2009.06.05/6/7 Track Days 2-4: Mosport

Mosport... What a rush!

Fun times with BMW Trillium. Friday was solo students and instructors only. Saturday and Sunday were the usual school days (but very well run by this club I must say).

Super weather and plenty of track time Friday (4 hours total) meant loads of mileage (398km). atrday was pretty good too (still sunny, 168kms). I ended up completely destroying two of my tires (note to self: R888's need 5PSI less tahn RA-1's, and there's no rubber left after the grooves are gone).

Sunday started out rainy, so I packed my gear and left early... Still happy with the weekend (especially because of Friday).

2009.05.23 Track Day 1: Sanair

First outing with BMW Quebec at Sanair. Hadn't run the miata there in quite a while, so it was somewhat interesting.

The track is very bumpy and filled with walls all around, but it was a good chance to try out the new suspension (talk about a shakedown! :). After fiddling around with damping settings, the car does seem a lot more planted and is a lot easier at the limit (neutral/slight oversteer at the limit, or understeer is turn in is too hash... perfect).

This was also my first day of instructor training. Had a lot to learn, but things went relatively well. Also had my first student: John in a new M3. The car is quite astonishing. Loads of grip for street tires, no brake fade, very fast and especially forgiving (for example of harsh imputs). As nice machine that should be excellent on the street!

2008.08.08/09/10 Track Days 5 - 7: Tremblant

Back a few days later the Le Circuit, this time with Phil, Fred, Vince and the girls. BMWCCA Boston hosts the event in cooperation with BMW Quebec. Friday is a advanced/instructors only day, which meant a lot of track time... Hour long sessions were fun, but killed the brake pads (I'm finding out that Tremblant is particularily tough on pads).

After doing 2 days at Calabogie and a day earlier in the week at Tremblant, I ran out of pad at the end of the back straight during Friday's second afternoon session (Note to self, an Audi R8's brakes are better suited to track duty than my car :). I ended up chosing going in the grass rather than roughing it through turns 10 and 11. I lost the rest of the day changing out the pads and then using thwe last session as a bedding run. It was a pain to lose the time after upgrading the front calipers/rotors for this specific purpose! I then learned that the issue was worse that I thought when I went through a second set on Sunday! The backing plate paint of the pads had turned completely white, and discussions with the folks at Carbotech revealed that the issue is due to my brakes not being able to dissipate the heat.

So we spent a lot of time changng brakes... but the rest of the weekend was a lot of fun too! I worked on new lines, and especially tried braking earlier during the front straight in order to climb the hill under power (more stable). Two rides with different instructors showed me without a doubt that they do not agree on lines (2-3, 5, 7), so I'm at a point where I need to find out what suits the car (and myself) better. There is not only a single approach to a (combination of) corner(s).

I also completely removed the rear sway bar Saturday evening, in an attempt to figure my next F/R roll couple. I will be changing my suspension setup next winter, and I'm sick and tired of buying inefficient pre-made kits that DO NOT WORK, so I've go through the personal design route. Rear sway bar removal produced an even more healthy setup, allowing to apply power on corner exit a lot easier. I'm beginning to figure out one of the reasons why the miata has had a steep learning curve! :/. My new suspension setup will be very close to this tested roll couple, but with a lot higher spring rates.

2008.08.04 Track Day 4: Tremblant

Back to LCMT for a single day with COMSCC. I knew that I was going to run at the end of the week with the BMW club, but I decided to do a "low cost" event anyway. Got up early, drove up to Tremblant, and then drove back down at the end of the day. The objective was to smoothen out the lines by racking up some more miles, and also make sure the car was 100% ready for the 3 day event a few days away.

I spent most of the day driving solo, and got my COM license at the end of the day (which is a LOT harder than the BMW solo sticker).

The car did not run well at all... I was still overheating, which was of great concern. Not as bad as Calabogie, but I could not run the car at full power for more than 2 laps. Pretty concerning.

The other major point was I could finally try out the car with its new settings:
1) Rear sway bar was put on full soft, and a bit more toe was put in at the beginning of the year and the car did feel more comfortable! t is a LOT easier to drive, especially through 1-2-3 and 8. I can put more power down earlier in the turns, but I need time to adapt to the new limit.

2) New gearing is proving to be certainly different. I do not hit the rev limiter going into 7 and 8 (last year I was at max revs for a long time going into 8). The reason is that I put the Mazdaspeed differential back in the car after all (5% longer gearing). In this case, we're talking about 4th gear, which means 10km/h faster (ie. I don't expect to hit the limiter over the next few days :). The car doesn't feel faster on the long straights, but my shift points have noticeably changed, and data collection has showed that I shift like a granny into 5th. I need more time to adjust.

