Its not 5th of August this year (actually 3rd of August) but 2 years on and at the first round of the 2014 Manawatu CC's Fielding Auto Electrical Winter Series at Manfield there were 15 cars in the MX5 cup making up over half the field in the SF (SF = Slightly Faster) Cup class in which they run. Th...

13 MX5 Cup cars at Manfield today plus another three "5s" (including the V8 ) in 3 other classes. The Cup cars looked very impressive and there were several evenly matched groups within them. One group of 4 even managed a synchronized spin in the last race. Racing in the rain wasn't really a problem...

It takes me about 20 minutes to swap my 5 point for the OEM belts. I hate using the racing belts on the road as I just can't see at any acute corner or even a square corner particularly a left if there is a passenger unless I slacken off the shoulder belts and lean forward. Even worse with the racin...

As with the July round 6 cup cars were on track last weekend. The fast guys are doing 1 min 26-27 secs and a newcomer to the class getting into the low 1.30s. In the July round one was down to 1.25's and in the 50 min enduro he got into the high 1.24s (same guy couldn't get the car to run cleanly th...

Thanks for the ideas. I pulled everything apart and there is no strange wear patterns, no shiny bits indicting rubbing, all the bolts were tight and the road test afterwards there was no noise what so ever - one of those motoring mysteries I suppose.

OK here is another one that developed on my car yesterday just out of Levin. A loud graunchy rattle from the left front that disappeared at about 40 kph and faster and when the brake is applied? Really noisey driving through Wellington to get home. The car braked and drove in a straight line, no pul...

Interesting they are running with the RS Cup guys at Manfield. The RS Cup has a lap time of 1 min 32 secs or slower so any car built to those specs should blitz that time. I suppose it looks better to be at the head of one group than the tail of another. I'm not going to enter the series in my "5" a...

[quote="SLYDIT"]basically in NZ you can't get a bolt in cage approved by MANZ due to a few unique "features" of the mx5..... quote] My full cage is half and half. The front section is bolted and removable. At the time mine was built I had the option of having the main hoop bolted in or welded in, I ...

[quote="SLYDIT"]oh by the way you CANNOT use a harness with the standard mx5 seat. quote] Well yes you can - sort of. I raced and rallied mine for a year with the std seats perfectly legally BUT I had to remove the head rest speakers and enlarge the holes so the belts went through. The shoulder stra...

And as one who did it last year it was an awesome week, well worth the effort if you haven't driven on the southern tracks.

Hi Mark, I didn't see you in Wellington on Targa. Were you out spectating? Cheers Euen No I was in ChCh at a wedding. Planning on doing the Targa Wgtn this year and maybe the Targa Taranaki, if they are on again. I haven't check entry fees but if similar to last year then it was quite reasonable to...

By the way Mark, did I ever get round to posting you a cd of high-res photos from Playweek last year? So long ago now I've completely forgotten. Yep I'd forgotten too still love a set if you've still got them. We used the "dipper" part of the track the day when we were there. That first hairpin was...

Greetings Gravelben, been a while since I've checked the forum. If you recall my car had the basic Momo (T-frame?) seats. The driver's side fits directly onto the exisiting seat rail but the passenger side required a minor adjustment to the inner front mounting (it had to be moved over about 10mm if...

Crazy, stupid, ridiculous and all those things but unfortunately true. I was refused a warrant because the authority card didn't have the competition seats listed (full roll cage, competiton belts all installed and acceptable) so got around that by putting the stock seats back in and returning 30 mi...

mazdad wrote:Mazline - are you saying that if I get a rollbar fitted then the WOF folk will expect to see additional documentation before passing the car?

YES

Yes both are from Wanganui. The blue one has now been sold and is in the Hawkes bay I believe. However the red one is still in Wanganui and is used on gravel hill climbs not rallys as such. Its basically stock suspension but with adjustable koni's and still on the 14" wheels. He rolled it badly at T...

Tks for the photos Gravelben, they look really good and bring back a few memories. I'll email you in a couple of weeks when I'm back from offshore and get some from you. It should be noted that we set up both "5"s on track at Teretonga for the photographer and he didn't take any of the 2 of us toget...

Just returned from the South Island Playweek - 3 days of track time at Teretonga, Levels and Ruapuna. Fabulous fabulous fun. :D :D :D :D :D I had always wanted to drive the southern tracks and when the Playday Organisers planned a week for the 3 tracks my co-driver and I were in. 30 other North Isla...

In front of the passengers seat is the only place (actually I've got one in front of both seats - with full harness belts I can't reach the one in front of the drivers seat let alone the passenger's). I've had mine mounted there for about 5 years and the car is used around town every day by the chie...

Its fabulous fun, now you'll really know why you bought a "5"

Gravelben wrote: Doing 'Playdays' at Teretonga 5 April and hopefully Levels 8 April (on waiting list for that one). http://www.playdayontrack.co.nz/playdayweek.htm

So am I but I'm doing Ruapuna as well - in for a penny in for a pound as the saying goes!

Now you've got the half cage and want to do track days DONT just think tyres you MUST get competition pads and better brake fluid, otherwise you wont get the best from the car.

So the Dunlop Targa is still on Euen?

I've put my entry in for the final day ie Targa Wellington.

No "5's" out on the Taranaki Tarmac rally either. I'm not sure that the red Wanganui 5 was rebuilt from his extensive roll last year and I had other plans.

Thanks for the links Ian and Euen. Just shows what you can do with time and money and access.