NASA-X @ FIR East
Autocross with the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) returned to Arizona last weekend and did so with a bang on the FIR East track. This was easily the fastest (in terms of top speed) autocross I have ever participated in, with multiple sections well, well into 3rd gear.
NASA-X classing is quite different than SCCA classing, working on a points system. Every 20 points you accumulate bumps you up a class. The R32 started in NXD and I counted up 19 points for modifications, so in NXD it stayed. The first four runs counted for competition and I ran 81.647 (+1), 77.021, 77.026, 76.684, and 76.040 DNF. First run I took really easy, last run I had a lapse in concentration and blew right by a gate. I had trouble nailing my shift points since it was also the most shifting I’ve ever had to do at an event. Third gear in three places, and three downshifts. Good times and good practice.
I came in 4th out of 11 in NXD, less than a tenth out of 3rd but nearly 2.7 out of first. People that hate on Miata’s have never seen them at an autox or on the track, they’ll surprise you. They had the top two places in NXD despite having way less power than the cars that followed them. This event was a lot of fun and hopefully NASA will be running more events in the future.
NASA also had a set of scales out at the event, so I finally got to see how much the R32 actually weighs, and I was quite surprised.
Driver Front: 1025
Passenger Front: 992
Front Total: 2017
Driver Rear: 554
Passenger Rear: 613
Rear Total: 1167
Total: 3184 (63.3% / 37.7% split)
Even without me sitting in the driver’s seat, and carrying only about 3 gallons of gas, I was surprised at the number; I thought for sure it would be higher. The car is listed at 3409, and the two biggest cuts on that weight were the exhaust (57lbs down to 15) and the wheels (28lbs per corner to 18.5). Assuming the 3409 is with a full tank of gas, minus the weight loss from wheels and exhaust, then taking away weight for things like the spare tire tools and foam, floor mats, and other loose items… that still doesn’t get the car down to 3184. I’m going to try and find time to weigh everything else I’ve swapped and see how much other weight has been saved. Either way, my excuse of the car being an extremely fat pig seems to have been lost.
