takahashi

I have received a letter from Mazda Australia re: RX-8 advance driving course.

It is organised by Murcott. COST $295

Got a call from David Henderson that Victorian Drive Day is on Sunday 3rd of October not September at Sandown Raceway.
Other states: WA 15 Sept, Qld 15 Sept, NSW 22 Sept, SA 29 Sept...


The Itinerary is run as this:
************************************************** ********
9am start

Theory: BAAMS (?), Tyres and Tyre pressures, loose items.
Practical Session: Low-speed Drive Evaluations
Practical Session: Straight line Braking - 60, 70, 80, 100 kmh

AM BREAK

Theory: Skids Mazda RX-8 DSC
Practical Session: Corner Braking, Power on/ Power off, Big Skid.

LUNCH

Practical: Seat, steer, vision, slalom, collison avoidance
Practical: Laps of Circult with instruction.

PM BREAK

Practical: Mildly Competitive Event.
Wrap-up Day
Cert Handout

************************************************** *********

What do you think? Worth the money?... for me it is not enough track time. I rather go to a track day that have open format - like Event ONeill I am going in August. But the attractive thing is some theory in Skidding and DSC of RX-8. I assume Murcott will tell me something that I don't know.

What is the low speed drive evaluation... a lap to scare the instructor :D?

Taka

P.S. email rx-8@mazda.com.au to show your interest. I am sure you can still join.

AMG

Taka, there is good value for anybody to go around the track with an instructor. they see things that you may not because of your focus on the job at hand. But at $295!!!!!!!!!!! Bit rich I think!

Some years ago I had the privelage of being in a BMW M5 going around Mallala at high speed. A brute driver, Chris Smerdon, was driving, Geoff Brabham was in the front passenger seat and I was in the rear. Chris managed to get the car sideways around turn 2, a spot notorious for the inexperienced driver to kiss the wall, Geoff with a bit of concern quickly asked Chris to slow down. At the end of it me and Chris shared a quiet chuckle!

takahashi

I like to go with Matt Coleman who won Porsche Cup in 2002 and he is such a nice guy and teaches well... my bunch of friends have been thinking of hiring him in a open track day.

Aside from discussing a pure track instructing day, this thread is about RX-8 adv drive day which I think is not just about driving fast on track but a bit of both. I always think there are track skill and road skill.

$295 ... yes it is expensive - but it is just a root filling for Dr. Arthur. :D hehe it is just a joke. But I just check there isn't any other course like this.

I want to know other people think it is too much to pay... it is after all an RX-8 only event.

lexic

I am seriously considering going, the only thing I dont like is the indemnity you have to sign. It states that you release and indemnify the companies.........from ALL claims, actions, suits, demands,debts, expenses and causes of action WHATSOEVER and HOWSOEVER ARISING whether during or incidental and/or subsiquent to the driving activity........

So my understanding of this is, your car will NOT be under warantee, ie. if something mechanical fails on the car, on the day you will not be covered under warrantee.

What happens if you go to make a non-related claim months down the track and MA turn around and say 'sorry you participated in the track day and we believe this claim to be related to you participating on that day, so we will repair your car at your cost'.
This is where they will use that word "subsequent".

The indemnity is too general for my liking!!

takahashi

IF then you are not paying $295 but $2950!...

The indemnity insurance is huge.

But I don't think they are covered still, in our industry, esp in the area of surgery. We tell people every complication there are in the world but yet, when **** happens, the patient can alway sue and sucessful. It is more like this I think - just to be fair

pepe

With tyres that are starting to reach the end of their usefulness... I find myself mastering the art of sidewaysness whether I like it or not...

Seriously though, keen to find out what anyone thinks if they go...

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Can anyone remember the original cost they told us it would be???

I got my letter today as well.

Cheers,
Hymee.

AMG

The original cost was $290, so they have upped it to $295. Admin costs????

What has annoyed me is that in all the earlier correspondence they listed Mallala as the South Aussie venue. Now they have changed it to Adelaide International Raceway. Well this track has been disused as a race track for quite a number of years, IMHO the track itself needs resurfacing to be used as a racetrack again. These days it is only used as a dragstrip. Not impressed with this slight change in schedule. It counts me out!

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Well let them know your concerns!

