Any more autocrosses happening down in Richmond? We're pretty much done up here in D.C., so I'd be interested in making the trip down...

Dan

Not that I know of.. VMSC is done for the year. Most of the Richmond guys head to Chesapeake now for a few more weeks...the SCCA region runs down there til the end of the year.

-Jayson

Yeah, TSCC and the local COrvette Club run all through the year. Check out:

http://tidewatersportscarclub.com/

and

http://www.beachcomberscorvetteclub.com

for info

i got my other wiring harness in today. it looks SOOO much cleaner and to the point than the other harness. me and my dad are going to try and tackle it this weekend. all that i have no is a fuel pump, intake manifold, coolant system, and intercooler piping. sucks that x-mas is coming, i wont be able to finish it up till after.

Hey guys. Anyone have any advice on how to get into track racing? What's the most inexpensive way to do it? I'm thinking of maybe turning the first gen into a race car, but my dad wants me to keep it streetable. So I'd have to keep full interior, etc, but I could probably do roll bar/racing seats, or just switch out the seat for jhim when it's not being raced. So how do I go about doing this/getting into it? Calvin, you race, right? Any advice?

~brian

actually, i was thinking the same thing. i want to get out on a track next year to see what its all about, im pretty sure i like it WAY more than autoxing.

we should do it together mike. i was talking to the head of NASA-VA yesterday, and he said that the next 2 day track school thing is in february for $300 at VIR full course. Plan would be to go down friday night, race sat and sunday, come back sunday. Wanna do that? i really wanna take the protege, but I think my dad's gonna make me take the rx-7. The requirements for the car seem pretty easy. I think you just need a car that's safe. I dunno if we have to do a pretech for this, but if so the shop I work at can do em (http://www.deltavmotorsports.com). I need some good tires on this car though. Maybe kosei k-1s and azenis? i dunno. let me know what you think mike.

~brian

Maybe we could get a group of guys here to go, anyone else interested?


~brian

Just to get the terminology correct (please don't take offense, I am just trying to clarify exactly what you are looking for).

Autocross - Pylons in large parking lot. You can run a stock street car and learn "racing skills" the most cost effectively. Entry fees are usually less than $20, you use up tires a little faster than driving on the street (ok maybe a lot) and you don't have to spend much money, but you can spend on car prep. You can learn most of the basic driving skills without spending much money. Probably best bang without spending much money. There is competition, so you are competing for trophies and bragging rights. Best thing is that there is probably an event most Sundays within a few hours drive from wherever you live. With a little traveling you can probably autocross 30-50 weekends a year if you want.

Track Schools, HPDE - These are schools to learn to drive fast around a race track. There is no competition except againt yourself. You just try to run laps at your skill level and just improve at your own pace, by your own definition of improving. Cost is usually in the $250-500 per 2 day weekend. Least expensive are events put on by Marque clubs (as in http://mazdadrivers.com/) next is NASA then the more preofessional groups like Car Guys and finally some more expensive top end schools that like Bertil Roos or Skip Barber where you use their cars. I will probably be doing the Mazda Drivers events next year. You get pleanty of track time with good instructors (OK, I am one of them). I do like the NASA events too, but you get a little less track time on a NASA weeekend. But with NASA, what you get is to also see some very good wheel to wheel regional professional racing. All you need for these events is a good, safe, well maintained car, and a Snell approved helmet. They recommend other safety features, but they are not "required". A roll bar and safety harness is a good first addition.

Club Racing - This is wheel to wheel racing in the classic sense. The cars qualify, take a green flag, and race to the checkered flag. Spec RX7 is a class in which the modifications to a GSL (not SE) first gen are fairly limited, but the cars are fun to race, could be street legal, but most aren't, and it is probably one of the least expensive classes to race. A car will cost between $2500 and maybe $6000 to build or buy. Maintanence is fairly low, but you still need a trailer, truck to tow, some spare parts (beacuse they break occasionally), etc.

I have more info on who to contact about any of the above if you are interested. Please ask.

I've autoxed before (once, but now I'm addicted.) Right now I'm interested in the HPDE's/Track Schools. I really wanna take the protege, but dad is afraid of it getting messed up and insurance not covering it, so I'll probably take the 7. The event I referred to in my previous post was an HPDE in February. I wanna do club racing in ITA or spec rx-7, but that'll be too expensive for a high school kid, heh. What're your thoughts on taking the protege? With the rx-7, the engine is leaking some oil, etc, so I'd have to get that fixed. Insurance = void on the track, right? What're the chances of me getting in an accident? I'm trying to tell my dad the instructors won't let me get in over my head, but he won't listen. He's probably right anyway, totalling that car is something I can't afford. So any advice is appreciated. Thanks.


