Saturday afternoon I took the areo off and did some maintenance and I guess I’ve been driving the auto car too much because working on the big dog gave me an overwhelming case of end of season blues. I tried to resist but by sundown I was on line looking for an open track.

The closest autocross was in the black hills 6 hours west. So I looked around for a cruise and even tried to rustle up some guys to make a run but it was just too last minute. I was getting desperate and it was starting to look like I was going to go with my wife on the bi-monthly 90 mile trip to Costco when it hit me. There is another kind of track out there!



I’ve never been to a drag strip but it’s been on my bucket list forever and it just so happens there was a big 2 day Ironman event just 2 hours away. I had just loaded the street tune in and filled the tank with 87 but oh well anything is better than Costco!



I rolled in as the first group were getting started and it was a sight to behold. These guys put even the most serious autocrossers to shame with their cars and support systems. Never in my life have I seen more disposable income in one place! Like autocross they are a very social bunch and it was easy to see lots of competitors were close friends.



I was very impressed that between quali and the races they raised the flag over the track and sang the national anthem. You could have heard a pin drop anywhere in the compound before the singer started and what a ruckus after words. It was great!



No surprise I was the only foreign car there or that guys that can name any make, model and year of muscle at a glance had no idea what a Miata is, but I was surprised everyone thought it would be front wheel drive! Ahh the joy of the living in the heart land!



It's a heck of a lot harder than I thought it would be and as always the video tells the whole sad story...


Now I could blame the car saying water on 350 tread ware tires and -2 degrees of camber was the problem but we all know that's rubbish! Still it was a blast and I'd probably do it again sometime. It would be fun to drive the automatic car. I'd fit right in then right?

 

No shame in those numbers! Getting a tiny tire car with plenty of motor down the track is no easy task. Did you try any 2nd gear launches? I wish I would have when we went. It was too hot for more than three runs I did and as you said, bucket list checked off. I don't feel a need to do it again.

 

Yeah I tried 2nd once and that is in the blooper part of the video. It was pretty sad but I think if I would have worked with that some on the street and not minded putting a ton of load on the clutch that would have been the way to go.

But I don't think the clutch would do it. For some reason high RMP hard launches moves the clutch travel down to the floor. If you notice the 2nd run in the video you can hear it crunch into 3rd gear because the launch and hard shift to 2nd worked the travel down so low I nearly had no clutch for the 3rd gear shift.

You should try the end of October when it's more comfortable for car and driver.

 

Oh I should have posted the slips. Best and worst out of 7 runs.

 

I've been to tons of drag strips and I've never seen one no imports. lol. Our local track usually has TONS of imports. Not the slow hondas you'd think either, usually really fast stuff.

 

Jim, thank you for the post!

I had taken mine to the local 1/8 mile strip down here a few months back and had hideous wheel hop. I did not have the additional bracing frame on the rear subframe assembly then so hopefully it may be better now. Best ET was something like 9 seconds (hideous...). I had (still do) the 14 inch "900" tread wear tires on it and gave up on doing a burn out. It was fun but the intent of the car is not really squirt racing (the Mustang is for that) but more for that road racing handling fun I craved prior to getting this thing going!

Excellent video! Wicked fun! And I have to check off auto cross on my bucket list yet...

 

Just saw this post. Nice job for the first time at the drag strip. At 117mph, it's mid 11 sec capable on your street tune.