davidnyc

This past weekend I did a track day at ECR. They were short on instructors so my time off turned into a working track day and I instructed a guy in an Fiat 500 Abarth (shockingly fun little hatch) and a guy in a swapped Civic. Oh and there was a guy there with a Lexus LFA!!!!

I do understand the grief about the track (kills brakes, HP track, etc.) but this track is a really really good race track and just an ok HPDE track. In the advanced group I did have some fun with a race prepped S197 Mustang ( driver was too tentative because of a recent crash), but I did get walked by a BOSS and Cayman on R compound.

So, yes, I do agree with most of what people have said, but this track would be fun with a lot of similar cars (like a S2K track day), but MSR or TWS would be more fun.

I'll probably do the track one more time and probably not again in my s2k or if i do, Maybe try and hook up with a chumpcar team.

On another note, I was shocked that my new suspension setup (KW Clubsport, Eibach FSB, Miata NC FSB in rear, staggered RS3) didn't push like crazy. I had some initial understeer at turn in, but it sort of became neutral throughout the turn. I still am looking to go square, because ultimately it should be the faster setup, but still happy with current.

Gernby

Is the Miata sway bar smaller than the OEM rear sway bar? If so, are they hard to find?

davidnyc

The Miata NC FSB (I forget the years, but it is the latest model) is much smaller than the OEM S2K rear bar and attaches with VERY little modification ( http://random1photo.zenfolio.com/p234688646 ) I went on DFWMiata.net looking for a bar, and Gary of Track Dog just happened to have one laying around that he sold to me (with all hardware, endlinks, etc. ) for $40! But, I think you can buy them from the Miata dealer for around $100 or so. There is a thread within the competition (or is it suspension section, I forget) about the whole Miata NC FSB mod.

Vanishing Point

The section with the FSB info is S2000 Racing and Competition forum. I thought the Miata FSB mod was mainly a auto-x thing?

davidnyc

Most of the modifications for the STR Autocross class can be applied to the track.

Vanishing Point

The white CR was a former National Champion Solo car and he had Gendron bars, front = 1.25" hollow 6-way adjustment and rear= 1"x 1.25" hollow 5-way adjustment. He ran a square set-up (17x9") with 255's. I currently still have the wheel set-up with the stock suspension and I must say i like it!

davidnyc

Yeah the square setup adds some oversteer (more front grip) and then you add a bigger front bar to sort of take it away. So, you now have the grip of the bigger front contact patch in cornering and braking with stability with the bigger front sway. But, the one thing, that I don't understand is I think your rear sway bar is now bigger than stock and I am not sure how that helps and not hurts. BUT, I do know Ankeny, Gendron, etc. do offer bigger rear bars. I just don't understand why.

762

The Gendron rear bar at its softest is only marginally stiffer than the soft top NC miata bar.

The hardtop NC miata bar is slightly stiffer than the soft top NC miata bar.

The miata bars are all softer than an AP2 rear bar, and the AP2 bar is softer than the AP1 rear bar.

davidnyc

Ah now it makes sense. Cool thanks the info.