NickG

Maybe I'm a whimp but the one thing that concerns me is the heavy focus on straight line braking ( 60,70,80 and 100km/hr). I attended the Stage 1 Murcott's drive day which was also heavily braking focussed, but only at 60 and 70km/hr. After numerous full on emeregency stops at those speeds by the end of the day my brakes were feeling - er... tired. They still stopped fine but the beautiful progressive pedal feel of the RX8 was dulled and it's taken a few months for this to get back to normal. In fact I still reckon it's not quite as good as when the car was new.

If we are going to do multiple emergency stops at all these speeds this can only get worse. Yes I'm happy to do a few runs of full on braking at thse speeds, but I don't need to do a dozen to understand what the 8's limits are. Does anyone else feel the same way? If so maybe it's an issue when can raise with Mazda or Murcott. More track time and less brake abuse perhaps???

timbo

I registered but have not heard a thing!?

takahashi

In track driving, you brake from 180kmh in the long striaght to 100kmh when you turn and skid, I can feel my brake fading due to heat on the 5th lap. I think track time will hurt the brake more Nick. :o

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Track time = hard on the brakes.

The first thing to look at is putting some better brake fluid in. The problem you felt was probably cause you brake fluid had got too hot, and when that happens it looses it properties. In fact, once the fluid reaches boiling point for the first time (dry boiling point), the boiling point drops (wet boiling point). These are 2 of the properties of a brake fluid to consider. On my last car I looked into it, and I felt the best bang for buck was MUTOL brake fluid. Nearly the same specs as the Shell Racing Brake Fluid ("The Best") but about 1/4 the price.

Cheers,
Hymee.

takahashi

Do you reckon Hymee... my friend is urging me to get better brake fluid for the track day in Aug to company the MazdaSpeed pad....

There is no change in brake fluid in 10K service, isn't there? It is hard to service it? ... should I get on to it quite quickly? or should I leave it until next service after the track day in Aug...

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Yes - Worthwhile. But get it done by someone with the right equipment to completely suck all the old fluid out.

And since you like to spend the bucks, get the Shell Racing stuff. :p You can get it at SuperCheap. Something like $120 for a tin (Cant remember if it was 1l or 500ml).

Cheers,
Hymee.

AMG

Nick sorry to dissappoint but more track time does equate to more punishing braking, remeber you do have to use them for corners.

Strange that the brake feel took a few months to come good. Really should be looking at your brake fluid.

takahashi

I am more of a smart customer as in consumables ... if Motul is similar I will go for Motul. How much do I need? (an important question )

AMG

can someone PM the mazda contact number on the letter. I want to tell them my thoughts on Adelaide International.

NickG

Good point Taka and thanks for the fluid tip Hymee. I guess if I'm going to trash my brakes again I'd just rather do it with (fun) Track time than more freakin' straight line emergency stops!

Noddy

I'm not sure that it is a given that "mildly competitive event" involves laps. Given the usual Murcott focus on other issues and, as AMG has already pointed out for the Adelaide day, the utter unsuitability of AIR as a fun venue (way toooo many concrete walls), maybe the "competitive" will be timed slalom type things (more autocross that sprint)?

Just a thought.

Noddy

takahashi

I think there will be no race. At best, they will time you to get the best lap time.

I am more with you in a salom thing though. If only 2 hour of track time, it hardly worth $300?

AMG

If laps are officially timed then it is classed as a competitive day. Requires high insurance for this. I think it is more of a "have a go" afternoon.

The adelaide event is at adelaide international because it is cheaper. Unfortunately there were only two expressions of interest in Adelaide, myself and one other, hence the cost of Mallala is prohibitive. Because of the venue I won't be doing the event. Bit sad of Adeladie owners not to be supporting the event. Expensive yes but wouldn't it hace been nice to be out there with 10-20 other RX8's.

takahashi

That is it! :p I am waiting such a response. If there is only one or 2 people go then it will be no fun. Comeon Victorians... let's go!

timbo

See my earlier response. Some of us registered but have heard nothing. May explain low numbers!

takahashi

You are in Canberra timbo...

According ABS there are only 320000 people in the ACT link and how many 8 would there be compare to Melbourne alone have 3 million people?

I guess you are closer to Wakefield and I am jealous about that