Spin9k

^ so it's clear you understand the way the car is - it doesn't change - the way forward is to improve yourself. Have fun - welcome to the addiction

Bigbacon

iTrader: (4)

my front brakes are shot now, I have to get new pads. drivers side, inside pad is just about gone. My friend killed one of his callipers on his gto

Bigbacon

iTrader: (4)

problem is I can't afford to do this more than once a year. If I did it more, i'd be buying more tires,pads, fluid etc...

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Try doing it once or twice a month.

Just re-prioritize.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

For others who just happened to search and found this thread.
Car & Driver feature article - How To: Go to a Track Day
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...ck_day-feature

Bigbacon

iTrader: (4)

friend and I are kinda looking at getting one car do to everything with so we don't need to beat up our DD.

and no I can't re-prioritize. I can't afford to spend 1000s every month or even every other month for that matter. just not in the cards.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

$1000 every month?!?
Wow.
Even if track time wasn't free for me (try volunteering with your sanctioning body in trade for track time), it still wouldn't be more than a few hundred a month.

Stenobeth

I went for my first time last year, and the instructor kept telling me to do the exact opposite of what they said to do in class, and he told me I was being too rough on the car by revving it so high. Needless to say, afterwards I was more confused than when I started. But I still had hella fun

I'm looking into starting again, and excited, but no real confidence yet and just hoping a different instructor will set me right. I don't need to be the best, just respectably fast, safe, and have fun. It'll look good no matter what in an 8!

burglar

Wow, sounds like a bad instructor!

I would focus on nailing the proper line first, at moderate pace. Then ramp up the speed / aggression ...slowly... until it starts to feel good and fast. If you start to miss your marks - braking zones, turn in areas, or apexes, you're overdriving and need to back off immediately.

Remember, you're not racing, nothing is on the line. Nobody is keeping score. You're out there to enjoy you're vehicle and learn some great skills. If you're having fun and being safe, you're doing it right.

Spin9k

Here's something inexpensive and emensely rewarding you might enjoy ...search amazon.com for "race car driving". You'll find a number 'how-to' books on driving on track. Read some - they'll spin your mind to where you only think race line! Better, even if you can't perform up to your own expectations, at least you'll know exactly what and when you're not doing the right thing!

Study ->Knowledge ->Practice ->Confidence -> Performance. Your instructor is there only to challenge and encourage your present skill level, for a very brief period. You are your own teacher in most ways. Enjoy.

Stenobeth

Great advice, thanks, Burglar and Spin!

Striker-7

iTrader: (3)

I run a lot with NASA Mid-Atlantic and TrackDaze, both of which have instructors familiar with the so-called "peculiarities" of the -8. Mention the phrase "Fat Miata" in discussion with someone unfamiliar with our car, it gives them an idea of what the -8 can do handling-wise. I'll heartily agree with MM, if you don't feel comfortable with the instructor, request another one. It's your money and your time, dude!

The only time I've spent in excess of $1000 a month for track time was my breakdown at Summit Point. The tow to the local dealer and $700 in repairs blew the budget for the next month. Once a month, including hotel and brake pads (if needed), I doubt I break $550. It ain't chicken feed, but it's not the fistful of Benjamins you were led to believe.

I've tried shifting via tips I've seen here and there on the forum, and there isn't much to be gained in those last 500 rpm to redline except a whole bunch of heat, so look to keep it at/below 8500. That gives you some headroom for over-revving, and also doesn't alarm the Corvette guy you caught as instructor quite so much with all the high-pitched noise.

Friday At The Track (FATT), eh? Fun program from what I've heard, and Summit Main is a cool "Old School" raceway. How'd your left front tire hold up? I ran there right after the patching job, and everyone was seeing that tire get chewed.

Bigbacon

iTrader: (4)

my tire seems a'ok.

SP is very close for me, its like a 50 minute drive but it's still pretty hefty to shell out 250 dollars or whatever for the track + doing oil change before/after, pads if needed, plus burning through tires a lot faster. All that adds up.

Friend and I are actually kinda looking at getting a single car for the two of us to use for track/autoX which makes the overall thing more affordable but that will probably never happen. If my wife wasn't back in school it probably wouldn't be so bad either....

All this on top of other stuffs I hav on my want list to purchase.

It seems like it would be boat loads of fun to learn to do and actually get in some real races. Just not happening in my DD.