AutoX: Can a fb compete with Miatas?

Kentetsu · 09-14-2009, 11:39 AM

You be the judge...

Wow, what a great race this past weekend!!!

Even though the clutch is toast, and we had to be very delicate with it on our starts and that shift into 2nd gear, the car did just fine. We probably could have gained another second or so on the starts with a good clutch, but we still managed to put the fear of God into them.

Here's the kill list (all but a couple of these were on race rubber):

2x Honda S2000
10 out of the 11 Miatas (one was supercharged, with two drivers, I beat one but not the other)
944 Turbo
Mazda MS3
2x BMW Z3
8x rotaries (including an ITA car, and a turbo II)
4x Subaru WRX
2x Subaru STI
VW Corrado

Official results are here: http://furrin.org/Results/tabid/56/a...--9122009.aspx (I'm 98 CSP).

Lots of photos from the event (I'll post a link when I get them uploaded) and a bunch of video that I'll post up if I ever get the time to go through it.

I think we'll be taking a bit of a break while I sort out the clutch, a fuel leak, and install some new front struts (upgrading to race Illuminas from the "stock" Illuminas).

Well, so much for the theory that a 1st gen will never be competetive against the Miatas.

speedjunkie · 09-14-2009, 01:04 PM

Nice! Good job!

Kentetsu · 09-14-2009, 01:07 PM

Thanks man!

Photos from the event are up. Not much of me, but lots of nice cars to drool over including a 450 hp turbo Lotus Elise...

http://furrin.org/Resources/PhotoGal...0/Default.aspx

Phoenix7 · 09-14-2009, 03:03 PM

wow, and you're still not on race rubber? The bad rep it gets is on the street. You know the rotary has a good track record in motorsports. Good showing again.

Kentetsu · 09-14-2009, 08:43 PM

Here's a couple shots of that damned supercharged Miata.

Steve (the owner) is a really great guy. He was actually my instructor at a class we had over the 4th of July weekend.

Also a shot of that Lotus. Bugger's got 450 to the wheels...

Cp1 · 11-02-2009, 10:26 PM

wow thats great... i just got into autoxing this year and its all driver... hence me with my 3rd gen with the slowest times behind a four door ford contour...

What class are you in? and yes those lotus's are incredible when driven properly.

P71 · 11-13-2009, 09:39 AM

Good job! And yes, FB's can compete with Miata. I won the STS class Season Championship this year in Oregon Region by beating up a few of them

***TitaniumTT*** · 11-13-2009, 11:14 AM

There is an FB that has been a regular at two clubs for the better part of a decade. Running in CSP he often whoops up on a bunch of the high HP AWD drive cars and generally finishes ahead of all the Miata's. Of course it helps that he's been racing for the better part of two decades, carbed P-port and the 255/40/13 race rubber don't hurt either.

I agree though, driver is the most important.

MaczPayne · 11-13-2009, 12:12 PM

Yup, there's an FB in my area that loves to eat Miatas

Heeley · 11-14-2009, 02:40 AM

nice! I just spent my first autox season with my FD. I get classed Street Prepared 2 up here, and i'm running against a field almost entirely on R-comps, and I manage to fare really well given that i'm running on Fuzion Zri's on stock suspension.
Actually one of the more experienced guys in my club took my car out for a session in the last event of the year, and dominated the entire field of SP2, just because he's that much better behind the wheel. Looks like i need to work on me, before i dump more money into the Financial Disaster

FIBREMAZ 13 BEEF · 11-16-2009, 06:34 PM

Nice work there man!

Rogue_Wulff · 11-16-2009, 07:23 PM

The FB is at a slight disadvantage when the prep level and driver skill are equal. The slow steering ratio and solid rear axle (with it's inheirent shortcomings) give the edge to the Miata. However, given even the slightest bit of an edge at prep level and/or driver skill, the FB is still a force to be reckoned with.
The SA/FB was the "Gold standard" in the handling dept for a good many years. The Miata is one of the few cars that actually built upon the success of the 1st gen RX7 by following much the same path. Low weight, low CG, and low power, packed into a small package with great suspension. The suspension under the Miata is what the SA/FB *should* have had all along. The bean counters kept the design dept on a short leash when drawing up the SA/FB, so what they managed to do with such a limited budget is simply amazing.

Whizbang · 11-16-2009, 08:51 PM

i have seriously considered opting for another set of wheels in a 15" variety because im confident the 16" set i have now are too large.

09-14-2009, 11:39 AM	#1
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan iTrader: (1) Posts: 530 Rep Power: 17	AutoX: Can a fb compete with Miatas? You be the judge... Wow, what a great race this past weekend!!! Even though the clutch is toast, and we had to be very delicate with it on our starts and that shift into 2nd gear, the car did just fine. We probably could have gained another second or so on the starts with a good clutch, but we still managed to put the fear of God into them. Here's the kill list (all but a couple of these were on race rubber): 2x Honda S2000 10 out of the 11 Miatas (one was supercharged, with two drivers, I beat one but not the other) 944 Turbo Mazda MS3 2x BMW Z3 8x rotaries (including an ITA car, and a turbo II) 4x Subaru WRX 2x Subaru STI VW Corrado Official results are here: http://furrin.org/Results/tabid/56/a...--9122009.aspx (I'm 98 CSP). Lots of photos from the event (I'll post a link when I get them uploaded) and a bunch of video that I'll post up if I ever get the time to go through it. I think we'll be taking a bit of a break while I sort out the clutch, a fuel leak, and install some new front struts (upgrading to race Illuminas from the "stock" Illuminas). Well, so much for the theory that a 1st gen will never be competetive against the Miatas. __________________ "Learn from the past, or it will become your future...." '85 GS 12a + LSD/Sterling carb/Respeed coilovers/Respeed front swaybar/Respeed adj. rear spring perches/Illuminas/Bilsteins on rear AutoX vids @ http://www.youtube.com/user/Kentetsu1

