Who doesn't love cut aways?

Changes

I've found the most confusing times are often when the most exciting stuff is happening, you just don't realize it until after.

Over the last few months 3A Garage has moved to a new home, oddly one without...

Automotive Digression: Cone Dodging Brethren

Tim from AutomotiveDigression.com was nice enough to meet up with Cory, who owns the Subaru, and myself, for some photos, drinks and good times while he was on his recent trip to Reno. See all the photos and original posting here. Automotive Digression: Cone Dodging Brethren:

Automotive Digression: Cone Dodging Brethren:

Kicking ass, taking names.

"X" marks the spot.

You never know when you'll find a hidden gem, a rare car in a parking lot, a childhood favorite on the freeway, today I found a treasure chest full of names like March Formula Atlantic, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, vintage Ferrari, Porsche, and Alfa Romeo.

The spot is an understated garage bay in an industrial park. Having driven past once or twice and seen glimpses of what lay inside, today I could no longer resist.

I flipped the car around, parked, and approached the roll up door with my jaw on the floor. Upon stepping inside I was greeted by the owner who was happy to let me wander the shop, take a few photos and ask a million questions. An invitation was extended for me to stop by any time, so don't worry, there are more photos to come.

Some days you can't help but lust after a car that you know would be horrible for you. This is one of them.

Miata vs. S2000

Which would you choose? The VTEC powered screamer with modern amenities, at the cost of slightly more weight, and cost? Or the bare bones Miata, no A/C, no power anything, keep your right foot planted, cheap fun and the pride of knowing the car is only what you make it?

This is the problem that haunts me right now.

My weekend.

By my weekend I don't mean what I did with my weekend. I mean this weekend was mine

Brakes Pt:2

Out with the old, in with the new.

The pads and rotors that come with the car were starting to squeak, after the year and a half of abuse I'd given them, I' wasn't surprised.

When I was deciding on the best way to update my brakes I knew I should also increase the size of my pads and rotors as well as

Nevada sunset

One of the reasons I love living here.

Always take more than one shot

Its not anything deep, just if you take a photo, take more than one.

Rushed, on the side of the road, hoping not to get stuck behind an approaching truck I foolishly took one picture before hopping back in the car. It didn't even occur to me the side of the car facing me was in shadow.

So there you have it. Rookie mistake.

Your World

Every time I go for a drive or ride I make a point of logging what I'm seeing and appreciating it, I may never see it again. Many of the times I feel spoiled, to live in such a beautiful part of the world, in a nation I love, with the means to go and explore? I'm truly lucky. But I know I'm not the only one.

Seeing that I have a loyal follower in Russia, followers in Taiwan, Turkey, Germany, the UK...

Over 70 to Chico

A plan was hatched to do a simple meet and cruise through the hills to the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. It was an amazing day and drive, but things never go according to plan.

The Group at the offset of the trip.

The road got narrow, and winding, as we dropped into the canyon that carved the the Feather River.

Easily one of the most amazing drives I've ever been on. Following the river, the scenery...

Show stoppin'

As PJ says, show stoppin'. It seems to happen whenever he takes the S2000 out. Tonight was one of those nights, a meet at the local A&W.

Backyard ramps

You never know where you'll find them.

If you could drive a car for just a day?

This is definitely on the list. I know nothing about Mercedes, but this thing has so much presence to it.

Patriotism

Every country has it's heroes, and I think it's important to hold these people in high regard. It might not seem appropriate, but in which room do you spend the most time looking at the wall? The bathroom.

James Madison is significant to me, and that's why I was stoked to see this.

Let there be grip!

The Advan AD08's I've been running this year are doing phenomenal. Awesome wear and traction, and a slip angle that allows you to drive a little sideways, just the way I like.

Here is day one and today. Just a hint of scallop on the back of the tread blocks.

Solo Event #2

The temperature is climbing already in the Nevada desert, turning our windswept runway into a block of scorched tarmac.

