New '95 Montego on the Block
#561
Same here, although I might move away from the 660's next season. They're really good bang for buck, but not the fastest at autocross.
I did hear about the 660+ which is supposed to come out towards the end of the year. Apparently they're going to get rid of the delamination issues and IIRC it might be slightly lighter?
What pressures are you running when hot?
I did hear about the 660+ which is supposed to come out towards the end of the year. Apparently they're going to get rid of the delamination issues and IIRC it might be slightly lighter?
What pressures are you running when hot?
#563
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,760
Total Cats: 631
Great video, looks like your car is a handful on that track. Looks much shorter/tighter than the track I was at. The looks rippin'! Glad you are able to enjoy it some, even if only on shorter courses for now.
And good work taking FTD!
And good work taking FTD!
#564
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 1,243
Total Cats: 243
Same here, although I might move away from the 660's next season. They're really good bang for buck, but not the fastest at autocross.
I did hear about the 660+ which is supposed to come out towards the end of the year. Apparently they're going to get rid of the delamination issues and IIRC it might be slightly lighter?
What pressures are you running when hot?
I did hear about the 660+ which is supposed to come out towards the end of the year. Apparently they're going to get rid of the delamination issues and IIRC it might be slightly lighter?
What pressures are you running when hot?
This is the first I've heard about the RT660+. That'd be awesome not having to worry about delam'ing them anymore. I was thinking I'd grab a set of the Conti Extremecontacts on the next go around since you can get em on TrackDayTire for pretty cheap currently (buy 3 get one free I think).
My car's a handful at all times due to my subpar driving but thank you! It's definitely a hoot and I'm stoked to rip it even if it's not over 100mph at some big track. I should have the driveshaft in hand for the Getrag swap this week or next, though, and then hopefully it's back to the races!
#565
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,760
Total Cats: 631
It's OK, we're all amateurs just trying to go fast at the end of the day. I didn't think your driving was bad at all, in fact, it looked quite good. Though you were definitely overdriving a bit, which can be a lot of fun (and makes exciting videos).
I personally feel like my driving went from overdriving to underdriving over the last few years, if you look at my older videos I was really working the car and sliding around everywhere, skidding into braking zones, flying off the track, etc. My PB's have gotten slightly better with no recent offs, and I don't feel like I have to push the car as hard to extract time so I'm taking that as a win. I feel like there's more room to push still, particularly opening up my lines and pushing braking zones deeper, but I'm working back that direction again. Really as long as we're out there getting seat time and having fun there's no shame in any of it.
Thanks for the book recommendations, btw, I'm currently reading Speed Secrets after reading your recommendations.
I personally feel like my driving went from overdriving to underdriving over the last few years, if you look at my older videos I was really working the car and sliding around everywhere, skidding into braking zones, flying off the track, etc. My PB's have gotten slightly better with no recent offs, and I don't feel like I have to push the car as hard to extract time so I'm taking that as a win. I feel like there's more room to push still, particularly opening up my lines and pushing braking zones deeper, but I'm working back that direction again. Really as long as we're out there getting seat time and having fun there's no shame in any of it.
Thanks for the book recommendations, btw, I'm currently reading Speed Secrets after reading your recommendations.
#566
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 1,243
Total Cats: 243
Quite true! We all gotta take driving seriously but simultaneously remember that we're not being paid for it. A great quote from the foreword in Ian Korf's You Suck at Racing:
"A lot of books on driving are written by professional racers who assume you too want to be a professional racer. Not this book. It's written by a hobbyist who suggests you keep your day job. Besides, it's much more fun being an enthusiastic amateur than a jaded professional (just ask someone in the sex industry)."
I feel like the natural progression in this sport is to go from underdriving, to overdriving, and back to underdriving (but maybe slightly less so?). It's fun as heck when you learn the limits of your car and can slide it around on command. I think it's important to learn, though, that feeling fast and going fast can be two separate things. I'm closer to the tail end of your overdriving stint right now. I usually have one good off every other track day, but am trying to change that. Just because you're pushing it doesn't mean you're improving, learned that from mountain biking and I'm sure you did too haha. I think the last nail in the coffin for me was seeing my fastest lap time at WSIR the last time I was there. It was literally the only lap I didn't have any substantial oversteer corrections on. Felt like I was a little under the limit to be honest.
