EvanB wrote: I would like to hear how the aluminum undertray is. I am thinking about one but I am not sure it would be substantial enough to actually function as a skidplate.
It's not substantial enough. They're both about 2mm thick, and aluminum. No bueno for rally shenanigans.
Anything i can do about the "shimmy" that goes on from 65-70mph in this thing? I've heard it mentioned quite a few times from various people.
Does the shimmy typically come from the PPF?
I want to think that it is tires. I went years without any signs of the 70mph shimmy, then all of a sudden I had it. Figured it might be ball joints or bushings or something, but it went away on its own. Makes me wonder if it wasn't a tire wear/balance issue that resolved itself. I'll be interested to hear what Keith's thoughts are on this.
I'd say tires/balance issues. On my '92, the oem wheels with nice Khumo all seasons had no perceptible vibration at any speed. When I swapped on some other daisies with old Azenis, I could feel some around 30 and it was annoying at 65 or there-abouts.
T.J. wrote: I want to think that it is tires. I went years without any signs of the 70mph shimmy, then all of a sudden I had it. Figured it might be ball joints or bushings or something, but it went away on its own. Makes me wonder if it wasn't a tire wear/balance issue that resolved itself. I'll be interested to hear what Keith's thoughts are on this.
The rear tires on this thing are very shot, and it seems the owners have just been putting the factory Toyo R28s on the car since it was new. (Don't think they're available anymore)
New tires are on the agenda, and i'll take the front ones off the MSM and put them on the MX6 to get me through another year or so.
The shimmy comes and goes, about a 5 second on, 5 second off rotation. And only around 65-70mph. No sign of it faster, no sign of it slower. (buttery smooth cruising at 85mph!)
Alright, here goes!!!!!
DAY ONE.
Parked my MX6 at the airport at 4:30am in Indy.
In the air between Phoenix and San Diego.
Ocean view at Oceanside!!!
Palm trees e'er'where!!!!
First gas stop, with a "Calico" in the hills!
Pretty paint before i got it dirty!!!!
Awwwww the pretty baby intercooler...
Day 2 to follow tomorrow!
Shes a beaut!
Eh... it's not horrible, but needs a quite bit more cosmetic love than i was hoping. 
It photographs well.
Day 2 pictures are WAY more epic, by the way, so stay tuned tonite! 
So i was wrong... i guess i didn't get through all of Day 1 the other day... sorry guys. But here's more!
Some ridiculous gearing going on... notice that the GPS says i'm only doing 70mph. This is in 6th gear.
Random scenery blurring by:
More scenery!!!!
We don't have stuff like this here...
ZZYZX Road!!!
Desert.
Sand.
Last daylight pictures of Day 1:
Day 2, morning @ FM
My car on Flyin' Miata's lift!
Flyin' Miata skunkwerks! There's a Sunburst Yellow NA rescued from salvage. Apparently the owner Bill Caldell had a soft spot for this color. Also "Nancy," a supercharged NC Miata built for the Targa Newfoundland.
The first LS1 NC Miata in progress, next to an FMII car, with a yellow MSM-built Westy and "Elvis" in the background.
Yep. That just happened.
The view from FM's shop.
Afternoon of Day 2:
We took 65 up and down Grand Mesa. :D AWESOME twisty road, and at the top, we were at about 11,500ft. Cars had NO power up there. :p
Day 2 dirt road/canyon pictures
The things you find in the desert!
Testing testing....
Alright, it works! If anyone wants larger resolution variants of any of these pictures for any reason, just click on any of them and it'll take you to them. Use, link, hotlink, do whatever you want.
Track Day with Flyin' Miata
Looks like an epic trip. In one of the first pics titles "Palm trees e'er'where!!!!" you were about 250 yards from my office.
Haha really?!? Were you the guy that said you knew this car?
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Haha really?!? Were you the guy that said you knew this car?
No that's me, I see it every now and then on the coast when I go surfing.
Ah ok, that's right. 
Well... it's about as far away from the coast as it gets now. 
Heck I should have driven it back for you, I have to fly to Corporate center all the time in Indy.
Great looking car Celica. Looks like a very memorable trip.
Did you find out anything about the yellow Lotus Seven looking car in FM's shop? It appears to be @ the track day too.
In reply to Graefin10:
There are a gazillion pics of the Westfield build on the Flyin' Miata website....at least there used to be.
Wow, a huge congrats. I am so envious I can hardly see straight. Looks like a marvelous trip!
Very nice. The pics at FM have me wanting to ask Keith if they have any openings.
Graefin10 wrote: Great looking car Celica. Looks like a very memorable trip. Did you find out anything about the yellow Lotus Seven looking car in FM's shop? It appears to be @ the track day too.
The most i know about it is that it has a Mazdaspeed Miata drivetrain, so i bet it's a monster.
neon4891 wrote: Very nice. The pics at FM have me wanting to ask Keith if they have any openings.
They did when i was there... i'm still kicking myself for not trying to bribe my way into an interview. I got kicked in the nuts pretty hard at my job when i got back, pretty much throwing out the "But i've got a good job that i don't hate back at home" excuse out the window.
Colorado felt like home to me as soon as i got there, and the guys at FM were awesome. Colorado is hands down my next "stop."
Lesley, thanks!
Oh, and there's more pictures to come... about 167 i think.
You'll need to log in to post.
