57 replies to this topic

[Richard Astacio]

Danny - When you say twitchy.  Can you compare it to the NA 1.6? When I first started racing towards the end of 2015 it was in the 1.6, and whenever I lost control of the car it came all of the sudden and it was unexpected. However I also found out that the set-up was way off after selling it. Since switching to the 99 and or VVT, those cars seems a bit more predictable and easier to save. 

[Bench Racer]

With a 1.6 the moment one compresses a rear FatCat bump stop more than 3/4 inch, instantly SEE YA with no catching it. I'm sure others will chime in of other twitchiness.

[Danny Steyn]

Danny - When you say twitchy.  Can you compare it to the NA 1.6? When I first started racing towards the end of 2015 it was in the 1.6, and whenever I lost control of the car it came all of the sudden and it was unexpected. However I also found out that the set-up was way off after selling it. Since switching to the 99 and or VVT, those cars seems a bit more predictable and easier to save. 

 

I have driven NA 1.6's, and no, this new car makes the NA 1.6 feel like a wallowing Cadillac! Seriously this is twitchiness on another level!

 

IMHO the twitchiness is a result of several aspects of the car.

 

• The electric steering ratio is very sensitive and you have to make very small gentle slow hand movements
• The tires are super grippy
• The suspension is relatively soft

 

These three things combine to make a car that turns in instantaneously, WAY WAY faster than a Spec Miata, and you have to slow your hands down a LOT. 

 

Also do not get into a slide, the grippy tires will try to hang on and compress the soft suspension which will then snap back in an unpredictable way. My style of driving, which originates from dirt bikes, is to steer with the rear of the car using the throttle, and this style is not compatible with this car. I actually believe that the new car will actually teach me better driving technique in the long run as I learn to adapt to its nuances. 

[Rob Burgoon]

How about deleting the windshields?  Would that fix the parachute problem?

[Todd Lamb]

Looking forward to getting involved with the series next year as a team owner. We've got one car being delivered shortly, with two more slots available on the team. Testing begins in November!

[Jim Drago]

Looking forward to getting involved with the series next year as a team owner. We've got one car being delivered shortly, with two more slots available on the team. Testing begins in November!

I would like to thank Todd for the confidence he has in me in naming me as his lead driver and funding my 2017 season. I'm looking forward to it   

[MotoFusi]

An excellent choice! I would also like to be part of the team but I heard the jackman position is filled...........

[Ron Alan]

I have driven NA 1.6's, and no, this new car makes the NA 1.6 feel like a wallowing Cadillac! Seriously this is twitchiness on another level!

 

IMHO the twitchiness is a result of several aspects of the car.

 

• The electric steering ratio is very sensitive and you have to make very small gentle slow hand movements
• The tires are super grippy
• The suspension is relatively soft

 

These three things combine to make a car that turns in instantaneously, WAY WAY faster than a Spec Miata, and you have to slow your hands down a LOT. 

 

Also do not get into a slide, the grippy tires will try to hang on and compress the soft suspension which will then snap back in an unpredictable way. My style of driving, which originates from dirt bikes, is to steer with the rear of the car using the throttle, and this style is not compatible with this car. I actually believe that the new car will actually teach me better driving technique in the long run as I learn to adapt to its nuances. 

Let me ask another thing that maybe you can touch on(or anyone familiar). The traction control on the car can be turned off...is this done via a stock switch or have the computers had this disabled? Early on there was a lot of talk about the computer controlling the car...not allowing throttle input when a driver went to it to control the rear end. There were a lot of early on crashes(testing/practice) and head shaking. Did Mazda address this, change anything, do nothing...or maybe there was nothing to do other than learn the nuances of this car? Some very very good drivers found the limits the hard way in this car on their own...curious to know if this caused any immediate changes to the car or at least a lot of discussion??

[Nsparks]

LRR leaves the factory switch in for use with a factory ECU. Which is not a full disable. Factory ECU is pretty much for diagnostic purposes only now the cup ECU is available.

The cup required GEMS ECU is a complete disable of the traction system.

[Danny Steyn]

Let me ask another thing that maybe you can touch on(or anyone familiar). The traction control on the car can be turned off...is this done via a stock switch or have the computers had this disabled? Early on there was a lot of talk about the computer controlling the car...not allowing throttle input when a driver went to it to control the rear end. There were a lot of early on crashes(testing/practice) and head shaking. Did Mazda address this, change anything, do nothing...or maybe there was nothing to do other than learn the nuances of this car? Some very very good drivers found the limits the hard way in this car on their own...curious to know if this caused any immediate changes to the car or at least a lot of discussion??

