The Roadster NA Journey Begins

[rascal]

15 x 8 +25

Very light rims!

I thought Advanti storms were +35 ??

[Magpie]

http://www.mx5parts.com.au/product/advanti-racing-storm-s1-15x8-set-4-pcd-4x100-hyper-silver

15×8 4×100
+25 offset
5kgs
Flow Formed construction
73mm center bore
Clear coated finish
Cap included
Valves not included
Clears our BIG BRAKE KITS!
Fits 205/50/15, 225/45 tyres.
VIA 500kg certification

[rascal]

hmm, so they are. (and goodwins further confirm the +25.)
I must have been confusing them with their 15x9s..

Imho, +25 is a great offset for a track car.. Don't have to worry about spacers to clear coilovers/susp parts, only minor guard rolling reqd, and a nice increase in track width.

[Magpie]

Real life has been very up and down this year, however on 15/05/17 managed to tick a personal goal off my list. That goal was to be faster than Trackphotos, not do a 'freak' lap but be consistent. Yes Time Attack is about being able to do a 'freak' lap when it counts, but at the moment I prefer to be more consistent.

Looking back on the past 12 months of lap times on the QR Sprint layout, it comes as no surprise that there have been a 'few' people posting in this garage build thread (now at 100 pages) chanting the mantra "seat time" or "stop playing with it and drive it" may have been proven justified...

14/05/16 - 1:01.6279 AD08R's
01/09/16 - Racing beat muffler replaced
17/09/16 - 1:01.3709 AD08R's
21/09/16 - car's tune adjusted to 194 RWHP (7,600 RPM) and 203 Nm at 4,100 RPM
15/10/16 - WTAC
20/11/16 - fixed the eccentric bushes that had 'rotated' and installed helper springs on the front
27/11/16 - 1:01.3969 AD08R's
05/01/17 - brake booster deleted, rear springs changed to 9kg (from 8kg)
18/02/17- 1:01.8245 AD08R's
02/04/17 - surge tank install finalised
22/04/17 - 1:00.4829 AD08R's
29/04/17 - 1:00.4391 AD08R's
03/05/17 - wing mounts fixed
15/05/17 - 1:00.3552 AR-1's

Current plan in the lead up to WTAC 2017

1. MORE SEAT TIME (sub 60 on sprint at QR and 62 at Lakeside)
2. Test splitter/guard changes (by end of July). May require suspension changes depending on results.
3. Build new wing mounts that go to the chassis. Will require surge tank to be relocated.
4. Alignment Front -3° camber, -2 (total) toe & Rear -3° camber, +2 (total) toe
5. Move fuel pressure sensor off fuel rail
6. Install fuel pressure gauge on return line to tank
7. Install fuel temp gauge
8. Swap the tank 255 out for OEM pump and swap the surge tank 460 out for the 255 to see if this keeps fuel temp down
9. Depending on how fuel pump swap goes will depend if fuel cooler will be considered (not preferred)

[Magpie]

Whilst the fuel pressure related issues, loss of power has been solved, there have been an intermittent 'bug' that has the ECU go into limp mode due to fuel pressure. Further the trace for the fuel pressure is very 'messy'.

At the recent MX5 Car Club day I disabled the limp mode on fuel pressure as during session 1 at Lakeside on the previous day it activated. The car was not displaying any of its original symptoms, loss of power when asking the car to go fast, this was very obvious and could be seen in the data logging. Hence I was 'confident' that it was a 'bug'.

A bit of google research suggested that the fuel pressure sensor should not be on the fuel rail due to engine vibrations etc. Therefore the sensor was moved today... Now the surprise was when I primed the system again the fuel pressure was reported as zero, maybe forgot to plug the sensor in... Sensor was plugged in, still zero, jiggle sensor wires and look at that fuel pressure showing on dash. Making a new plug tomorrow!

Moral of story is good idea to check wiring when diagnosing an intermittent issue.

Sensor removed. I still need to change the clutch to a remote bottled one (it is sitting on the floor staring at me whilst I type)
DSCN4283 by Eipeip, on Flickr

DSCN4282 by Eipeip, on Flickr

Bracket made up, this will be useful for the planned VNet sensors...
DSCN4284 by Eipeip, on Flickr

DSCN4285 by Eipeip, on Flickr

DSCN4286 by Eipeip, on Flickr

[Magpie]

Time Attack Round 2 this afternoon, not only good news on my partner also managed to lower my PB's...

Sprint 0:59.9201
Clubman 1:03.1053

Have a new target Dylan (86 driver) who managed a 0:59.9498/1:02.717 on the Sprint/clubman.

Also good to catch up with Riley on his NA8, came down from Toowoomba for the PM session.

[ManiacLachy]

Awesome work, Mark! Can't wait to see your Time Attack results this yea.

[Magpie]

Thanks!

Have some ideas to get some more corner speed out of the car, cannot get any more straight line speed so need to get into the corners later, through them quicker and exit carrying more speed, simple...

[SKYHI]

Good job Mark on getting your sub 60 lap on the Sprint circuit.. I saw you rolling through the pits just as I was leaving to head back to work, hopefully catch up one day

Our morning didn't really go to plan with an overboosting issue in Toyota 86, which mean't having to short shift at 6000 rpm. Still managed a 57.6 on the Sprint and 60.1 on the Clubman, but reckon there's a 55 in it when it's gets sorted and we get the right conditions.

[Magpie]

Looks like the morning session was optimal for the sprint, numerous people put down fast times. Would have been nice to get the PM session to have the sprint last (late afternoon).

[Magpie]

14/05/16 - 1:01.6279 AD08R's
01/09/16 - Racing beat muffler replaced
17/09/16 - 1:01.3709 AD08R's
21/09/16 - car's tune adjusted to 194 RWHP (7,600 RPM) and 203 Nm at 4,100 RPM
15/10/16 - WTAC
20/11/16 - fixed the eccentric bushes that had 'rotated' and installed helper springs on the front
27/11/16 - 1:01.3969 AD08R's
05/01/17 - brake booster deleted, rear springs changed to 9kg (from 8kg)
18/02/17- 1:01.8245 AD08R's
02/04/17 - surge tank install finalised
22/04/17 - 1:00.4829 AD08R's
29/04/17 - 1:00.4391 AD08R's
03/05/17 - wing mounts fixed
15/05/17 - 1:00.3552 AR-1's
01/06/17 - 0:59.9201 AR-1's

[Magpie]

Fuel pressure saga - solved...

29/04/2017
20170429 Fuel_Presure by Eipeip, on Flickr

15/05/17
20170515 Fuel_Presure by Eipeip, on Flickr

01/06/17
20170601 Fuel_Presure by Eipeip, on Flickr

[The American]

Was it the sensor location reading incorrectly, or the previous pumping arrangement?

[Magpie]

First issue looks like it was a failing FPR, second issue (erratic fuel pressure readings) was a bad crimp on the sensor plug. The bad crimp got progressively worse the more I played around with the fuel plumbing (unplugging the sensor).

Anyway

[Magpie]

Searching for the paint code of the silver on my car last night came across some old photos... The silver is in fact Mazda Aluminium 38P...

First track day


When BC's and 6UL's first added. It no longer has the 4WD look... I have learnt a lot over the years of ownership.


The hand marked up colour scheme, and my email asking for a quote...


When I blew the original engine up whilst at Norwell


When it was getting painted


Notice the silly angle of attack on the wing... I know a lot better now...


JapNats 2015


Sandown 2017


February 2017


June 2017