your car is just perfect, so clean and tasteful (IMHO)... one day i'll buy myself some Works to put on my red Clubman! Better start saving

Thank you, I really appreciate that!

I've got another motorkhana and track day planned for it soon so hopefully it stays that way!

[CheyneX5]

Agreed, Great looking little car. What width are the Equips?

[wokstar]

Thanks Cheyne! Wheel specs are 15x7.5 +19.

[wokstar]

18.09.2011 Confessions of a Sandown virgin.

It'd been 2 years since the Tartlet and I last battled together at Wakefield. As you might already know, this resulted in the untimely death of 4efte engine number 2.

I'm obviously a sucker for punishment because I was getting a bit bored with the compliant and reliable MX5 so I decided that I wanted to bring the starlet back to track.

Don't get me wrong, without a doubt the MX5 IS the better car in every aspect. It's reliable, handles like a dream and is very forgiving however, for some stupid reason I really enjoy the character of the starlet on the track. It feels like a mini fight to get the car to do what I want it to do. He's agressive without being overpowering. So with that, I spent the last 3 weeks before the track day, slowy getting the starlet ready for it's triumphant return back to track.

Unfortunately the starlet wasn't as excited by this prospect as I was and after 2 years of trouble free motoring decided to throw a hissy fit and splutter and choke whenever he hit boost. With suspected but undiagnosed ignition lead failure 2 days before the event, I took it as a sign that the little guy was quite happy in retirement.



Not to worry, M&M was still sitting in the garage. With a check of the oil and a quick seat change the MX5 was ready to sub in at the last minute.

At Macca's I let the guys know how nervous I was. I'd heard all the stories about cars hitting the walls. I just wanted to come out of it unscathed!

Never realised how big evo's were...or is that how small mx5's are?



For the first time in a very long time, I decided to hit the track on street tyres. This decision was mostly due to the fact that the semi's were under the house and I couldn't be bothered climbing under to pull them out. I find out later why this was a bad idea.



Upon showing up to the track day we were greeted with squillions of MX5's! How cool, I may have actually squealed in delight.







But I was even more excited about the awesome old Alfa's that were there too.



But it wasn't all Alfa's and MX5's











The good thing about flying solo is that I can actually fit all my stuff into the car!



Here we are waiting to get scrutineered. The friendly official let me know it was $1200 for every metre of armco you hit.



So on to the track day. The first session I went out with my mate in the blue evo who showed me the lines.

By the time we'd come around for the second lap, there was an alfa resting in the gravel pit.

Coming back aorund for a third lap I noticed a Lotus Europa weaving in and out and passing myself and about 5 other mx5's on the straight as if we were standing still. I thought "we'll that can't end well!" (I may have actually said something more along the lines of "f**k that!" and by the time I had reached the corner, I noticed a bluey puff of smoke and instinctively slowed down. I noticed that the track was extremely wet, almost covering the entire width of the track.

"Is that water or oil?"

And just as I said that the car started to slide. "Sh!t that's oil!" I noticed the cars behind me were all getting sideways too.

We later found out that the Lotus had punched a hole through the sump and dropped it's guts out onto the track. The driver then proceeded to drive to the pits covering turns 6 - 11 in oil. Whoops!

It took 1hr and 20 mins for the guys to clean the track up. The organisers did a great job of preparing the track to a safe condition and went out in the safety car to do tests.

In the time we were waiting, I discussed with the other guys, that I was not used to tracking in such close proximity with other cars as there were 20-25 in each group. I've never been to a track day where it was ok to pass on corners so that was new for me as well. I learned to love my mirrors as I was constantly checking them to make sure I wasn't going to crash into anyone. This combined with the present threat of walls made me pretty scared!

Session 2: Best time 1:51

But there was no time to be scared session 2 was starting. Out by myself, I realised that I probably should've gone on my semi's, the street set up doesn't have enough clearance with the newly fitted 19t5's and scrubs every time I corner! That's a horrible noise. EEP!

Purchased this (and the next) cool shot from mx5pics.com.



Session 3: Best time 1:46

By session 3 I was starting to have fun and enjoying the track.

It might look like I'm leading the pack but in reality I was holding them all up! Sorry guys I tried to get out of the way as soon as I saw a car in my rear view and it was safe to do so. Apologies if I was in your way!



Session 4: ???

I went out for session 4 however, it's not recorded on natsoft at all so I'm not sure what my times were for this session.

I had a great day with great people. The other competitors were all approachable and great to talk to.

I know the time is not very good but I chickened out pretty bad at this track, I was pretty nervous about crashing! But with more confidence now I can't wait to go back to Sandown and give it another red hot crack!

I can't believe I haven't tracked here earlier. It's so close to home and I found it really enjoyable. In the past I've heard people say that it was a boring track and more suited to powerful cars but that doesn't mean it's any less fun for the little guys!

Stay tuned for more adventures as we head to Deca this weekend!

[wokstar]

24.09.2011 Deca!!

Went to Deca on Saturday to rip some skids, I still suck at hand brake turns haha..

Here are some pics from the day.






More awesome photos a friend took can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/1109056747 ... 2uXDnNruNg

My write up on the day can be found here: http://noisyninja.wordpress.com/2011/09 ... deca-v2-0/

[wokstar]

20.01.2012 Home is where…the cars are!

Hi guys,

Long time no post! I've spent a good portion of the last 2 months travelling through Asia but I'm back in Aus now

The one thing I really missed when I was overseas was driving, so I planned to go for a nice long drive first thing after getting back. One of my other friends Tom, wants to go for a drive too so we combine forces.

The “forces” turn out to be too little red cars with shiny wheels.

After arriving at my house Tom asks where we’re going to go. I shrug.

Tom: “How long have you got?”
Me: “All day.”
Tom: “I have a route. It might take us about 5-6 hours though.”
Me: “I’m down, let’s do this!”

As it’s the first drive of 2012, I treat myself to some topless action.



It's nice to look up every once in a while!



After some very nice roads we end up at this look out point.



I always see photos of MX5 parked at a look out point with a beautiful mountain backdrop. I'm happy to confirm that I finally got THAT shot!



It's a great view even if the view includes some soiled abandoned mattresses. Ewww!



Time to head off again as by this time it’s getting a wee bit hot with no roof on and I need a drink. We enjoy some of the best corners I’ve dríven for a while and end up at Lake Mountain.



I’m so in love with these trees. I initially thought they were dead from snow but then I realised that they had been destroyed in the Black Saturday bush fires.

They make a really pretty backdrop so I slow down a bit here to take some photos and also because I got hit in the neck with a stone that flicked up off the road. Hazards that come with the job!



When we get to the top there are go karts on a dirt track and kids on flying foxes zipping down above us. I figure Tom know’s all about this until he gets out of his car and says “I have no idea what is going on. This wasn’t here last time I came.”



Did I mention there was a jumping castle?



I can’t remember where this is, but we had to take a pee stop.



By now we're pretty hungry so we make our way to Beechworth Bakery.

I had this raspberry cheesecakey custard thing which was pretty freakin awesome.



So after 6 hours of some excellent driving, we finally make it back home. Mad props to Tom for the commitment to the drive!

Good friends, good roads, good cars, good weather and good to be back.