Hey Leon!

Well, I can say one thing, this car is a blast to autocross.
I *smashed* my usual abominable times to just go very slow. )

And that is despite the fact that Bozo supposedly has more
power and less weight! Mazda really got the dynamics right.

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote
> Well, I can say one thing, this car is a blast to autocross.
> I *smashed* my usual abominable times to just go very slow. )

Well, that's interesting. Did you get the suspension package on the NC? Are
the reports of too-soft springs and excessive body roll incorrect?
--
Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway
[Remove the first two digits to reply]

Ken Lyons wrote:
> "Leon van Dommelen" > wrote
>
>>Well, I can say one thing, this car is a blast to autocross.
>>I *smashed* my usual abominable times to just go very slow. )
>
>
> Well, that's interesting. Did you get the suspension package on the NC? Are
> the reports of too-soft springs and excessive body roll incorrect?

I have the suspension package on my NC. It may lean a bit in the curves,
but it takes 'em like nobody's business. Of course, mine is galaxy gray
mica, so it may behave differently than Leon's white car....

"Ken Lyons" > wrote:

>"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote
>> Well, I can say one thing, this car is a blast to autocross.
>> I *smashed* my usual abominable times to just go very slow. )
>
>Well, that's interesting. Did you get the suspension package on the NC?

Yes.

> Are
>the reports of too-soft springs and excessive body roll incorrect?

I did not notice increased roll or decreased stiffness compared to Bozo,
who has Koni's, a 1" effective front sway bar, (7/8 rear, IIRC), and
R-springs rear, But the Dealer Alternative seatbelt lock may have
helped there. Thanks Lanny.

I think the main advantages were that the new one stops on a dime,
with big sticky tires and ABS, very useful especially on our dirty,
cotton-covered track; and the fact she is considerably less tricky
than Bozo near the limit. (On Bozo I am usually fighting to keep
control if I am fast.) Also, there is no "supercharger lag."

One thing I was told by an old timer there who had test
driven one is that the car becomes lethargic if it has DSC/TC,
unless you turn it off. (I have no DSC/TC on mine; I did not
want it.)

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> Leon, I got the CG Lock also, installed it tonight so I'll get to give it a
> whirl tomorrow. It worked well for you on the autocross eh?
>
> Glad to hear you're breaking it in right ;-)
>
> Chris
> 99BBB

I think I am going to order one as well. Lanny should call them and ask
for commission.

I think that if I autocrossed regularly, though, that I would go ahead
and get a 5-point harness. Talk about zero movement in the seat.

Pat

"ESCHEW OBFUSCATION"

Bless You

~Cissy
'90 Crystal White

pws > wrote:

>Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
>> Leon, I got the CG Lock also, installed it tonight so I'll get to give it a
>> whirl tomorrow. It worked well for you on the autocross eh?
>>
>> Glad to hear you're breaking it in right ;-)
>>
>> Chris
>> 99BBB
>
>I think I am going to order one as well. Lanny should call them and ask
>for commission.
>
>I think that if I autocrossed regularly, though, that I would go ahead
>and get a 5-point harness. Talk about zero movement in the seat.

IIRC, if you use a shoulder harness, you need a roll bar, since
it gets hard to get out of the way when you roll.

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

"Ken Lyons" > wrote:

>"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote
>> Well, I can say one thing, this car is a blast to autocross.
>> I *smashed* my usual abominable times to just go very slow. )
>
>Well, that's interesting. Did you get the suspension package on the NC? Are
>the reports of too-soft springs and excessive body roll incorrect?

On paying some more attention under more leisure conditions, it does
seem clear that there is noticeably more body roll on Bess than on
slightly lowered Bozo. And the springs are softer too.

Despite that, Bess is much less tricky than Bozo. I have a suspicion
that something is not quite set up right on Bozo. Maybe it is
following Solomiata's sway bar recommendations for strength front/rear.
Because I put R-springs on the rear, (to lower that end a bit), I should
probably have gone with an even smaller sway bar there. (Before I put
an equivalent of an 1" bar in front, Bozo was even trickier; I remember
getting into trouble on the dragon when a shop in addition gave me
some toe out in rear to spice things up.)

However, the couple of good drivers who have tried Bozo (with the 1"
front bar) did not seem to see anything wrong.

Leon
--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

Leon van Dommelen wrote:

> IIRC, if you use a shoulder harness, you need a roll bar, since
> it gets hard to get out of the way when you roll.
>
> Leon

Oh yeah, I am so used to having a rollbar by now that I almost forget
that miatas come without them.
Has it been established as to how well the hoops on the 2006 model
provide rollover protection, and if there is a way to install a rollbar
with the new top?

I am just wondering what options there are for 2006 owners who want to
race their miatas using 5-point harnesses, and what levels of racing the
hoops qualify the car for.

Pat

"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote
> On paying some more attention under more leisure conditions, it does
> seem clear that there is noticeably more body roll on Bess

So Bess it is huh? Nice.

I think the softer suspension in the NC is to compensate for the shorter
sidewalls in the monster 18 and 19 inch wagon wheels. Give me some stiff
suspension with good old time rubber cushioning on the tires any time. That
said, I do need to upgrade to 15 inch wheels someday.
--
Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway
[Remove the first two digits to reply]