That was my original thought, but when I came across the Braille B3121 it seems to have sufficient CCA's and reserve to be used year-round in VA.

The Odyssey PC680 is definitely lightwight at 15lbs, but with only 220CCA it would definitely be race use only.

 

Mark is not the only one to have issues with the Braille battery. I have heard from several others that they are inferior to Odyssey products.

I'm still running the '04 OEM battery for the moment, but my current plan is to install two PC680's in parallel in the stock location - removing the second battery when racing.

Advantages:
- Can crank the engine with both batteries then remove the second once running
- Radio will not forget its settings while swapping batteries

Disadvantages:
- Not sure the above benefits justify the high price of two batteries

*EDIT: Also, have not confirmed that two PC680's will actually fit in the stock location.

 

[QUOTE=BRODA;3096216]I'm still running the '04 OEM battery for the moment, /QUOTE]

Wow. My '04 OEM gave it up two years ago. You might want to follow through with your plan of two PC680s, or get one and get a new regular battery as backup. I suspect your OEM does not have much life left in it.

And thanks for the additional data. PC680 for me...

 

Whoops.. My bad. What I meant is I am running the 04-spec battery, but not the original which came in the car.

 

Where did you pick up an '04-spec battery from?

 

I bought it through Mazda a couple years ago... Are they no longer available?

 

How much do the stock seats weigh? Much to be gained there or not?

 

Got my Davesport cat yesterday. Man that thing is small.

Probably won't get it on in time for the Packwood NT, but I will have it for the Pro, not that it will matter much there.

 

Got my shipping notification late last week. I'll add it to my stack of STX parts!

 

The Odyssey PC680 needs either a custom battery tiedown or some tapping on the stock posts for the tiedown to use in the stock location. My PC680 can go close to a week before my car no longer turns over. Since sometimes the car sits for longer than that I keep a trickle charger handy.

 

Thanks for this. I was hoping that all I'd need to do was cut some extra threads on the posts. I also looks like the stock tray may have to be trimmed down on one side as well. Hopefully I'll get mine in this week.

 

Agreed. It's just a matter of time right now. I hope to pop it in before the Packwood NT/Pro, but don't have time for a relocation right now. My company is gracious enough to allow/force me to take a sabattical this year, which means I won't be working between the Helena Divisional & Nats (funny how I chose those dates) and I plan to do a relocation some time in August.

 

I happened across this today:

http://www.jic-magic.com/ViewProduct...26&CarMakeID=5

It's not as cool as a full-race seat, but at 12 kilos it's the correct weight for STX, and (hopefully) more comfortable for those long treks to national events some of us make. I know I'd welcome the adjustable rake.

As a nice bonus, the color scheme seems to match the stock cloth interior well.

$565 online if you search a little.

Caveat: I've done no reasearch on these seats and don't know how easily they bolt into an RX-8 or how the may compare to others, etc.

 

That looks like an interesting inexpensive option George.

 

Nice battery install by the MX-5 guys. I wonder if it would work with the RX-8.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...attery+install

 

That is nice - it would lower the CG of the battery a bit. I assume it's OK to mount the battery on it's side like that.

Although, as Mark said, the best approach to move the mass to a more ideal location. But it is more work.

 

Yes you gotta trim that battery tray. I forgot to mention that.

 

Hey George: I heard you beat Karl this weekend. Nice work!

 

Thanks! Also, I was only .135 off Ron after two days - in fact, I was quicker than Ron on Sunday, but he may have been conservative on his third run after coning his first, and having a very wet second run. It was a fun race.

[edit] They were under-tired for the event, so I don't think this is represetative of what might happen at Nats.

Or the Pro this weekend, for that matter.

 

George,

Did anyone snap pics of your car at the Packwood NT?

 

Yes, a buddy of mine got one on his cell phone in the paddock area, but I haven't seen it yet.

Unfortunately, Mitch Lewis didn't take any action shots of me (have to talk to him about that!) I know there were other photogs out, but I don't know if/where they are posting their shots.

 

I would have, but I was a bit busy running. :|

 

Excuses, excuses...

Sorry we didn't get to chat, Bryan. But congrats on taking the win in BS!

 

I didn't get to watch the GT-R run either. I wanted to see how that thing carried its weight out there.

George, I found some pictures of our run group here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1942617...7621452680997/

 

Nice find Bryan!