235 replies to this topic

[wheel]

Don't you all go modifying your controls arms just yet.

[tferranti]

LOL!  So someone cheats and now we all have to do it?  I am glad we are all smarter than the Mazda engineers who created these control arms!

[Dave D.]

"2. #21854 (John Bauer) Shock Spec Data Review Add to 9.1.7.C.3.a.1.: 1. Shocks (including internals) must be as delivered by Bilstein/Mazda. No modifications to the compression and/or rebound forces are allowed." 

 

So the above is copied from the list of recommended 2018 changes...as was the letter by Jim(I'm confused Jim...someone else wrote the request and your letter to oppose was attributed to it?)

 

With regard to what Bauer has written...for years there have been people who offer "rebuilt shocks". Having zero knoweledge as to what is done during this process...is he saying these aftermarket vendors can only use verified "Bilstein" parts and oil or is he saying only Bilstein can rebuild? As I understand "No modifications to the compression and/or rebound forces are allowed", has always been the case so what is changing here? Either a shock passes the established Dyno curve or it doesn't correct? If internals are different but it passes the dyno...how would one know what is inside is different? 

 

Should in fact we be receiving some form of "sealed" shocks that can be easily checked if they have been opened up?

 

I still feel this is a very difficult area to police......If they test, to whose specs to test to? Bilstein has said the production QC is so loose, the published numbers are as close as they can get. And 2., If a sealed spec shock, what is to stop someone from buying 30 sets to dyno and cherry pick the best ones? That will cost way more than what some outfits are charging for freshening. Spec classes do not always mean cheaper racing, the ones with deep pockets or are more clever will always run up front.   

[Bench Racer]

But, I just put a Metric Sh*t ton of bondo on the right rear qtr after my most recent wreck. just in case. There may be some aero differences now though as I have a wide body kit on just the right rear but it should fix my weight issue.

Kids, ask your mature people what body filler was used previous to bondo.  

Use said material and your right rear might come up heavy.

[Bench Racer]

U made my day.

[Johnny D]

It depends if one of my people are in the SMAC!

 

Did you want to be one ??   Anyone ?  Buler ?

 

SM
1. #23054 (Spec Miata Committee) Request for Committee Resumes
The Spec Miata Advisory Committee is seeking new members. Please submit your resume through crbscca.com.

[Johnny D]

SM
1. #22393 (Ralph Provitz) Revise the Contact Rules and Implement Training
Thank you for your letter. The CRB is looking at this issue for all classes.

 

 

FYI, I think NASA's going mandatory camera's next year. So there's no he said, she said. There's mostly just the video and let the chips fall where they may.

 

J~

[Danica Davison]

Did you want to be one ??   Anyone ?  Buler ?
 
SM
1. #23054 (Spec Miata Committee) Request for Committee Resumes
The Spec Miata Advisory Committee is seeking new members. Please submit your resume through crbscca.com.

 

I would, but nobody would take me serious! I don't know why!

[Tom Hampton]

I would, but nobody would take me serious! I don't know why!

Are you suggesting that we should take you serious? Because you can't be serious!

[38bfast]

The letters were mostly very biased. Those that can get the camber numbers they want did not want a change. Those that could not get the numbers they wanted wanted the change. So surprising, Who would have thought. 

[Danica Davison]

Are you suggesting that we should take you serious? Because you can't be serious!

 

Are you saying that I am not fit for the job?

[chris haldeman]

We're there actually any letters sent for slotting?

[Jamz14]

SM
1. #22393 (Ralph Provitz) Revise the Contact Rules and Implement Training
Thank you for your letter. The CRB is looking at this issue for all classes.
 
 
FYI, I think NASA's going mandatory camera's next year. So there's no he said, she said. There's mostly just the video and let the chips fall where they may.
 
J~

Video doesn't help when viewed through rose colored visors.

[Jamz14]

Someone please explain why it's okay to slot control arms but not remove the blower motor. Besides the bulshit reasons tell their kids because I said so.

[J. Pressman]

The letters were mostly very bias. Those that can get the camber numbers they want did not want a change. Those that could not get the numbers they wanted wanted the change. So surprising, Who would have thought. 

 

That's human nature for you!  The fact that folks appear to be asking for slotting of an OE part rather than, say, bushings like what was done up front is the surprising part to me.  The only reason the slotting was done on Steyn's car in the first place was in hopes that it wouldn't be caught.  If we are looking to change a rule for the same end result as what those slots did, I would prefere the rule be written to use the correct part(s) instead of modifying an OE part.

 

That said, I'm not sure if I support the change at all or not....still building my car and have not checked alignment yet

 

 

 

 

[Tom Sager]

Someone please explain why it's okay to slot control arms but not remove the blower motor. Besides the bulshit reasons tell their kids because I said so.

I'm with you but will take a crack at answering.  The fan to run windshield defrosters comes in handy in northern climates some days to help de-fog the inside of the windshield.  Safety-wise it's a plus.  I've used it many times over the years. 

[Jim Drago]

Are you saying that I am not fit for the job?

if we are being serious.. I will say it   IMO, you need to have a very good understanding of the car to be on the SMAC. That doesn't explain why some others were on, but I didn't appoint any of those guys    All currently on the SMAC have a good knowledge of the cars. 

[BNaumann]

Did you want to be one ?? Anyone ? Buler ?

SM
1. #23054 (Spec Miata Committee) Request for Committee Resumes
The Spec Miata Advisory Committee is seeking new members. Please submit your resume through crbscca.com.

Does it pay enough to quit my day job?

[38bfast]

Does it pay enough to quit my day job?

No you need your day job. We got a 400% raise this year to be on the SMAC. $0 x 400% = $0

[Mike Tesch]

Kinda blows me away how fast this change was made. Making a weight change takes an act of god with reams of anecdotal information (from the right people). It seems you have to be the right person running unapproved gear to get a rule change.

 

Danny, can you please run an aftermarket wiring harness so we can get that change in the rules please? Would it be too much to ask that you also run an ECU, removed blower motor and air controls?

 

This made me chuckle... brought back a memory several years back at the June Sprints.  True story.

 

I was paddocked down by turn 5 with my brother.  During qualifying, an unnamed driver came into his pit area, where a crew member quickly changed out his ECU.  Why, I don't know.  The funny part was, that the driver never shut the car off during the swap.  

 

Now that is a fast ECU swap!