TAKA 八仔ブログ: OzRenesis

DIY workshop

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:23:12 GMT

Last Saturday we held our first workshop and it was a complete success.

This is how it all started.
We started with a chilly morning.

Here was the sign welcome people to come in

They were already working on Kall's car

Craig's car was on display.

When people arrived, Andrew took the car (I mean rear brake) apart .

Iggy the cameraman!

.....while Evan dropped down notes (of how many things that Andrew did wrong j/k).

Real life drama!!!!!!

Andrew changing the rear brake pads

Andrew changing the front brake pads

There were deals behind the scene!

When we collected enough money to cover the damage (that Andrew did j/k ), the job was already done!

Then embedding begins!

Andrew's turn

The draining bit is so interesting

While he is waiting for his stuff to drain!

Online Videos by Veoh.com

BBQ TIME!

The BBQ is so good. That display is left alone to be cooled!

Thanks everyone for coming!

Another Winton Video March 07

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:11:28 GMT

Music from the Cars Soundtrack

I broken into the 42s at Winton

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:07:27 GMT

It is a moment of truth.

I eventually broken into the 42s for the first time. I did another PB at Winton. By this rate I could do under a minute very soon.

1"42.3920

Overall times
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?11/03/2007.WIN.S1

Individual times
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?11/03/2007.WIN.S1.I

Mylaps.com
http://www.mylaps.com/live/showLaptimes.jsp?tid=114&transponder=851177

My video TAKA vs DavidM

Part 1

Part II

Big Boy Toys night - Drama

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:32:10 GMT

We are as part of OzRenesis went to this lovely function organised by Chadstone, Autobarn Chadstone, and some local car club.

It is not a big event and people are scattered along.

But the girls are there posing and I don't mind at all.

I learn one thing today. There is a place all Silicon Valley, and the stock tyre has a rating of 91W

LastlyLastly, please do not drool on your keyboard

Video for the night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M190U_4v12A

How do you prepare for a track day?

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 09:20:36 GMT

Prepartion for track days (by Taka)

If you are thinking about servicing at Mazda dealers, best to have your car serviced before the track day rather than after, especially it has not been serviced in the last 6 months. It is because:

The oil has been with the engine for a while.
Mazda technicians should be able to find any thing obviously wrong. They will make sure the car is roadworthy - so all head lights, brake lights are checked, and all fluid topped up and engine oil changed.
Tyres are rotated and checked (please have the better tyres to the front for grip).

Some other changes you may consider (from time to time):

Bleeding brake line. This will ensure no bubble in the brake line and better feel on the pedal.
Gear box oil/ differential oil to suit track conditions. Some members have good results from Redline Lightweight Shockproof and Royal Purple Syncromax. For differentials, I use Redline Gear oil 80W140.
Brake fluid. Fluid with high boiling points are better for track conditions. Motul RBF 600 is commonly used and easily accessible.
Tyres. New/near new please. This is an integral part of the car for cornering, stopping and avoiding getting into trouble.
Wheel alignments. It does wonder for your performance and reduce unneccessary tyre wear on the day. Get some negative camber. Most people like varying degree of toe in for the rear tyres.

Further more, there are plenty of useful upgrades.

Brake pads. To avoid fading, it is when the pad decreases in stopping power in later part of the session. Various pads are used by members (please check the brake sections for further discussions). Generally, use a pad with temperature rating over 400 degree when using radial tyres and over 600 degree for R spec tyres (semi slicks).
Various mods. At your leisure

To the car:

Check engine oil level. Bring some spare, and check frequently during the day. Expect oil use to be more than normal driving conditions. Extra oil will be injected into the engine to lubricate the apex seal of the rotor.
Check tyre pressures. Be sure they are 36psi cold. Have a gauge handy in the pit.