Glad you picked up Speed Secrets and are enjoying it! It's a great read for only being a 10 or 15 dollar book!
"A lot of books on driving are written by professional racers who assume you too want to be a professional racer. Not this book. It's written by a hobbyist who suggests you keep your day job. Besides, it's much more fun being an enthusiastic amateur than a jaded professional (just ask someone in the sex industry)."
I feel like the natural progression in this sport is to go from underdriving, to overdriving, and back to underdriving (but maybe slightly less so?). It's fun as heck when you learn the limits of your car and can slide it around on command. I think it's important to learn, though, that feeling fast and going fast can be two separate things. I'm closer to the tail end of your overdriving stint right now. I usually have one good off every other track day, but am trying to change that. Just because you're pushing it doesn't mean you're improving, learned that from mountain biking and I'm sure you did too haha. I think the last nail in the coffin for me was seeing my fastest lap time at WSIR the last time I was there. It was literally the only lap I didn't have any substantial oversteer corrections on. Felt like I was a little under the limit to be honest.
Glad you picked up Speed Secrets and are enjoying it! It's a great read for only being a 10 or 15 dollar book!
#567
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,760
Total Cats: 631
Oof, that one hit home. I wrecked out so many times the first season or two of riding MTB, good thing I was younger then, but I still have injuries from that era (2010 - 2012 ish). Including a pretty badly broken foot from DH that was a season-ender. I'm more of a AM trail rider now days, but still get after it on the snowboard!
#568
That go kart track looks like a lot of fun! Ah you inspired me to get off my **** and do some more work on my car. Question for you.. Are you running the OEM front tow hooks or some aftermarket? I got the front bumper on and intercooler in place and I'm going to have to do a lot of ducting.. there are gaps everywhere *sigh* Tired of wrenching and just want to drive.. lol
#569
I'm not Zak, but I figure I track my car often enough, and overdrive it so regularly, that it's a good courtesy to the track workers to have something ready to go if I do bin it or have a mechanical issue and have to pull over.
I've got a single AWR tow hook/eye up front for ease of access. I didn't remove the other front factory baby tooth so it can be used as a tie down point for towing, and am relying on the stock rear tie down points for track recovery. If they're fishing me out backwards, it's already uglier than I'd like and it's going to take a while regardless of aftermarket tow hook or factory tie down. Plus the lower aftermarket rear hooks become a clearance concern for me. I guess I could cut my bumper to raise up the larger non-OEM tow hook. I thought about painting them red but lets be honest, any corner worker or tow guy at an HPDE event should know where stock Miata tie down points are.
I've got a single AWR tow hook/eye up front for ease of access. I didn't remove the other front factory baby tooth so it can be used as a tie down point for towing, and am relying on the stock rear tie down points for track recovery. If they're fishing me out backwards, it's already uglier than I'd like and it's going to take a while regardless of aftermarket tow hook or factory tie down. Plus the lower aftermarket rear hooks become a clearance concern for me. I guess I could cut my bumper to raise up the larger non-OEM tow hook. I thought about painting them red but lets be honest, any corner worker or tow guy at an HPDE event should know where stock Miata tie down points are.
#570
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 1,243
Total Cats: 243
Oof, that one hit home. I wrecked out so many times the first season or two of riding MTB, good thing I was younger then, but I still have injuries from that era (2010 - 2012 ish). Including a pretty badly broken foot from DH that was a season-ender. I'm more of a AM trail rider now days, but still get after it on the snowboard!
That go kart track looks like a lot of fun! Ah you inspired me to get off my **** and do some more work on my car. Question for you.. Are you running the OEM front tow hooks or some aftermarket? I got the front bumper on and intercooler in place and I'm going to have to do a lot of ducting.. there are gaps everywhere *sigh* Tired of wrenching and just want to drive.. lol
#573
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 1,243
Total Cats: 243
Whaaaaaat...? Nah man that can't be me, must be some other guy with the same car
The dude that runs that page is super quick. Stock power NA8 on 225 RS4s with the usual bolt ons and I couldn't drop him at the end. Very humbling hahaha.
