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Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 4:31 pm
by Greg @ GWR
Who says it never rains in Southern California? After a heavy rain our shipping guru CJ took this cool shot of Speedy reflecting in puddle of fresh rainwater.

This is a teaser shot.
Speedy McSpeedface is undergoing some updates before The Miata Reunion at Laguna Seca this year, OCT 11-13 2019. Info about the updates will be coming...

Come see us at the Goodwin Racing garage

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:46 am
by Greg @ GWR
Updates for Speedy McSpeedface:
The MSM has been getting some updates before the Miata Reunion event at Laguna Seca in October:
A whole new suspension set up.
New wheels and tires for the track/autocross.
New exhaust.
Relocating water temp sensor after installing new CSF radiator.

I've been working over the last month to get things installed and worked out.

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 1:05 pm
by Greg @ GWR
One of the updates was installing the SuperPro differential mount bushing inserts. If you do not have access to a press to push out the old bushings and install new ones then you can use these. You never have to remove the diff bushing from the diff. The inserts are placed around the existing diff mounts to stiffen them up. The small ring-shaped inserts sit in the groove on top of the diff bushing, while the bigger, flat-topped insert fits into the bottom of the bushing.
To do the install you need to do a couple of things.
Since I was doing all the bushings, I removed the control arms. I also lowered the exhaust, but did not completely remove it. If you are only doing diff inserts, then I would recommend removing the midpipe, so when you lower the diff the axles will have enough clearance to drop the diff down far enough to slip the O-shaped insert onto the top of the diff bushing. If you do not remove the exhaust then the axle will contact the exhaust and not lower enough to install the top inserts.

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2019 2:35 pm
by Greg @ GWR
More fun with SuperPro!
I installed the SuperPro NB Miata Full Suspension Bushing Kit, offset version. SuperPro bushings "are made using a proprietary engineering grade polyurethane formula with unique material properties", "boasting the best characteristics of both rubber and plastic."
They do feel different from the polyurethane bushings other manufacturers make. They feel a little softer, spongier than the hard polyurethane bushings.
The upper rear control arm bushings are two-piece for easy installation, just like other polyurethane bushing kits. However, all the other bushings are one piece, making for a more labor intensive installation. You do need a press, and you do need skill to get these 1pc units into the control arms. You can lube them liberally, the kit comes with several lube packets. I had lube dripping out of everything, had it all over everything and myself, and still had a packet left over. The bushings each bushing has 4 grooves to retain lube, and the inside is cross-hatched to also retain lube around the sleeve. There are no real instructions, unlike the diff insert kit which does.

I was surprised by the ride after I had installed them. I expected the ride to be very firm. I had read where most people putting in polyurethane bushings end up taking them out. I won't be removing these. These SuperPro bushings are firmer than the OEM ones with 120k on them, but they aren't harsh. They make the chassis firm like it should be, but not buckboard hard. They feel great, and work well with the new FEALS I have installed.

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 12:43 pm
by Greg @ GWR
Can you FEAL the Fun?!?!
For quite some time I have wanted to replace the control arm bushings. I had also wanted to upgrade my coilovers, so when I finally got some new coilovers I swapped everything at once.
I had the Feal 441 street performance set up on Speedy. I installed them before I ever worked at Goodwin Racing, but since I was at Rocky's Miatomotive I knew Brian and crew well. This relationship allowed me to obtain stiffer 10kg/7kg springs, more the the standard 8kg/5kg. This setup was not only a fantastic street-setup, it was also track competent. The only downside is the shocks were still valved for the original 8kg/5kg springs.
I upgraded to the GWR Spec Feal 441+ Roadrace Coilovers. We carry these at a very good price point because we asked for a change in the 441+ as Feal sells them. We have Feal take of the most costly Swift springs and have Feal use their own springs fo a lower cost. Then we limit the spring choice and valving to one selection, 12kg/8kg, this way Feal can build them in a batch for less per shock. We buy them in batches, which saves us cost, which we can pass to our customers. They are the best bang for the buck.
So far, daily driving them on the street has been a treat. I thought the spring rates would harshen the ride, but no. I guess having been on 10kg/7kg springs for so long it wasn't much of a jump, or at least it hasn't felt that way. Now, I've had a long autocross day on them and they performed fantastic. It was a long fast course that had bumps, dips, and potholes to contend with, and they worked great. Can't wait for three days at Laguna Seca to put them to the test.

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2019 2:00 pm
by Greg @ GWR
Speedy McSpeedface got a work out for three days at Laguna Seca. It was the first track time with the completely new suspension, so it took a few sessions to get it perfect. It has run at autocross, but the setup for that was a bit softer than what Laguna demands.
Besides a completely redone suspension, a few other mods were made in the recent past. The car ran quite a bit faster than the last time it was there. You can throw money at a car and say "it has this, it has that" but it can still be slow. With thought and planning, you can upgrade a car's equipment and really upgrade it's performance. I was very happy with my MSM by the end of the second day, which made the last day pure FUN!