To yourself:

Dress in non-flammable (cotton) garment from neck to ankle (long sleeve). Racing suit is not compulsory in our events but it will give extra comfort (and coolness).
A comfortable footwear with plastic sole is compulsory. No thongs. Racing shoes are not needed and there may add 2 horse power to the car
Helmet - a Australian standard helmet from motorcycle shop is good. It should bear an Australian Standard AS1698, and a light and affordable one can be found in local shops. Racing helmets holds Snell standards and also widely acceptable by CAMS across their events.
Plenty of fluid top up yourself.
A smile

Quickly before you take a long trip home:

Check all fluid levels.
Inspect brake pad thickness and rotor cracks.
And tyre pressure and tread level.
Battery leakage.

And then congratulate yourself for having a fun day and driving a straight car home.

Good luck

OzRenesis Video Collection

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:42:32 GMT

1. OzRenesis.com.au Broadford Track Day - by DriverDynamics
Broadford Track Day Dec 11, inc Taka's best laps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy5KExVZKOM

2. OzRenesis.com.au X'mas Cruise to Philip Island
OzRenesis Cruise to Philip Island. 16th Dec 2006. President's cut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hak0I-UAF1Y

OzRenesis is born

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:00:26 GMT

We are keen to have the site (www.ozrenesis.com.au) running but it is not the main point of our club.

Yes we have a new club - The OzRenesis, the Mazda RX-8 club of Victoria.

The nature of the club does not differ from what we are doing now. It is a CAMS affliated non profit club for social gathering and cruises. We organize private track events with instructor supervisions. We have members going to Autosalon and other related show and shine activities. We have planned long holiday cruise that probably going to be April when we travel around Tasmania.

On Sat Oct 6, we are planned to have a major festival of the Renesis at Winton Raceway.

What is new from this club, since we have the approval and awareness of our existence from Mazda Australia, is to invite some technical personals from dealers and central management for seminar type talks. Also motorsports companies like Meridian motorsports and tyre companies have shown interests holding sessions. It will be a truly exciting time of your RX-8 ownership.

Now let’s introduce our committee

William MacDougull (Yellowrxinoz) – Honourable Memember in the Committee
Kalliopi Katsamoundis (MissyK) – Secretary
Andrew Harris (auzoom) – Event/club organizer
Craig Brown (RXVIII) – Treasurer
Joel Sumalinog (Astro) – Vice President
Stephen Chan (Taka) – President

Please note that this club has nothing to do with the domain name OzRenesis.com

OzRenesis Broadford Track Day

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:10:50 GMT

Review of the Broadford Track Day

The track is scary (period)

I have weapons this time:

The left is a laser pointer temperature gauge. The middle is an accurate gauges that easily let air out when required. The right is a lap timer that I can see how I go every lap.

Kevin was kind enough to bring his compressor, so we could adjust whatever.

The day went pretty smooth........ly. We are slowly drift into gear with careful explanation of flag colour and plenty of joke to fly around. This pretty much settled most newbie's nerve.

The course is awesome, if you can see any of it while driving. It is like a roller coaster on rubber. Some exit you cannot simply see out of. A lot of guess work, practice and nerve. The track has no holes or unevenless, but just roll up and down when the terrain changes.

As Kevin described, it was a low grip circuit but there are plenty of the off area when it is required. As it is a bike circuit, there are places that you don't need the track and places you want more. Very strange.

I did do a string of low 1 min 11s just before lunch. I had problem with overheating of the front outside tyres (70 degree C compare with the left) and the pressure was higher. Strange. So I even out the pressure and tried again. No change. Eventually after a few increase and decrease of pressure I found the understeer problem is solved. I went from 35 hot to 33 hot and the left front from 37 lot to match but slightly higher than the right. The temperature then even out both sides.

The problem with the rear is harder to solve. The temp and pressure was even to start with. After a casual chat with Kev. He told me to soften up the rear suspension damper and it worked! Magic Kev.

I got another second down and found the hair pin is way too easy to control....

1 min 10.30 is the best that I could do.

Kev had something diff that I never had.
Fast lap shoot out, which is hand timed. You see how it was lined uped from MattRX's photo. This is my video of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLMKYRcUJc

This the video of the whole track day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy5KExVZKOM

You can see me excited when I get the 10.30

Kevin. We only had 2 beauties there for the whole day. Bring more in next time as umbella girl will ya!

Awesome day. Wish to have another go.