The dude that runs that page is super quick. Stock power NA8 on 225 RS4s with the usual bolt ons and I couldn't drop him at the end. Very humbling hahaha.
Last edited by Z_WAAAAAZ; 06-24-2024 at 11:41 AM.
#574
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,760
Total Cats: 631
Haha, that was a fun video to watch.
Nahh. Driving fast in canyons is about who is more of a jackass vs any talent (or tier of car). That dudes crossing double yellows almost losing his car multiple times to hang with you driving much more reasonably.
Good driving there Zac, I didn't see you cross the double yellows once, maybe slightly on an open corner with good visibility but good lane control.
As a cyclist (both moto and pedal) I hate some of the canyon carving channels, that ***** reckless as ****. A good spirited canyon drive is great fun, but never drive past your vision on public roads.
*old man rant
Nahh. Driving fast in canyons is about who is more of a jackass vs any talent (or tier of car). That dudes crossing double yellows almost losing his car multiple times to hang with you driving much more reasonably.
Good driving there Zac, I didn't see you cross the double yellows once, maybe slightly on an open corner with good visibility but good lane control.
As a cyclist (both moto and pedal) I hate some of the canyon carving channels, that ***** reckless as ****. A good spirited canyon drive is great fun, but never drive past your vision on public roads.
*old man rant
#575
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 1,243
Total Cats: 243
Thanks, Nate. Having been on both ends (bike and car) as well, I try to keep a decent margin for error in the canyons. You're right about the chaser's driving. I wasn't scrutinizing too hard at first, but he does cross double yellows more than a few times.
Maybe even more importantly, I try to stay away from anywhere that bikes and traffic might be in general. Usually the road we hit in that video is almost completely empty, even on weekends. Seeing even 4 or 5 other cars on that stretch is more than usual.
Maybe even more importantly, I try to stay away from anywhere that bikes and traffic might be in general. Usually the road we hit in that video is almost completely empty, even on weekends. Seeing even 4 or 5 other cars on that stretch is more than usual.
#576
I was going to say the same thing as Fire. "Keeping up" with someone in a scenario like this seems to largely be who is more reckless. If it was on track then it would be more impressive, but on a public road with oncoming traffic I don't think there's much significance in who's faster, regardless of setup.
I've pushed my car further than I should have on public roads before, which I'm sure most people on here would admit to as well. I'm no saint, but there is something to be said about staying in your lane and respecting blind corners.
Having said that, cool to see more footage of your car in action!
I've pushed my car further than I should have on public roads before, which I'm sure most people on here would admit to as well. I'm no saint, but there is something to be said about staying in your lane and respecting blind corners.
Having said that, cool to see more footage of your car in action!
#577
Cpt. Slow
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 14,360
Total Cats: 1,184
If you click on his "I crashed" video, he's doing some pretty stupid stuff just relying on not seeing headlights to see if he's safe. But he doesn't have his face buried in social media on his phone, he's not shooting up schools or fentanyl, or stealing cars, so I can't be too mad at him. I fully expect him to be hung when he kills someone else though.
#578
This is your Dad. Driving fast is fun, but if you can’t keep the car in your lane you’re going too fast for public roads. You were keeping up at the end in large part because you were cutting (blind) corners, where your buddy was driving 99% on HIS side of the double yellow. You could easily have killed that motorcyclist if you’d met at a different point in the road. Take care son.
#579
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 1,243
Total Cats: 243
Holy crap, I hadn’t seen that comment! ^^
FWIW, I’d like to make it known that I’m not close friends with the guy filming or condoning that driving. I just sold him my original head unit and figured we might as well meet up at the canyons since I wanted to do some driving anyways that day.
FWIW, I’d like to make it known that I’m not close friends with the guy filming or condoning that driving. I just sold him my original head unit and figured we might as well meet up at the canyons since I wanted to do some driving anyways that day.
Last edited by Z_WAAAAAZ; 06-25-2024 at 02:45 PM.
#580
If you click on his "I crashed" video, he's doing some pretty stupid stuff just relying on not seeing headlights to see if he's safe. But he doesn't have his face buried in social media on his phone, he's not shooting up schools or fentanyl, or stealing cars, so I can't be too mad at him. I fully expect him to be hung when he kills someone else though.