| MIATA BUILD |
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 | | February 19, 2009 - Road trip!
Not only am I travelling to Laguna Seca with the Targa car in a month, at the end of April I'm making the trek out to the GRM Speedfest at the Walter Mitty Challenge held at Road Atlanta. More details to follow, but I think the car will be displayed with a number of significant motorsport Miatas. How cool is that?
entry 654 - tags: events | | |  | February 19, 2009 - We finally got to watch the show thanks to a shadowy benefactor who shipped us a copy!
And I'm all giddy. It's more of a motorsport show than previous years, focusing on the race up front. Only about a dozen of the cars that ran the race got much airtime, either because they were leading or they suffered failures of the serious or humourous kind. But we managed some decent coverage without resorting to leading or breaking! The announcers were very flattering of the team, saying we looked good all week and using some of our in-car footage. Plus, I got to show the fun way to take a corner with some light gravel on it. Sure, it's only a bit more than 30 seconds, but it's a good 30 seconds.
Don't forget, March 15th on Speed at 3 pm Eastern. Or, if you can't wait, the DVDs are for sale on the Targa site. The DVD is simply the hour-long TV show, nothing else.
entry 655 - tags: tv, media | | |  | February 21, 2009 - Ever wonder what my Targa Simulation Road looks like?
Very little like Newfoundland, let me tell you. It's not a super-fast road, but it's fun to play on and fairly lightly used. I would recommend driving it slowly first so you get used to the scenery!
entry 656 - tags: testing | | |  | February 21, 2009 - A better look at the surface.
These patches are actually similar to those I remember from Newfoundland, but thinner. Still, it's enough to toss the car around on corners, especially when combined with a number of creases and lumps. In the winter, this road gets a fair bit of grit poured on it so it's a nice substitute for the gravel that gets thrown on to the roads in the race. Plus it's only a few minutes from my house!
I was up on the TSR testing a couple of video cameras. One is a cool little unit called the Motorsport Hero that comes with a suction cup and a fisheye lens. I'll put some of the results online - it's really fun to play with. The other is a cheap HD unit I picked up that records to SD cards. Unfortunately, while the video quality is okay, the sound quality is abysmal. The car is simply too loud for it. I'll have to see what I can do about that.
The car's working well. I'm pretty happy with how the suspension is working. It's going to be so much fun to get it back to sea level where it'll see a 20% power increase.
entry 657 - tags: testing, video | | |  | February 24, 2009 - I investigated the blown fan fuse a little more, and check this out.
That's some crispy wiring. A wiring expert was trying to tell me I'd used too small a connector, but I reached down and tried to spin the fan by hand. No go. It was seized solid. I figure the motor must have locked up and the resulting load melted the wiring and tripped the fuse. Based on how the car was behaving, I suspect this happened right about the time I got to Newfoundland.
There was nothing to do but to replace the fan. Luckily, Flyin' Miata has them on the shelf. A new fan, a couple of new connectors and it's sorted.
I've been driving the car to work the last couple of days. It was raining today - I'd forgotten just how happy the car is putting down power in the wet. The suspension's working pretty nicely, so it's all just about ready for the long trip out west. I just need to fine-tune the toe settings on the car, and I might give it an alignment just to make sure nothing got battered out of position during the race.
entry 658 - tags: cooling, fans | | | March 6, 2009 - I spent the afternoon at the local track, playing with the car.
It wasn't a completely satisfying day, as I was having trouble getting the handling just the way I wanted it with the stiffer springs. I'm really torn as to whether I should use the current setup or the Targa setup at Laguna Seca in a couple of weeks. Really, I need the extra stiffness for the track. And I probably could have used it in Newfoundland as well. I'll probably take it as-is and then stick the extra springs in the truck for a Saturday evening change if desired.
