newbie

[cendo54]

hey guys/gals, just joined. looking to pick up a miata w/hardtop shortly and learn how to drive it. maybe a little scca if time permits. if anyone is thinking of selling their car in a bit, keep me in mind or send me a pm later. my max is about 5k as i still have my rx7 to work on. thanks all! :D

[RodneyR]

Welcome aboard Mr. cendo54 8)

You can already learn how to drive in the RX7 though by joining SCCA Solo2. It would be impossible to learn the cars limits on the streets of Oahu.

We have a friend racing his RX8 since he had it brand new. Only problems that I know of is his shredded tires from tracking it.

If you race your RX7 in only two SCCA events, it qualifies you to become a member of the Mazdaspeed Motorsports team support program where you will get very significant discounts on parts directly from the factory to keep the RX7 going.

[cendo54]

wow, didn't know there was that perk. i just picked up my 1st gen and unfortunately though i think the car is more suited for the drag strip. previous owner claims sub 13 sec times.

one of the problems is that the steering inspires no confidence in driving. there's so much slop in the box that i would be scared driving it on the track. another thing is the car produces more power then my driving ability would be able to control. i think as soon as the turbo spools up in a corner i'd break the rear end loose and crash. speaking of rear end, i just replaced the diff the other week as i broke 15 teeth off the ring gear, fun...

probabaly once i run this car at the drag strip, i'll be ready to sell it. in the mean time though if anyone is thinking of selling their miata, please let me know. looking for a stock miata to start with. that way i can get the hang of the car. would love to scca and learn how to drive. thanks rodney!

[gtxhawaii]

If your steering is too scary to run on a track, it's WAY too scary to mix with big tracter-trailer rigs, bridge abutments and ME(us?) on the highway. More than a couple of Miata club members have decent mechanic skills. Maybe get together and let's have a look? Simple replacing of easy stuff like tierod ends and ball joints to 'Needs everthing' could be the result. And a terrible alignment might be the only problem.
The RX7 with a turbo, if it hasn't been 'upgraded' to a huge one, is a very capable autocrosser. Maybe a slight detune at first while learning. You don't Have to scream the motor to have a good time oncourse, or go rather quickly. Miatas are the most fun though, We think.

[cendo54]

thanks man. maybe i'll take it when you folks have a track day just to get the hang of the course.

[gtxhawaii]

The next autocross is in a week. $27, & you get 4 runs. Then work another heat as a course worker. Nobody gets paid, we drivers all are the course workers. (You'l learn as much watching as driving, if you apply yourself.) And you get the first of 2 required competition event recorded so you can buy Mazda parts from Mazda Motorsports for dealer cost. This is Not an inconsiderable saving! All mechanical parts, lots of racing stuff, but not interior or non-structural body parts.
There are loaner helmets if you don't own one.
Autocross is much easier on the car than dragging. Most of us have only used up tires and brakes. But no more than driving vigorously anywhere. (Nobody does that on the street, do we?) I've seen a few cars damaged in the last 3 years. (4?) but every one was a brain failure. Trying to save a mistake with throttle instead of the brakes. When you make a mistake, slow down, get back on line and use the rest of the run for practice. NO real mistake will be 'saved' for a decent time. Massacring the odd traffic cone is just good fun, (if nobody sees it) and grounds for a few sly comments in the pits. Certainly more fun for the money than the same amount spent at any restaurant I know of!

[RodneyR]

Actually, next autox is Sept 18. See http://www.sccahawaii.org/

wow, didn't know there was that perk.

Check it out www.mazdamotorsports.com They'll only provide you parts for racing the one particular Mazda that you race. In my opinion, you'll need parts support more for your RX-7 ...which won't be as reliable as a Miata I guarantee.

...one of the problems is that the steering inspires no confidence in driving. there's so much slop in the box that i would be scared driving it on the track. another thing is the car produces more power then my driving ability would be able to control. i think as soon as the turbo spools up in a corner i'd break the rear end loose and crash...
We race plenty cars with over 300 horsepower. That's what you want :twisted: Autox will teach you to apply significant pedal effort (apply braking and/or throttle) only when the tire patches are NOT loaded up with cornering G's. This is true even if you only had 90hp! Autox will make you a safer driver.

But, I wouldn't even drive on the highway or, for sure, drag race that RX-7 in a straight line if there's slop in the steering. You've got to fix that. Fixing steering slop in a car you already own would cost less than purchasing a Miata.

