Track day #2
#1
I like cheese!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Little Rock, AR (was vegas)
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Track day #2
Car did very well on the track today. Only spun two times, but that was after a lot of runs and experimenting with various lines.
I took a lot of people out with me, and kept getting compliments on not only my speed, but also on my smoothness today.
Those are raw pics and there might me more. I'm tired and I have to run all day tomorrow, too..... not that it's a bad thing
I took a lot of people out with me, and kept getting compliments on not only my speed, but also on my smoothness today.
Those are raw pics and there might me more. I'm tired and I have to run all day tomorrow, too..... not that it's a bad thing
#4
I like cheese!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Little Rock, AR (was vegas)
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Here's two avi's. they suck from the digi-cam.....
http://www.swankmonkey.com/IMGP1322.AVI
http://www.swankmonkey.com/IMGP1364.AVI
http://www.swankmonkey.com/IMGP1322.AVI
http://www.swankmonkey.com/IMGP1364.AVI
#10
I like cheese!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Little Rock, AR (was vegas)
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
I just got back from day #3.
Ike, the example here is a Vishnu stage 2. That's what the guy said, but it was actually a stage 1.
He also had suspension, tires, etc etc etc.
I walked ALL over him in the corners, and in the straights, he was just a tiny tiny fraction faster.
Overall, I'm 100% satisfied with this car. It hangs in the straights with almost everyone (sans the C5 ).
But the shining point is the definately the corners. Something about this car that allows you to push a bit harder than most other cars. Also setting up for late braking, trail braking, etc... the car just lets you do it without punishment.
What I would change? Add a little bit more stiffness to the rear sway, and ditch the stock springs/struts. Body roll wasn't that bad in the corners, but full on braking would pitch the car forward a little more than expected. With a little more oversteer, the car would be simply perfect!
Oh, and add just a few more ponies.
I also noticed that driving back from the track (about 70 miles), that the car was pulling much better than it ever has.
Of note: When the gas tank says 1/4. it could be almost empty. At that level, on long and high Gforce sweepers, the car cut out as it was fuel starved. I'm going to do a search and if there's not much on this, I'm starting a new topic of discussion.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to run again for two days in about another 2 weeks.
Then maybe Buttonwillow in Jan, the back to the Pahrump, NV track in March.
It's going to be a busy winter.
Ike, the example here is a Vishnu stage 2. That's what the guy said, but it was actually a stage 1.
Stage One (300-310HP)
This power package includes all our Stage Zero parts with the addition of our very own high-performance turbo-back exhaust system.
This power package includes all our Stage Zero parts with the addition of our very own high-performance turbo-back exhaust system.
I walked ALL over him in the corners, and in the straights, he was just a tiny tiny fraction faster.
Overall, I'm 100% satisfied with this car. It hangs in the straights with almost everyone (sans the C5 ).
But the shining point is the definately the corners. Something about this car that allows you to push a bit harder than most other cars. Also setting up for late braking, trail braking, etc... the car just lets you do it without punishment.
What I would change? Add a little bit more stiffness to the rear sway, and ditch the stock springs/struts. Body roll wasn't that bad in the corners, but full on braking would pitch the car forward a little more than expected. With a little more oversteer, the car would be simply perfect!
Oh, and add just a few more ponies.
I also noticed that driving back from the track (about 70 miles), that the car was pulling much better than it ever has.
Of note: When the gas tank says 1/4. it could be almost empty. At that level, on long and high Gforce sweepers, the car cut out as it was fuel starved. I'm going to do a search and if there's not much on this, I'm starting a new topic of discussion.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to run again for two days in about another 2 weeks.
Then maybe Buttonwillow in Jan, the back to the Pahrump, NV track in March.
It's going to be a busy winter.
#11
Prodigal Wankler
Originally posted by syntrix
Of note: When the gas tank says 1/4. it could be almost empty. At that level, on long and high Gforce sweepers, the car cut out as it was fuel starved. I'm going to do a search and if there's not much on this, I'm starting a new topic of discussion.
