I was wondering how many here are planning to attend the Mazda Driver event on the 19th and 20th of June at VIR? I'll be there instructing, and hoped to meet up with some of the Z owners.

We'll also be at Roebling Road on May 28, 29, and 30, for those a bit further south.

 

I'll be at roebling that weekend with the triangle z club. (june)

 

I'm strongly considering that Mazda Drivers event... no commitment yet though...

 

I'll be at Roebling that weekend as well.

 

Which one? May or June?

 

Nick, do you know how full the event is? Also, will you be bringing brake ducting kits up to VIR with you? I'd be interested in possibly purchasing a kit...

 

As of May 7th, the web site says the event is at 94% capacity. Check here:
http://www.mazdadrivers.com/

As for the duct kits, I really don't know. The orders have been coming in, and due to the complexity of the mold, and a bit of aloofness in my fiberglass subcontractor, he is not able to keep up. So we are working on preparing a set to use for molding purposes, in quantity, in another material. If I have fiberglass ones available at that time, I will try to bring them.
I'll be bringing some supplies for RX-7 and 350 owners, including brake pads for the StopTech kits (Performance Friction 01 compound), and Motul fluid. I may have some pads for the Track model Brembos as well. I may try to bring an oil cooler kit, but space will be at a premium, as we have other business to tend to in VA after the event.

 

I've got pads and fluid, not worried about that. How many people do they normally put in a run group? What is their advanced group like? Passing in the normal places, or open passing? Since I've never run with Mazda Drivers, I'm not sure if their run groups are fast or not, nor do I know what the average experience level is...

 

Best thing to do would be to contact Dave Nugent. I don't want to speak for them. His contact info is on the web site.

 

The group is decent. I have run in a few of their events. I found their Full event to be a little crowded and the sessions to be shorter than others. Worth going to, but I have found the BMW and THSCC events to be run better. As for the skill of the participants, there are many modded FDs out there driven by capable drivers. The best part about having them on track is having them whizz by you for 10 minutes, then you whizz by them after they all get heat soaked. Few of FDs are stock, most have bolt ons w/ stock turbos ~300-350, some have the huge single turbos 350whp++. Passing in the upper groups is as normal.

 

i'll be there, down in good ole green group. (it's only my 2nd event).

rob...i had an interesting chat w/ larry at carbotech last friday. seems that they are so worried about the non-brembo brakes on our cars that they are considering no longer selling any pads to fit them. it's a long story, but it was an educational conversation.

sean

 

Could you please elaborate on what Larry is specifically concerned about? Is it the obvious lack of heat dissipation, or is it something else like engineering/design/etc? Thanks!

 

The car is simply too heavy for the small brakes... it doesn't matter what pad you throw on those brakes since you'll melt them down to the backing plates...

 

sean, ask larry why the pad turned to goo in my 14" stoptechs? I was told that they wouldn't work in a slotted rotor!?! I was told to change to a solid rotor!?! I'm going to try Cobalt's VR fronts and XP9 rears. Then inevitably remit to using PFC01s in front.

 

you got it john...

the problem is what many (like mcclaskz) have already experienced. the more things you do to them to make them brake better (and therefore make more heat), the more problems you create that then have to be dealt with with more new equipment and more money. eventually you just melt everything away regardless. they are more worried that we will feel as though we can push our cars harder because of the new pads and end up making more (and more dangerous/costly) problems for ourselves. he said he would sell me the panther plus pads, but he can't warranty them anymore on this brake system, and he really doesn't want to sell the 8/9's at all. he said the website guy is supposed to be taking down the prices for the pads on this system and putting "call" in their place.

bottom line...the brakes are used on the altima, the maxima, and the spec V...as well as our cars. as soon as you can come to grips with that...the sooner you can come to grips with the problem.

that being said....they work fine on the street...unless you are crazy. they have worked fine for lots of people on track conditions. however, those who really plan to get good with driving this car hard on the track with these brakes will have problems.

i hope i covered most of what he was saying there. we spoke for about 20 minutes...but i was at work and somewhat distracted. he literally wanted to talk me out of buying the pads from them, and did a good job. i can't argue with someone who knows more than me.

if you want to know more...call him. 1-877-899-5024. Larry Narcus. he even said he didn't mind me posting this on here. being that i am in NC...i hope to go by there someday soon and see the process and the product for myself.

I have heard mostly good things about their product...and honestly...Larry telling me he didnt want to sell me the pads made me respect them even more.

hope that helps.

sean

 

I'll be there on June 17 & 18 with Track Time Yes its expensive but the time on track is greater & there is very good instruction & much smaller run groups. maybee i'll make it a 4 day vacation....

 

Hmmm. I'd been thinking I'd go to the Car Guys event at VIR in August, but MDA's is a lot cheaper (and June in southern VA is probably a little nicer than August).

The problem is that I've already signed up for NASA's BeaveRun session June 3-5, and there's a FATT at Summit Point between them. That could be too much of a good thing. Guess I'd better decide soon, though.

 

rob,

i understand you and matt g. both had problems there. i asked larry about it and he said, "yeah...we are still trying to get things worked out there".

kinda funny...not really for you though. just an fyi.

sean

 

Patriot Course is a 1.1 mile circuit that consists of the North and South connector portions of the Full course (I hope that makes sense).