Kewl

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!!!

stinger

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

Kewl

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?

slayerchaos

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

RX8PDX

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

en fuego

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!

NMOcho

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

stinger

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!!!

NMOcho

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

Kewl

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!!

stinger

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 !!!! 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 ! 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!

Kewl

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.

en fuego

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.

Kewl

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.

Kewl

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.

stinger

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!!

stinger

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


From UNIVERSITY MAZDA !!!!!!

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

Chakara

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....

stinger

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!

Kewl

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.

stinger

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

Kewl

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.

Kewl

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.

NMOcho

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.

Chakara

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!