 

Ron, don't get me wrong, this car is easy to drive with the right setup. It is just more sensitive to steering and throttle input than our Spec Miata. Once we sorted out the setup in my car, it was immediately comfortable, and confidence inspiring, but it required me to drive it differently than my Spec Miata. When you see the videos of Nate and the other guys up front, they are ON THE GAS all the time, and are throwing it into corners, but still just a little differently to the way you would throw a Spec Miata into the corner. Just will take a session or two to adapt, and once adapted it becomes a really easy car to drive. 

[Ron Alan]

LRR leaves the factory switch in for use with a factory ECU. Which is not a full disable. Factory ECU is pretty much for diagnostic purposes only now the cup ECU is available.
The cup required GEMS ECU is a complete disable of the traction system.

Thanks Nate. Is it accurate to say the GEMS ECU was delivered to all competitors the first race weekend? And if so did the stock system without the complete TC system disabled create a lot of havoc with early testing?

[High Chair]

Thanks Nate. Is it accurate to say the GEMS ECU was delivered to all competitors the first race weekend? And if so did the stock system without the complete TC system disabled create a lot of havoc with early testing?

 

The GEMS ECU was delivered prior to the first race or the first race that a competitor raced in. I got mine when I showed up to Watkins Glen. After one lap with the factory ECU  (in testing) it was clear the traction control needed to be shutoff which you could do by using the switch on the dash. So with or without the GEMS the traction control was off in testing or race conditions. The traction control was designed for a street car and it worked well; you almost couldn't even slide the car before the power was cut.

[Waterboy]

The GEMS ECU was delivered prior to the first race or the first race that a competitor raced in. I got mine when I showed up to Watkins Glen. After one lap with the factory ECU  (in testing) it was clear the traction control needed to be shutoff which you could do by using the switch on the dash. So with or without the GEMS the traction control was off in testing or race conditions. The traction control was designed for a street car and it worked well; you almost couldn't even slide the car before the power was cut.

 

Kind of.  You could shut the TC off but it would come back on all by itself.  During testing at VIR in March it would come back on every lap in the last turn if you even thought about getting up on the curbing.  Almost caused us to write off two cars.

[Ron Alan]

Kind of.  You could shut the TC off but it would come back on all by itself.  During testing at VIR in March it would come back on every lap in the last turn if you even thought about getting up on the curbing.  Almost caused us to write off two cars.

And this is what I heard out here as well...pretty unsettling when the car is at its limit and it does not respond to the drivers input for a second! 

 

I think anyone considering driving this car with the factory ECU needs to understand this. But...maybe after 8 months this is different now? And maybe all new cars from LRR are now delivered with the race ECU?

[Mark]

We have had the pleasure of dealing with a few of the new MX-5 Cup cars for local club racers who are not involved in the series. The build quality is very good. The car even comes with a race car owners manual that covers safety equipment, care and feeding of the car, and even setup recommendations. Support from Long Road Racing is top notch. LRR is always available by phone or email. LRR also provides updates to the cars when improvements are made. Some are small, some are substantial. So far I've seen transmission, motor mounts, ecu cover, diff cooler mount, and transponder upgrades. The cars are very good as delivered but like all race cars they are a work in progress and refinements and improvements are continuous. Unlike most race cars this one comes with factory support. This is an incredible car that doesn't cost all that much more than a top build SM. 

[Johnny D]

A little write up from WR

http://www.windingro...-racing-series/

 

J~

[MotoFusi]

I really feel all the fast guys in SM should go to MX5 Cup! The sooner the better LOL

[Bench Racer]

I really feel all the fast guys in SM should go to MX5 Cup! The sooner the better LOL

Randy, don't there ^ I was reading thread posts yesterday from 2004 when talk started referencing the 99 plus entry into SM. Drago even posted for a correct $$$ amount he would spill the beans on some Daniels dyno pulls. Don't remember if the runs were for SSM or SM.

[Richard Astacio]

I would like to thank Todd for the confidence he has in me in naming me as his lead driver and funding my 2017 season. I'm looking forward to it   

 

Congrats!  

[Nsparks]

Thanks Nate. Is it accurate to say the GEMS ECU was delivered to all competitors the first race weekend? And if so did the stock system without the complete TC system disabled create a lot of havoc with early testing?

As the guys have been saying, yes that is correct. LRR and Mazda delivered the ECU's for the first race. A last minute decision to insert an anti-flat shift protocol held up the release slightly.

Also as mentioned the factory ECU button is not a complete "off" the car will turn the system back on under certain conditions. Aiming the G sensor on its side and nose down is the only true off for the factory ECU.