Of note: When the gas tank says 1/4. it could be almost empty. At that level, on long and high Gforce sweepers, the car cut out as it was fuel starved. I'm going to do a search and if there's not much on this, I'm starting a new topic of discussion.
#12
I like cheese!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Little Rock, AR (was vegas)
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Originally posted by eccles
It has been reported before, and IIRC Mazda is working on an alternative fuel pickup to resolve the problem.
It has been reported before, and IIRC Mazda is working on an alternative fuel pickup to resolve the problem.
Glad they are working on a solution, and thanks for saving me a search!!
#13
Blue By You
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 8,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by syntrix
I just got back from day #3.
Ike, the example here is a Vishnu stage 2. That's what the guy said, but it was actually a stage 1.
He also had suspension, tires, etc etc etc.
I walked ALL over him in the corners, and in the straights, he was just a tiny tiny fraction faster.
Overall, I'm 100% satisfied with this car. It hangs in the straights with almost everyone (sans the C5 ).
But the shining point is the definately the corners. Something about this car that allows you to push a bit harder than most other cars. Also setting up for late braking, trail braking, etc... the car just lets you do it without punishment.
What I would change? Add a little bit more stiffness to the rear sway, and ditch the stock springs/struts. Body roll wasn't that bad in the corners, but full on braking would pitch the car forward a little more than expected. With a little more oversteer, the car would be simply perfect!
Oh, and add just a few more ponies.
I also noticed that driving back from the track (about 70 miles), that the car was pulling much better than it ever has.
Of note: When the gas tank says 1/4. it could be almost empty. At that level, on long and high Gforce sweepers, the car cut out as it was fuel starved. I'm going to do a search and if there's not much on this, I'm starting a new topic of discussion.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to run again for two days in about another 2 weeks.
Then maybe Buttonwillow in Jan, the back to the Pahrump, NV track in March.
It's going to be a busy winter.
I just got back from day #3.
Ike, the example here is a Vishnu stage 2. That's what the guy said, but it was actually a stage 1.
He also had suspension, tires, etc etc etc.
I walked ALL over him in the corners, and in the straights, he was just a tiny tiny fraction faster.
Overall, I'm 100% satisfied with this car. It hangs in the straights with almost everyone (sans the C5 ).
But the shining point is the definately the corners. Something about this car that allows you to push a bit harder than most other cars. Also setting up for late braking, trail braking, etc... the car just lets you do it without punishment.
What I would change? Add a little bit more stiffness to the rear sway, and ditch the stock springs/struts. Body roll wasn't that bad in the corners, but full on braking would pitch the car forward a little more than expected. With a little more oversteer, the car would be simply perfect!
Oh, and add just a few more ponies.
I also noticed that driving back from the track (about 70 miles), that the car was pulling much better than it ever has.
Of note: When the gas tank says 1/4. it could be almost empty. At that level, on long and high Gforce sweepers, the car cut out as it was fuel starved. I'm going to do a search and if there's not much on this, I'm starting a new topic of discussion.
Now I have to decide if I'm going to run again for two days in about another 2 weeks.
Then maybe Buttonwillow in Jan, the back to the Pahrump, NV track in March.
It's going to be a busy winter.
#14
dizzy snake pilot
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: berkeley, ca
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the tank is likely not close to empty at 1/4 tank, but the fuel pickup could be in a place that doesnt work that well on sustained corners.
the worst i know of is my 94 probe gt that will starve at less than 5/8's tank on race tires, and best is an 2003 mustang cobra, which sucks gas hard, but would not starve even well after the gas light came on, also on dot race tires.
the other usual question is, what else is starving... wheel bearings, engine oil pickup, etc.
>Something about this car that allows you to push a bit harder
>than most other cars
thats what you get from all the right stuff under the car- aluminum suspension arms, double a-arm front, giant brakes, etc. mazda did a nice job.
james
the worst i know of is my 94 probe gt that will starve at less than 5/8's tank on race tires, and best is an 2003 mustang cobra, which sucks gas hard, but would not starve even well after the gas light came on, also on dot race tires.
the other usual question is, what else is starving... wheel bearings, engine oil pickup, etc.
