SOLD 8/29/07

[Edited on 30-8-2007 by JimWilson]

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UPDATE EDIT: SOLD 8/12/07

[Edited on 13-8-2007 by JimWilson]

SOLD 8/22/07

[Edited on 23-8-2007 by JimWilson]

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Would you please withdraw Jim Wilson's entry #4.

Thanks.

Excellent photos, again!

Great course, Pasha.  The optional slalom leading into the right hander was a nice touch.

Excellent course design and layout.  By creating a figure eight design, we had a fairly equal number of left hand and right hand turns, yet two cars could be on course at the same time.  In addition, there was a great variety of course elements: early apex turns, late apex turns, two sweepers, and high speed transistions.  It was fairly technical and rewarded restraint without slowing the car down too much.  Some of the cone wall placements gave the illusion of greater speed or potential loss of control (or maybe it was just the heat).  Great use of the asphalt and cones at RIR!

[Edited on 29-5-2006 by JimWilson]

[Edited on 29-5-2006 by JimWilson]

Sounds like a great event.  Last year the South Carolina Region had a two day event in Florence, the Palmetto Motorsports Festival, that was one of my favorite autocrosses.

How is Danville Airport as an autocross venue?

I second the V710s for if you choose to buy an R compound.  You can heat cycle them yourself.  Drive on your new R compounds on the highway for 20 minutes, then remove the tires/wheels, seal in heavy duty plastic trash/yard bags, and let them sit for 72 hours indoors at a constant temperature before using.

The miata.net tire and wheel forum is a good source of information on Miata tires.  Most seem to recommend Azenis 615, Kumho MX, Toyo R1s, or Hankook Z212 for a high performance street tire.

I competed on my OEM Bridgestone Turanzas and BFG KDW2s before switching to R compounds.  I like the BFG KDW2s and would also look at the BFG g-Force sports as an inexpensive alternative when I replace mine.

You have summarized well the exact reasons someone might advance to argue that a criminal law should be not be enforced as unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution - because it fails to give citizens fair warning before being held culpable for conduct deemed to be criminal and because it vests too much discretion in the hands of the police officers who will enforce the law.  You have the right to be able to determine with certainty what is criminal conduct so you can conform your conduct to the law and you should not be put in a position where the police have the discretion to decide whether or not you violated the law (judicial function).

Is the Richmond auto show worthwhile?  I went to the auto show in D.C. several times.  It was a large show and a good opportunity to see new models (vehicles) and sit in some of the cars, although the more desirable models (vehicles) sometimes had waiting lines.

My calendar shows December 20th to be a Wednesday.  Is this a correct date for an autocross?

Hey Steven,

If you have not checked it out yet, the forum at www.miata.net is a good resource for autocross tips and set up information.  You can find out what is legal and what is recommended.  For your first year, I would recommend running as a Novice on your street tires in E Stock (I do not know if your OEM 90-93 wheels are the same size as the '96).  If you are ambitious, in addition to the shocks (consider the yellow adjustable Koni shocks also), you might consider a more aggressive alignment, install a stiffer front sway bar and install a lighter catback.  When you become more experienced, R compound tires are your best investment.  The Miata can be competitive in stock form, with few modifications...or so I have been told.

[Edited on 21-2-2006 by JimWilson]

Is there any rule against co-drivers running in the same heat of a VMSC autocross?

I understand one of the other autocross clubs does not allow it.

Text in effect from and after July 1, 2004

Title 46.2 Motor Vehicles
Chap. 6 Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles, §§ 46.2-600 — 46.2-769
Art. 10 Special License Plates, §§ 46.2-725 — 46.2-749.135

    § 46.2-730. License plates for antique motor vehicles and antique trailers; fee. —

    A. On receipt of an application, the Commissioner shall issue appropriately designed license plates to owners of antique motor vehicles and antique trailers. These license plates shall be valid so long as title to the vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the registration card and license plates of any of these vehicles shall be $10.

