hms

I use a superclamp mounted to the rollbar. Dogcams show some of the fitment options, but not mine! Note that Brands will not allow any sucker mounting of items either inside or outside the car. I'll try and get a pic up of mine. It's still in the car from last weekend! I'm using a canon DV camera, HD and dvd cameras are out because they wont't take the shaking. I also have an external mike, with pre-amp from Maplins at about £15, mic is back of the passenger seat so does not pick up wind noise. If you don't have a camera yet, it's worth doing some research, some camera types experience a wobble on the picture caused by the shutter. Cannot remember what it is tho! h

Video here: Some of the titles are in the wrong place tho'! h

I've absconded to France for a long weekend to do trackdays with Lotus on Track at the above locations. LoT, as it was the beginning of the year, and with the weather were doing 2 for 1 on these two trackdays, so the cost of the trackdays was £89! (10 people booked for the first day and 7 for the second!) I travelled out on Friday, via LD lines to Boulogne at £40 return, the cheapest I could find. LD lines is basic, but it does the job. Drove down to Abbville via Montreuil sur Mer, and stayed overnight in the town. The town has one main street, with three squares along it's length. Saturday morning came, with a light drizzle, and a short 5 min drive to the circuit. The circuit has a long straight and lots of bendy bits, LoT Abbeville details here: http://www.lotus-on-track.com/circuit_guide/abbeville.html and great fun. In the morning the back end was very loose and kept stepping out, I was thinking it was the Cooper tyres I had on the rear. After some instruction, It was pointed out it was my driving style, applying power too early before unwinding the steering leaving the corner. The wet highlighted this, where previously it had not been a problem in the dry. After a bit of practise got the hang of that and seemed to have the car under control most of the time! Unfortunatley the course did not have cones out, and the end of the straight, the right hander, had problems getting the correct braking point whilst staring at a tyre wall. I'm told that I wouldn't reach the tyre wall due to the kitty litter in front of it. (Apparently it has been tried out!) The afternoon was mostly dry, with the occassional bit of drizzle. Finished the day and stayed overnight in Soissons, about 30 miles from Ecuyers. Ecuyers started in deep freezing fog, but by 10.00am it had cleared enough to drive the course. LoT Ecuyers details here: http://www.lotus-on-track.com/circuit_guide/ecuyers.html After a few sighting laps away we went. I felt a lot more confident after Abbeville than the last time I drove here, I think my times were certainly faster. The afternoon we had some drizzle so it was up with the hood. I felt a sense of achievement driving the course and saying 'got it' in my head everytime I got the entry, apex and exit cones correct! (At least I ended up getting a greater percentage of 'got it's' than 'Bugger!') The weather may not have been great over the weekend, but I had more than enough driving plus I feel I learn something about how the car handles in the wet. I'm gaining confidence in Lexie and my abilities to handle her. Think I need to get a decent seat and harness for Lexie! Video to follow.

Sounds like a good day. Do you need any more hands to help out? h

Am I the only one getting the 'New look coming' banner above the thread list and as a clickable link on the front page? h

Not that any black cab driver know that! h

So the rh turning circle is smaller the the lh? Why is it lobsided? Appreciate that the rh Ackermann is relevant to the UK, but black cabs are sold world wide now. h

I suppose that all the insurance permiums will rise even more than the normal rise next year. h

RS2's are a good compromise. Stiffer sidewalls than T1R's and seem to wear better. h

Is that you, "of unknown provenance"? h

If you're stuck, then no, the car will still spin both wheels at idle in 4th gear, the only way out is to rock the car then take a run up using maximum engine speed to burn away the snow and keep momentum. You sure? I'd have thought that all the wheelspins would be doing is possibly applying a little heat to the ice to give you a layer of water to lubricate the wheel/ice interface! Yes rock the car backwards and forwards, but use minimum revs and highest gear possible for torque. h

I think Tony has been busy the last 6 months as well sorting this out! OK ER. ...busier the next few months. h

Think you are going to be busy the next few months Tony. The WIM reputation is on the line, and I'm sure you'll be working hard to ensure you keep that hard earned reputation. I think young Tony may be doing nothing but alignments now! Good luck Tony, and to all of your associated centres. WIM, the world next? h

Has the info crept under the wire? See here: http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?sho...=42712&st=0 see post 14 onwards. h

Bit! of a bugger Tony. The good thing is though that incidents like this show how well WIM respond to things like this. Incidents like this do go round the forums so indirectly you may benefit. Ditch the BFO stilsons, if it cannot be undone by 'normal' tools you then you need to stop and appraise the customer of potentially something breaking, especially in a 20 year old car. (Sorry if grandmother eggs and sucks come to mind.) The reason I don't like breaker bars is that often the don't loosen the nut but shear the stud or bolt the nut is on, leaving you wiht a bigger problem than when you started! Southampton is probably Andrew of Autolink, he breaks and sells 5's so has a good stock of new and used bits for 5's and some other jap imports. (Impreza's FTO's etc.) Well respected chap who know's his stuff. For new parts both Mazda and pattern for the 5, best bet is MX5parts. h

Nice Vid lauren. I have to ask though, is your steering wheel on upside down? h

I want one! What's the issue with Castor? Does the Hawker have data for the Caterhams? h

Providing there are no cars at the kerb of course! If you run they sidewall of the tyre agains the kerb, that tyre will gain grip, and you will start to move forward. Do this at idle speeds and you should get going without any tyre damage. h

The important thing is to get it right. Take the time to do that, forget the self imposed deadlines, and announce it when it's ready. h

As mentioned above slow and easy on all controls. Use second if you can over first due to the extra torque. If you have a LSD diff and you are getting no traction, apply a little handbrake, this kids the diff into thinking it has grip and will apply power to the wheels. In a rear wheel drive is is also possible to use the kerb to give grip to the wheel and get you going. Came home through the estate the other night, sideways, on full lock, being overtaken by pedestrians! Have a set of Cooper tyres on the rear, not too much use, one track day, but no grip at all! h

Are chains an option? h

To quote Shelock Holmes: "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? h

See here for Toyos setup info for spec Miata's on 888's: http://www.toyo.com/sites/default/files/im..._Guidelines.pdf They recommend 32 to 38 psi hot and suggest starting at 32pis and go from there. When I went to Mallory, with the 888's first outing, I had them at 30psi cold, don't know what that equates to hot. h

[reminder to self] Must remember to wash Lexie is she's going to be in the opening photos of one of Sean's slideshows. [/reminder to self] h

Damnation! h