My biggest problem was getting the balance right. I think if I put the thinnest rear sway in my collection in the rear, that will do the job. The car was a little tail-happy with the current 14mm bar hooked up. My lap times were inconsistent, with a fastest of about 1:05.2 - a half-second slower than at the Open House just before the race. An ambient temperature in the 50s instead of in the 90s may be a contributor, as is the fact that the track isn't getting used much at all in the winter. I did spend a bunch of time trying to get that right rear wheel to hook up on corner exit. Again. Not liable to be a problem at Laguna though.
Janel took the wheel for a bit. She's not a huge fan of driving the car, it turns out. She's happier in the navigator's seat. The Targa car is just a bit overwhelming. The amount of information was a bit of an overload and the car was just too responsive. Her turbo Miata (which I compared to the race car back in August) is a little softer and a little mellower. Everything happens a bit more slowly and gradually, and that's more to her liking. At least, right now it is.
At one point, she was back in "her" seat watching my feet to see how I heel-toed on downshifting. She didn't feel the need to look up at all, as she was totally relaxed despite the fact that we were circulating the track fairly quickly. This is the result of the Targa.
And on a similar note, I have to say the Targa has spoiled me. I've got hundreds of laps at this track. I know it pretty well. And today it was all just kinda blah. The same dozen corners, over and over again. After you've come over a blind crest at 100 mph with your foot pinned to the floor because your navigator says it's clear, or changed your approach mid-corner because there's gravel at the apex, circulating around the same track over and over just doesn't carry a thrill. I'm sure it would be different if I was running wheel-to-wheel with someone, but we have to get back to the Targa. Janel feels the same.
entry 659 - tags: testing, suspension | | | March 8, 2009 - TV time update!
Speed TV has a listing online of when the show will be aired, including a back-to-back airing of the 2007 and 2008 shows.
Details
entry 660 - tags: TV | | |  | March 8, 2009 - At the last track day, I entered the 21st century.
Traqmate sent along a loaner data acquisition system, so I stuck it into the car when we headed to the track on Friday. It's a small box with accelerometers and a high-precision GPS unit in it and a display unit that can be mounted in the driver's line of sight.
On the track, the display unit can be set up to display a timer along with a predicted lap time - whether the box figures you're ahead or behind of your current best time. It's great immediate feedback, try a slightly different line and see if the computer says you're going faster or slower than your best. Make a mistake and it immediately tells you how much your screwup cost you. Hanging the tail out on turn 4? Not the fast way around this track! It can also show you instantaneous g loadings but not in the easiest-to-read format.
Once you come in, plug the display unit into a computer and it'll spit out every dirty little secret from the entire session. Your lines, exactly when you braked, how early you lifted off the gas, friction circles - everything. You can isolate one or two laps and see how they differ, or overlay a whole bunch and see how consistent you are. Get a datalog from another driver and you can compare lines, braking points and the like.
Data porn: the Targa car can corner at over 1g, sustained. I see peaks as high as 1.3g. I can brake at 1g as well. Meanwhile, acceleration peaks at about 0.5g. As I expected, I can't accelerate as hard in a right turn as I can in a left (there's that inside wheel spin) as there's a little dent in the friction circle, but looking at other cars it might be how the track works - a couple of the left handers have downhill exits, so you get get more acceleration out of them.
I pulled up the new lap record put down by a turbo Westfield. The big difference? Max acceleration of 0.9g. Holy cow. Slightly different lines (ie, he can't straight line the chicane like certain cars with rally suspension can) - but it's interesting to see where I'm actually carrying a little bit more speed or braking more agressively. Also, minimum speeds in the really tight corners aren't much different, and you can see how I'm keeping the throttle pinned all the way down the back "straight" while he has to feather it much earlier as he hits his peak cornering speed about 400 feet sooner. It's fascinating stuff, and with Janel's cool little netbook we can do analysis while the brakes are still cooling.
I was helping evaluate to see if Flyin' Miata should carry this doodad. And after this, I'm a big believer. Now I just have to see if I can use it to peel some time off my laps. The real advantage will be getting a datalog of a fast driver in a slow car.
The container of home made cookies is optional.
entry 661 - tags: datalogging | | | March 18, 2009 - Time to hit the road!
The car's packed up in the trailer along with a bunch of spares and tools. Not necessarily for me, but with over 100 Miatas pounding around the track I expect someone's going to need a bit of help at some point. I'm looking forward to this event simply due to the number of cool people involved. And I'm still using the same tires I had on for the race - which means they've travelled from the edge of the Atlantic to the edge of the Pacific. Cool.
I have some other news, but it'll come later. Right now, I'm trying to finish up my work so I can get out of here.
entry 662 - tags: Laguna | | | March 25, 2009 - A great weekend at Laguna Seca.
I drove out to California expecting a two-day track event, and ended up with quite a bit more than that.
Of course, there was a big track event. The Targa car spent around 7 hours on the track. I was playing with the fast guys in the A group. The open passing and chance to play tag with some of my friends in close company made the track far more interesting. Partway through the first day, circulating alone, I was sick of the same 11 corners over and over. But once I got into a chase with a few others, it added a whole new dimension. I can see how wheel-to-wheel racing could be addictive, although it's a different sort of game from the open road. I did notice that my peak speed on the track was only about 160 km/h.
During the Targa, our top speed on the Leading Tickles stage was 190 km/h. With trees and rock walls lining a bumpy road that we'd never seen before.
In the rain.
The car was handling perfectly. I'd nailed the balance with the new springs and sway settings, and I didn't touch the setup all weekend. When my good friend - and ex-pro driver - Rick Weldon took the wheel, he came in laughing and completely in love with the car. He didn't want me to change a single thing. It's good to get his stamp of approval, as it's always a bit worrisome to think that maybe I've adapted to the car instead of getting the car right. He really felt the car was prepared well and the handling was bang-on. Another fast driver commented on how it was impossible to get the car upset. No matter what I did, the car just ate it up and came back for more. Naturally, this seemed to be in context of my habit of making full use of the berms. "The track is wider for that car", one other driver noted. The hearty engine came in handy as well, even holding off at least one turbo Miata down the long front straight. Rick went out with Tom Matano in the passenger's seat of my car and got into a big scrap with one of his Spec buddies, everyone coming in with big grins.
Janel was also there, getting friendly with the driver's seat on the car. It was the first time she's really had the car up to temp and she was much happier than she had been at our little kart track day a few weeks back. As soon as she discovered how well the brakes worked, she started using them in earnest - she's always had the habit of coasting up to corners, so that's a big step. And more importantly, she discovered that all that information coming from the car is useful. As she described it to someone else - her Miata will do the same thing whether she takes a corner well or takes it badly, but not tell her. But the Targa car will let her know if she takes a corner well, giving her the feedback to improve. She can feel the tires working. She figured out turn 10 almost immediately, and I worked with her over the weekend to take what she was doing on that corner and apply it to others on the track. We worked our way around piece by piece - 6, then 4, then 5. It turns out she likes fast corners best. The Corkscrew wasn't her favorite as she had to muster the nerve to go over that blind drop. On her last session, she went out with Rick and he managed to coach her best driving ever out of her, including figuring out the Corkscrew. She was overjoyed and Rick was bubbling over with praise about how well she takes instruction. She's got a good feel for the car, and after this weekend I think she likes the driver's seat almost as much as the navigator's! She was nervous that Rick would be disappointed, but it was the exact opposite. Was I proud? Oh yes.
The only downer to the weekend was that, in a remarkable and extended spasm of incompetency on the part of US Air, she arrived 24 hours late and our planned mini-vacation in Monterey didn't happen. We'll be avoiding that airline in the future.
There were lots of fans of the Targa car there. I don't think Janel ever believed me about how many people know about the car and followed our race, but she got a chance to see the enthusiasm first-hand. Thanks to everyone who came up to introduce themselves! I was also surprised at the banquet on Saturday night when I was honored with an award for my contributions to the Miata community. Wow!
The car saw about 7 hours of track time. It was almost perfect, with only a couple of hitches. The first happened when Rick was driving the car, the check engine light came on and the car lost power. That's the Hydra Nemesis dropping back to the safe spark map to protect the engine. I haven't been able to figure out just what happened there, although the fuel level was getting low. I tossed in a bit of gas and some toluene (causing some real confusion in the pits, seeing as how I was pouring it out of a paint shop can) but the problem happened again. A full tank of 91 "competition" fuel and it cleared up. Weird. I'm going to change the fuel filter, as I don't know what's gone through that tank with all the small Newfoundland stations. Then, in the last couple of sessions, the high-rpm stumble from the last day of the Targa came back. Again with the puzzling problems! I'm going to brainstorm this one with my coworkers for a while and see what they say.
I also got the chance to drive Elvis, the LS1-powered Miata I autocrossed a few months back, on the track. Yee hah. The thunderous rampage down the straights was to be expected, but on top of that the rest of the car worked very well. It put down power far better than it had any right to do, and the overall balance was still very good. As it should be, because Elvis was running the AFCO suspension developed on the Targa Miata! When another car pointed us by, we didn't just pass them. We evaporated them. It would be an awesome Targa weapon, with huge acceleration, a wide powerband and the ability to dance in the twisty bits. Unfortunately, it got coolant into the cylinders and the car got parked. The current theory is that the modified heads were ported too far and got into a coolant passage. Whops.
Now, Elvis had been driven to California while I towed the Targa car out. So, other than a quick stop to change to street rubber in Reno (after going over a 7500' snowy pass on race rubber alone at 11 pm!), I drove the race car home without changing a thing. 7 hours on the track, 17 hours on the interstate. I've always said that a good Targa car was a good street car, but I never thought I'd have to prove it in this way. I averaged 30 mpg and 70 mph on the run from Sacramento to Reno, which is nothing to be be ashamed of. How's that for a dual-purpose machine?
entry 663 - tags: Laguna, skills, testing, handling | | | April 1, 2009 - Well, you've missed your chance to watch the Targa TV show on Speed.
The final air time was this morning. But you still have two options.
The DVD is available from the Targa store. It's simply the TV program, no extra footage. But it's a clean, high-definition copy and you can watch it until the plastic DVD biodegrades in several thousand years.
The program has also appeared as a torrent if you are familiar with the workings of the intertubes.
entry 664 - tags: TV | | | April 2, 2009 - Zandr Milewski - a big supporter of our Targa effort - was one of the instructors at the Laguna Seca event.
After reading what I wrote a couple of days ago, he sent me this note:
I followed Janel on that last session in AHHRRR. (an R package Miata with Toyo RA1s and suspension work - Keith). Until she figured out turn 2, I could reel them in every lap. Once she got 2 figured out, it was over. She was decisively walking away from me on all the straights, and I don't think I had much on her in the corners.
When you were headed north on 880 up to Rick's shop on Monday afternoon, I spotted the Targa very clearly from the other side of the freeway. That car can certainly be seen at a distance!
Thanks Zandr!
entry 665 - tags: Janel, Laguna | | |  | April 8, 2009 - I did have one problem on the way home from California.
As I pulled in to Reno, I popped my earplugs out and was greeted with a pretty nasty exhaust note and rattling. I figured out pretty quickly what was going on - the collector had somehow come off the primary pipes.
Now, when I was building the header, I had to pull it apart to finish some welding. And I had a really hard time - several prybars and a torch were required. So when it was all assembled again, I only made a small tack weld as a token gesture, figuring it would never come apart on its own.