The day was also a farewell. PJ is leaving for Vegas before the next event, and so it was a last hurrah to see what his S2000 could do.

The session started with the battle in STR between Bart, Tim and myself resuming, our position and fast times swapping by the run. The session ended with PJ setting the fastest time of the day. The slick and pebbled surface that normally favors the AWD cars couldn't stop PJ.

In the end PJ's time was edged out by less than .1" by a modified Corvette.

When the dust settled in STR it was:
1 - Bart
2 - Derek
3 - Tim

Slow Mobile in action

It was actually the Ferio holding up people, but I'm not going to lie, my Miata had just barely got by when this photo was taken.

One more picture from Bart

One last photo from the night I was out taking photos with Bart and 24/23.

Thanks again Bart.
http://www.wix.com/2423photos/2423
http://www.flickr.com/photos/renocafe/

Solo Season Opener: Let the STR Battle Begin

Shockingly I forgot my camera this weekend, and sadly too, it was quite the weekend.

(You have to rely on this video on Kevin driving the course in his STi swapped wagon.)

Saturday was the SCCA Solo school, I was instructing this year, and jumping from car to car, person to person, I learned a lot about what I was doing as a driver based on what I was trying to tell these people. As the day went on and the student's lines improved I started playing the role of the bad instructor. As the students gave into my repeated pleas to not shuffle steer and keep their hands at the nine and three positions on the wheel I realized they'd learn more by making mistakes.

By the afternoon my only comment was repeated shouting of, "Go faster! Spin the tires! Let me hear the tires squealing! Drive faster than you feel comfortable!" I wanted people to learn this was a place to cut loose, you don't need to drive like your grandmother is in the car. If we see you sliding sideways we aren't going to be angry, we're going to be clapping and ecstatic, so make us proud.

A few of the students progressed quite a bit over the course of the day. By the afternoon, full course, session, I was able to take a few students for rides. It was a lot of fun to have a kid driving a Civic laughing in the passenger seat as he learns how much fun rear wheel drive can be; or my favorite experience of the day was a fairly competent Corvette driver repeatedly yelling, "holy shit, holy shit!" as I maneuvered my little Miata though the cones. I'll take their shouts as confirmation the new Advans are doing their job.

Sunday brought the first official event. To my surprise complaints were made about my car. Technically I'm breaking the rules, but my car is actually fairly under built for the STR class, so to have another driver complain that I had an aftermarket steering wheel, that will not help in a performance manner in any way, was quite the shock. Cooler heads prevailed and a vote among the other drivers of my class allowed me to compete with my illegal setup. Auto racing is still a gentlemen's sport I guess.

As the day went on I was leading the pack in my class and fairly high up the over all results. My foolish morals and views of auto racing as a gentleman's sport made me share one of my secrets of tire pressure with a competitor in a far superior S2000. He instantly took .9 seconds off his time to pass me, and on the last run of the day a new NC Miata was able to squeak by as well. This season promises to be exciting. I'll make sure to have more photos and fewer words for the next season update. Our friend Josh, who helped with my motorcycle adventure was also close on our heels with solid driving.

Here are the raw results, look at the close times for the STR class. http://www.renoscca.org/results/solo/2012/2012Round01Raw.html

1 - Bart Miller, '06 S2000 - 58.583

2 - Tim McMaster (NC) Miata - 58.793

3 - Derek Anderson '90 1.6 Miata - 58.869

Season opener.

The first time the car has been turned loose this year. The first time testing many modifications, the first time with truly sticky tires, the first time in the faster Blue "advanced" run group. What a day it was. I was feeling a little sick and just couldn't get into the rhythm of things. The car also had a few mechanical problems that prevented me from participating in all run groups. But in doing so it did reaffirm a belief I've long held.

Don't force things. If they're supposed to happen they will. When things start stacking up and you find yourself having to rush, cut corners, or not proceed with the normal amount of caution then there is probably trouble on the horizon.

