Autox and Camping Weekend Success!

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
07/10/2017 at 12:10 • Filed to: None

This weekend I went on a 4.5 hour excursion out to midstate airport in PA for the Central PA annual Cone Killer Classic autocross event. It was a 2 day event with free overnight camping included! It was quite the tetris game to fit four tires and Camping supplies in a Miata but it worked out well enough!

Thankfully my trusty tent kept me dry during the torrential downpours that came down Friday and then partway through Saturday during day one of the event. My runs were mostly dry though which was lucky! Although one of my runs was quite damp before it dried up. Running slicks on damp pavement worked out WAY better than I expected.

Day 2 was completely sunny and allowed me to really get some fast, clean runs. I also ran with a co-driver since they broke their Mustang the day prior. Doing ridealongs in my car felt super fast. Although it was about 3 seconds slower than my own times. Yah driver mods!

Here’s a video from Sunday of someone else running the course:

Overall it was well worth the trip. I learned quite a bit about being smooth and felt quite improved by the end. I focused on turning smoothly and looking ahead. Didn’t quite accomplish 100% what I wanted, but baby steps.

DISCUSSION (13)

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/11/2017 at 09:48

It was quite the tetris game to fit four tires and Camping supplies in a Miata but it worked out well enough!

I’m impressed. Last year I brought camping supplies in the Miata for a weekend autocross, but that did not include tires— and it was still a full car (my gear did include enough water for showers, though).

This year I’ll be towing a tiny trailer, but that means I can bring the girlfriend, bigger coolers, a couple bikes, and a few additional camping luxuries.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42
07/11/2017 at 10:51

Haha it really wasnt that bad since I just packed like I was backpacking. I even was able to fit a nice sleeping pad, a pillow, and an additional small backpack full of other assorted things all in the trunk (plus a folding chair and my helmet and floor jack and tools). Then just a cooler in the passenger floor well. I could certainly fit all of that plus a passenger if I had a roll bar. Then I could hang the tires off of there!

I am considering that for the future. I want to add a CSP lexan spoiler (DOWNFORCE YO) to the back which would not allow the luggage rack. And a roll bar is going in anyways so the tires would just go there instead. Only issue then is I cant put the top up. Guess I could always just use a tarp lol.

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/11/2017 at 13:54

And a roll bar is going in anyways so the tires would just go there instead. Only issue then is I cant put the top up.

I struggle with the same dilemma when fitting bigger stuff. Rear deck with a rollbar makes a great place to tie down stuff. But with the top up, the bar diagonal makes getting much of anything onto the back deck a real challenge.

Where my annual autocross/camping weekend is way up north gets some crazy weather and huge thunderstorms are almost a guarantee at some point during the weekend. So a top-up compatible solution is a must.

I do have a Raceland luggage rack that is a fantastic option to throw on the trunk for trips. Last year I had my pop-up canopy and a smallish cooler on there. This year with the trailer I might be able to skip the rack.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42
07/11/2017 at 14:44

Yup, the trailer is the ideal solution. I would have one if I had a place to store it. But I use the riceland luggage rack primarily for autox tire transport. It has somehow held up to the abuse, although my trunk lid has certainly seen better days. Its rusty anyways so I dont mind ruining that piece more so.

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/12/2017 at 10:51

Yup, the trailer is the ideal solution. I would have one if I had a place to store it.

Storage is definitely a challenge. I don’t want to just leave mine in the yard out front (in the way of mowing the lawn, easy target for theft, and exposed to the elements constantly). At the moment I have it standing up leaned against my garage work bench (it is only 40" x 48", plus tongue). But that needs to change soon, as it does get in the way.

I could put it out back, or maybe even squeeze it into my shed— but I’m not crazy about the idea of shoveling a wide path in the snow if I want to get it out and use it during winter time.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42
07/12/2017 at 11:10

Is there really a use for it in the winter time though? Id be happy to stow it in a back yard or something. My only option would be to lug it up three flights of stairs and put it in my closet. Or park it on the street someplace outside my neighborhood. Same reason why I dont want to have a hard top. Eventually I will have a garage or land and be able to have both of those things!

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/12/2017 at 14:50

Is there really a use for it in the winter time though?

I’m thinking trips to the home improvement store. Really, anything too big to fit in the car that I still want to transport.

Same reason why I dont want to have a hard top.

That would be tough without some kind of storage. I built a frame on my garage ceiling that holds the top with lashing straps. This means one person can raise or lower the top, and it stays out of the way where it won’t get damaged.

I will say for winter, a hard top is wonderful.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42
07/12/2017 at 15:17

hard top would just be nice to have in general. I either want top down or not to drive at all generally. But with a hard top, rain and long highway trips would be far more bearable. Driving with the soft top up is honestly louder and less comfortable than with it down, regardless of the weather lol.

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/12/2017 at 15:28

Driving with the soft top up is honestly louder and less comfortable than with it down, regardless of the weather lol.

Agreed... my soft top only goes up for rain, and when parked outside all day (where who knows what the New England weather will do in a couple of hours). Top down is way nicer in every way.

I don’t know if the hard top is that much nicer for rain, but it is great when you get out of work and have to clear off snow and ice (which would be hell on the soft top). And it is a little quieter and cozier in the cold than the soft top.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42
07/12/2017 at 15:42

I just plan to avoid cold weather entirely with my Miata lol. I quite enjoy how the soft top works in the cold. Allows me to keep my feet warm without making my head all sweaty. I am actually always colder in solid roofed cars because I have to keep the heat low to not sweat to death and then my feet freeze. Plus the salt has been rusting me away faster than I would like. Hard top would be nice in the summer though since there are days that AC is just so necessary.

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/13/2017 at 10:00

I just plan to avoid cold weather entirely with my Miata lol.

The incredulous looks one receives driving a Miata in the winter make it worthwhile :)

People just don’t realize how fantastic a sports car with winter tires and a LSD is to drive in the snow (so long as it isn’t crazy deep).

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ateamfan42
07/13/2017 at 12:17

Kinja'd!!!

Oh yes, I am well aware of that fun haha

Kinja'd!!!

ateamfan42 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
07/13/2017 at 16:15

Well done! *applauds*