White NB track car

[deviant]

You will need to have a re-think of those crotch strap mounting points. They need to be right below your crotch.

The CAMS manual gives you the recommended mounting angles: http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/10_gen ... 2012-1.pdf

Getting your harness set up right can be a pain but it needs to be right so it is comfortable but is also going to work.

The lap belts need to be low down and across your pelvis and not your stomach (hard if you are chubby, not much you can do about it) and should be flat against your body.

The crotch strap should hold the buckle low down.

When you belt in do up the lap and crotch portion first and then do the shoulder belts. Pull them tight and then pull them tight again. You should only be able to move your head, arms and legs.

Depending on how quickly you can do it you might find it easier to buy another harness to keep set up for you or your son and just swap them over between runs in the car. Can be tricky at some events where you might be running one after the other though.

[david_syd_au]

You will need to have a re-think of those crotch strap mounting points. They need to be right below your crotch.

The CAMS manual gives you the recommended mounting angles: http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/10_gen ... 2012-1.pdf

Thanks for that. I had positioned them based on verbal advice, without checking the regs.
Fortunately, they won't be too hard to move.

Getting your harness set up right can be a pain but it needs to be right so it is comfortable but is also going to work.
The lap belts need to be low down and across your pelvis and not your stomach (hard if you are chubby, not much you can do about it) and should be flat against your body.

The crotch strap should hold the buckle low down.

When you belt in do up the lap and crotch portion first and then do the shoulder belts. Pull them tight and then pull them tight again. You should only be able to move your head, arms and legs.

Yep, all ok there

Depending on how quickly you can do it you might find it easier to buy another harness to keep set up for you or your son and just swap them over between runs in the car. Can be tricky at some events where you might be running one after the other though.

Good idea. Thanks
We'll have to practice some "driver changes" to see how it works

[david_syd_au]

A quick update.

Tonight I finally removed that $%()@&^!'ing Momo gear knob,
after 4 months and numerous attempts.

It's removal did involve partial disassembly of the shift mechanism, a hacksaw and some blood.



A post-mortem of the remains shows that it was own fault for being an oaf and trying to undo the dress sleeve the wrong way initially, turning the whole knob and resulting in the allen screws being bent and caught into the space between the gear knob and the shifter shaft, effectively jamming the knob. The thread on the shifter shaft is damaged for about 20% of its length, but cleaned up well and is ok.

The upper shift boot will need replacing ASAP as it fell apart during the process, but it was already looking very tired and had a few holes, so it's replacement was imminent anyway, which was one of the reasons the gear knob had to come off.



Anyone want a slightly used Momo gear knob? :-)
May it bring you as many hours of entertainment as it did me!!

[mazmad]

Hey great story David - I must admit I haven't read to the end yet - but I will. Although I did cheat and skip from halfway through to the last post to see if it had a happy ending! But I see the story is still unfolding.

Particularly interesting for me as I can relate - my daily driver is a 2009 RX8, which I recently took to a Wakefield P track day. And similarly - do not want to total this machine on a track, or have it totalled by some other idiot.

So I have just bought a 2002 NB which I take delivery of this week, and plan to build as a track only car, first instalment being roll cage and extinguisher.

I look forward to more posts as the story develops, and to see whether your kids better your times!
Cheers
Craig.

[david_syd_au]

Hey great story David - I must admit I haven't read to the end yet - but I will. Although I did cheat and skip from halfway through to the last post to see if it had a happy ending! But I see the story is still unfolding.

Particularly interesting for me as I can relate - my daily driver is a 2009 RX8, which I recently took to a Wakefield P track day. And similarly - do not want to total this machine on a track, or have it totalled by some other idiot.

So far at the MX5 club track days, I haven't seen any idiots. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough?
But even so, bad stuff can still happen.

So I have just bought a 2002 NB which I take delivery of this week, and plan to build as a track only car, first instalment being roll cage and extinguisher.

The story is now about 2 months out of date. I must add the rest, again, primarily for my own later reference.

We made the decision to import an MX5 rather than buy a local car, because it looked a cheaper option, and because we expected that we wouldn't be able to keep the car registered anyway, once all the safety mods (cage, seat, harness, ..) had been done.
I still hold that view, but must admit that are a few draw backs to a non-registerable track car, like trailer cost, keeping a suitable tow vehicle, and the fact that you can't go for a quick drive to try out changes, or just to get some practice driving the car.
So, if you are making a track-only non-registered car, be aware of the issues, and prepare to deal with them.

I look forward to more posts as the story develops, and to see whether your kids better your times!
Cheers
Craig.

They won't be allowed. Anyway, when they drive, I will get to keep one of the spark plug leads as a keepsake :-)

[PaulF]

The rule that I've heard is that if you beat someone in their own car, you get your own because you're no longer allowed to drive theirs.

That's my excuse for why I've never managed to beat my dad...

[mazmad]

Paulf - love it, that is the way it should be! And Iwill tell my wife to obey the rules when she has a go!


David - yeah the 'road rego or not' dilemma, I can relate. I collect the car this Saturday and it still has 6 months rego which I will continue for the time being while I work out what to do and start doing it.

The extra hassle of a trailer ultimately will be worthwhile for me I think with the benefit of being able to bring spares, the family! and save on towing in the event of any dramas!

Keep us posted on your journey!
Cheers
Craig.

[Xaviien]

Great read.
Are you still planning to update this at some stage David?

It was awesome to see your car in action at Wakefield Park last weekend, it really looks and sounds the part!

[david_syd_au]

Great read.
Are you still planning to update this at some stage David?

Wow, is it really 3 years!!
Yes, you are right. It is time for an update. It will be fun to try and remember 3 years worth of stuff, and dig out photos.

It was awesome to see your car in action at Wakefield Park last weekend, it really looks and sounds the part!

SWMBO was driving it, and quite enjoying herself, improving her PB by about 17 seconds. Sunday 31/5 was her 2nd club track day in the car, after doing one a few years ago when it was much less modified.
You say it "looks and sounds" the part, ... sounds ... ?? you can barely hear the engine

[Xaviien]

You say it "looks and sounds" the part, ... sounds ... ?? you can barely hear the engine

We were parked 2 garages up, and we were there when it was getting parked at the beginning of the day...
Sounded just fine to me. Maybe not a lot of exhaust noise, but plenty of BoV. Unless I'm mistaken haha

[david_syd_au]

We were parked 2 garages up, and we were there when it was getting parked at the beginning of the day...
Sounded just fine to me. Maybe not a lot of exhaust noise, but plenty of BoV. Unless I'm mistaken haha

You must be talking about the Skyline my son was driving, which does make lots of whoosh whoosh noises, because the MX-5 is normally aspirated.

[Xaviien]

Meh, my memory clearly isn't great.
I definitely remember a turbo white mx5 racecar though.
Whether or not it actually existed is a whole other matter.