3) Tried the car with a hard top over the last few weeks in order to asses how I'd like the car with a cage. Street driving is certainly different, but the car should be significantly more slippery through the air and consequently faster in the long straights. I have no clue as if it's the case since the car has undergone too many changes.

2008.05.26/27 Track Days 2 & 3: Calabogie

A big, BIG Saturday just before this event, where we installed a total of 2 differentials on the car in order to make it to this event. I learned the hard way that the Mazdaspeed differential does not directly fit in the miata because of the inboard halfshaft spline size. Anyway, we got it done, and the car was at the event. There was some rubbing under hard right hand drive cornering, but I was not going to let that ruin all these days of hard work!

Calabogie is a great track. Fast, flowing, and difficult to learn/master because of the sheer number of turns (that are usually blind and grouped together in combinations). Very rewarding when you get it right.

It took me the two days to learn (I was carrying a lot more speed every time I went back out). The second morning spent with Les was a real eye-opener (actually riding along in another car, and a fast miata to boot!). I ended up with my first ever COMSCC trophy (3rd place), which is a great achievement! Don't think I will ever get first though, as the first place car was 9 seconds in front of me (the car is not competitive in class)!

Some great pictures of the event!






More available here:

2008.05.27 Calabogie with COMSCC

2008.05.23 Track Day 1: Shannonville

Reading back through this blog, I noticed that this is my 4th year running this car on track, and if you count 1-2 outings with the previous miata (2002 silver), I'm now on my 5th year at the track. Time goes by fast!

Over the winter, I did a lot of (mostly preventative) maintenance (timing belt, replacement of tie rod ends, all coolant and oil lines, engine supports, ...)

Of course, some minor upgrades were performed also: complete gutting of the steering rack to make it a proper quick ratio manual (versus the previous bypass which did not succeed that well), upgrade of front brakes to the 2001+ sport package version and creation of brake ducts.

What was also upgraded (not that I wanted), was the whole hot side of the turbo. My AVO exhaust manifold failed, the same way that Phil's did twice. Pretty sure that the failure is due to a design flaw of the manifold itself. Not wanting to start over again, I gave Corky Bell at BEGI a call. End result is a new exhaust manifold, downpipe, pre-intercooler piping, intake, heat shield, turbo actuator, ... Expensive, but I hope the solution will bring better reliability in the future.


However, that reliability was short lived because my differential let go on the way to the first track day! My torsen module blew near Syracuse NY. Luckily, I was able to nurse the car to Kingston, and then back home.

Vince was nice enough to lend me his car once again, so all was not lost, but I did spend most of the day working on finding myself a new differential for the Monday/Tuesday event at Calabogie...

A few pictures, and still a lot of fun at a great event organized by Marc for the Thousand Island Z Car Club!

2007.08.20/21 Track Days 7 & 8

Back to Tremblant with BMWCCA... Great fun indeed!


Different club, different approach. Excellent theoretical classroom session (with Jim Russel's local instructor), but in general slower track traffic (HPDE vs. Time Trial gang shows!). Had Phil a an instructor, so a good learning experience on once again a higher speed track. I was held back a bit during the first day (I was too fast for the intermediate run group, and there weren't enough point by's). Still worked a lot on speed, smoothness and vision... Seat time, seat time, seat time.

The advantage of slower run groups is that it boosts the ego of the little miata! :) I was able to pass a lot of cars, (which shouldn't happen) such as M3's, M Coupes, S4, 911,... At this point, it's becoming very clear that average Joe drivers (like me) are in fact the true limiting factor of basically all the cars.


Lots of fun exotica once again... Some racing budgets are higher than others!

2007.07.30/31 Track Days 5 & 6

Another run with COMSCC, this time at Tremblant. First time out at the track. 8 entries, 15 studens, but a pesky new city rule states that no more tan 30 cars are allowed on track at the same time. track time was a bit limited, but there's even more concern for oher clubs runnig there. We'll see in a few weeks wth BMW.

Once again, I was learning very fast with a good instructor (Mick).

My time trials finished with a few tenths over 2:00 and a pretty nasty catch. I'm pretty sure that I would have gone under the 2 minute barrier with a clean lap. No that it matters much anyway, I'm very far from a best in class car/run :). Lots of open lapping afeter the time trials, but my bearing broke three laps into that open track session... :(

Some fine pics, none taken by me (but I did set up the camera ;)

2007.06.11/12 Track Days 3 & 4

Back with the COMSCC gang for a bit more fun. This time at Mosport! What a great track. Fast, scary, involving, but very very rewarding. Perfect weather for both days (a bit warm maybe)...

