Phlash

This guy speaks like he's an engineer or something.....:D

Point taken. Let me rephrase......I'd run it like I stole the time and car, BUT it's your call.....maybe you can get on it quickly and get the recall done asap and still run it. Should you choose not to run, we'd love to have you come work the event.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

^^

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Personally, I would go to the dealer (kinda freaked a little) and see what they would do. I might even pay for the swap outta pocket and hope Mazda re-imburses when the official recall is issued.

Phlash

Go see Doug and Jerry at Jim Ellis.....they'll get ya set up.......

Remember, you can also change to a later NASA event. Just call or email Julie and let her know. She'll get ya moved.....

L8APEX

hey phlash, which jim ellis is that, the on in marietta, or the one in chamblee? i plan on calling on august 1, pleading, and begging. i am not too proud to stoop that low. i really want to run RA with no crashing thoughts in the back of my head.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Please guys--you know i like to track BUT if you have a ball joint car DO NOT PUT IT ON THE TRACK UNTIL YOU HAVE THE RECALL DONE> Please! There will be other track days--but when you are on the track you never know when you may hit an apron (especially turn 5 and the esses) or even have a spin out.Dont take this type of chance. Plus what person is going to sign your inspection slip knowing this is an issue? If you dont care about yourself then think of the guy that may be following you when you loose your steering. Plus if we are in fact a car club we as a group owe it to ourselves to encourage the recall before tracking. I know the chance of something happening is very small but -- hey---dont take this chance.
olddragger

Spin9k

I'm sorry I don't understand the hesteria about this recall...

1) How many ball joints have we heard ever fail in real life use - ZERO
2) How many people have crashed their 8 due to catastrophic failure of the steering because of this - ZERO
3) A week or so ago we didn't know of this and people were fine going to the track - the ONLY thing that is different is we now have been told there is the possibility of a failure.

It's not like a time bomb that goes off after a certain time now that we are made aware of this. If there is a problem, there has been a problem since day one.

MNAO has a responsibility to recall or they would be in deep trouble if only ONE of the 46 odd thousand of these cars has this problem. So therefore the recall, and good for them and us. But life doesn't stop because of this ... at least not IMO as there have been no reported failures in use, only apparently as I understand in 2 pre-delivery vehicles.

OK so tell me where I'm wrong here please. Life is full of calculated risk...this being one of them. So far the odds look fairly good it would seem. Thanks.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

About the only thing you said that was right is life is a calculated risk. The best we can do is mitigate the risk, not instigate it.

BTW, where did you get your data you cited in points 1 & 2? I will take the word of the engineers at MAZDA and manufacturers over mere consumers who really dont know the full impact of this recall.

AND its EXACTLY like a time bomb, except, you dont know what the timer is set for.

And finally, how would you feel if you encouraged a friend to go tracking and they hurt themselves or someone else?

valpac

iTrader: (2)

Ditto. I may be out anyway, depends on the number of 8's running.

rxeightr

I concur with OD on this -- let's err on the safe side. Supposedly there have been (2) known instances in the U.S., which is a miniscule percentage.

Let's keep it that way.......not worth the risk.

Spin9k

valpac there are different objective ways at looking at a situation. I've noted you are very vocal in several threads related to this. I did not say that what you are doing is yelling 'the sky is falling, the sky is falling" did I? Not at all! I simply said that I think the hysteria some are expressing is beyond the scope of the problem as it has been presented. You may think differently. I'm OK with that. Just accept that others have other opinions. That's what the forum is for - expressing opinions.

BTW thanks for telling me your opinion that everything I said earlier was wrong, save one thing.

But on topic, nothing wrong with being cautious - erring on the side of caution is fine by me. I'm not encouraging anyone to do anything. Nothing of the sort. And if you don't want to track - great. Each of us has who do has to make that determination based on how they view the facts and the circumstances of the situation.
And to clarify - I have no facts about this other than what we all have read - do you have any other knowledge of the subject yourself? If not, I don't see why your opinions are any more valid than mine.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

only that I am an Aerospace engineer and know a few things about aluminum forgings. Does that qualify me to speak on the subject?