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 12:46 pm
by Greg @ GWR
Lots of rain out here in SoCal over the last week+. Got 1.25" just last nite. It may not seem like a whole lot to the folks back East, but out here it's causing flooding where there are mountains and canyons.
But the rain reminded me of my first track day. The novice school was in the morning, no rain. I didn't go to the novice school since I had already been to one, plus I have some motorcycle experience from waaay back. Anyways, started to rain just before we took to the track. I wasn't happy, thinking the day was ruined. Well, I was wrong. My MSM was still mostly stock (only a downpipe and CAI at the time) with heavy wheels and old street tires. Every time the boost kicked in I became a drifter. Boy did I have fun, and still had the fastest time in my group of buddies who also went to the track. It wasn't "Zen and the Art of Racing in the Rain", but more like "Panic and the Chaos of Drifting in the Rain"... or so it felt. Good Times!

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 1:51 pm
by Greg @ GWR
At Rocky's Miatomotive Thursday night doing some prep work for autocross Saturday. The red NC on the left is a 2.5 car having more upgrades installed by Rocky. A friend of the NC's owner took this photo. That's my MSM in the middle.

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:06 pm
by Greg @ GWR
We stay busy at Goodwin Racing, and I'm not the best at keeping up on my threads. I'm going to try to play a little catch up on some of the events over the last couple of months with Speedy.

Back in December the cable reality show Wheeler Dealers got in touch with Brian via the local BMW club. The BMW club runs a great autocross, and that is the conduit that Wheeler Dealers used. They needed a Miata at an autocross, and Brian was the person the BMW club recommended. I'm skipping over some details that I'll revisit when the show airs this spring. End result is that Speedy wound up being the camera car for the day. Brian took Wheeler Dealers host Mike Brewer around the autocross course in my MSM for Mike's first ever autocross ride. Several runs were performed for the cameras. First there were cameras attached to the MSM to film both Mike and Brian in the car, then cameras set up around the course for exterior shots of the car performing. End of the day Mike and Brian were filmed doing a "deal" with Speedy in the background.
Here are some photos from the day.

Re: Greg's MSM: Speedy McSpeedface

Posted: Thu May 19, 2022 3:14 pm
by Greg @ GWR
Sunday May 15th was a big day for myself and my '05 MSM. On Sunday I raced in the Nevada Open Road Challenge.
I ran solo without a navigator in the 100 mph class...and WON!!
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Receiving 1st place trophy at the banquet
Receiving 1st place trophy at the banquet
The Nevada Open Road Challenge is the sister event to the Silver State Classic Challenge which runs in September. Both races are known as "Open Road" races. These are events that are basically high speed timed rallies. There are several speed classes running over a set distance. Each speed has it's target time for covering the distance at an average speed. The closest to perfect time is the winner.
The big difference between the two races is that the SSCC is a 90 mile one way race down Nevada highway 318, the NORC is a two leg race, 60 miles south and then 60 miles back north (actually 61.38 miles each way). The times for both legs are added together, so you need to be as close to perfect at both finishes, or make up for any southbound mistakes when running back north.

I had been in the event several times as a navigator for my friend Wally Stevens, in everything from a supercharged Miata to C6 and C7 Vettes to his Gallardo. We have a few seconds and thirds, but no wins. Wally couldn't make the race this spring, so I decided it was time I ran the race, and I decided to run solo - no navigator. Heck, I've navigated enough times, I figured this time my driver might listen to me! (there was debate around the shop, lol)
So I ran it solo in the 100mph class in my MSM against 10 other competitors. I recognized the names of some of the other racers/navigators in my class. I figured that there was at least three if not four teams that would beat me, so I had slim hopes for a podium. I figured since I was a "rookie" driver and doing it solo, I needed to just run my race and enjoy it.
When you finish the race, the only way you know if you did well is by how things look on your stopwatch. Results are not posted immediately, so you really don't know how you did or who won. The podium finishers are announced at the awards banquet later that night, so if you feel you ran a good race and were close to a good time, you have to wait until the evening when they give out the awards after dinner. The excitement builds.
When they announce the top finishers, they list their time variance (how far off of perfect time) and their speed variance (how far off of average speed) so everyone knows how close the competitors finish.
My time variance was 0.3375 seconds from perfect time and my speed variance was 0.0076 mph off of target speed of 100mph for the distance. How close can finishes be? Second in my class was 0.3395 secs off. I won by .002 secs, whew!
The best finisher was in the 145 mph class with a time variance of 0.0058 secs. Yeah, I know.

