Category Archives: Mazda MIata

Aggressive driving

01 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in adrenaline, Mazda MIata, sports cars

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When I purchased my 2016 Mazda Miata it seemed like it was the perfect little sports car for me until meeting up with the local Miata club where they are in short very aggressive drivers.

What I mean by aggressive drivers is that we take back roads that rarely see much traffic and take the turns at a much higher speed than recommended. For instance, the speed sign recommends 15 MPH, they take them at 40 to 45 MPH. Now (at least for me) it gets crazier, imagine going on a down hill decline with no more than 30 yards between these turns and it’s one lane with no side of the road.

From September of this year until two months ago I have been very lucky in that while taking these turns (without any braking) I managed to stay on the road. Then at about two months ago I was second to the lead driver, he rounds the turn, no issues (an his car is highly modified suspension wise), I take the turn (zero suspension work) and do a 360 and then some. When it was all done, I am stopped, get out of the car and look at the front of my car. Missed hitting a tree by less than one inch.

Lead driver had stopped, looks out his window and said “think we took a wrong turn”, nothing about me doing the spin. Well we turn around and do the rest of the drive then at lunch he says “that was simply a learning thing, not a mistake as the car is in one piece).

This driver has 20 years doing this type of driving and the fellow who was second to the lead has over ten years in. The one behind me let’s me go in front of him so I can learn better from the lead driver.

So the following Saturday, before heading out on the drive I talked to both of them about what should I get done to better handle the road?

Both recommended specific tires and anti-sway bars (they reduce body roll) with specific settings on the sway bars. Optionally springs which reduce the roll on the tires. 

Went online to the store which sells the anti-sway-bars and springs, ordered them but they arrived two weeks between so I had to hit the auto-shop twice in two weeks.

So my assessment, tires were mounted, made somewhat of a difference, sway-bars where next, they in tangent with the tires made a significant difference. Then the springs were installed, couple the tires, sway bars and springs and the difference was huge.

With all modifications done I took seven 15MPH turns at 45MPH and the car simply attached itself to the road. Tomorrow will be the real test where the drive has been pre-planned and know for sure there will be some fantastic turns.

Okay, important note here in regards to aggressive driving. Unless you know what you are doing please don’t take your car out and hit roads and turns as mentioned above. Even when you have experience it’s dangerous and without experience it could very well be your last time out driving.

I first learned from taking a LEO (Law Enforcement Officers) week long course which is not the same as aggressive driving but the physics and methods are the same. In my youth I was able to drive Corvettes, Porches and Triumph sports cars on similar roads I drive now but not nearly as aggressively. My last car was a Toyota Camry with beefed up suspension and that kept my skills up yet with all that there was still a learning curve driving with this club. So be safe, know your limitations and come home in one piece.

Zoom-Zoom 

My Miata

11 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by in adrenaline, Fun, Mazda MIata, sports cars

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For years I have been driving a Toyota Camry which was a great car but became boring. My cars prior to the Toyota (and the Camry) were all purchased brand new and served me well yet something was missing. About two years ago the Mazda Miata caught my attention and asked a co-worker into sports cars what he thought of the Miata. He said if you can wait then look at the not released 2016 Miata which I did and liked what I saw.

Miata2016SideView

In August of this year contacted the local Mazda dealer, asked to be put into the waiting list. Three weeks later I was told there was one in stock so I went off and test drove it on a Sunday. After the test drive I told them I would think about the purchase. The sales person said why not take it for 24 hours and see if that will help with the decision. But of course after having it just for Sunday evening I had to have it. Went back and sealed the deal on Monday. Mid week I located a local Miata club and made plans to attend their Saturday morning meeting.

I arrived and a half dozen men came out to see my new car as this was the first one in our area. Did some chatting and then I was invited to take a two hour back country drive. Mind you that I had little experience wit the car but at the end of the run was asked how long have I been driving sports cars? Told them since Monday and was told my driving skills were excellent. The driver whom told me this has 25 years on road and on race tracks. We chatted and I ask about him (I was following him on the drive) about braking as he may had hit his breaks five times excluding stop signs. He told me his thing and I went off Sunday morning practicing in an empty mall parking lot.

The next Saturday I did much better and improved on each drive.

About the fourth drive I was in a round about way tested by following a very experienced driver. We pulled away from the pack and when done waited 15 minutes for everyone to catch up to us. This driver said the same as the first driver, I had natural talent. I told him that even though I drove sedans I pushed them to their limits which I believed helped along with yeah, I have some natural talent and smiled.

To date I have been told when I am comfortable with leading I am more than welcome to do so.

I will close off by saying I truly come alive when in this car rolling through back country taking 20MPH turns at 45MPH and do it safely.

Next month I am installing special suspension to reduce lean in turns as I am not capable of pushing a stock Miata to it’s limits and I need more. The parts come from a company that specializes in only mods to Miata’s and are tested on the road and race tracks.