Month: June 2017

Once a year the members of the Motor Press Guild get together for a chance to drive convertibles through the canyons just north of Malibu as well as the toughest trucks available to tackle the off-road course. While I waited in line to get a first impression of the all new Miata RF, the hardtop Mazda proved to be quite popular and never spent more than a minute stopped back at the ranch before another automotive journalist absconded with the keys to the new car.

Hopefully I will have a chance to get behind the wheel of the retractable hardtop MX-5 in the near future, but at least I was able to get some seat time up Piuma and along the Snake in the Craigslist Miata to start another great day.

So I had this plan that the timing with the autocross at El Toro didn’t allow, but I have had this Bride bucket in an extra room for about two years now and right when I spring for a roll bar and start to get serious about a set of Takata harnesses and BOOM, great deal on Craigslist.

The best part was the kid still making payments in the FR-S with full Rocket Bunny kit and 18 inch Work wheels with no engine work. With a proper harness bar installed I now have someplace to hang the straps. I have to admit that the fit is quite snug so I as cool as it looks I have not been looking forward to this one for quite some time.

Continue reading “I love it when a plan comes together”

After arriving at MCAS El Toro and parking away from the hanger demolition, it is such a shame that this place is getting torn down, I immediately thought DAMN when I saw everyone walking the track in the opposite direction as the day before. The Falkens were a bit more worn and I revved it a bit higher than the day before and the times kept falling.

It sounded like a good idea. $90 for up to 12 runs at El Toro, the day before an SCCA Solo competition. Not to mention the new Falken Azenis tires I was going to try out. The crowd at MCAS El Toro is always so friendly, and the Miata showing is quite strong.

I started at 40 PSI up front and 36 in the back. I ended up liking 38 up front and 34 in the back, and yes there was a spin. However I was most impressed with the GoPro footage showing over 1G in lateral force through the slalom. This is only with delrin door bushings and new tires on 14 inch R Package wheels, no alignment.

Continue reading “SCCA SOLO Practice @ El Toro 6/10/17”

One day I asked Joey at Hiro’s about ways to stiffen up the chassis, he showed me a set of bushings that fills out the gaps and boxes the rear of the power plant frame from Japan. We talked about cages and roll bars but before I left he told me about another customer that uses a Delrin door bushing, and because of the hardtop it would be the best bang for the buck chassis mods out there for the Craigslist Miata.

I am not sure why it took so long to do this? It only took 10 min with a 10 mm wrench and $45 and I couldn’t be happier. I was surprised at just how hard they are, almost ABS plastic; where the old ones were a very hard rubber. By not tightening the bolts all the way I was able to open and close the doors a few times to find the right spot. Gone is the door rattle that comes from rail road crossings and really snugs the car down on the highway, giving the car a more solid feel. Not bad for under $50!

Thanks to a post on Jalopnik and discount card from Discount Tire I was sold on what would turn out to be some very big tires. The smallest size Falken makes for the new Azenis RT615K+ is 195/60 so that’s what they are. They really are larger than the set of Daises next to them. I really like how they look, fitment seems good and the CLM finally has f*ing Falkens.