>Something about this car that allows you to push a bit harder
>than most other cars
thats what you get from all the right stuff under the car- aluminum suspension arms, double a-arm front, giant brakes, etc. mazda did a nice job.
james
#15
I like cheese!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Little Rock, AR (was vegas)
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
They did a great job!
My concern is that on the track, and even sitting in the hot pit waiting, my needle was just a hair below 1/4 tank.
I did one lap only and got the cut out a few times.
Pitted back in and packed up (it was the last extra run of hte day), and my needle was about a mm from full empty when i started the car again.
In retrospect, it was a long left sweeper where it happened first. Pump on the left side of the tank?
My concern is that on the track, and even sitting in the hot pit waiting, my needle was just a hair below 1/4 tank.
I did one lap only and got the cut out a few times.
Pitted back in and packed up (it was the last extra run of hte day), and my needle was about a mm from full empty when i started the car again.
In retrospect, it was a long left sweeper where it happened first. Pump on the left side of the tank?
#16
dizzy snake pilot
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: berkeley, ca
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi syntrix,
that doesnt sound too unusual... often fuel gauges have spots where they read the same value for a while even as you drive, then drop kinda suddenly to a lower point over a few miles. also i would imagine the on-track mileage is well into the single digits. my 2.4 liter I6 road race car consumes about 5 gallons per 15 minutes of track time.
just gotta run more gas
james
that doesnt sound too unusual... often fuel gauges have spots where they read the same value for a while even as you drive, then drop kinda suddenly to a lower point over a few miles. also i would imagine the on-track mileage is well into the single digits. my 2.4 liter I6 road race car consumes about 5 gallons per 15 minutes of track time.
just gotta run more gas
james
#18
I had to pull the fuel tank (actually bought a new one) and have a second, small transfer pump installed in the tank to pump fuel from the side of the saddle without pump into the actual fuel pumps catch can cell in the other saddle. I'm now able to run the car almost to "empty" on the fuel gauge at the track without fuel starving. Before the modifications, with track tires on I would get starvation with the gauge just below the 1/2 tank mark (this particular track had a very long, NASCAR type, banked high speed left hand sweeping turn.)
Interesting to me, that I haven't seen a lot of other posts complaining about the problem, or notwithstanding this threads early speculation that Mazda ".... knew or knows about this, and is working on a fix...." I've never seen a recall or other notice addressing what, for me at least, became a significant track safty issue. Nothing like trying to hold and balance the car on the edge of a high speed sliding corner while either chasing (not so bad) or being chased (much more worrisome) and only to have the vehilce unexpectedly stutter and loose power. Not happy with Mazda about this oversight, and so far as I know failure to address the problem. Otherwise its a great car, but the fuel starvation engine in a "zoom-zoom" advertised car IMO is a major faux pas.
Interesting to me, that I haven't seen a lot of other posts complaining about the problem, or notwithstanding this threads early speculation that Mazda ".... knew or knows about this, and is working on a fix...." I've never seen a recall or other notice addressing what, for me at least, became a significant track safty issue. Nothing like trying to hold and balance the car on the edge of a high speed sliding corner while either chasing (not so bad) or being chased (much more worrisome) and only to have the vehilce unexpectedly stutter and loose power. Not happy with Mazda about this oversight, and so far as I know failure to address the problem. Otherwise its a great car, but the fuel starvation engine in a "zoom-zoom" advertised car IMO is a major faux pas.
#19
Good to read this before my first DE event this weekend. Not happy about having to keep the tank close to full, but forewarned is forearmed.
OTOH, have autocrossed the car several times with gauge reading anywhere from 1/4 tank to 1/2 tank (no telling how much was actually IN the tank) with no fuel starvation issues.
-El Kabong
OTOH, have autocrossed the car several times with gauge reading anywhere from 1/4 tank to 1/2 tank (no telling how much was actually IN the tank) with no fuel starvation issues.
-El Kabong
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Touge
Canada Forum
3
09-10-2015 08:07 AM
Touge
Canada Forum
0
09-01-2015 10:47 PM