11-13-2009, 09:39 AM	#7
P71 RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WA State iTrader: (1) Posts: 651 Rep Power: 17	Good job! And yes, FB's can compete with Miata. I won the STS class Season Championship this year in Oregon Region by beating up a few of them __________________ Michael Pinto 2008 PDXCGP Drag Racing Season Champion 83 RX-7 GSL; 12A/5-Speed, Red/Red; 100% Stock - 16.072@83.39 01 CV Police Interceptor; 4.6 SOHC V8/4R70W, Dk Blue/Grey; K&N FIPK/RP Oil/Optima/Superchips/Flowmaster 40's/2.5" cat-back - 14.854@92.37 Read my Rx-7 Build Thread! http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...ed=1#post70955 Get on the new RCC 1/4 Mile ET List! http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_...read.php?t=368 Vote for the ROTM! http://rotarycarclub.com/rotary_foru...play.php?f=125

11-13-2009, 11:14 AM	#8
*TitaniumTT* Test Whore - Admin Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right Behind you son iTrader: (4) Posts: 4,581 Rep Power: 10	There is an FB that has been a regular at two clubs for the better part of a decade. Running in CSP he often whoops up on a bunch of the high HP AWD drive cars and generally finishes ahead of all the Miata's. Of course it helps that he's been racing for the better part of two decades, carbed P-port and the 255/40/13 race rubber don't hurt either. I agree though, driver is the most important. __________________ -The Angry Stig- DGRR 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2013 - Best FC DEALS GAP!! WOOHOOOO!!!!! 2015 Audi S4 - Samantha - Zero Brap S4 2004 RX8 - Jocelyn - 196rwhp, 19mpg fuel to noise converter 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport - Wifey mobile - Now with 2.5" OME lift and 30" BFG AT KO's! So it begins 1998 Jeep Cherokee - 5 spd, 4" lift, 33" BFG's - Rotary Tow Vehicle 1988 'Vert - In progress 1988 FC Coupe - Gretchen -The attention whore BEAST! I'm a sick individual, what's wrong with you? I'm pure Evil I'm still insane, in the best possible way. I think Brian's idea of romance is using lube. Your rage caused the meteor strike in Russia. The Antichrist would be proud of his minion. You win with your thread. Most everything It's a truck with a steel gate on the back. Just a statement of fact Motec M820, AIM dash, ported 13B-RE Cosmo, 6-spd trans, 4.3 Torsen, custom twin wg fully divided mani, Custom 4" split into 2x 3" exhaust, Custom HMIC, Custom custom custom custom I like to welder stuff.... No Bolt-ons allowed. Dyno'ed @ Speed1 Tuned by me - 405rwhp on WG.... WM50 cuming soon. *-Angry Motherfcker Mode ENGAGED-**

11-13-2009, 12:12 PM	#9
MaczPayne Bah! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Riverside, SoCal iTrader: (1) Posts: 442 Rep Power: 17	Yup, there's an FB in my area that loves to eat Miatas __________________ Johnson TA FC in the works!

11-16-2009, 08:51 PM	#13
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp iTrader: (5) Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	i have seriously considered opting for another set of wheels in a 15" variety because im confident the 16" set i have now are too large. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

09-14-2009, 01:04 PM	#2
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO iTrader: (1) Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	Nice! Good job!

09-14-2009, 01:07 PM	#3
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan iTrader: (1) Posts: 530 Rep Power: 17	Thanks man! Photos from the event are up. Not much of me, but lots of nice cars to drool over including a 450 hp turbo Lotus Elise... http://furrin.org/Resources/PhotoGal...0/Default.aspx

11-14-2009, 02:40 AM	#10
Heeley Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Snowbelt, Ontario! iTrader: (0) Posts: 57 Rep Power: 17	nice! I just spent my first autox season with my FD. I get classed Street Prepared 2 up here, and i'm running against a field almost entirely on R-comps, and I manage to fare really well given that i'm running on Fuzion Zri's on stock suspension. Actually one of the more experienced guys in my club took my car out for a session in the last event of the year, and dominated the entire field of SP2, just because he's that much better behind the wheel. Looks like i need to work on me, before i dump more money into the Financial Disaster

11-16-2009, 06:34 PM	#11
FIBREMAZ 13 BEEF Mazda Carbon FIbre Master Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia iTrader: (0) Posts: 64 Rep Power: 17	Nice work there man!

11-16-2009, 07:23 PM	#12
Rogue_Wulff Non Member Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 310 Rep Power: 17	The FB is at a slight disadvantage when the prep level and driver skill are equal. The slow steering ratio and solid rear axle (with it's inheirent shortcomings) give the edge to the Miata. However, given even the slightest bit of an edge at prep level and/or driver skill, the FB is still a force to be reckoned with. The SA/FB was the "Gold standard" in the handling dept for a good many years. The Miata is one of the few cars that actually built upon the success of the 1st gen RX7 by following much the same path. Low weight, low CG, and low power, packed into a small package with great suspension. The suspension under the Miata is what the SA/FB should have had all along. The bean counters kept the design dept on a short leash when drawing up the SA/FB, so what they managed to do with such a limited budget is simply amazing.