V22Guy

Hi, my name is Paul and I live in the Great Oaks Sub in Wentzville.

Before Christmas I suffered a home fire and am now in a temporary apartment in St. Peter's. After the New years, I had to replace both cars for me and the Mrs; so she got a soccer mom car (Pacifica) and I got a Black RX-8 MT.

I work in the Aerospace industry and my hobby for the last 6 years was tearing apart, modifying, and off-roading my Land Rover. But the fire kinda motivated me to pick up something a bit different. I am a die-hard Formula 1 fan and have always been fascinated with the Z car and the X-7/8. Since I bought the car, I have been lurking here and noticed that you guys like to get together. So count me in for a meet or a drive in the area.

Cheers ,

Paul D. Morgan

Paul.D.Morgan@Gmail.com

nomopistons

So Your Stalking Our Threads, Huh? Welcome To The Club And Thanks For (finally)posting. GLAD YOUR WERE NOT HURT IN THE FIRE!

WaterLogged

Welcome V22Guy! Sorry to hear about the house. Like nomo said, glad to hear you and your wife were OK. I'm quite a fan of F1 as well (now that I can Tivo the races). It's a shame about Kimi this year. He really should've won the driver championship and McClaren should've been the constructor champion, but too many freak things happened against them last season. At least a new champ has been crowned to give Ferrari some time to think about what to do next!

I'm looking forward to milder weather so we can make our meets a little more regular. Of course we had a nice little happy hour with the RX-7 guys which ended up being a good time. So there's always that option for the colder months.

Since you're out in the Wentzville area you can join Modena and I in what seems to be a weekly mod to one or both of our cars in the summer.

V22Guy

Sweet, sounds like good times.

fourdoor

Nah not really J/K

I need to visit the board more often-I missed a meet.

Katie

WaterLogged

She survived the move! How's the house now that you're finally moved in?

Shinka13

Hey everyone, I'm a temporary transplant from the Washington D.C. area. Since tomorrow is the first Sunday of the month, do you guys have anything else planned later this month? I just got in last night and am trying to find things to do for the next 5 weeks. By the way, I'm in Fort Leonard Wood. I'll be trying to make it to the autocross at the Ducks stadium in Springfield on 6 March. (On Dunlop m3's none the less ) Hope to hear from someone.

terretsboy

Hey, I'm in Dayton now but I'll be back in St. Louis in on May 15. Let me know if anything is going on.

WaterLogged

Your best bet is to stay tuned to the Midwest area part of this site. Now that warmer weather is SUPPOSED to be coming our way, get togethers should be more regular. Of course we got snow on the first day of spring yesterday, so who knows what it'll be like in May?!

terretsboy

We're getting the snow right now. Looks like im not going anywhere for a while.

baseballgenius80

Should be getting my car back from the shop tomorrow, hopefully. Hail damage took 3 1/2 weeks and a $7100 insurance claim to fix, but I'm finally getting my baby back. Looked like someone took a hammer to my car after that storm that blew through Maryland Heights a couple months ago. Got stuck with a 2006 Cadillac CTS for a rental (paid for by insurance), nothing like the 8 of course. Gives me a new found appreciation for my ride. On that note, I'm ready to start up our monthly meets again. Any ideas for something in early May maybe? I'm sure April is pretty much planned up for most, but if not, suggestions for this month works for me. Let's here what ya got...

terretsboy

That must of sucked to see. When I saw my first knick in my 8 I was in a funk for 2 days (I know I'm crazy, my girlfriend tells me everyday). What have you guys done in the past? My brother's wife works for the St. Louis County Parks Department so if you want to rent a park or something I'm sure I could swing that. Let me know.

baseballgenius80

Thanks terret for the hook up suggestion. I practically cried when I saw the car. It took about 5 weeks to finally get it into the shop, they were so busy. My car looked so bad, I didn't even was it for those five weeks. The added dirt helped to hide all the dents.

By the way, nice dancing Chip-n-Dale Chris Farley, better than Patrick Swayze by far

spdspappy

BBG: That really sucks man! Did the same shop do the work that fixed you after the accident? Wife is getting deployed here soon, but might be able to work out a sitter for the boy... I'd still like to do get togethers.