~brian

What the hell. Why is this computer logged in as "Roddimus Prime"? I'm at school on the comps, guess someone else here signed up? or a database fuckup?

....


~brian

Well, that was.... weird. It was logged in as someone from Alibama...go server upgrades. Anyway, that post by Roddimus Prime or whatever are mine. Thanks again.

~brian

Sorry your post came out as the wrong person.

On running the Protege at an HPDE. I wish I could tell you that it was completely safe, but it really is not. I will tell you that the instructors are good and will keep you from getting in over your head and safe, but..... It does occasionally happen. Insurance will cover it in most states, but expect some significant reprocussions from your insurance company. Chances are that nothing will happen, but I am not going to tell you that it will never happen to you. Most people that run these events have some sort of contingency plan if they were to trash the car, like a second car they can rely on, etc. It might be tough for a high school student to cover the payments on a car that is gone. So let your conscious be your guide.

I personally run a first gen RX7. I would not like it if I totaled the car, but I have another car to drive to work Monday morning, and I don't owe any payments on the car. I like that position for a track car.

I will tell you that experience on the autocross course is a plus at an HPDE. Any time spent there will get you that far ahead of the curve at your first HPDE.

I'd suggest you have between now and february to give your 7 a complete check over. I'd suggest getting everything in top condition. Oil leaks can be fixed. Flush brake fluid, check all of the suspension bushings, give the wheel bearings a complete check over. Try to get a set of maybe Hawk HP+ brake pads for the track (I get them from tirerack.com) and prepare for the event. Make sure the car is safe. I will try to find my event checklist and post it or PM it to you. It is a list of all of the things I check on the car getting ready for an event.

Awesome, thank you very much, Calvin. I'll be using the first gen then, I think. It needs some work, but brakes were getting replaced anyway, so i'll key the hawk hp+s. It needs tires badly, so we'll see what I'll get for that. Thanks for all of your help.

~brian

And if you can't get time to check out all of these things, wait until the next event. The MazdaDrivers Association is running VIR in the end of March if you happen to miss the NASA event. Make sure you are confident about the car being safe before you go to the event. Carroll Smith used to say that if you could not get to all the maintenance and check on the suspension and other critical components done, that you should race less often. There is something wise in that advice.

I was already planning on signing up for VIR in February...

Dan

Hey dan, is there gonna be driving at this meet in fair oaks mall? I don't wanna go unless there's some driving involved, heh.

double post.

Dunno, but I'd definitely be up for a drive, even if everybody else wasn't...

Dan

I put up some more go-kart pictures
http://www.zaxjax.com/The%20Beast%20Go-Kart.htm
and I finally updated the RX-7 project website. The design report is online too if your really bored.

So how do you go about shifting one of them things? Those gokarts look badass. I went to g-force for the first time last night, i think I'm addicted heh. How do you drive your kart? what's it redline at? i wanna drive it :-p

~brian

What's up guys?

I'm gonna be moving up to the Richmond area come January for a few months. (I'm a student at Georgia Tech but I landed a co-op job in the Richmond area). Anyways, I'm gonna be working in the Colonial Heights area and I'm supposed to get some help from the company on housing but haven't received anything yet. Yall have any suggestions for cheap apartments or does anyone need a roommate for four months, lol?

I've got an '83 GS and I'm looking forward to coming up to the area. I've read through this post and sounds like yall are a good group, hopefully I'll be able to come hang out with a yall a couple times.

welcome

im near the colonial heights area, just about 15 mins away towards richmond. if you ever want to get together let me know. i have a 85 gs.

Welcome! I live in Richmond, about 25 minutes from onepointone. I have an 83 GSL and an 03 Mazdaspeed Protege. Hopefully we can all have a meet once you get there. I dunno anything about living though. Good luck with that!


~brian

Hi I live in Richmond when it suits me, or rather when VCU decides its time for me to come back. I have an 88SE but last weekend she decided she didn't like having 5th or reverse so she killed the linkage. Welcome. Hope you enjoy it up here.