charchri4

I thought about you all day wondering how it was going. Wow that is a really epic shot there! So how does the car feel for that half mile at 150+? Really interesting to see how much more effort it takes to get those last few MPHs. I have a hunch my speedo reads fast!

Gunpilot

Waking up this morning to some good showers. Gonna be another long day of waiting. Switching my tires out today with a set of 16in rims. Should gain me about 1.5 in in diameter.

Here is a picture of me almost to the front and some of the nice cars running


And looking down the pipe

Gunpilot

More cool cars. Here is a new Z28



And a Lamborghini

Gunpilot

No one wants to show up this morning.

Gunpilot

Day 3. Yesterday was a washout all day. Drying the track now. It's cold out and a decent tail wind. I really hope I get to run today.

Gunpilot

A tad bit taller tire this time. We will see what it does.

Gunpilot

Worth the wait. 1/2 mile trap was broken.


Car felt really loose near the end. She did a little dance. I will need a splitter if I went any faster. I bet she has over 180 in her.

Gator Bait

That's awesome!!

charchri4

Wow buy that man a cold one!

5.0MX5

Yep, I have Ls power/speed envy!

So how'd the lit'l car feel at speed?

RR

Gunpilot

In my first 2 runs, the car was rock solid. I think I was taking it easy as I was still trying to get a feel for how the car was setup. My 3rd run was completely different. My goal was to get thru the gears as quick as possible so that I could ride out 6th in the last part and continue to build speed.

The runway is not completely smooth, and there is a little dip in part of the transition. I really never noticed it that bad until my last run. When I finally get my GOPRO video loaded, you can see it as I shift thru 4th gear.

When I finally get settled into 6th gear, the nose starts to dance a bit and keeps me working to corral it down the track. I may get this splitter if I try it again in March Front Splitter

Over all, I was really impressed with the car. I surprised a bunch of people for sure! In fact, the first time I made it down the track to the guy who hands out the time sheet said, "That's a fast little Miata!" When I looked over next to the timing trailer, he had a yellow NC sitting there. I just smiled and said thanks as I gave him a little zoom zoom on my way back to the start line.

As soon as I can get this dang video loaded, it will be up.

Gunpilot

Ok. Here it is. I turned on the camera early so I would not forget. 2 cars run in front of me. It gives you a sense of the time you have to mentally prepare. Skip to 3:06 for my run.

You can hear how my tires break loose in 2nd and I have to lift a bit, and then the car gets light as I hit the small dip going thru 4th. As it settles I get all the way into 6th and my hands start to move more near the end as the front starts to dance around.

Turn up the volume for sure! LOL

Here is the Youtube link:

Gunpilot

I borrowed the type r chin spoiler off my 302 Miata to get me thru the mile. When I got home, the splitter style spoiler I ordered was waiting on me. I did a loose fit test on my 302 Miata. I think this would have really helped.

ToySnakePMC

Great thread - from the very start. I cannot imagine feeling that speed in a Miata. Seen 168 or so a few times as a passenger in a C5 Z06 at VIR and driving a stock car at Petty's 30 lap driving experience at Charlotte... but can't imagine piloting our cars at the top speeds you saw. Nice work. I tip my hat to you sir!

I was watching for the wipers to jump up and take flight for the winter, but they never did.

charchri4

If I could make a suggestion to take the flex out and have it hang on at speed...

I put 5 pieces of 1/4 - 20 threaded rod hanging down from the pan under the head lights though both the upper and lower parts of the lip to support it. The center on is though the plastic bumper support and a little tricker to put in.



You can see the one in the middle if you look close and the one inside each brake duct is easy to spot. The other 2 are at the very end of the lip and don't show at all. I put a piece of vacuum line over them to make then not look like threaded rod.

I had them in there before the splitter too and they make the lip really solid. If you put a splitter on it they make perfect attachment points.

Gunpilot

Jim - What did you use for the ends of the rod to make connections to the splitter? I am contemplating making my own splitter using some Lexan and then making my own canards using threaded rod. I just need to find some connectors on the rod ends that allow rotation on the splitter to stabilize it to the car.

Gunpilot

And to continue the saga - I officially have the Texas Mile fever. The next race should be in March. My car should make 180MPH with a bit better driving. I have already started the plans to build up for a 200MPH run. Just had a sit down with my tuner and here are my plans for the LS Miata:

1- Upgrade my LS2 to LS3 heads and intake. I already have a new set of heads with Yella Terra roller rockers and intake ready to go

2- V8R Long tube headers

3- Add a 50 Shot of NOS. Button push for 6th gear.

4- Front splitter

5- Rear wing

6- Switch out 15in rims and tires for a set of 16in rims with tires that are rated over 200. Current tires have a "W" code which is 168MPH rated. They check rating carefully at the mile

7- Tune the setup

I also have my 302 Miata sitting in the garage. My wife really wants to add a pool (80K) to the house and is trying to convince me to sell both cars to fund it. I will see how long I can hold out. On the flip side, she promised that after the pool is done, I can build anything I want. I have my eye on building a NC LS3 car.

charchri4

LOL nothing but the finest home depot parts! The splitter is 1/2 double A plywood sanded and sealed with enough car paint you can't tell it's wood. The hardware is 1/4-20 eye to eye turn buckles. I took the right hand eye out and replaced it with threaded rod and the other is a cable clamp ubolt. I used whatever size 1/4 -20 is and used lock nuts on everything.

Gator Bait

Ah man.... If you keep it, you just might give me the incentive I need to keep mine. Some direct competition makes things fun!! Ever considered doing any of the airstrip racing (roll racing)?

Gunpilot

I work at Ellington Field and have wanted to do the half mile shoot out. Other than that, interest has always been track racing. Someone told me today, if you go off the track in a corner doing 50 you survive, but if you blow a tire going 200, things get bad! Lol. I told him to shut his face. Lol. I'll know by the first week of Nov if I'm selling both cars or keeping any of them. I have 4 Miatas right now and my family has pool fever. Hard to take out a large loan when I have the assets right here.

Gator Bait

I hear that. I'm a firm believer in toys paid in cash only.

Underdog

Well done sir!!! Congratulations on the the awesome runs and thank you for the video!

Gunpilot

Even though it was wet, I had a blast. Of the 5 Texas Miles I have been to, this is the first wet one and I still had a fantastic time talking with everyone. I am so ready for March and the next one. I think I will plan a road trip to a Colorado Mile in the future also. It's the same group of great people who put it on.

charchri4

Wait you've done 5 of these? What's the fastest???

Gunpilot

Been to 5. Driven in 2. First time I drove a Mercedes and went 164.8. This 176.6 in my Miata is the fastest I have been.