WaterLogged

May 21st there will be an open track day sponsored by the SCCA at Gateway Int'l Raceway that I will be attending. What better way to bring a group of RX-8's together!

I went to the solo event on Sunday and was disappointed that only one other RX-8 made it. Of course it was probably for the best because I didn't do very well since the tires I was on were all-season and couldn't grip to save my life (excuses excuses... I know ). Eh well, it was nice to get back out there and race again after a long absence. We'll have to get a better '8 representation in May's solo race.

Otherwise, if you all decide to come up with something some Sunday I'll see what I can do to make it. I am finishing up my coaching season and still have a couple meets left the last week in April and the second weekend in May. Otherwise I think I'm open.

SpoiledBlk8

Would anyone be interested in doing a Road Rally? The SCCA usually has one a month during car season. I have never done one but I hear they are alot of fun. The one for April starts out at Jamestown Mall and ends at some eatery in Grafton IL.

SpoiledBlk8

And Saturday night was the first time I actually regretted selling my wheels BUT on the bright side all the Z's that got beat at Walnut Ridge are rumoured to be checking out the Mazda lots this week

Cindy

WaterLogged

Well, if I weren't going to put the new tires on the old, less perfect rims (hopefully by Friday) I'd say you could have a reunion with the wheels at the next event. Of course I'd still offer the car if you'd like to show up sometime. Only rule is that you can't beat me in my own car.

It's funny about the 350z's. I managed to stay ahead of the two that were there this past weekend along with the only other RX-8. Although I would've loved to have taken a piece of the STi's. I'll be doing that track day on the new tires and alignment so hopefully I'll have everything dialed in by the next race. Cross your fingers.

terretsboy

1) Open track day sounds awesome. What goes on there?
2) What's a road rally?
Clearly I'm new to this

terretsboy

Oh yeah Farley kicks ***

WaterLogged

Information on the PDX track day:
http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/...81271499205403

http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/184845.aspx

I've never personally done a track day, but it seems like this one will be a good chance for me to get the car dialed in for autocrossing as well as dust off the cobwebs due to my 5 year hiatus.

Information on the Road Rally:
http://www.stlscca.org/Default.aspx?tabid=26

I've never personally done a road rally but I talked to one of the guys who is organizing the one in a couple of weeks and it sounds like a hoot. I've known other people who have done them and they've found them to be a great excuse to go on a "road trip with a purpose."

If you're interested in doing several events rather they be SCCA sponsored track days, autocrossing, or road rallys, I'd recommend getting an SCCA membership. It'll pay for itself over the course of the race season in the form of cheaper entry fees at the events.

baseballgenius80

Hey spdspappy, yeah, it was the same place that I took it too before. They are really easy to work with. Plus, knowing them personally helps too.

Also, I would totally be up for both the open track day and also the road rally (the road rally especially). Both sound awesome. Thanks for the links about these Waterlogged, I'll check those out.

terretsboy

I've got a better idea of what goes on, but only one of your links worked waterlogged (the middle one). That 2 hours of track time that they allege you can get, is that on a circular track, drag track or something else? Would it be a good idea for me with a mostly stock car to so this or would it be too hard on my breaks, steering, frame, clutch etc.?

WaterLogged

It looks like they're having trouble with those sites. I wouldn't doubt that they're on the same server.

To answer your question about the track day... It's all going to be on the 1.6 mile road course that goes around the infield of Gateway and then picks back up on turns 3&4 of the oval and finishes/begins on the main straight. There will be instructors handy if it's your first time and you will be able to start in a novice group and work your way up as they see your skills improving.

Here's a link of the track that definitely works: http://www.gatewayraceway.com/track/map.php

The road course is the curvy road in the middle of the oval. Check back up on those other links later. They have been having trouble with those sites lately.

terretsboy

Well I signed up for the PDX day on May 21st.
Would love to see some other RX-8s out there. There is a red one already signed up, is it someone on this thread? I think his name was Bill.