Albuquerque Track Day
 

April 29th....a Sunday. Starting at 1pm...we will have the track and perhaps as many as 4 instructors.

We are doing just the afternoon. For first time drivers the afternoon will be more then enough time to use up all your gas and some of your tires. We have the afternoon, and will be sharing some cost with a morning racer group.

Costs remains at about $200 per person. We can accommodate 8-10, perhaps a few more, so lets get as many to commit to this date as we can so that we still have enough participating to help offset those who find they can't make it at the last minute.

We will be the only cars on the track so we don't have to worry about a ton of other people getting in the way.

More on what you will want to bring and do for track day as we get closer. If you don't have a helmet, you will need one so start looking around.

Right now the following have signed on for track day:

Kewl
Stringer
NMOcho
Charaka
MadDog (maybe)

Who else will want to join in on the fun?!!

Kewl,
Thanks for doing the leg work on this event.
You can count me in....I can hardly wait!
Keep us posted on the details as we get closer to the 29th.
Hasta,

I nominate for Stinger for the award of most creative use of bold, colored and captialized fonts. Anyone care to second the nomination?

;)

i second that
and i am also in

I am in!
 

I am in! What about tires, are my Avons okay? What kind of helmet?

I just looked at the www.swms.org web site and this is what I found for the Helmet requirements

Drivers Safety Requirements:

Automobile racing helmet with a Snell Foundation SA 1995 or later approval. Full-face helmets are very strongly recommended.

Goggles or a face shield are required.

As for tires? As far as I know they are all right. As long as there are no cords showing and such I would guess any street legal tire is ok.

Everything is still on track for track day. I don't see anyone else signing up since Aug03-rx8...is this all that are planning on having a grand day at the track with their 8?

How does everyone feel about non RX8 folks coming?

Not that we should encourage or allow posting of this thing all over the place, but what bout direct friends of RX8 owners that have other cars?

Well I don't have a problem with it myself. We were looking to get 8-10 people for the day and so far there is only 7 confirmations w/ MadDog being still questionable as far as I know at this point. I know Ronnie (SikRedRX-8) was also interested as well though he no longer has an 8. I am easy it does not bother me either way.

As long as they are cool like all of us... LOL then i'm ok with a few non 8's there. But sounds like its best to keep the group at about 10 to 12 cars at most. For most track time.

Well I think if someone reading this forum wants to participate in track day that would be good. I mean if they are reading this, then they can't be all bad....can they?

Post in if you want to participate....

More information on track day soon....like things to bring...and not. And some of what you can expect.

There is some interesting information you might like to read before track day. It should provide you some insight into what is going on with the car while on the track or for that matter the roads.

http://www.miata.net/sport/Physics/

There really isn't a whole lot you need to do for track day. The most important is to take to the track only what you need/want. Everything else should stay home. Whatever is not strapped down will go flying and you don't want that kind of distraction.

Tire pressure should be at least 40 psi...and the instructor might want you to increase it even more. There should be air pumps at the track, but try to leave the house with at least 40 psi just in case. Top off oil and just before getting to the track top off fuel. I'd do the fuel before you get past Coors and Central or I40. Not much else available after that. The Flying J is at 98th/I-40, but getting in and out of there can take some time.

Helmet and if you have gloves for driving, bring those.

Tires...most any tires you have on the car are fine. However if they are near the end of their life you might want to replace them before track day. Same for brake pads. If they are in good shape that shouldn't be an issue. I find that the brakes on the 8 are very good for the track...they don't get that hot.

Remember you will want to do a warm up lap and at the end a cool down lap. You will NOT want to set the hand brake once back in the pits. You can hot spot the rotors (brake) doing that.

One of our instructors for track day is willing to get together with us before track day to review a video of the track and answer questions. I've seen the video, which takes you around the track from inside and outside the car, and I think you will find it very useful and helpful especially if you haven't been there before

There has not been much posting here about track day so I don't know how interested everyone will be in taking advantage of this offer by our instructor host.

Comments?

I would like too

I would also like to see the video. I tried to watch one they had on their website but my computer wasn't cooperating that day.

Kewl, when does he suggest we meet with him to watch it?

I definately want to see the video!!! When does the Instructor think he will be available to show us the video??

Hey everyone I just wanted to say I might be able to go and I might not...My grandfather just passed away and im not sure how long everything will take and if I will have enough money for this. I will write back on here for sure to let you all know.

thanks,
steve

I'm hoping to get a copy of the tape Monday and I'll ask what day might be best. Will let everyone know here what I find out

Ace1810 sorry to hear about your grandfather...family comes first. If things work out that you can make it we will be glad to have you join us.

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather, Ace. Best wishes & prayers to you and your family.

I have the track video so we just need to select a time to get together to view it. Anyone have a combo VHS VCR/TV we can use to watch it?

Yes I do but it is a 27". Do you have an idea of what time and where Kewl?

I am reposting this here as well...............