First real mechanical issue a the track... My downpipie/midpipe flage bolt all backed off, and I was sounding a lot like a spec miata on the back straight. Good news is that nothing sheared, all all the guys had a bucketload of bolts and were glad to help me out. I missed probably 45 minutes of track time (Vince gave me his miata for a few laps since my car wasn't ready, nice!).

Best lap was approx a 1:41 (following Lee and his Hoosier-equipped-windscreenless miata). Best time during the time trials was a 1:43.8... Last of class (Behind well prepared STI & MR2), but the second fastest miata! A few laps strapped besides Gordon at the wheel explained quite a bit, they sure don't use them brakes! :) ...Always new stuff to learn and try out!

A few pics of the event (once again concentrated on the driving ;)

2007.05.25 Track Day 2

Second year around at Shannonville. This time with Phil, Dji, Vince and Melanie (first track day ever!). Gorgeous weather all day long. The rain started only once we were packing up.

My times improved dramatically. My comfort level + driving skills (and recently installed oil cooler + oil cooler fan + second radiator fan) came a long way, and I was finally able to run at 10psi. Keeping up with corvettes on the back straight is always fun! :)


Gotta run right to the finish!





The BMWCCA instructor line through the last turn...

The nobody line through the same turn ;)

Melanie posing for the photo finish!

It was fun to ride along with Mel during one of her first runs. Using part of my (somewhat limited) experience and giving some back was very rewarding. Melanie does has a knack for it, but it was interesting to point out the errors and work on improving some elements.

2007.04.14 - Track/Autocross Day 1

The start to a new year with CADL's open day once again. Autocross exercices in the morning, and lapping in the afternoon! Once again at Sanair's drag circuit...

2006.10.06 Lapping Days 4 & 5

Went way down to West Virginia for an outing at Summit Point's Shenandoah circuit with COMSCC. A fantastic venue with a very fun crowd.



Wasn't too sure about driving my car down there (or should I say driving it back up ;). Vince was kind enough to lend me his miata (thanks Vince :), and Student class meant instructor, which in turn meant 2 racing seats, compliments of Phil (thanks Phil!).

Saturday was rain all day... Crappy, but a great learning experience. Really happy to be driving Vince's miata and not my turbo! Had a great time with less power, enabling me to work on car control and momentum.



The circuit itself is very challenging, approximately the same lap times as Tremblant, but with 20 or so corners! The most "famous" of which would be a (scaled down) copy of the Nurburgring's Karoussel:


I also had some free time, enbling me to take some of my best car photos to date!




Results were very good... First time I've beaten Vince in a motorised sporting event! ;)
Street Prepared C
Num Name Lap 1 Lap 2 Lap 3 Best Lap Place Car
59 Michael Demopoulos 1:55.730 1:56.409 1:55.931 1:55.730 1-T BMW E30 M3
40 Christopher Tier 1:59.778 1:59.704 1:59.040 1:59.040 2-T Nissan Sentra SE-R
47 John Spain 2:04.861 2:04.012 2:03.673 2:03.673 3-T Mazda Miata
49 Bill Hosselbarth 2:06.247 2:05.525 2:05.666 2:05.525 4 Mazda Miata
827 Frederic Roy 2:07.730 2:06.214 2:05.759 2:05.759 5 Mazda Miata
491 Greg Hosselbarth 2:08.467 2:07.763 2:06.483 2:06.483 6 Mazda Miata
821 Vincent Roy 2:08.253 2:06.724 2:07.593 2:06.724 7 Mazda Miata

Not Lapping with the BMWCCA club at Tremblant

Waaayyyyy late, but here are some pics at Tremblant. Not a lot of good locations to shoot, but what a fun ride! :)

 
 
 
  

2006.08.06 Lapping Day 3

Another lapping day, once again at Sainte-Croix with Darksidecrew.


Phil was there, first time for him at Sainte-Croix in over a year. Dji's Caterham did not make it and he had to settle with the Legacy 2.5GT.

Got a ride in a SLK 55AMG, which was very fun. Lots of power, a bit heavy through the tighter sections. A set of R compounds will help a lot, but still a very capable machine when you consider the amount of luxury equipment in there!


The day ended short when some fluid started spraying through the engine bay. Pretty sure it's power steering, but the exact source hasn't been found yet.

However, best captured time on my very first run was 47.7, which is pretty much bang on with Phil's times (at 5lbs of boost of course, still not going any higher until I get better... And buy a second fan & oil cooler! :).

A few pics: