Matt's MY08 NC Roadster.

[broady]

Matt, you're welcome to have a test drive of mine too

[Cappuccino]

Thanks for the comments Matty....made me all warm and fuzzy inside.

[CoffeeBoss]

Haha - I consider me getting my own NA inevitable. I was quoted as such on the MX5 Picture thread on JDMST well before I got the NC

Circuit Club + MX5 Racing



So many would know that I've been associated with Circuit Club for some time now. My first trackdays were with Circuit Club in the Altezza. In my most unbiased opinion, there is no better way to get out onto the circuit for some quality track time, wether you be a first-timer or a regular as I've become.

Well, while I'm unashamedly plugging Circuit Club, allow me to rewind to January 2009. You may recall from this post that a small group of Circuit Club staff and associates were given an exclusive go at Garry Wilmington's Marulan Driver Training Centre. Well, at the end of that month, I was back at MDTC for the official opening. I was there to write an article for The Circuit about Chris Gough and MX5 Racing.

Well, after a protracted website redesign (which we are not finished with, incidentally!) I've finally published the article on the site.

Since it's a topic close to my heart (driving NC MX5's around a circuit!) I thought I'd post it up here.

Warning - if you intend to click, make yourself a hot drink and get comfortable, I've waffled on even more then I do in this here thread!

Linky.

[sliq]

i haven't met chris in person but have bought shiploads of stuff from him. top bloke to deal with and very easy going.

now time to get that coffee and read....

[CoffeeBoss]

After missing the 'old school' JDMST meet up on the 30th, a small group of us had our own End Of Month Meet anyhow the following evening. Ended up with 3 NA's, an NC and a certain Suzuki Cappa.





Taz's Type S NA8. I had a cheeky seat behind the wheel. Nardi Deep Corn's are a rather nice steering wheel.
Despite the weak offset, (which we are to frown upon these days, right? ) the BBS wheels on the Type S look fantastic also.



Despite our best efforts, we even ended up at Krispy Kreme Mascot.

Meanwhile, had the 70'000kms service done a few weeks ago. The car actually has a problem that needs to be fixed - an interior light. Busted switch. Apart from that, all is well with the dealer servicing so far. They did suggest that one of my braided brake lines may have been leaking... Indy and I checked them out and fluid levels have been constant, most likely it was a little residual fluid left from the install or the last fluid change.

If anything, after my last track day at Marulan, brake consistency has never been better. That report to follow.

[CoffeeBoss]

Circuit Club Training Day @ MDTC
13th March, 2010

It's been over a year since I've been for a hoon around MDTC. It was such a welcome return. There's a great deal I like about MDTC - the small venue makes the day great for socialising, and the tight track is a great test of braking, grip and driver skill. You really have to be on your toes, and have your car up on it's toes, if you want to be quick around this track. There's very little respite for the driver as you rip around the track, and a 15 minute session at full tilt always feels like more than enough!

As is common with Circuit Club days, the was a nice variety of cars and drivers that turned out for the day, from newcomers to Sammy Stevens and Dean Evans doing some pre-Targa testing in their respective EVOs.



Reggie's first Circuit Club day since, oh, ages! A very successful day too, it was great to see Reg reconnecting with the whole trackday thing:


Becoming a big fan of the EP3 Civic. This is Kenneth's EP3, which had a GruppeM induction kit. Sounded fantastic.


Sammy's 'new' Tarmac-Ready EVO VI:


Finally met Xero from JDMST and his awesome AE86:



This was also my first time punting the NC around MDTC with A048's on, my previous two visits last year were both on my road tires. With fresh brake fuild, good pads and great grip from the tires, the turn in and braking of the car was the best it has ever been. Lap after lap I would dive down the twisty 'back straight', a 3rd gear section which has you flat through a right hand kink, which leaves an ever shrinking braking area that has you hard on the anchors and back to second for a tight left hander. Lap after lap through the whole day the brakes were solid and consistent at this point, which would normally be the first point where I would start to discover my tires were getting to hot and my brake fluid was starting to boil! It was nice to have that reliable consistency there so I could just get on with the driving.

A couple of snaps from One Stop Image -





Allow me to rewind though - that morning, I pulled into the Marulan BP and took my place at the frontmost bowser to fuel up. While I was checking tire pressures (all constant, gotta love Nitrogen) a guy in an old SAAB 900 comes driving around the front of the bowsers. He gives me a big smile as he squeezes between me and the car opposite, while I'm thinking... what is this guy doing, he's going the wrong way? He eases his car around to the other side of the bowsers and fuels up.

I'm waiting for Reggie and Justin, then as I'm about to jump in the car, SAAB driver emerges from the shop and smiles again as he walks past. At this point I notice the Yokohama cap and the word "Instructor" emblazoned on his tshirt. "Oh, OK, I just figured out who you are" I announce. He apologies on behalf of his SAAB, which lacks a reverse gear!

Our instructor that day is none other than Jeff Denmeade. When Jeff is not tarmac rallying an EVO (which will be containered over to the US so he can compete at Pikes Peak!!) he does driver training. Apparently it is in his blood - after graduating from the famous Skip Barber School of Racing, he later returned there to become head instructor. In short: he's an exceptional tutor to have in the passenger seat. I managed to grab Jeff for one session in the afternoon. His experience was evident within the first lap, where he had quickly ascertained where my driving level was at, and then focused immediately on where I could go quicker, brake later, turn in harder, and so forth. I love that about driving - now matter how long you have been driving for, there's always something to improve, a secret of a corner to be revealed, and different approach to try.

I asked Jeff about what it was like to drive in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb which he has run in a few times. I mean, what an awesome event to compete at. When questioned about the fear factor of sliding around corners with thousand foot drops off the side, Jeff asked me if I was familiar with the "Climb To The Clouds" Mount Washington Hill Climb? Jeff has had 2 class wins (and a 2nd & 3rd overall) at that hill climb. Here's a video of the course record - Jeff tells me the last time he as there, he was ahead of this car's time at the halfway point, only to be held up by a slow competitor near the top of the course. This certainly makes Pikes Peak look like a 4 lane hwy. Be sure to watch right to the top - scary stuff. And this is certainly a heroic piece of driving:



Jeff will be at the next Circuit Club Track Day at Wakefield. If you are there, make sure you grab Jeff for some seat time. He is a barrel of laughs, and a top-drawer instructor!

[nath]

bumpy bump, hinty hint

[CoffeeBoss]

Patience Mr Nath! As you well know, I've been rather busy lately!!

FoSC 2010
So train-spotters will recall our visit to the Festival of Sports Cars at Bathurst last year. Well we were back again this year for more B-road exploration around the Bathurst-Oberon hinterland.



Not to mention the awesome display of cars at FoSC this year.





Perhaps it was the weather, or, I'd like to think it was the growing popularity of this event.
But there was noticeably more cars parked outside of Mount Panorama on the Saturday and Sunday mornings compared with last years event.




I only spent an hour or 2 on each day checking out proceedings and saying hello to a few people I knew who were competing.





Really want to join in on the action next year as a competitor.
This event is very much a meeting of enthusiasts and their prides and joy. All of whom are there to worship at the altar that is Mount Panorama.



But as much as the competitors no doubt enjoy themselves, this is a truly fantastic event for spectators as well.





There is nothing else like seeing and hearing so many modern and classic sports cars tearing it up around this fantastic circuit. FoSC has an open pit policy which means you are free to wander about and check out the machinery, and meet the owners and drivers. Truly a fantastic grass roots event. But one that is attracting increasing international attention. This year, Porsche were the 'invited marque' and had flown out some of their collection from their museum in Germany, including the one-of-a-kind GT1 road car. Which I didn't get any shots of... doh! *forehead slap*

One of my highlights - Group C Datsun Bluebird. Read all about it here



Full gallery here.

In our usual tradition, we also did some proper Grand Touring around some of the many great b-roads surrounding Bathurst. We took a drive out to Milthorpe which has a cool old train station (definitely one for train-spotters)



We also discovered Diamond Swamp Rd. This heads north out of Tarana and tee's with the main highway. Well worth the diversion. Took a few quick snaps with the compact along the way.





Returned to Sydney via the Bells Line of Road. Even with the end of Easter long weekend traffic, it was still a much nicer trip than battling the hordes on the main highway.

I read an article on the MX5 Club newsletter a while back by Sean in which he espoused the Grand Touring capabilities of the NC. I have to say I support this sentiment. With the extra space and the great flexibility of the 2 litre, the NC makes an excellent car for long trips. The fact that it's still hugely entertaining in the twisty bits is just a great bonus.

Or perhaps that should be the other way around

Coming up - another road trip, some more track time, and a 2nd birthday present for The Roadster...

[Szemen]

omg those Minis

[CoffeeBoss]

Some members of Japan's 'Route 16' NC Club setting off on a drive day.