I drove this Mitsubishi Formula car a few weeks ago. It's so light weight, it has better 'specific horsepower' than a Lamborghini Murcielago. They told me it already does the quarter mile in 12 seconds and that it isn't even set up for drag racing since it's specifically geared for road racing/ cornering. I loaded up the rear tires and drove it sideways in a couple corners. Suspension and steering are so incredibly responsive and balanced that it corrected itself without much input, ...I was kind of 'falling asleep' <exageration> in the thing during a continuous hour of open road course lapping it was so stable.

A very close friend of mine is a certified instructor at this Mario Andretti / Jeff Gordon driving school. I'm lining up to take a race car class and drive a 600hp Indy car next summer.

Autocrossing gave me that much confidence, especially when you drive a car that really has good steering and suspension.

Any RX-7 with sound steering and suspension is exceptionally fine. RX-7's rock... they are designed for turning. Wish I had one myself.

...looking for a stock miata to start with. that way i can get the hang of the car. would love to scca and learn how to drive...

Used Miata's are dirt cheap everywhere, reliable and really good on fuel mileage. With $5K, you're looking at some used Miata's in great condition (better than mine).

No horsepower though in the 1.6L '91 - '93 years but that's good cause it will force and teach you to find a better racing line and discover how to conserve "momentum" versus solely relying on good brakes and high power to get good lap times. This knowledge should carry through if you ever upgrade power.

Good luck. Hope to see you at the track in either your RX-7 or 'new' Miata soon... :wink:

[cendo54]

ya, thanks guys for the info. once i run the rx7 at the drag, i'm gonna sell it to focus on a miata. would keep the rx7 but it's totally not pratical. no interior, no a/c, no radio. just a car with a drivetrain and a roll bar.

with the miata, i'll have a car that i can drive to the track in comfort run a few laps and then drive home with the top down or a/c. gotta have a/c these days.

[gtxhawaii]

OPPS! Sorry about the date. I've got a whole extra week to get the Miata competitive? Just running, I hope.
IIRC, an RX7 doesn't Have a steerring box. It's got rack and pinion steering. Which makes terrible steering even more important to diagnose. Likely problems: a loose rack, if it falls off, that's Bad (Worn rack bushing are more likely and give a sloppy feel); worn inner or outer tie rod ends, usually Not good eventually (things get wierd when a wheel isn't fixed somehow to the rack); terrible alignment, mostly bad for tire wear; bad wheel bearing, usually not catastrophic, if you don't mind coming to a stop with a crooked, smoking wheel and hub; worn balljoints or inner bushing on suspension members; the ball joints, like tie rod ends are pretty important in keeping that wheel upright and pointed in the same direction as the other wheel, bad suspension bushings are noisy, clunky and imprecise, but don't lead to making the morning papers to my knowledge. Other stuff, like a failing steering column flex (or universal) joint can be most alarming. (Suddenly, you're just a passenger).
I live on the North Shore, other members with more than passing acquaintance with Mazda cars live all sort of places on the south side, Hawaii Kai and Kaneohe, I believe. We may not have as much equpment as your local garage, but do have fewer reasons to blow smoke where the sun don't shine. Ask around and see who is close, and has time for a climb under and look see.

[RodneyR]

ya, thanks guys for the info. once i run the rx7 at the drag, i'm gonna sell it to focus on a miata. would keep the rx7 but it's totally not pratical. no interior, no a/c, no radio. just a car with a drivetrain and a roll bar.

with the miata, i'll have a car that i can drive to the track in comfort run a few laps and then drive home with the top down or a/c. gotta have a/c these days.

That's exactly why I own a miata, dawg. But right now you're set up for this 8)

http://www.kaimoku.com/videos/driftsession/ds20050806ver2.wmv

[cendo54]

thanks again for all the info but i've got a 1st gen rx7. just sold my original condition tii. that would've have been more of a "drift car". by the way, i don't know much about driving, but it seems to me that drifting is not as fast around turns as regular driving. seems to be more of a show thing then anything else. please let me know if that is incorrect.

also i think my 1st gen doesn't have a rack as it has a recirculating ball and nut variable ratio steering box. at least that's what the manual says. it ties in to the pitman arm, idler arms and three piece tie rod. not sure which year they switched to rank and pinion. thanks though

once i get a miata, i'll be asking you folks for recommendations for suspension set up.

thanks all!