Miata Mailing List: February 1996, Message #153
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   From: BHender494@aol.com
Subject: 96 R on the track & Head to head with a 95
   Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 09:45:56 -0500

I finally had the oportunity to get the 96 R to the track last weekend.  It
was a hoot.  We spent 3 days at Texas World Speedway running the 1.8 mile
road course.  Friday was instructors only with a half day of open track and
less than 20 cars.  Saturday and sunday were our normal driving school days
with 5  25 minute sessions separated by sessions for me with students in a
Z28, a 300ZX and a Porche 911.  I got more than 800 miles of track time and
am still very sore.

I made only 6 laps on friday before I ran over something on the main streight
and ruined a new R1.  It didn't feel to great on only 3 wheels so we changed
back to the Yoko 509's for the remainder of the weekend.  Weather was cool so
power was up.  The track never got warm though,so cornering was down.  You
win some , you loose some.  

The R is a far superior ride relative to my old 93C.  It corners flatter, is
much more predictable and gives much greater  feedback.  The R suspension
sets the front and rear at the same heighth and does not lighten a rear wheel
under hard cornering like the stock suspension.  The only problem I noticed
is that it still cooks the front brake pads but not as bad as the 93.  That
is an easy fix with better front pads.  Jackson front pads and stock rear
pads will even provide a better  brake bias with the agressive allignment.   
I recall the speeds and times that I was able to accomplish in the 93.  We
also had a 95 to compare with this week end.  The 93 would do just about 100
mph at the end of the main streight on 205 R1's.  The 96 on street tires
found something new for a unblown Miata here at least in my humble
experience, the rev limiter in 4th gear and an indicated 114mph.  It became
just a little unsetteling to hit the revlimiter just after turn in for turn
1.  The 93 would do about 85 into the turn 3 brake point, the 96 about 90.
 The same 2 speeds apply into turn 10.  

Two Porche 914 ITA racers brought a Miata and 1 of their race cars to play.
 We were able to compare the 96 and at least 1 example of a 95.  With both
tops down the 96 would reel in the 95 quite easily on the streight maybe 8
mph.  The 96 was giving up about 125 pounds to the 95.  I weigh 50 pounds
more than the other drivers and the 95 did not have a roll bar much less one
as heavy as my Hard Core Bar.  Sunday was quite cool so the other guys put
their top up.   I left mine down.  In that configuration I could catch the 95
but not pass  as easily.  Under racing conditions the passes could have been
made, but it would have been past the turn in point for the next turn.  The
95 was a PE package so cornering was harder to compare.  Running together the
95 did not apear to be able to hold the same speed and line as the 96 ie 96
at the edge of the track, 95 in the grass.  A lot goes into that so who
knows.  Both other drivers were good drivers and experienced racers.  It felt
very good to be able to catch and pass.  

Over all times.  Times for the 96 were almost exactly what I was running in
the 93 at the end of last year, low 130's.  However, the 93's times were on a
warm to hot track and on R1's.  The 96  was on a cold track and Yoko street
tires. I believe the R1's are worth several seconds per lap.

The speeds I was seeing were not very different to what I was seeing in Dave
Philips modified and  Sebering supercharged car last year while running
128's.  The R would hit 102 consistently at the start finish line.

In conclusion, the 96's 5 extra horses are good horses.  The R is very
effective.


Bryan
Black 96 R