Mazda MX5 Fan Fest - Sandown 19-23 Jan 2017

[mousemota]

Well what a great day the FanFest turned out to be ......got to do some bucket list things driving down and back from Brisbane,
The day itself was so good, met so many nice people with common interest,
Some of the highlights below :

* road tripped with Peter and Max awesome travel buddies (in own cars) ....cheers guys !
* photo shoot with my car at Parkes !
* road tripped in 45deg temp (roof up air on .....didn't want to end up like fried bacon)
* signed the 1 millionth MX5
* saw the RF in person ....nice !
* got to be part of record breaking parade lap
* met Takao Kijima (Mazda Japan) and he was very happy to sign my owners manuals (Thank you)
* photo with Mad Mike
* longest drive for me in 1 day 12hrs and 1,078km
* total drive distance 3,700km
* got to pay $1.69 a liter for 98 in Coonabarabran

All in all my Nd 1.5 GT performed superb ......yes a 1.5 you heard me !......was just fine mixing it with Road trains and B doubles on the Newell .....seems to be the only thing out there ...oh and Grey Nomads !

As they say it is not all about the destination but the journey as well !

Thanks Mazda for putting on the event.

http://s484.photobucket.com/user/mark_fry1/media/IMG_6078_zpsekbhi0ea.jpg.html
http://s484.photobucket.com/user/mark_fry1/media/IMG_6039_zpsgwxtxg8k.jpg.html

[Magpie]

People from QLD did rack up some km's, but it was worth it. For me it was about 500ltrs of diesel to about 50ltrs of E85

[Guran]

Turn 6 (Sweeper):
Fast and scary, but massively rewarding if you get it right. Keep on the power for much longer than you think. Stay in 4th. Only just before turn in do you need to gently wash off some speed, and you can trail brake in quite deep. If you're at 10/10ths the car will drift a little mid-corner, but near the exit there is a slight dip that will grip the car and hook it around. (If you're at 10/10ths you probably don't need to read this...)

This corner I did struggle with. Most of the time I was braking way too early. In fact I was off 100% TPS about 200m before the corner and started braking at the 150m marker I went from 194 to 131 over 300m, small testicle syndrome...

Turn 7-8 (flip-flop):
Just before you run out onto Dandenong Rd, there is a right-left kink that can unsettle the car, and the fence is nice and close...
If you haven't been too fast through the sweeper, you can usually power down through 7. If you have soft suspension, you can usually jump the right wheels over the ripple strip. Make sure you get the car straight past 8 - you will need to be hard on the brakes for turn 9. Braking point is just before this kink (or just after depending on your testicles)

I coasted through these 2 corners at about 130kmh, using the ripple strips to make the corners 'straight'. The TPS shows that I was only used an average of 30% TPS through this section.

I thought this section was the most enjoyable part of an otherwise boring track (for a stock-powered MX-5). In my standard NC with Yokohama AD08Rs, it was flat throttle until about 50m before the sweeper (Vmax 175-177km/hr) and light dab of the brake at 30m. My fastest Vmin through the sweeper was 142km/hr (usually 138-140 range). I then straight-lined the flip-flop, putting my LEFT tyre on the apex of the righthander (right tyres past the kerb and on the edge of the grass), then skimmed the left tyre on the kerb of the lefthander, and hard on the brakes for turn 9.

[bruce]

Emailed Mazda. They will email attendees in the next few weeks with a link to their photos. Hopefully the elusive drone footage along the main straight will be available.

[Magpie]

I thought this section was the most enjoyable part of an otherwise boring track (for a stock-powered MX-5).

Agreed, I did enjoy that part through 7/8 (straight line) into 9.

T6 I just could not get the balls to brake too late, the also data shows that I was nowhere near the limit of grip as well as when I lifted off It is difficult to hide from the facts.

I'm not sure if I would call it a boring track, it is has more variety than QR's paperclip, not to mention elevation changes. The QR National is a high HP track, savage on brakes and flat, at least Sandown had some combination of corners to enjoy. However QR is 'safe' with respect to runoff and not car destroying if you push too hard.

[rascal]

I'm not sure if I would call it a boring track, it is has more variety than QR's paperclip, not to mention elevation changes.

These things are relative. Compared to the snore fest that is QR (for viewers anyway, never dríven it myself) Sandown probably isn't terrible, but when you think that just over an hour away lives this
it puts it into perspective...

[Magpie]

Philip Is is on my 2018 places to visit, however if their is an opening for a team member for the Philip Is 6 hr in 2017...

[rossint]

T6 I just could not get the balls to brake too late, the also data shows that I was nowhere near the limit of grip as well as when I lifted off It is difficult to hide from the facts.

I hear you, was in the same boat, left a lot of time on the table. Theres footage of the mighty Beavis going through there at 150kms on his 1:27 lap. He gets to the sign on the back straight about the same time we do then proceeds to find 3 secs through that last section.
I really enjoyed the track, having only Mallala in SA it was great to be somewhere else for a change. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll have The Bend open for business.

[chops]

I quite enjoyed the track, well suited to a high hp car like mine. I have spent a lot of time in the last few years running around Wakefield which I like and SMSP South circuit which I don't enjoy and it was nice to be deep into top gear for a change. I don't have data but felt seriously quick into the corner at the end of the back straight and definitely some time to be found there. I really like turn 1, fast exit and lots of fun

[Guran]

Queensland has Lakeside. Superb track! Haven't dríven Morgan Park but hope to remedy that at the Supersprint Nationals later this year. I've absolutely no interest in QR.

Cameron you need to do Challenge Bathurst!

[Magpie]

Guran you will enjoy Morgan Park, especially the long track. However the kerbs are bone shakers and not as much fun as Sandown's. Personal favourites is under the bridge as it is blind and also a crest and then Siberia corner! Whilst Siberia corner is flat, there is only a short straight before it to get your braking done. When is the Morgan Park event?

[lightyear]

I thought this section was the most enjoyable part of an otherwise boring track (for a stock-powered MX-5).

Agreed, I did enjoy that part through 7/8 (straight line) into 9.

T6 I just could not get the balls to brake too late, the also data shows that I was nowhere near the limit of grip as well as when I lifted off It is difficult to hide from the facts.

I'm not sure if I would call it a boring track, it is has more variety than QR's paperclip, not to mention elevation changes. The QR National is a high HP track, savage on brakes and flat, at least Sandown had some combination of corners to enjoy. However QR is 'safe' with respect to runoff and not car destroying if you push too hard.

Most people brake too early and too much at the top of the brake straight. So don't feel bad. I normally catch several car lengths from the top of the hill to the bottom. My Red NA8B did 1:27.6 in Modified class set up. So Oem air box, Oem hardtop, etc.... And I think Brendan has done 1:27, both cars with stock standard motors. So track confidence is key there. The proximity of the walls can slow you down.

[Magpie]

Thanks Lightyear.

[AndyT]

Is anyone aware of show and shine results?

[bruce]

I asked the club display on the day and all they said it was 'announced earlier'. They didn't show the results to me.
I suspect it was just given to the pristine cars/club members.
A really disappointing effort. Why offer it at all?