"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
01/11/2019 at 01:07 • Filed to: None
5
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"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
01/11/2019 at 01:07 • Filed to: None | 5
| 24 |
Also t op speed’d a Swedish brick. One of those two ended in heartbreak.
It was the track day. I’m really bummed out. I was given the keys to a manual 2017 Miata, and had an instructor for almost two hours . Seems like a recipe for success, no?
Things did not go as planned. There was light rain , so despite my helmeted head not fitting in the slightest, the instructor refused to take the top down. I look over and what do I see? Every other driver with the program proceeding to lower the top.
Huh. Guess I got the sour apple of the group.
Cones were set up to teach proper lines, braking zones, etc. As I approached the second cone around a curve, my instructor asked if I’d driven this layout before. I said “ no” , unaware how much I’d come to regret that choice.
Immediately after I told him I was unfamiliar with the course his exact words were “slow down speed racer, this is RWD and can get a bit tail-happy. I don’t want you to pass the people in front ”.
Yeah... I didn’t have to worry about passing anyone.
For the next 10 laps it was a constant back-and-forth between attempting to have some fun, and getting told to “slow down. Brake. Braking zone coming. Too fast. Turn the wheel.” I wasn’t trying to set a record or drive beyond my skill level, but good god... My neighbor would have smoked us in her MDX. I never thought there would come a day when driving a Miata on track would be a negative experience, but this instructor proved me wrong.
Ended up getting lapped by every other person there.
I should add that despite the instructor’s misgivings, at no point was the ND anywhere close to the limit of traction. Tires weren’t spinning. Rear wasn’t sliding. RPM wasn’t climbing much (“shift now! You have to shift now! ”). We were so far below what the ND is capable of, and even b elow what your average driver with zero on-track experience would be capable of on their first outing. I just don’t get it.
I could see people like this turning enthusiasts off of the sport.
After that waste of money I needed to let off some steam, so I went on a closed course with a few others for some unsanctioned high speed runs with our personal cars.
I’m not going to beat around the bush because my jaw already dropped to the floor, so here it is.
Stock, a turbo, manual 850 wagon is capable of hitting a top speed anywhere from 146 -164 mph, depending on what publication/forum post/GPS data you believe. Volvo lists the 850r at 158mph.
At 162mph, my heart felt like I’d just ran 10 miles. There was still a bit more left to eek out on top but my self-preservation instinct wouldn’t allow it. 162mph in a 25 year old station wagon shaped like a brick, with 300 w hp at the absolute most. And if that’s not crazy enough, a stock 850r is apparently right around that number too. My mind is blown. Never thought a beat up Volvo wagon would take my previous high speed crown from the first gen CTS-V sedan.
And nothing broke! I’d say this m ade up for the aw ful track experience. M y buddy did quite a few runs in his Stingray, which was also terrifying. LSX Datsun 510 was also quite impressive.
So how’s your night? Should I find a way to upload the track footage so you all can see me driving 20mph at Pacific Speedway while getting scolded by an old man for not applying enough brakes?
facw
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:13 |
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Bricks to the rescue!
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AestheticsInMotion
> facw
01/11/2019 at 01:15 |
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New goal. Build the Miata up to be faster than the turbo brick
gettingoldercarguy
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:15 |
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Did your instructor drive a golf r by chance?
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AestheticsInMotion
> gettingoldercarguy
01/11/2019 at 01:19 |
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No idea. I left the main track area pretty quick.
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gettingoldercarguy
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:20 |
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Sounds like an instructor I had a few years ago, older guy.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:23 |
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I wanna do drive fast things too
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AestheticsInMotion
> gettingoldercarguy
01/11/2019 at 01:23 |
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Hmm . I know he’s been there for at least two years
Slightly related, Dirtfish is hiring drivers.... Now that could be a fun job
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AestheticsInMotion
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
01/11/2019 at 01:25 |
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If you buy your mom's Miata EVERY drive will feel fast!
RacinBob
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:26 |
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I think your ready to just buy a race car, or enter with a lemons team and go racing, That’s what the rest of us do......
PS don’t blame him, he has to ride with you; ditch him and jump in the deep end . Check this out, https://www.racingjunk.com/category/Road-Racing-Cars/Improved-Touring/84
What are you waiting for? $300 0. It’s a crime this car is so cheap. Act or o therwise it’s just whining...