BTW, Spin, are you running the event at RA in Aug? What is you motive for posting in this thread?

Spin9k

No; no; I'm a member of the forum.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

^^..hmm, ok.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

my faith in humanity has been restored!
Hey Spin, you are right in a way. Everyone does have their own opinion based on their on experiences and judgement. We respect all. In the end it is the individuals decision. I hope it is the right one. We fuss on this forum I believe, because we are like family in a way, and a healthy family will have differances of opinion. Thats good. Just never lose the respect. (I dont think anyone has.)
Hey Valpac,rxeightr and others thanks for the backup. And I agree we are not hysterical only cautious. By the way I am still driving my 8 every day. AND I will be back in HPDE this fall and winter. Too damn hot at present!
Olddragger

L8APEX

I too will be erring on the cautious side, I have said it before, I like my car the way it looks right now, not balled up in the wall at RoadAtlanta. I can cancel one week prior to the event, or just transfer the entry. So if one of the Mazda dealers around here will not help me out, then I will not be driving. And it will burn me up. But a known risk, is one I may not be willing to take. Call me chicken, or hysterical, or whatever, I don't care. I want my first track day to be a good one, not one filled with thoughts of bad ball joints.

I am going to call a couple of local dealers tomorrow, if I get any help from them, i will be sure to pass that on here in this thread.

Phlash

Marietta....down the street from Charlie's place.

L8APEX

thanks, i am going to give them a call soon, to see if they are aware of the issue, and if they would be willing to help me out.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

They are aware (sort of). Good luck with them helping. Lemme know what you find out.

L8APEX

I was planning on waiting until the 1st, since that seems to be the magic day that these recalls become official. i can only hope, just want to be positive.

Phlash

**Calling all Cars**

We need workers for RA.....those that aren't running, please come on down and join us. Worker time creates tracktime credit! For every two weekend events worked, you get one weekend of free tracktime.

From Tom Henning:

Hi Y'all,

The NASA-SE track event at Road Atlanta is right around the corner on August 13 & 14. We need lot of help in all areas from pit & grid to corner flaggers to timing and scoring to race control.

Most of you have worked at a NASA-SE event before and I hope you enjoyed it. Some of you already have assignments, and we hope you will confirm you attendance by registering on line as a worker. That way you will be sure to get credit for working.


We are expecting a large turnout of students and racers so we need all the help we can get. We also hope to continue training of corner flaggers with the professional crew that we have at RA.

On Friday night, we will need help controlling the paddock area and directing the participants to the correct paddock spaces as well under the expert guidance of Jim Mayer, NASA-SE Director.

Please let me know if you plan to attend, when you will arrive and you desires for worker assignment.

Thanks,

Tom Hennig
Race Director, NASA-SE
704-436-6194
704-305-3778 cel


Get your friends involved as well. The more help we have, the safer the track and event is for all.

Gordon

Phlash

Helloooooooo?? The only one I have heard from is Val......is this list still good??? Y'all still planning on working or driving??? Let me know please... I have others that are interested in staying with us if some back out.....

Those of you working the event, please register on the NASA website soon so that we can get a good worker headcount....thanks

L8APEX

already let you know, have some coffee.

L8APEX

I have just about decided to run this event no matter what. I was going to drive before teh recall info came out, and I think I am going to drive now. I am going to do the Autocross theweek before, and see how it goes.

I am still going to beg and plead with the dealers to see if they will do the work before hand. :D

EDIT:
i just spoke with the service department at Rick Case, and they are supposed to get the instructions for the lower control arm fix around August 1 or 2. Once he gets the instructions, I can bring the car in. I explained the situation, and they seemed to be willing to work with me. They already have the instructions on the fuel tank/reflash issue. So I should be able to get both done at the same time.

Just thought I would share that.

Phlash

They have showers.....just FYI....