Sad to say NO! I did call Mazda North America today though, to complain about the fact that they were not providing a rental/loaner car & that the bill for such was coming out of my own pocket. Well the lady I talk to was very helpful & contected Univ. Mazda. The next thing I know the Service Manager Phillip calls me and apologizes and now Mazda is picking up the tab for the rental car. It turns out that under the extension for the engine & power train you are supposed to get a rental.loaner car. As it stands right now the new motor is not even in New Mexico. When will it arrive? No one can seam to tell me this now. If I am super extra lucky I might get the 8 back by mid to late week. If it is at all possible I am going to try and put as many miles on the car & hopefully make track day & drive. If I can not get enough miles on it I still plan on attending no matter what!! If I can not drive @ Track Day does any one have room in the back seat????

sorry to inform you guys but i had an emergency and am now broke i wont be able to make it to track day (no helmet eaither) so maybe i will be able to make it to the CA meet

NMOcho I got your voice message...you dialed the cell.

I wasn't able to make the autox tonight...some old friends and neighbors are leaving New Mexico for a permanent move to Texas (silly people) so the weekend was taken.

Rumor has it some folks are thinking about not joining us for track day because they can't locate/find a helmet. How/Who might be in that situation? I might be able to find some they can use if I know how many...so post here and let me know if that is keeping you from joining us!!!

I am willing to let some one borrow my helmet when I am not using it that is if I even get to!

We are planning on starting track day at 1pm, but if you arrive at noon there will be time to view the video on how to drive the road course. For direction to the track go to: http://sandiamotorsports.com/map.shtml

I see stinger has a potential helmet....thanks stinger. What's the status for everyone else, and for that matter who all is still planning on attending track day?

i would be there but like i posted i have no helmet and am finachally unable to run i will more than likly be there to watch

I will be back in NM on the 28th or sooner. Unfortunately I work Sunday, or I would be there.

Kewl, Stinger,

I will be attending track day next sunday and still haven't been able to find a helmet I can borrow for the day. I have one more friend that I will try this afternoon but, if that doesn't work out, I will be in desperate need.

I will post back this afternoon if I am successful. However, if you don't see a post from me by tomorrow morning, I had no luck.

Thanks, and see you all Sunday at noon!

I will be there, have helmet this is suddenly sounding like 4 to 5 cars....

I am going to be there one way or another. So you can barrow my helmet you if you do not find one en fuego! It is a medium. I am still keeping my hopes up on getting the 8 back in time to put the miles on it that I need to in time for Sunday. I even mentioned that the family could go and visit my wifes Grandma who lives in Pueblo Co. on Saturday which would give me enough mile :) ! I just hope that they get my new motor REALLY REALLY SOON!!!

If we are not running at the same time, I have no issues with others using my helmet.

If you are concerned about not having a helmet don't worry. In additional to the kind considerations of fellow 8 members of the forum, the instructor will have a good number of helmets available for use. So you can't use that excuse! We will see you at the track on Sunday!

Remember we will watch the video starting at noon at the track.

Check tire pressure...40 psi might be a good starting point, but check your tires' specs first. We should be able to air up tires at the track. Top off Oil and fill up with gas somewhere around Coors and I40.

Bring along water, or something (not beer) to drink. A folding Chair might be a good idea. Sun blocker...long pants and long sleeve shirts for on the track and try not to have anymore in the car then you must. You don't want stuff flying around inside the car while you are on the track. Of course you can take stuff out while on the track...there won't be many people there and besides there should be plenty of us around to watch it for you. If you have gloves that will serve as good driving gloves bring them along too.

See ya at the track!!

Well the new motor is in!!

BUT...........
every Mazda Mechanic is in class every day for the rst of the week! So no one is going to be able to work on installing the new motor till Monday :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: !!!! I can not believe that they would send EVERY MECHANIC to class and not at least have a couple stay behind in case of emergencies!!! Like putting in a new motor!! I know that they have to do manditory training and all but all at the same time is just rediculous! So I will not be driving the 8 on Sunday :mad: :mad: :mad: ! I am still planning on attending (& hoping that there is possibly an open back seat) the class and doing as much as I can with out the car. If nothing else I can learn something that might help me at the Auto X! I will see you all at the track 12:00 on Sunday! Kwel do you still need the TV/VCR? If so I will bring one in the (NO LAUGHING) the Mali-POO!

stinger....sorry to hear about your mechanic problems. I agree with you...why would you send all at the same time. Sounds pretty stupid to me.

I think we will be okay...they should have a machine there already.

Stinger, that totally sucks about your engine! I have two mechanic friends. One works for Zangara and the other for Quality and they go to training often.....but not with EVERY other mechanic in the shop. They usually attend by themselves or with one other mechanic so their service dept can continue to function while they are away. What a crock!

Anyways, I think I've found a helmet for Sunday. However, he said he would meet me out there on Sunday and, if he doesn't show, I'm screwed. So, Stinger, please bring yours just in case I might need to borrow it.