Well, obviously it held together for the race and a bunch of track testing. But 7 hours at Laguna Seca? Not so much. We tried several field fixes on the way home but to no avail. The rear section of the header settled on to the front subframe maintaining a bit of contact with the tubes but transmitting a nice buzz through the car. No harm done, just a bit of unpleasantness. I've pulled it out now and I'm going to clean it up before reassembling and welding everything!
entry 666 - tags: header | | |  | April 8, 2009 - This is the result of the track.
My white high-temp paint was a little flaky after the race, but not too bad. It simply told me where the hot spots were in the header. However, after the thrashing at Laguna Seca, the paint was bubbled and flaking over all of the primary tubes. Yuk.
So, after the repair is done, I'm going to get it ceramic coated. I shied away from that originally as I didn't want to spend the money and then have it crack. But we know now that cracking is not a concern so it's a good opportunity. Besides, I want the engine bay looking good for the Mitty in a month!
I forgot to mention - Janel and I used the race car to tour Monterey and Carmel after the track day. It's maybe not the perfect vacation vehicle. Maybe once I get the transit headsets put together.
entry 667 - tags: header | | |  | April 14, 2009 - Bead-blasters are wonderful things!
A few minutes in the box and the header came out nice and clean. Blasting both the collector and the primaries where they slip into the collector made it very easy to put the two parts of the header back together, and a few welds made it a permanent marriage.
I then took it down to the local powdercoater for the ceramic. He can do black easily, but I'd prefer white if possible. That's what the old "bundle of snakes" headers on vintage F1 cars and GT40s looked like. He doesn't do white normally though, as the white lead in the coating makes it brutally expensive to ship because it has to be treated as if it were uranium. He's looking into the costs and I'll decide once that information is in. I really hope I can do white, I'm just not willing to spend another couple of hundred to do that.
I don't think I am, anyhow.
entry 668 - tags: header | | |  | April 14, 2009 - The garage is a little full right now, and the Miata is pretty much the biggest car here!
In the foreground is an Austin-Healey Sprite that's here for a bit of work, mostly because I'm the only person dumb enough to take it on. In the back is the MG getting an LS1 engine. The Mini is trapped by dead cars, and the Seven is also visiting temporarily from its usual living space.
entry 669 - tags: other cars | | | April 16, 2009 - Good news!
The header will be white. Turns out the latest and greatest formulation of white ceramic is not toxic enough to require expensive shipping. It should be done next week - which, when I think about it, is just about as late as I can get it.
Other than the header and a good scrub-down, the car is ready to go. The trailer's just come back from a checkup (and new spring hangers to correct some alignment problems) so it's almost time for another long trek across the country to Georgia. This is one well-travelled little car.
entry 670 - tags: header | | |  | April 23, 2009 - It's back!
The header now has a beautiful coat of white ceramic, expertly applied for about 1/3 the cost of the big name brands like Swain. As long as it stays looking pretty, I'll be happy.
Of course, the perfectly smooth finish also highlights my ugly welds. But that's okay, they're proven ugly welds.
entry 671 - tags: header | | |  | April 23, 2009 - After a bit of fooling around, the header is back in the car.
There are about three points during feeding the header in past the bellhousing that it just seems impossible. And then, with a bit of wiggling and pushing and leaning of the engine, it slips past. It was a bit hard on the ceramic coat in a couple of spots, but that's okay. I did notice that the breather on the valve cover was a little soggy on the bottom, so maybe the ceramic coat isn't such a bad idea...
entry 672 - tags: header | | |  | April 27, 2009 - Almost all the kids were out of the garage yesterday as I shuffled cars around.
The Targa car is now strapped down in the trailer, ready for the trip to Georgia for The Mitty. I'm not looking forward to the drive, but it'll be the last one for a while.
I also ran the race car for a while to bake in the new ceramic. It picked up a slight yellowish tinge but looks good. The car's all scrubbed and shiny clean now too. Watch this, it'll rain all weekend in Atlanta...
entry 673 - tags: other cars | | |
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