Joe's NA6

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:59 pm

JDM Fest yesterday. Was a decent day although stupidly hot. Reasonable turnout and a good bunch of people and cars. Photos to come later tonight.

SDMA Hillclimb today. Very wet, rained on ad off throughout the day and most people only got one dry run myself included. My best for the day was a 53.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:13 pm

Photos!

And a nice LE in attendance...

Have other non-MX5 photos too if anyone is interested.

-alex · Postby **-alex** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:23 am

Just wanted to let you know that it was pretty awesome to see this car in person at interstate challenge. It's definately one of the cars that made me want a black na (unfortunately I didn't have the patience to wait for one to come up for sale) it was a cool moment to see one of the cars that contributes to the direction I've taken with mine.
It looks just as awesome as it does in pics.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:45 pm

Thanks Alex. Met many people that day, good fun all round.

And speaking of Wakefield, I'm all packed for tomorrow

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 6:26 pm

Right, so yesterday was my first ever track day where I wasn't able to complete all of the available sessions.

First session was somewhat damp, but still far more grip than expected. Peeled of a few relatively clean runs, but nothing spectacularly good or bad. Second session was far more confidence inspiring as the track was significantly drier. Again, 5 reasonable and mostly clean laps; times went 1:18.?, 17.?, 16.7, 16.6, 16.5. I was breaking way later in to turn two than I normally do and still staying on the track, huzzah!

Then came my third and final session for the day. Second lap out I completely missed my breaking point for turn 7 and just ran straight of the track, didn't even try to turn. A little shaken up but no harm, no foul. Got back on track and got on with the job. Unfortunately that little excursion stuffed my times for both laps 2 and 3, but lap 4 went well with a 1:16.1. On my 5th lap I was on a flyer; no traffic anywhere near me and absolutely nailed turns 10 and 2, but then proceeded to loosed it on 3. Oversteer on the exit of 3, thought I had it settled as I turned in for 4, didn't, and it spat me out backwards over the outside ripple strip. Kinda hurt as I bashed my elbow in to my ribs and managed to hit my head on the folding metal mechanism of the roof. Immediately I could hear a loud hissing noise and figured I had blown a hose somewhere, so I limped it over to the hillclimb track and waited until the rest of the cars had passed. Drove along the hillclimb track for a little bit and couldn't see anything leaking so I was kinda thinking tyre at this point.

Got back to the pits and jacked the car up to see what I could see. All hoses looked fine and nothing was leaking, couldn't hear the hissing anymore regardless. Mark came over to listen while I rocked the car back and forward in the garage, identified that it was the right rear tyre leaking when there was weight on it. Connected it to the compressor in the hopes that it would re-bead, it didn't. Deflated it and attempted to clean all of the rocks and dirt that were now sitting on the bead. Got a whole lot of crap out but apparently not enough as it still wouldn't hold pressure. Borrowed a spare off Peter and drove it home.

As I was coming up to the round-about on the way into Watson started to slowdown and got a world of horrible noise from the front brakes. Little dab again once I was out of the round-about and again, horrible noises. Contemplated pulling over but as I was almost home and already kinda shitty with myself, I decided just nurse it home anyway. It's amazing how little you can get away with breaking through Canberra...

Got home, jacked it up, took the right front off and immediately found the problem; dead pads which were now just metal on the rotor. Dang. Also now have a decent bow in the centre section of my butterfly brace. Dang again.

Went to Carco today to pick up the LE so I grabbed a pair of slotted DBA rotors and new pads while I was there. Dropped past Jax on the way home and got the tyre put back on the wheel. Simple re-bead and balance and she was right. Will probably have a go at the rotors on Saturday.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:05 pm

Damn, that is unfortunate, pretty rough luck there. Good to see you get right on with getting it back to spec though!

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:04 pm

Glad to hear you got home ok.

Did you sort out that loose exhaust shield?

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:53 pm

Lasted the whole way home and then fell off in the driveway. Can't imagine it's all that important. Weight saving y0!

And photos from Tilt Saul...

Complete with me pushing straight through the fish-hook and not actually turning.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:10 pm

Dang. Went to change over the rotors and pads today, only 3 pads in the box! Will have to take them back next week.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:43 pm

Winner!

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 4:36 pm

Congratulations mate. Well done!

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 4:56 pm

Congratulations Joe! The award didn't happen to come with a spare brake pad did it? :lol:

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 5:21 pm

No

I'll also come clean in that at all bar one of the events I was either the only one in my class, or got thoroughly beaten by Steve Green. However, I manage to turn up to all bar one event this year so lots of bonus points there. Not quite winning by default, but certainly not a good close competition either.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:04 pm

Hey Joe, this is hill climb kind of stuff? I'd like to try it out next year - just for fun and the opportunity to speed in a legal environment...and you'll have a walkover victory, haha!

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:53 pm

Hillclimb it is. http://www.sdmahillclimb.com/

~60seconds a run, aiming for 5-6 runs in a day, only one car on track at any time racing against the clock.