Miata Mailing List: October 1993, Message #177
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   From: "Michael Butler" 
Subject: aftermarket shocks
   Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1993 18:44:18 -0400

I was an instructor at the Lotus West autocross school last weekend.  Since
I autocross a Miata, I was assigned a group of Miata owners to instruct.
There were many Miatas in attendence (far more than my 4 students), since
the local Miata Club (SoCalm) advertises the school in their newsletter.

I did get the opportunity to drive several Miatas at various levels of
performance upgrade.  This experience reinforced to me how much of an
improvement aftermarket shocks can make to a Miata.  In a totally stock
Miata, I ran a 59 second run.  In a Miata with GAB shocks (but otherwise
stock), I ran a 57 second run.  In a Miata set up for autocrossing (shocks.
tires, exhaust, etc), I ran a 55 second run.  So just the shocks, made
up half the time difference between totally stock and fully prepped.  And
the car is much more enjoyable to drive with better shocks.

The prepped car was running Tokikos, which I will characterize as more
Koni-like in feel, as contrasted with the GABs.  On the bumpy Irvine
Meadows lot, I think the GABs work better (I had to dial my Konis way down).

Michael Butler