My Miata, PJ's S2000, Bart's S2000

I decided Bart's car needed some more masking tape so people knew who was following them.

 BEE! AY! ARR! TEE!

Bart's tape needed constant adjusting and replacement. It was flying off the car down the main straight.

A beautiful Nevada day.

Battered and bruised, our cars make their way home.

The longest the S2000 was behind me all day.

Love it or hate it. Just call it the Bartmobile.

When tires are hot, and sticky and decide to grab the fender, bad things happen. Take note hellaflush kids.

PJ gives me an official Chinaroll fender service. What a sweet heart.

Track Ready.

I know I haven't finished up where I left off with the brake upgrades. The last week has been a little crazy with work and such. And up until yesterday I didn't plan on going to this Friday's season opener track day. Now that a track day is in the line up all the little projects I'd been meaning to get to got put into fast forward.
-Lower temp thermostat
-Oil change with heavier weight oil
-Finish up some one the yet to be seen changes to the braking setup.

(excuse the blur, it's late and I'm tired.)

General maintenance to make sure that everything is buttoned up and ready to roll tomorrow. It's been over a week since I drove the car, with the weather getting nicer, and my want to save money, and hopefully a little of the environment I've been riding the bike every day. Switching back to the Miata is odd, its probably the first time the car has felt fast, I don't remember the spacing of the gears, and it rides so much lower than my little Honda commuter bike. It's time to remember how to do all this before I hit the track Saturday. Last stop before that is a family friend's local shop for new transmission and differential fluid. Its hard to believe I've put 25 thousand miles on my car since this time last year, but I have.

The most important thing is I'm joining my friend Bart, and instead of spending the day instructing, PJ. They're both bringing their S2000's out for the day. Its sad to think that it may be one of the last track days I have with them both.

We know a place where no planes go.

One of my favorite parts of Nevada is that if you head to the desert, take a road that appears rarely travelled you'll come across signs like these, a place where you're not wanted.

Signs, military, large aerospace corporations, security cameras, and mystery. This site was supposedly a Saturn rocket test site and was used as far back as the Gemini project. Bob and I were nearly overcome by our curiosity to hop the gate and have a look.

Bil Baldwin

I don't make a point of going out of my way to disagree, or be difficult, but most of the time when I see an individual being hyped up, especially by a group with the name of "Beard Life," I don't expect much. The whole idol worship, fifteen minutes of fame thing has never caught me. Charlie Sheen cheetah blood references? Chuck Norris jokes? All seemingly stupid for the sake of others knowing what you're talking about.

This guy is the genuine article though, my skepticism was replaced with admiration as I watched and realized he wasn't a wannabe badass, a beard fanboy, or any other nonsense. Just a fan of motorsports, and dedicated to what he's doing.

Two shots from Bart

I've always liked Bart's style of photography, so I was excited to have him take some photos of my car, and now I respect the effort he puts into his work, even if its a goofy little shoot with a friend on a Sunday night.

http://www.wix.com/2423photos/2423
http://www.flickr.com/photos/renocafe/

Brakes pt:1

In the middle of last summer, in the desert outside of Fernley, I experienced my first PDX event in the Miata. Towards the end of the 20 minute sessions my brakes were getting noticeably hot.

Something had to be done. The idea of upgrading the brakes grew out of control until it was a complete system rethink.

Part 1 is a Trackspeed duct kit to get some fresh air in where the mesh wheels weren't. The well designed pieces also provide a heat shield for the lower ball joint and tie rod ends.

More to follow, and I have to give credit and thanks to my friend Bob, an excellent wrench turner and all around good time for sacrificing his Saturday to help me.

Through old photos

When you look through old photos, you always find real gems. Like this sequence taken of my brother, but intended to feature our Miatas, these photos were taken shortly after I bough mine and shortly before my brother put his back to stock.

How could you not stop?

My brother went to American Le Mans in Utah a few years back. Needless to say we both had to stop and take photos with this sign.