[CoffeeBoss]

Buckkets / Thunderbolts / The Oxley


When you mix in MX5 circles, you discover that there are certain roads that are often spoken about. These are roads that are unanimously coveted as being particularly suited to the enjoyment of Mazda's Roadster. One road seems to receive most of this praise: The Oxley Highway.

It's been the cause of some amusement amongst some of the members of the MX5 Club that I have yet to drive down The Oxley Highway.

So when Nath approached me about organising a roadtrip for a small group of us, The Oxley Highway was at the top of the list.

Typically, when coming from the south, you also use the opportunity to take in 2 other great tourist roads: Bucketts Way, and Thunderbolts Way.

So, at 8am on a Saturday morning, a small group of us assembled at Pie In The Sky.
Guy, in his black NC, also dropped by to wish us well:



What followed was 2 days and 1100kms driving down the Old Pac, north to Bucketts Way, through Gloucester and up Thunderbolts Way to Walcha. Then down the Oxley Highway, south back down the freeway to Gosford, then back down the Old Pacific Hwy to Sydney.

[imghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/4589924631_98d055fc24.jpg][/img]

After a nice cruisy run along the Old Pac, we hit the freeway. It's always more fun flying in formation on the freeway:







Bucketts Way.
Bucketts is a nice flowing road.





It has some appalling sections of very patchy tar, but for the most part it's nice flowing 100km/h of open bends and low hills, and the countryside coming into Gloucester is quite open and picturesque





We stopped at Gloucester and did a bit of cafe hopping, as Roadster drivers like to do.

Can highly recommend Perenti Cafe, they serve good food and decent coffee (Toby's Estate).

There was a storm brewing directly over Thunderbolts:



But we pressed on.

[CoffeeBoss]

Thunderbolts Way

Thunderbolts Way put on an impressive show for us.



As we headed out of Gloucester the rain started to fall. With the 2 Roadsters up front, tops down, we opened throttles to sustain 80+km/h (in order to remain dry!) and charged up Thunderbolts.



This is a fantastic road, which winds over some great hills and waterways, and then twists it's way up the valley and up the mountain.



In these conditions, the results were quite epic.



At the top of Thunderbolts, the lookout was dry but fogged in. However the mist parted to give us a glimpse of the view:



From there, we descended off the top of the mountain in pouring rain. However as we dropped onto the plains, the cusp of the storm was clearly visible overhead:



We stopped, dropped tops, and rolled on across the plains beneath a majestic sky:







There's some great open sections for the next hour as you roll towards Walcha.



Thunderbolts junctions with the Oxley Highway at Walcha. It was here that we stopped for our overnight stay, at the Walcha Cafe. Apparently Wheels & Motor often stay here - The Oxley is a favourite spot of theirs.

[CoffeeBoss]

The Oxley Highway



The build up to driving this road had been quite immense.

When booking the accomodation, Toni had asked me on the phone if we were bike riders?
"Close" I said, "Cars."
"What kind?" was the reply?
"A mix of Japanese cars, MX5's and the like"
"Have you ever done the Oxley before?"
"Nope"
"Oh, you are going to LOVE this road!"

At the B&B, there were pamphlets for motorbike riders, with suggested routes around the area. They proclaimed the Oxley to be "arguably the best motorcycle road in Australia"

So, suffice it to say, our expectations were high.

We awoke to a cloudy but dry day, and headed off down the Oxley.

Heading south out of Walcha across the Tablelands, the conditions were excellent for photos.





From the plains, you hit your first flowing section through the forest, 20kms of nice flowing 3rd and 4th gear bends



Then, you see this sign, and the fun really begins:



We continued our descent.





As you descend out of the mountains, the view opens out while the road hugs the side of the valley.



All in all, it's like 65 kms of the best bits of the Old Pacific Highway.
4th, 3rd and 2nd gear corners, hundreds of them linked in a perfect ribbon.





At the base of the climb you cross a river, and there's a perfect place to stop.



From this point, it's flowing open running to Wauchope, and then to the freeway.

Tasmania aside, this would have to be the best piece of driving on mainland Australia.
I've done the Alpine Way, the Snowies are impressive.
I've done the Great Ocean Road, a proper sea cliff drive is a must.
But for sheer cornering thrills, the Oxley Highway is hard to beat.

Naturally, we took in the Old Pacific Highway on the return leg.

Truly a memorable driving adventure.





Full Set here

[RawSouth]

Brilliant posts as ever Matt! Sure looks like it was a great trip

[nath]

You've captured the weekend brilliantly, Matt.

We must do it again.