DipodomysDeserti
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:28 |
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That’s very impressive for a brick. Only car I ever topped put was my ‘08 WRX that I turbo swapped. It was aerodynamically limited at around 150 (indicated). Used to top out my SV650 in college every night on my way home from work (around 140 indicated). Topped out my ‘73 CL450 at a bit over 100mph (which was terrifying. Don’t try this at home, kids.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:29 |
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Ugh, don't bring that up. I'm trying to delay that as long as possible.
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AestheticsInMotion
> RacinBob
01/11/2019 at 01:29 |
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Eh, I like forest service roads more than tracks. I’d rather build a rally car than a track monster!
That said I wouldn’t mind this Forte to troll CarsOfForte Langley https://www.racingjunk.com/Improved-Touring/182808731/2014-World-Challenge-TCA-Kia-Forte.html?category_id=84&np_offset=10
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AestheticsInMotion
> DipodomysDeserti
01/11/2019 at 01:36 |
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105
mph in t
he Miata a
t the end of a freeway was a brief part of my daily commute for about three years. Started to feel like a perfectly normal, reasonable speed, which was a p
art of the reason I decided a bike would be a bad personal choice at the time.
I hope you weren't recording with one hand...
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DipodomysDeserti
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 01:45 |
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That rex was on stock suspension, which was trying to kill me at that speed. I taped the phone to the steering wheel. The vid was taken around seven years ago at 2am “in Mexico”.
Future Heap Owner
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 03:07 |
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Ur gonna die
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Future Heap Owner
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 03:09 |
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160!? Wow. I have just barely gone over 100 mph twice ( on public roads, albeit with nobody in sight) and both times I felt like some kinda daredevil (lol). Can’t imagine how fast 160 feels
Wheelerguy
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 03:34 |
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Touring cars of that type are actually really rather good as starer Po kemon. Not as fully-developed as something like the cars that used to be at WTCC, but for the money and capability it can’t be beat. In that shape you can probably even turn it into a rally car.
NKato
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 03:47 |
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I would have demanded a refund, AIM. Anyone that's a driving instructor with no idea of what the car is capable of is a massive failure.
Discerning
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 07:20 |
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Yo u didn’t hit 160 on public roads, did you?
I’m not going to lecture you about safety and innocent bystanders, because that’s obvious.
Th e other thing to consider is risk vs. r eward. I knew someone who got pulled over for going over 140. One wreckless driving ticket later - they lost their license for a little and they have a misdemeanor on their record now. The judge had zero sympathy for a 20 something driving way too fast.
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AestheticsInMotion
> Discerning
01/11/2019 at 13:07 |
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Closed course. Still not something I’m likely to do again, but with one car going out at a time and all spectators in the starting area, the only person at risk was the driver.
I'm surprised getting caught at 140 didn't have more severe consequences honestly
MM54
> AestheticsInMotion
01/11/2019 at 14:55 |
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I’d have been strongly tempted to tell the instructor at the end what he can do with his hat and/or asked for a refund. Sounds miserable.
160 in the Volvo sounds like a good time, though!
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> AestheticsInMotion
01/15/2019 at 12:29 |
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engine swap between the two cars
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Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> AestheticsInMotion
01/15/2019 at 12:35 |
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Definitely would love to see the video, could be a good laugh! You should just track your miata and skip on the instructors. While good instructors are worth the cost 100%, you can self improve as well and save a ton of money just doing cheap track days and getting in tons of seat time on your own. Its nice to just be used to your own car and not worry about breaking something that doesnt belong to you. Your experience sounds exactly like the Mazda drive event I went to where they had a crappy autox course setup and gave me a manual ND to drive around. We had to take a breathelyzer test before driving and then the instructors were EXTREMELY conservative. It made sense though seeing as someone ripped a panel off one of the cars running over cones and another was doing smokey tail slides around corners. So clearly people were ignoring the instructors there lol. It’s more fun when instructors are merely there to tell you after the fact what you did wrong and how to improve.
Kid@Heart
> AestheticsInMotion
01/24/2019 at 08:21 |
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I’ ve had old Volvo wagons for years, loving that they’re undercover speedsters. Beat a Tesla coming out of Cincinnati once. Also was bored one morning and took a pic of the speedometer at 112 on an empty highway in St Louis. Later that day I was stopped by Kansas highway patrol for doing 74 in a 70. They gave me a ticket and when I paid it,I send a pic of the speedometer and told them I thought they needed to fix their radar detector