I have seen the light

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/02/2018 at 19:35 • Filed to: None

I cooked my brakes (again) during day 1 of SCCVs autocross double header at Canaan this weekend. When I decided after 1 run today that they were too sketchy for what was essentially a track day with some cones one of the chair people of the club offered me his Miata for the day. I jumped at that opportunity and I totally get why people love this RWD Miata stuff.

This was the second weekend in a row that I got to run a RWD car after running my FSAE team’s car last weekend and I have to say I enjoy RWD a lot. I feel like it suits my driving style much better than the Mini does. The Mini forces me to work to neutralize the understeer while I am able to drop into a rhythm by the end of my first run in the RWDs. I’m thinking a BRZ or Miata/Fiata (even though I don’t really like convertibles) may be in my not too distant future.

For those wondering the Miata I drove was a stock drivetrain but everything else was heavily upgraded. As you can see the car has been lightened substantially (the only piece of the interior that is left is the gauge cluster) as well as upgraded with wider wheels, suspension, brakes etc.

DISCUSSION (14)

sony1492 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 19:52

So we arnt going to talk about that sweet Saab, the cart, or the rx7!!!?

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 19:54

Yes but tell me about the RX7

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
09/02/2018 at 20:04

The RX7 is a full hillclimb build with the radiator in the back and everything. Sadly it was having some kind of issue today and the rotary was coughing and spluttering all day.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > sony1492
09/02/2018 at 20:09

The Saab is an old 900 with something like 290k miles on it. The owner actually owns both the hatch back and a convertible.

The kart is an Exocet owned by the president of SCCV and built around the stock drivetrain of a 1994 Miata. It is routinely the fastest car at any event (followed very closely by the Miata I drove today).

Th e RX-7 is a full hillclimb build with the radiators in the trunk. Sadly it was having some kind of issue and the rotary was coughing and spluttering all day.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 20:10

“the only piece of the interior that is left is the gauge cluster”

So you were sitting on the floor without a seatbelt and steering, controlling the throttle and shifting transmission with YOUR MIND? :O

WITCH! BLASPHEMY!

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/02/2018 at 20:13

I should have specified original interior. I had a nice Sparco racing bucket to sit in. Pedals and shifter were not stock.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 20:21

Haha, no worries, I was just being silly! :P

facw > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 20:35

or Miata/Fiata (even though I don’t really like convertibles)

The RF is more of a targa ?

sdwarf36 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 20:41

Yea-so pretty much same as usual. ( I’m bud dies and race with everyone you mentioned.)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > sdwarf36
09/02/2018 at 20:57

Its a small world.

Frenchlicker > sony1492
09/02/2018 at 21:42

I’m quite fond of bugeye subies myself. No clue why.

AestheticsInMotion > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/02/2018 at 22:24

Come to the northwest and try one in the dirt!

I'm still amazed at how cheap good wheels are in 15". Those Advanti Storm S1's he's running can be found under $100 a peice and they're insanely lightweight. Looks like a well-thought out setup, I wish there were more pictures!

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/03/2018 at 00:06

Oh man the Miata and RX7. Looks like my garage except that they are actually out in the sun

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/10/2018 at 16:46

The Mini forces me to work to neutralize the understeer

Did you get around to installing a stiffer rear swaybar?