Kewl, what about beverages and snacks, etc? Are we allowed to bring a small cooler with water and sodas or is there a place out at the track where we can buy refreshments? My wife will be watching from the sidelines so I was planning on leaving the cooler with her.

en fuego....I'd bring any food or drink you might want....the instructor will have some helmets there so if you don't have one we can use his...so you should be covered, no pun intended, for the helmet.

Okay guys this website will be offline starting Saturday morning and it could be off line until sometime Sunday morning, so if you have questions about track day on Sunday, it is time to ask them.

Everything is still going as planned. I'm a little concerned about participations, but we will deal with it as best we can. Of course participation this time will have an impact on when we have another track day.

There should be plenty of helmets so don't let that keep you from showing up. If you have any other concerns, post them here so that we can see if they are workable before Sunday. Even if you don't plan on driving the track it would be nice to have you there to watch.

No questions here Kewl!! I plan on having as great of a time as you possibly can with out an 8! But I will most definately be there!!

Well I just got home......................


From UNIVERSITY MAZDA :ylsuper: :rock: :fingersx: :suitdance :suitdance :suitdance :suitdance :suitdance :bluesuit: :bluesuit: !!!!!!

That is right I have the STINGER BACK!! I know I have some miles to put on between now and then but wish me luck! I already have 103 miles down & 497 to go in 1 1/4 days! So at least I wont feel to bad showing up @ the Track in a Mali-POO!


So here is the run down of what ended up being done to the 8

1) New Motor - SHORT ENGINE
2) 2 New Leading Spark Plugs
3) 2 New Trailing Spark Plugs
4) New Oil Filter
5) All New Oil {I would think so}
6) Engine Coolant Change
7) New Exhaust Manifold Gasket
8) New Catalytic Converter (old one was fried)
9) And a 4 Wheel Alignment
10) Rental Car ended up being covered

Sorry your car won't be broke in yet Stinger. Woulda been fun. Guess you could just drive all weekend?

Anyway, I'll be there...trying to mooch a helmet onsite.

^ Damn Newbies....

Well with 24 hrs left between now and tomorrows Track Day I have logged so far 385 miles! I was out driving @ 6:00AM! I plan on doing alot more driving this afternoon and evening! I also found a route that is 85.5 miles from my house to the track. So that is how I will heading out in the morning. I back tracked the route form the parking lot of the track back to my house! It looks Like I will make it to the 600 mile mark!

alright stinger....drive that car around new mexico...we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Tape viewing starts around noon....track time starts at 1 pm...

Even if you aren't going to drive the track come on out and join in the fun! Oh, and pray for no rain.

I plan on it Kewl! I am head to Moriarty for dinner! At this time I have 392.4 miles, so

392.4 Miles Already Driven
85.5 Actual mileage to the Track Tomorrow (via the LONG ROUTE)
+113.4Round trip milage to Shorty's B-B-Que per mapquest
591.3

So I now only need 8.7 more miles and I am @ 600

good thing you are heading out to dinner....I was going to ask what you were doing home on the computer...you suppose to be out racking up those miles!!!

Glad to hear you're going to make 600+. Lets see just how strong that new engine really is...tomorrow.

Track Day was a great success and everyone had a great time. Well that's not exactly true.

NMOcho never made it to the track. A semi on I-40 trapped him between the truck and a concrete barrier in a construction zone. Neverless to say it trashed his 8. He was just a short distance from the exit for track day....he almost made it. Thankfully our 8 driver seems fine...some whip lash issues, but 18 wheelers up against an 8 means the 8 almost never wins, but it did a good job protecting the driver....as did skillful driving during the accident. I think we should all congratulate NMOcho for keeping the car from getting caught under the trailer wheels.

NMOcho should be posting some pictures of his accident later. I came up on the accident on the way to the track and it wasn't a pretty sight.

Now....for track day. We had great weather, good instruction; just a great day to be on the track. All 8's stayed on the track, but....well I'll let someone else address the off track excitement. I will say that car, track and driver are just fine. A bit of straw here and there but overall everyone and things were none the worse for wear.

Later I hope to post a few pictures, but we were having so much fun that we didn't get many pictures.

Hopefully next time more of you will be able to join us for track day. Perhaps we can schedule one for October.

Oh, don't ask about tire wear...BTW...I thought the 8's were more fun to drive then the Miata's. Just my opinion...of course.

hi all,

Got pretty soar neck... but her is a small sample of what happen. lets just say the list of repairs is insane.... getting an attorney.... I just got my car running so good too.. I'm truly sad... I could say many mean things about that driver... but happy to be alive.. Police and fire department were very surprised as well.

NMOcho, so very glad to hear that you are all right. Kewl told us what had happened and I can just say...wow.

The track day was great! I had no idea a totally stock 8 could do what we did. The tricked out Miata's were a lot of fun too.

Speaking of Miata's. I took turn 10 with too much throttle, lost control and slid into the dirt between 10 and 11. Very embarrassing to say the least, but no damage to us or the car.

Thanks again to Kewl, The Rent2Race guys and Sandia Speedway for a great way to spend an afternoon.


NMOcho - get better!