Region: MidDiv / SOWDIV
Car #: #39
Year : 99 LS1 Miata Posts: 1756
Status: Offline
posted
According to a paddock source at Autobahn, Joe Mc and his magic will be used by the Playboy cars. Not sure of when or in what regard, but that's the scoop.
-------------------- Mac Spikes IPRESS Racing MER East Street Auto SAFERACER Hoosier Carbotech MotorSport Ranch Cresson, Texas "To hell with you Gen. Sheridan...I 'll take Texas!"
Region: Houston
Car #: 91
Year : 1991 Posts: 2171
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by IPRESS: According to a paddock source at Autobahn, Joe Mc and his magic will be used by the Playboy cars. Not sure of when or in what regard, but that's the scoop.
There is HOPE!
-------------------- Do I turn my 99 Hard S into a killerfast SM or seek a donor?
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 01
Year : '90 & '99 Posts: 535
Status: Offline
posted
Glad to see it as it has been accessible to a select few teams for a couple years now. Good that all will get the same benefits in the near future and bring this class to as spec as you can get (i.e many of the issues in SM are non-existent in this series).
I applaud Mazda for its efforts to continue to make this pro series one of the best in the country. There are very few series where you can buy a race winning car for around $30K and if you finish in the top 5 all season you will almost pay for your years expenses. The purses in this series are great and I know they are working on some of the other issues that caused me to hold off for the rest of this season. Mazda has put a lot of effort into this series and are continuing to improve it. I look forward to seeing the direction of this series as it continues to improve and would encourage all to take a good look at it for next year.
Region: Houston
Car #: 91
Year : 1991 Posts: 2171
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by mat pombo: Glad to see it as it has been accessible to a select few teams for a couple years now. Good that all will get the same benefits in the near future and bring this class to as spec as you can get (i.e many of the issues in SM are non-existent in this series).
I applaud Mazda for its efforts to continue to make this pro series one of the best in the country. There are very few series where you can buy a race winning car for around $30K and if you finish in the top 5 all season you will almost pay for your years expenses. The purses in this series are great and I know they are working on some of the other issues that caused me to hold off for the rest of this season. Mazda has put a lot of effort into this series and are continuing to improve it. I look forward to seeing the direction of this series as it continues to improve and would encourage all to take a good look at it for next year.
Mat
I agree... In a couple of years, we'll crapcan SM and have SMX5 as a regional/national class and be done with all this nonsense.
It's also great that SCCA got over their unwillingness to embrace the guy who could have saved us a lot of fuel/timing/afm grief.
-------------------- Do I turn my 99 Hard S into a killerfast SM or seek a donor?
Region: SE Div, Atlanta
Car #: EddieFur
Year : Party like it's ____ Posts: 952
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by mat pombo: Glad to see it as it has been accessible to a select few teams for a couple years now.
I know of only one team that had the ability last year, but I don't know if they utilized it because I didn't drive for that team. So far my understanding is that two ECU's were found reprogrammed today.
Since you're not running the series anymore Mat, maybe you can share how much you guys paid for the ability to program MX-5 ECU's this year? Might open up some additional discussion on SM from a policing vs. pricing standpoint.....
PS - Kent, the unwillingness had nothing to do with SCCA.
-------------------- Mazdaspeed // SafeRacer // Traqmate // OPM Autosports // East Street Auto // Cobalt Friction Racers Edge Motorsports Rolex GT RX-8 // i-MOTO Racing Conti Challenge MAZDASPEED3 Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/toddspeed
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 01
Year : '90 & '99 Posts: 535
Status: Offline
posted
Mazda made this happen, not SCCA. Todd, I didn't want to get into specifics as that is not the point here. But to clarify your comment, after the third race of this year we learned of this ability that a "few teams" had to program the "locked" ECU's once they were handed out and swapped after practice. My team had a meeting to discuss what direction we wanted to go and we decided to purchase the technology and then present it to Mazda at the next race weekend. The technology arrived at the track on Friday at Road America and we presented it to Mazda and showed them the ability to reprogram the "locked" ECU's that SCCA was handing out. The amount we payed for it isn't really the issue.
All I wanted was an even playing field in this series, so rather than conform with those using it and keep it to ourselves, we chose to police the series and take it to Mazda. The ability to reprogram was worth 4-5hp according to the technology source. According to him their were several teams already using it. Unfortunately, I left the series after Rd. America, but I am glad our investment enlightened Mazda to work with SCCA and close this loophole.
This is why this is such a great series. Mazda has the ability to respond in a quick and efficient fashion when competitors bring a documented cheat to the table and asks for input. Kudos to Tim and the rest of the Mazda gang for responding so quickly.
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 01
Year : '90 & '99 Posts: 535
Status: Offline
posted
When I say a few teams.... I'm not naming anyone in particular as all of them are my friends. I know who was using it, but that isn't the point here. Not trying to imply any teams, big or small, as every team in that series is capable of winning regardless. With an even playing field, the cream will continue to rise.....
Region: Atlanta
Car #: 01
Year : '90 & '99 Posts: 535
Status: Offline
posted
Todd, you are correct that they handed out reprogrammed ECU's to a select few teams to test before the season. At that point they decided not to go that route because they felt that the switching of "locked" ECU's that SCCA was currently doing was as good as that.
What they were not aware of is the technology to remap their "locked" ECU's that was occurring after they were handed out. This is what has recently come to light when it was shown to them.
In fact there are several people that need to be thanked by those folks who race in this series; John Doonan, Steve Sanders, and Tim Buck from Mazda, for not hiding their heads in the sand, and taking quik action to solve a big issue. Jim Jess and the great crew at SCCA pro Tech for being so eager to embrace the technology that could solve the issues they had. And a special thank you should go to JD for sticking his own neck out to get this mess brought to light so it could be made fair for all the racers.
Region: mid south
Car #: 2
Year : 1999 Posts: 4275
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Willie the Tard: Do I need to switch back to a stock FP regulator too?
Didnt realize you had your 99 built yet? You should have never switched? If you did, yes, you better put back stock unmodified one that is within FSM specs. They checked the top six for that last year.
Region: 011
Car #: 47
Year : 94 Posts: 488
Status: Offline
posted
David; Some work with the great Italian cartographer, Sebastian Cabot ... some with Japanese cartographer, Kami Yamamoto ... never heard of no Chech making any good "maps" though ... tell Jim to go hibernate for a month, he needs his rest ...