Miata Mailing List: June 1998, Message #167

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>race rubber in the same manner as the street tires.  It is true that you
will be
>faster but still not as fast as you can be if you are sliding excessively
>(didn't we just have this discussion a couple of weeks ago?).....;^)

Okay.. I've heard about 10 remarks pertaining to slowing down, fixing the
driver e.t.c. 
I honestly don't think I'm a great driver but I'm better than average.
Frankly, the point wasn't about the driver. I've been talking about the car
and specifically tires. From now on, driver improvement is an assumed
necessity when mentioning autox'ing.. :) 

I did think I said (repeatedly) I was overdriving the tires?? This was
supposed to convey that I knew I was doing so and slowing down *is* common
sense in this case (at least to me, sorry assumed again). I found street
tires to be rather annoying as they couldn't live up to the cars potential
early-on and decided to have a little fun until I can FIX the problem. (and
it is a major problem to me) Racing tires WILL, I'm convinced. Pretty much
everything I mentioned previously bothered me and needs improvement.
(brakes, torque e.t.c)  I think fixing the car should go right alongside
fixing the driver.. Why not? (I also said, repeatedly, the driver needs
improvement)

Perhaps, driving a car with crappy tires could be an excellent learning
experience for some but it can also be quite lame for others. I've done my
4 years of racing around sideways in snow storms with my 5.0 Mustang and
bald tires, thank you. I've got a more appetite for speed than poking
around a parking lot doing the same. 

If you were a runner would you delay in fixing a sprained ankle just to
learn how to run with an injury?? I think not. 

-Brian


Brian Porter
porterb@ix.netcom.com