Stuart & Lisa's MINX

Novice1 · Postby **Novice1** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:33 am

Just looked at the pics of the build of this car for the umpteenth time. Awesome !
Novice1

MINX · Postby **MINX** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:03 pm

Novice1 wrote:Just looked at the pics of the build of this car for the umpteenth time. Awesome !
Novice1

me too! Thanks Ron.

It has been a very interesting and fun 3 years.
I have learned so much, and really gotten my hands dirty with this car.
She is up to about 87,000 Ks now.
I did tell myself this from the start, but some how forgot along the modding path, Mazda really went to great lengths to build a great sports car with the SE (and all MX5s) , and 'modding' tends to ruin some of their excellent work.
But it is fun to personalize the car, and remove some of the compromises Mazda is forced into to appeal to the masses.
Minx is definitely MY car. I have tried to be tasteful and restrained on cosmetic changes, sticking mainly to performance orientated improvements.

But, I am not finished yet. I am sure their is an international post pack on its way to me from somewhere, as we speak.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Mon May 23, 2011 4:32 pm

Needs more chrome

MINX · Postby **MINX** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:37 pm

Waiting on 949Racing Front BBK - that should pull her up in a hurry.
Had a few loooong brake pedal moments at Lakeside last time trying to pull her up from 185!

Meanwhile, another fun weekend utilizing the full features of our MX5 Sports Car

Motokhana hosted by Holden Sporting Car Club at Willowbank
HUGE FUN - and great environment to polish up the car control skills.

Postby **Okibi** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:42 pm

Lisa Rotating (short vid) is a great demonstration of just how little control you have and how far the car travels once you loose control.

This is why I think all MX-5 clubs need to work harder to encourage all members to do driver training, spins like this are good for learning why you shouldn't push the limits on public roads.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:39 pm

Okibi wrote:Lisa Rotating (short vid) is a great demonstration of just how little control you have and how far the car travels once you loose control.

This is why I think all MX-5 clubs need to work harder to encourage all members to do driver training, spins like this are good for learning why you shouldn't push the limits on public roads.

Why just MX-5 clubs? This should be part of a "learning to drive" course. For most drivers, the first spin they experience while driving will be on a public road and most will have no clue what they should to do while it's happening. This is a skill that needs to be taught when learning to drive IMO.

slug_dub · Postby **slug_dub** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:48 pm

Minx that Motorkhana video is great, love all the different angles of the camera on the car and its great watching you guys do the driving

Looks like a ton of fun!

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:06 am

It is fun - you should come along and try it too.

MINX · Postby **MINX** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:10 pm

I dont understand why more Club members dont come to these events.
This one is pretty cheap entertainment for the day.
And really safe for partners or friends to have a go.
Many of the cars there had 2 or 3 drivers for the day.

I just dont understand why people buy a Sports Car, and join a Sports Car Club, but leave their car in the garage all week, only to go on a wine and cheese run one Sundays. :roll:

slug_dub · Postby **slug_dub** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:32 pm

I do agree Minx in my case its been mostly too much time spent working on the car and not enough time spent driving it! :lol:

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:15 am

MINX wrote:I dont understand why more Club members dont come to these events.
This one is pretty cheap entertainment for the day.
And really safe for partners or friends to have a go.
Many of the cars there had 2 or 3 drivers for the day.

I just dont understand why people buy a Sports Car, and join a Sports Car Club, but leave their car in the garage all week, only to go on a wine and cheese run one Sundays.

Risk verses reward.
The risk is they might get their MX5 dirty or scratched or break something!
They don't see the reward.

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:11 pm

It's the lowest-risk form of motorsport I know of. You're driving around in first gear in a carpark for Pete's sake. You're more likely to have a crash driving there and back than you are competing in it. :roll:

But of course, I'm preaching to the choir. I just wish Newcastle clubs could get their hands on more venues for motorkhanas.

jerrah · Postby **jerrah** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:14 pm

Risk is that they might have fun?

I found the 'navigation' aspect of the Motorkhana frustrating but the driving fun.

May chew through some tyres but I found I was quicker than many people making smoke by just being smooth. I barely used any petrol. You would have to be very unlucky to hit anything other than a flag!

PaulF · Postby **PaulF** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:35 pm

jerrah wrote:May chew through some tyres but I found I was quicker than many people making smoke by just being smooth.

True that. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen very spectacular drivers comprehensively beaten by drivers that look slower because they're smooth. You can do well and be spectacular, but it takes a lot more skill.