    B. On receipt of an application, the Commissioner may authorize for use on antique motor vehicles and antique trailers Virginia license plates manufactured prior to 1976 and designed for use without decals, if such license plates are embossed with or are of the same year of issue as the model year of the antique motor vehicle or antique trailer on which they are to be displayed. Original metal year tabs issued in place of license plates for years 1943 and 1953 and used with license plates issued in 1942 and 1952, respectively, also may be authorized by the Commissioner for use on antique motor vehicles and antique trailers that are of the same model year as the year the metal tab was originally issued. These license plates and metal tabs shall remain valid so long as title to the vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the registration card and permission to use the license plates and metal tabs on any of these vehicles shall be $10.

    C. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 46.2-711 and 46.2-715, antique motor vehicles may display single license plates if the original manufacturer's design of the antique motor vehicles allows for the use of only single license plates or if the license plate was originally issued in one of the following years and is displayed in accordance with the provisions of subsection B of this section: 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1945, or 1946.

    D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, motor vehicles and trailers registered with license plates issued under this section shall not be used for general transportation purposes, including, but not limited to, daily travel to and from the owner's place of employment, but shall only be used:

    1. For participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar events; and

    2. On the highways of the Commonwealth for the purpose of testing their operation, obtaining repairs or maintenance, transportation to and from events as described in subdivision 1 of this subsection, and for occasional pleasure driving not exceeding 250 miles from the residence of the owner.

    E. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this section, antique motor vehicles and antique trailers displaying license plates issued pursuant to subsections B and C of this section may be used for general transportation purposes if the following conditions are met:

    1. The physical condition of the vehicle's license plate or plates has been inspected and approved by the Department;

    2. The license plate or plates are registered to the specific vehicle by the Department;

    3. The owner of the vehicle periodically registers the vehicle with the Department and pays a registration fee for the vehicle equal to that which would be charged to obtain regular state license plates for that vehicle;

    4. The vehicle passes a periodic safety inspection as provided in Article 21 (§ 46.2-1157 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title;

    5. The vehicle displays current decals attached to the license plate, issued by the Department, indicating the valid registration period for the vehicle; and

    6. When applicable, the vehicle meets the requirement of Article 22 (§ 46.2-1176 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title.

    If more than one request is made for use, as provided in this subsection, of license plates having the same number, the Department shall accept only the first such application. Only vehicles titled to the person seeking to use license plates as provided in this subsection shall be eligible to use license plates as provided in this subsection.

    F. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of an antique motor vehicle to tow a trailer or semitrailer. (Code 1950, § 46-99.1; 1954, c. 60; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-104; 1980, c. 359; 1986, c. 8; 1989, cc. 338, 727; 1999, c. 292; 2000, c. 259; 2004, c. 796.)

Virginia Code § 46.2-730

Thank you.  I will see you on Sunday at VMP.

I seem to recall that one of the clubs in Virginia (VMSC?) uses an autocross event registration card in which the driver declares modifications to the car to assist the driver/registration/tech in classing the car.  Does anyone know which club uses this kind of card and how I can go about obtaining one of these cards?  (I volunteered to help another region with this issue.)

Let a Miata owner be the first to retract the previous envidious comparison with the MCS and prevent possible further insults to Miatas and their owners.

I rode in that MCS as a passenger and it is a @#%! fast car that handles great.

Great school!  It was fun and a good learning experience.  Marc helped me learn how to handle my Miata better around carousels, through Chicago boxes and in sweepers.

I also wish to thank Dave and Shawn for the ride alongs on the fun runs in a Mini Cooper S, Porsche 911 and a modified Civic (unbelievably fast on street tires).  It's great to see how experienced drivers run a car around the course.

Has anyone been able to access the autocross.us site today?

Here's the link to the Fastrack with the classing changes:

http://www.scca.org/_FileLibrary/File/05-08-fastrack.pdf

The Mazdaspeed is being moved from B Stock to C Stock.  The new models are being placed in C Stock.  The more the merrier.

Yes, unfortunately, the new MX-5 along with the turbo Mazdaspeed Miata, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky in stock form will be joining C Stock.

Would anyone be interested in renting out a space for storage of a tire trailer in the Richmond area?  It's the Harborfreight 48" x 40" model.

Thanks, Keith.

I am new to the area and was wondering whether anyone can recommend a good alignment shop in Richmond, preferably in the West End, that is used to more aggressive alignment settings.

Thanks for your input.