Rev it up in Houston
 

Ok, so who is gonna be there? Which day and which session?

I'm signed up for the 26th, registering at 10:00.. session 15 I believe.

Also, anybody run the track before? Any tips? Anybody know if there are speed limitations for the competition?

Thanks

I signed up for 11a, register at 9:00A, track times at 11:40A and 1:00P.

Since it is in a parking lot they can pretty much do whatever they want, but I'm sure they will use the same layout they use at the other competitions. Since it is autocross there are no speed restrictions (I doubt the course is going to be setup where you can get any serious speed), if they feel you have lost control of the car they will make you get off the track. I just hope I have time to go play with the Miatas between runs and training sessions.

the are all autos. So i'm not going

you are just mad because there arent any miatas there. I am going to meet up with some people and i dont intend on driving any but rather watch the driving

Well, I'm back. I can definitely say I did not enjoy it. You had to wait in line about 30 minutes to drive a car, and have some fun, for a minute or two. That and the only personalized instruction you got was in line and if the instructor at the stop on the track happened to be looking at you when you were doing your initial run. I didn't even get any feedback when I got off the track. I got so disgusted after the classes and seeing the line at the competition event that we just left. I got a stupid hat as a free gift.

The best part, which was free to everyone, was the test course. I drove a Miata with a six-speed (FUN!), a 6i with an auto (wife drove, I sat), 6s (all damn morning, I thought I liked this car beforehand but now that I have had it on a track I like the Protege a LOT more), and a Mazdaspeed. The Mazdaspeed was an absolute blast. If they were smart that was what they would have been using instead of that lumbering hulk of a 6.

as far as the waiting in line for the actual competiton... if you arrived ontime for your runs .. the wait was no longer than about 15 -20 mins...
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I agree the "PRO's" werent always atentive.. however if you got their attention and asked them to watch your run. . .they would and werre serious about helping out those there to learn...

my .02

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with MAZDASPEED Protege's being a "low margin" vehicle .. it would make no sense to use it... maybe some Pro' 5s... or some stock ES's...

a long time ago (about 9 months ago) the plan was to use Miata's in the competition, however there were too many safety / fittament issues with "larger" drivers..


the 6's offered "some performance" a good solid playing field, and most of all.. a cheaper alternative to the rest of the line upl as far as "replacement cost"

2 more cents.. :)

I drove a 6s on the test coarse also and was not impressed at all. Seemed to bog down low and that slush box made it worse. I was thinking of trading in my P5 for one, but I think mine blows it out of the water as an all around performer.

I loved the way the Mazdaspeed handled, but acceleration wasn't that impressive either. The guy in the van yelled at me for going to fast through the coarse.:D All in all, I liked the Mazdaspeed. I know there is some power in there to be had.

I had a great time!!

You got yelled at? I caught the tires in the acceleration area and screeched again in the turns. The Mazdaspeed was nice, lots of power down low. I agree that the 6 just bogged down with that slushbox. I didn't try one with a manual but I'm assuming that helps it out quite a bit. My problem with it was that it was too damn big and didn't really settle into the curves that well (nowhere near as well as a stock Protege).

And I clocked how long I waited in line after the first one (slalom). It took me 25 minutes to get into the brake and turn and then 35 minutes to do a practice lap, the line for the competition run was even longer. Next time they would do far better if they used the Protege and were nice enough to offer something other than a damn automatic. As it is if they come next year I will just show up for the free stuff, screw paying $40.

WOW, stan they did have Miata's there. The auto 6's weren't that bad, i think the sport tranny helped it out alot. You can actually control the car alot better with the sport tranny. My fav though is the Mazdaspeed. It was very nice, and i also was one to get yelled at. "slow that sh** down" HAHAHAH :D I would definitely go again.