Jump to content

Photo

Mazda Steering Wheel by Max Papis Innovations

- - - - -

  • Please log in to reply
36 replies to this topic

#1
Adax

Adax

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 208 posts
  • Location:Atlanta
  • Region:ATL
  • Car Number:49

Today is the last day to buy this wheel from the Mazda Motorsports site at the member discount. If you have the same level of race car vanity I do it is a must have at a reasonable price.

 

MPI-NewWheel-square.jpg


Alan Cross

My build blog

2017 SARRC SM Champion

2016 SARRC SM ECR Champion

Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#2
Johnny D

Johnny D

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 6,121 posts
  • Location:Fremont, CA
  • Region:San Francisco
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:88

Part #: 0000-10-5650-MZ

Introductory Racer Price, good through May 10, 2017: $193.49

Racer Price after May 10: $214.99

 

Comfort is the first thing most racers think about when choosing a steering wheel; aesthetics comes second, with safety often the last thought when it comes to the wheel. After all, there are the belts, cage, helmet, nets, head restraint, seat, and many other safety devices. The wheel, however, is an important part of the safety equation in the sense that while it may not specifically protect the driver in a crash, a properly constructed wheel may reduce injuries in the case of one.

 

The new Mazda Motorsports steering wheel from Max Papis Innovations (MPI) takes all the facets of a good wheel into account – comfort, aesthetics and, yes, safety.

 

“MPI started out as a safety need, in terms of wanting to improve the current product that was in the market,” says Max Papis, who has decades of racing experience in ChampCar/IndyCar, NASCAR, and sports cars, and founded MPI with his wife, Tatiana Fittipaldi Papis. “There is a myth in the sport where people think that the steering wheel should not deform. If you look back at history, all good products absorb load on impact. If that didn’t deform, something else would deform in your body. The strength of the MPI products is we put some thought and some technical knowledge behind it in terms of understanding angles of the steering wheel. We created this double-rivet construction that we apply on most of our products that increases durability and the safety factor.”

 

Papis explains that there is a channel inside the wheel that allows the wheel to act as a reverse airbag, able to deform in case of an impact. It is submitted to the "torque structural steering wheel test" that is considered one of the most severe tests for road cars, and a stress test to see what happens when a load is applied that is similar to what would happen if a driver kept his or her hands on the wheel during a severe impact.

MPI-OvalGrip-300x300.jpg

Beyond safety, the wheel has an oval shape where the hands grip it; the shape of the wheel itself is the same natural shape your hands make when holding something. “The way the grip is shaped around the driver’s hands, that comes directly from my own experience with sports car racing. That is an evolution of the ergonomic grip I shaped for endurance racing. It has been evolved and adapted to this wheel,” Papis says.

 

Developed over the years with feedback from drivers in several forms of racing, it uses a polyurethane foam wrapped around the aluminum frame for greater comfort, and is wrapped in suede. The center plate offers a standard six-hole mounting that will allow it to mount to nearly any quick-release hub, including one available from MPI.

 

Aesthetically, the wheel includes "MAZDA" stitching on the rim. The current wheels, as supplied to the Global MX-5 Cup, has the "MAZDA" stitching in blue and a red top-center marker. We are, however, now switching to the gray stitching with the "Winged M" logo in the center.

 

In addition to the wheels, which are designed and engineered in the U.S. and made in Italy, Mazda Motorsports and MPI are offering accessories such aluminum button/switch holders in single or double format and an adaptor that allows the wheel to be attached to a Logitech G25 or G27 simulator setup.

 

 

Aluminum Plate Single Button/Switch holder

Part #: 0000-10-5660-1B

Introductory Racer Price good through May 10,2017: $22.50

Racer Price (May 10 – indefinite): $25

 

MPI-SwitchHolder-150x150.jpg

Aluminum Plate Double Button/Switch holder

Part #: 0000-10-5660-2B

Introductory Racer Price good through May 10, 2017: $31.50

Racer Price (May 10 – indefinite): $35.00

 

Adaptor to install steering wheel on Logitech G25-G27

Part #: 0000-10-5670-AD

Introductory Racer Price good through May 10, 2017: $40.50

Racer Price (May 10 – indefinite): $45.00


2011 NASA Western Endurance Racing Championship E3 Champ
We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#3
Sphinx

Sphinx

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 651 posts
  • Location:Atlanta
  • Region:ATL

Looks like these are back on sale.  But I have to say, I like the old design better.



#4
Scott Krzastek

Scott Krzastek

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 24 posts
  • Location:Waynesboro, VA
  • Region:NASA-MA / BRR-SCCA
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:91

Looks like these are back on sale.  But I have to say, I like the old design better.

I agree. The old design is much better



#5
Alberto

Alberto

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,471 posts
  • Location:Mountain View, CA
  • Region:SFR
  • Car Year:1990

what changed?


Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#6
mhiggins10

mhiggins10

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 192 posts
  • Location:Houston
  • Region:SOWDIV
  • Car Year:1990

I'm looking at steering wheels and this was on my list.  Anyone actually use it?  Is it decent, especially compared to a similar model from Sparco or OMP?


Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#7
mhiggins10

mhiggins10

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 192 posts
  • Location:Houston
  • Region:SOWDIV
  • Car Year:1990

I'm presuming this is the current model?  I can see why the old one was better- no top center stripe?  Yeesh...