Here is a look at my timing setup:
Two stopwatches and an enduro motorcycle roll chart holder. The bottom stopwatch is a backup. Both stopwatches are started at the same time. As I go down the course I spot mile markers and time them as I pass. I look at the chart and see if I'm early, late, or on time. I adjust my speed as needed. You can see my outstanding handwriting on the chart. I used a roll of calculator paper and hand written every mile marker and target time. Listed are mile markers and target times. Some have notes for turns and corners that are upcoming. It takes a few minutes to write down over 120 of them.
Two stopwatches and an enduro motorcycle roll chart holder. The bottom stopwatch is a backup. Both stopwatches are started at the same time. As I go down the course I spot mile markers and time them as I pass. I look at the chart and see if I'm early, late, or on time. I adjust my speed as needed. You can see my outstanding handwriting on the chart. I used a roll of calculator paper and hand written every mile marker and target time. Listed are mile markers and target times. Some have notes for turns and corners that are upcoming. It takes a few minutes to write down over 120 of them.
During the weekends of both races, there is a parade through Ely and in one of the local parks a car show of all the entrants.
In the parking lot before the parade.
In the parking lot before the parade.
Here I am at the car show. I joined a team, so I'm parked with Team Invaders - All imported cars.
Here I am at the car show. I joined a team, so I'm parked with Team Invaders - All imported cars.
There are some cool cars that race - other than Vettes, Challengers, and Mustangs.
Here's an Alfa 4C with Team Invaders
Here's an Alfa 4C with Team Invaders
Bjorn from Norway races a Diablo he keeps in the US. It's his first race in 2 years due to the Pandemic. Long time Team Invaders member.
Bjorn from Norway races a Diablo he keeps in the US. It's his first race in 2 years due to the Pandemic. Long time Team Invaders member.
Here's a few more fun photos from the race:

After all the cars leave the pre-grid (which is in a truck stop parking lot) we all line up on Highway 318 in a race grid. This year there were a total of 92 cars entered. My grid spot was 89. I wasn't the last to leave, but close.
Racers lined up on the grid on Highway 318
Racers lined up on the grid on Highway 318
Once in grid, you slowly move to the start line.
The starting line
The starting line
As you move to the start line, you get your gear together - Helmet & Hans on, get into your harness, and continue to roll to the line as directed by the grid workers. At one point, the grid workers perform a cabin check on each car. They check for and remove any loose items. Then they make sure all harnesses are secured and then they TIGHTEN them for you. You had better taken a deep breath because they make sure your belts are tight. One of them had climbed into my passenger seat to check my right side belts. These folks are serious about safety, I'm grateful to them.
Going to the starting line
Going to the starting line
There will be two cars at the start line, alternating between left & right lanes for departure. The starter let's you know when it is your turn. You watch the clock and when it arrives at the minute you are to leave, you don't leave. Don't leave? No, when the clock gets to the top of clock at your departure time, you start your stopwatches (in my case) - or computers, GPS, whatever your timing setup is - and then you roll off the line. Since this is actually a rally, timing is everything. No need to do a burnout leaving the line, after all you want the car to be undamaged and capable of finishing the race.
Here I go!
Here I go!
During the race I'm spotting mile markers and hitting the lap splits on the stopwatch as I pass each one. I check the time on the stopwatch and compare it to my chart to see if I'm early, late, or hopefully on time. This goes on for most of the race. No need the check the first few because you are accelerating to your average, so you are trying to catch up to your time. There is also a place on course called "The Narrows". The Narrows is a spot in the small mountain range where the road cuts through and it is several turns. The higher speed cars need to slow down for The Narrows, so it affects your average speed and timing. I was able to maintain a 100 mph average through them and not lose time in either direction, going south or north.
So my race was spotting mile markers, checking time, and adjusting my throttle to achieve my speed. Running solo meant I did not have a navigator to tell me when curves, sweepers, and turns were coming up. I added those notes to my chart, but turns out with the vibration of driving at 100 mph and that I wrote them too small, I had a couple of surprises. I would look up from my notes and would be entering a curve. Luckily everything but The Narrows is easy to take at high speed and I never felt in trouble. I have learned to check my notes quickly!
Time seems to fly as fast as you do down the road. Was that really 36 minutes for that leg?? It felt like ten. Before you know it, you are at the finish.
Coming up to the finish!
Coming up to the finish!
I had a nice, uneventful drive back home. I am still very excited about winning. I have chased a win as navigator for several years, having some seconds and thirds (and a couple of bad races), so a win driving solo means a lot to me.
I can't wait for the next race!
Winner's Photo back at home at GWR HQ
Winner's Photo back at home at GWR HQ