MX5 CLUB OF QLD TRACK DAY 17 FEBRUARY 2014

[adidistyle]

Well I learnt something today.

I struggled with "driveline snatch" from the bridge and through the kink. So violent I had to back off so was unable to reach my usual speed. Revs at this point were about 6000rpm. No problems anywhere else, where I use much more than that.
After second run I looked at the fuel gauge and it was under "E". Ah-ha! Fuel starvation. So I put 10 litres in.
3rd run... no change. Then I had an I wonder moment... I wonder if there is a speed related limiter fitted, other than the ECU rev limiter.
Sonke thought there was a mechanical speed limiter activated when the speedo needle goes past 180, and that the switch could be disabled by removing a screw. Pulled the dash and sure enough, there was a PCB track labelled 180km/hSW. A screw is inserted to bridge and complete part of the circuit. Removed the screw. Problem solved.

So no doubt you will all want to know how to get more than 180kph from a basically standard NA6. It's easy. Just fit a 4.8 diff, and don't bother correcting the speedo! You'll be off the clock in no time.

I found the 4.8 to be very lazy, as you can comfortably do an entire lap with just two gear changes: 5th-4th entering carousel, and 4th-5th about halfway down the straight. 3rd just seems a little too low, or a bit too toey for me to handle, whereas 4th lets you go at or near WOT, without feeling like a spin is imminent.

The biggest challenge was shuffling quickly from 5th-4th. Numerous times I couldn't get into 4th and ended up rolling into the carousel, pleading for the box to go into gear. I couple of times I got 2nd, and I even had a go at reverse, which didn't engage, thankfully.

No PBs today. The heat, the oil on Eastern Loop, and my sub-standard gear changes saw to that. But all-in-all a challenging and fun day. Again.

Thanks to Brian and Neil, Doug and the QR staff, and all the drivers, for not having any really big incidents that might have seriously disrupted our day.

[JBT]

I'm happy to say I managed a PB of 67.85 on my second last lap.

[Magpie]

After drinking about 4ltrs of water I lost 2kg thanks to Lakeside, the car thanks me

[zero00]

I'm happy to say I managed a PB of 67.85 on my second last lap.

Well done JBT!!

I missed by 0.7 secs but had fun!! Just as well yesterday as my rain gauge this morning had 135mm in it after it bucketed down all night from 10pm - not sure what they got at Narangba/Kurwongbah area where Lakeside is

Great day, thanks again!!

[toppertee]

Well I learnt something today.

So no doubt you will all want to know how to get more than 180kph from a basically standard NA6. It's easy. Just fit a 4.8 diff, and don't bother correcting the speedo! You'll be off the clock in no time.

I found the 4.8 to be very lazy, as you can comfortably do an entire lap with just two gear changes: 5th-4th entering carousel, and 4th-5th about halfway down the straight. 3rd just seems a little too low, or a bit too toey for me to handle, whereas 4th lets you go at or near WOT, without feeling like a spin is imminent.

Get ready getting your gear shifting on, at mt cotton, I worked out a shifted 10 times in under 50 seconds. I loved that low ratio diff, really helped the 1597.

[Lokiel]

After drinking about 4ltrs of water I lost 2kg thanks to Lakeside, the car thanks me

Screw Jenny Craig, starvation diets and all those idiots trying to lose weight by jogging, I think you've discovered "the new weight loss regime" - Track Time!

- and it's a lot more fun too.

[Magpie]

"the new weight loss regime" - Track Time!

I'm happy with a 1:08.88, I got a few laps in under 1:10 which was my goal for the day. I kept the car in group 4 and did a couple of quick laps then slowed down so I stuck to my plan! FZ201's went really well, allowed for throttle modulation in corners with no lift off oversteer. The tyres had more grip than I was using so the car (and driver) are capable of quicker times. Plan is to run the wing at zero AOA on Thursday at QR and see how it goes. Video shows a slight lift off going through the kink at 180 kmh so need to work on that, plus brakes went well although there were a few times I did not think it would pull up in time after the run down the main straight (no skid marks on the road, I did not check for signs eleswhere).

But yes track time is the way to get better, weight loss is a bonus

All up it was a well organised day and my daughter thanks Doug for the couple of laps at the end of the day, her boyfriend now wants to attend a few track days so all in all a good day. Thanks.

[Guran]

Good to see Todd Herring trail his MX5 up from Forster NSW

Indeed! Was he listed as "Todd Herney" on Natsoft? Fastest MX-5 on the day with a 1:00.892 - not surprised as he's got a very quick car. Lucky for you guys, Todd isn't going to NatMeet.

[zero00]

Good to see Todd Herring trail his MX5 up from Forster NSW

Indeed! Was he listed as "Todd Herney" on Natsoft? Fastest MX-5 on the day with a 1:00.892 - not surprised as he's got a very quick car. Lucky for you guys, Todd isn't going to NatMeet.

Bryan

Yes, Natsoft has got it wrong , definately is Todd who was second fastest to Callum in the Nissan - beaut little car and I think he left with a huge smile as well!! We made sure he felt welcome and hope to see him back again - best you ask him next time you see as to what he thought of the track!!

[corners]

Good to see Todd Herring trail his MX5 up from Forster NSW

Indeed! Was he listed as "Todd Herney" on Natsoft? Fastest MX-5 on the day with a 1:00.892 - not surprised as he's got a very quick car. Lucky for you guys, Todd isn't going to NatMeet.

Yep that would be him! Had zoomzoom been there it would've been a good display of fast mx5s!

Todd ended up having engine dramas and left early

[Trackphotos]

... my daughter thanks Doug for the couple of laps at the end of the day...

Good of him to do it, but what was he thinking turning laps while the gates were open and the cones were out? We are all in low cars, we can't see over the armco, and his car is quiet, so we can't hear it coming either. I chose to exit through the tunnel because I didn't want to assume he wasn't about to enter the straight when I went to cross.

[Guran]

Todd ended up having engine dramas and left early

Yep, that seems to be par for the course with these turbo MX-5s. They go exceptionally hard at the expense of durability, and are often amongst the first retirements. I'm sure Todd will be back at the next track day, and will go even faster!

[zero00]

Todd ended up having engine dramas and left early

Yep, that seems to be par for the course with these turbo MX-5s. They go exceptionally hard at the expense of durability, and are often amongst the first retirements. I'm sure Todd will be back at the next track day, and will go even faster!

I think he said it was a rocker and also that he had lost 5th gear, I did ask had he checked the glovebox!

Yeah, it's a rocket indeed, no doubt good battles between himself and Patrick [and almost next door neighbours!]

If you are attending Natmeet Bryan I'd go so far as to say I'd see you turning out lap times between 1:06.00 and 1:08.00, maybe better even in 'little reddy'. It won't take you long to get your 'eye in' around the place! Stock NA's can punch into the 'eights' and better

[Cal]

Pretty brutality hot up there yesterday. I'm not surprised to hear the PB weren't flowing. Dad did a 1.03.77, which is a shade over a 1/10th off his PB in November.

A very well run afternoon. Thanks to Brian and QR.

[Trackphotos]

The Daves from Trackphotos turned up too, so there's a huge gallery of photos here:

http://www.trackphotos.com.au/p930878615