 

http://maxpapisinc.c...l-mpi-f-13-mzd/


Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#8
5X Racing

5X Racing

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 97 posts
  • Location:St Cloud, FL
  • Region:Florida
  • Car Year:2002
  • Car Number:5

I'm looking at steering wheels and this was on my list.  Anyone actually use it?  Is it decent, especially compared to a similar model from Sparco or OMP?

 

I'm putting the F-13 suede in our new car. I believe this is the same wheel as the Mazda Motorsports version underneath, just no "Mazda", a single stripe, and much less on cost.

 

It's a very nice wheel easily on par with the Sparco wheels, for less. They also make a "high grip" version that has a textured rubberized material instead of suede, which is super nice. It works perfect on our Polaris RZR and would be great for a racecar as well that is susceptible to weather (or if you just don't like suede)

 

http://5xracing.com/...95917-mpi.html 


  • Danica Davison likes this

John Adamczyk
Owner/Driver - 5X Racing


#9
Johnny D

Johnny D

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 6,121 posts
  • Location:Fremont, CA
  • Region:San Francisco
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:88

This one's on sale from Mazda with Free Shipping

 

Mazda Motorsports Steering Wheel by Max Papis Innovations / Part # 0000-10-5650-MZ
Old Racer Price: $214.99 / New, Reduced Racer Price: $198

 

https://www.mazdamot...und-shipping-3/

 

J~


2011 NASA Western Endurance Racing Championship E3 Champ
We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#10
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2

This one's on sale from Mazda with Free Shipping

 

Mazda Motorsports Steering Wheel by Max Papis Innovations / Part # 0000-10-5650-MZ
Old Racer Price: $214.99 / New, Reduced Racer Price: $198

 

https://www.mazdamot...und-shipping-3/

 

J~

I ordered one today, I will let you know


  • mhiggins10 likes this

East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#11
Mark

Mark

    Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPip
  • 229 posts
  • Location:Los Angeles
  • Region:Sopac
How flexible are the MPI wheels? Some of the other low cost race steering wheels bend quite easily as they use an aluminum (6061?)for the hub and spoke section.

Mark

Mark
markn@ironcanyonmotorsports.com
Iron Canyon Motorsports

Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#12
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

How flexible are the MPI wheels? Some of the other low cost race steering wheels bend quite easily as they use an aluminum (6061?)for the hub and spoke section.

Mark

 

It quite comical actually.  The $160 Driven steering wheel bends more than a $35 Longacre wheel.  When I had a driven wheel, on grid, I could almost touch the dash with the wheel when I bent it back. Maybe they call it "Driven" because it has been driven for 1,000 hours before you get it?

 

I think I have grabbed the MPI wheel before when Jamie Tucker had his Global car and I don't think they bent at all. More of a MOMO quality if I remember correctly.


John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#13
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2

It quite comical actually.  The $160 Driven steering wheel bends more than a $35 Longacre wheel.  When I had a driven wheel, on grid, I could almost touch the dash with the wheel when I bent it back. Maybe they call it "Driven" because it has been driven for 1,000 hours before you get it?

 

I think I have grabbed the MPI wheel before when Jamie Tucker had his Global car and I don't think they bent at all. More of a MOMO quality if I remember correctly.

THEY WERE REALLY BAD. I think Zack sold the company to MOMO, so he must have done well.  He marketed the hell out of them, thats for sure. 


East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#14
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

THEY WERE REALLY BAD. I think Zack sold the company to MOMO, so he must have done well.  He marketed the hell out of them, thats for sure.

 

Yeah, I think he still manages the Driven division of MOMO. I don't know why they bought them though .. MOMO wheels are so much better quality


John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#15
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2

Yeah, I think he still manages the Driven division of MOMO. I don't know why they bought them though .. MOMO wheels are so much better quality

Looks like he stayed on the mandatory minimum and moved on?

 

Zack Skolnick

Automotive and Motorsports Brand Development / Marketing/ Strategic Sales Professional

Concord, North Carolina Marketing and Advertising Previous
  1. MOMO Automotive Accessories Inc.
  2. Driven Steering Wheels LLC
  3. Zack Skolnick Racing

East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#16
steveracer

steveracer

    Blue Eyes, Aquarius, hates being squeezed to the grass in SowDiv

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPip
  • 404 posts
  • Location:Austin, Tx
  • Region:Lone Star
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:92

I bought a Driven wheel after deciding my $35 eBay wheel was too flexible, only to find the Driven wheel was exactly the same :angry:


  • Jim Drago, Danica Davison and av8tor like this

Steven Holloway

Artist formerly known as Chief Whipping Boy for Lone Star Region

Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#17
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

It's just a little flaccid is all.


John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#18
Bench Racer

Bench Racer

    Different strokes for different folks : )

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,508 posts
  • Location:Wauwatosa, WI
  • Region:Milwaukee
  • Car Year:1990
  • Car Number:14

^     :crying2: 


Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#19
Danica Davison

Danica Davison

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,478 posts
  • Location:Jacksonville Biatch
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:10

^     :crying2:

 

Did that comment hit you too close to home?


  • Jim Drago and Steve Scheifler like this

John Davison
Autotechnik Racing / 5x Racing
2016 - Central Florida Region Champion
2017 - The People's Champion
2017 - President of DSFC
#itcouldbeyou

Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#20
Bench Racer

Bench Racer

    Different strokes for different folks : )

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,508 posts
  • Location:Wauwatosa, WI
  • Region:Milwaukee
  • Car Year:1990
  • Car Number:14

Did that comment hit you too close to home?

Life will not pass by you, Jim or Steve. :rotfl:   


Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users