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[Ben Jolly]

#8947

I got a new (to me) 2007 Miata, and I look forward to being able to learn to drive my car better and have a lot of fun.

My motorsports background isn’t too long. I casually raced 1/10 scale 2WD off-road RC cars around 15 years ago. The club switched to 4WD touring cars on carpet, I wasn’t able to make the switch successfully, so I sold that stuff and bought my first Miata, a 2000. I did a couple casual autocross events with it, and was trying to get it prepped for autocross and HPDE, but life intervened (in good ways, not complaining). I have also flagged in the past for NASA here in CO, that would be around 8-9 years ago.

The NC car is a little taller inside, so I will be able to safely modify the car for HPDE as the parts come in and funds allow. My plan is to make it a decent STR contender, some light track use, and a fun touring vehicle.

Looking forward to meeting everyone, and making some new friends. I am also looking forward to doing more than reading GRM every month!

• This topic was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Ben Jolly.

[Ken Hammack]

#8949

Welcome to STR!  I  hope we are able to get things going again very soon.

[Eleanor Jolly]

#8950

I have a 2003 Miata that is still pretty new to me, I’m looking forward to learning more and getting more driving experience with my car.

I have had experience with one prior autox and one track day.  Both times were really fun and I look forward to having fun and enjoying myself some more.

 

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Eleanor Jolly.

[Ken Hammack]

#8972

You may want to look into SpeedTrain.  Not sure where it will fit back into the schedule now, but sometimes you will get more out of the training if you have experienced several autocrosses before you attend.

[Ben Jolly]

#8973

I intend to go to SpeedTrain if it is offered this year, I think Saturday the 16th of May is the current proposed date. Hopefully my (no so little anymore) little sister Ellie (see above post) will be able to make it too, her NB should be a good E Street car.

I am signed up for the event on the 17th too.

[Eleanor Jolly]

#8974

Same, I will sign up if it becomes available.

I’am also signed up for the 17th, it should be a very fun day

[Adam Rutherford]

#8979

O.K., couple of newbie questions from me.  I don’t want to register and show up, only to learn we didn’t ask enough questions beforehand. 🙂

For the Speed Train school, is that a beginner’s/refresher school for autocrossing?  Can my 15 year old participate with her learner’s permit?  She’s accumulating lots of driving hours, but she is a ways off from getting her official license?

For the 17th, that sounds like a race day.  Again, can she participate?  In looking over the rules, I have not found anything specific that says she cannot drive, but I want to be sure.  We will also be sharing a car both days if that is feasible.

Thanks,

Adam

 

[Ben Jolly]

#8980

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will jump in, but I know Ellie is still working on her DL too, there is a way to handle it. From reading the ‘covid’ rules on the SCCA’s page it seems like everyone on site has to be driving or working.

My advice with starting into motorsports or any hobby really is just to jump in. One of the things I miss the most about doing car stuff or my other hobbies is the people that are involved. Everyone is generally very welcoming and helpful, and wants to see each other succeed. Like Ken said above, some experience is helpful, but the way I see it, I get to improve my skills on Saturday and reinforce what I learned Sunday.

Anyone else have some advice and input for Adam and his daughter?

[Eleanor Jolly]

#8990

<p style=”text-align: left;”>I did my first autocross one week after getting my permit, and four months after that I raced on track.
Each time my dad or an instructor was with me, so I think as long as you are with her it’ll be fine.
The speed train day would definitely be a day where I think she would be allowed to learn it is a beginners school.  The race day as long as you’re with her I think it’ll be within the rules.
Like Ben mentioned I do not have a Drivers license yet either but I’m planning on coming so I think it’d be fine if she came too.</p>

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Eleanor Jolly.

[Adam Rutherford]

#8993

Hello Eleanor,  Thank for the info.  We are signed up for Saturday.  We will likely sign up for Sunday as well.  -Adam

[Ben Jolly]

#9779

I had a great time at Speed Train and the event the day after. I only had funding (and childcare) to run those two events before work started on the car, but it was a great time. Special shout to Ken, Clay, and everyone else who made me feel welcome there. I learned a great deal and had a lot of fun. Having helped build and crew a few other cars over the years it was kind of surreal to be prepping a car for me to drive.

Currently I am wrapping up a lot of work on the car. My budget didn’t allow a full STR build yet, so I am doing sort of a hybrid approach: the suspension setup from a C Street NC Miata and the exhaust and other stuff from STR.

It got a roll bar (I want to do some track days and maybe time trial down the road), new rear wheel bearings, a header/midpipe/muffler, and new suspension bushings all around. I also replaced the shocks and bumpstops, after 103k miles there was just rubber dust where the bumpstops should have been. The rear sway has been replaced with a much more substantial one from a RX-8. Good Hawk brake pads have been fitted too. Also fixed a bunch of convenience issues like the power mirrors and the drivers side keyless entry button.

Hoping to have her together for the Car Control Clinic, but we shall see…

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