Once home I had a week to play with before my first venture to JAE. The super-stretched elastic bands that now adorned the wheels, had opened up a rather unsavoury amount of arch gap. This meant only one thing. More lows were needed. So more lows it got. A few too many to begin with, causing mass carnage when exiting my not-particularly-steep driveway. So much so not even the JDM-est of JDM angles could overcome it.

As sensational as it did look, I decided I would rather use my car for its intended purpose, rather than an expensive, oversized garage ornament. So it came up a couple of threads all round again, and rocked up to Northampton in a trail of sparks and a cabin full of grins. Although getting fully beached on one of the speedbumps getting into the show, right outside the bar no less, was hardly my finest hour!

Also went and taunted some more Volkswagen's at Players:

Eventually I tired of having to drive like an old lady yet still laying frame absolutely everywhere, so I raised it up again. Only 10mm on the rear platforms, which sounds very little but actually made a hell of a difference. It drove so much better, and I think it actually looked better too, with a more aggressive nose-down stance. Then it set into old winter daily hack mode again. With a bit of snow plowing thrown in for good measure.

The new year bought with it some new goodies. First off the arrival of a Cobra Monaco S stool mated to some 3" TRS strapping. I had really missed having a harness, after dailying my Mk2 Golf with one for nigh on 2 years, so it was a very welcome addition, and one I definitely should have done sooner.

Not an update as such, but a reunion with some university mates for a little play/photo session, brought this photo into existence. It is still, to this day, my favourite image of the car, and to prove this fact it has been my facebook profile picture for over a year now. And I could still sit and stare at it for hours on end!

And then it was time to wave goodbye to the shiny black shoes. As much as I loved them, and boy did I love them, I was craving more girth up front and a little more practicality (aka less poke and less diagonal sidewalls) so they just had to go. But not before posing for one last photo...

In the mean time, whilst patiently waiting for their replacements to hit UK soil, I rolled on a couple of borrowed pairs of wheels which, frankly, looked a bit shit! But obviously I had to document this fact for good measure. The more eagle-eyed of you may also spot the additional aero adorning the front, which I'll explain shortly.

Whilst still patiently waiting these turned up, as a treat for my bruised and battered chassis rails. Fantastic bits of kit I have to say, would recommend them to anyone and everyone running a low 5.

So, more on the cannards, which also happened whilst still waiting patiently for my new wheels. I actually made the prototypes for these way back in 2010, using the trusted cardboard and gaffa tape technique (still waiting on my Blue Peter badge). They knocked about in the back of the garage for a few months before I decided to source a sheet of carbon and fab them up properly. They turned out pretty well I think considering the minimal expenditure!

I also ripped the rear bumper off to modify, and very nearly modified it into the bin as I was really digging the bare behind look! But alas, it did eventually get bolted back on, albeit with several fewer fixings!

Finally, after yet more patiently waiting, a quartet of big square boxes dropped onto my doorstep. They contained a set of Rota grid V's, in 15x8 et0 guise. They were part of the first shipment of gunmetal and polished flavour in the country and incidentally the first set to be bolted onto a car, with the help of a 195/45 T1R on each corner.

I then met up with Bruce, and drove under a truck. As you do.

Broke my second GV lip, but fortunately this time it was repairable with some drift stitching. Red zip ties for extra scene points.

Also ditched the front plate again, after running it for a token few months, as it was pretty pointless having it blocking 90% of the air to one of the cannards! At which point a friend of mine found it worthy enough to point his camera at. Cue more shameless whoring.

I had basically wanted a set of HSD's since day one, so when a set came up 2nd hand at a very good price, I just had to have them, even if it meant digging into the bank of Daddy Godders in exchange for some labouring work. And it was worth it in spades (pun intended). Even off the car they are things of sensational beauty. And once they were gracing each corner I was instantly kicking myself for not making the leap sooner. They are, with no exaggeration, absolutely incredible. I still regard the Racelands as one of the bargains of the century. But putting them up against these is like tossing Bruce Forsyth into the ring with Muhammad Ali. It is simply day and night.

Even sitting on it's sills, tucking sidewall like its going out of fashion. It rode absolutely beautifully. Nimble, poised, and soaking up undulations and poor surfaces with little to no drama. Oh and I finally got my grubby mits on a hardtop too. At the very height of summer of course.

Then, when giving a lift to a friend down some particularly savage B roads, the inevitable finally happened. Bang, crash, clatter, an explosion of blue smoke... All as a great big chunk of sump made a bid for freedom, and all my oil fell out.

A right old mess it made too, but you know what they say, if you're gonna do it, you may as well do it properly!

And this brings us up to the end of the last thread, with me and my compadre Kyle, also joined at this point by his brother in an equally stupid Beetle, sitting on a wall in the arse end of nowhere, waiting for my personal breakdown service to arrive with a tow rope, a TDI, and a big old dose of "I told you so".

The date is the 19th of May, the year 2011. And it seems as good a place as any to click that big blue 'post topic' button currently residing at the bottom of the screen. Chapter 2 of the saga, detailing my trials and tribulations of the next 10 months, will follow soon. And this time I really do mean soon, contrary to the many empty promises delivered previously! But for now I shall let you take a breather. Go and stretch your legs, perhaps take a shower, cook a meal, whatever it takes to get you refreshed and revitalised, ready for the next instalment of Amazingly Heterosexual Jdm Tarmac Terrorism.

Over and out.

 

That was an epic story...

But the year is 2012 now?

 

Is it soon yet???

I want to read what happens next!

 

Great summary of the previous thread mate, top marks for taking the time to put this together. Looking forward to the next update

 

someone got absolutly slated off this site for a car which practically looked the same as this (similar driveway too)? i see no difference other than you had more money it seems to put into the pit due to the mods you post about.... nice cage though.

 

Ah I never realised you had your wign mounts made up, would you mind telling me where you got them done? I need to do the same.

Also welcome back!

 

Good idea doing a bit of a summary, interesting to read through the story in one hit without all the random comments getting in the way!! So which way next...? We're all ears!

Russell

 

Looking forward to the next installment!

Easily one of my most favourite MX5s ever

 

Oh Godders you cheeky tease.

 

Ah! I was wondering who K505PHU belonged to...
A picture of your rear end cropped up the other day when I was searching for Big Rear Wings, but the most interesting part was your rear diffuser.

Please post the full story of the diffuser (sourcing/fitting/bumper mods/etc.)
Ta!

 

I really don't understand the hovercraft ride height scene thing, and as I am turning 40 this year, I am too old to learn new tricks, but just wanted to post and say what an enjoyable, well written story. Raised a smile reading that, thank you.

Martin.

 

Looking good

Any chance you could snap a close-up pic of the bracket that attaches the BGW to your boot lid please? I need to fabricate my own for mine and I'm needing inspiration.

Cheers
Cerbs

 

More please.

 

LIKE... (wouldn't want it as my car ) epic story telling

 

Love what you did to the car it looks awesome mate

 

great write up mate ,one of my favourite 5 s

 

Great build thread

Though whenever I see this pic -

I can't help but think of an Alien encounter -

Looking forward to the next phase....

N_Z.

 

I think this is actually my favouritest MX5 ever.

The big version of that pic of yours and Rory's just made me sit there and go... wow. When I first saw it.

 

Great read, and a truly awesome car!

 

I know i am going to sound like everyone else but this has got to be one of, if not my favorite 5 ever.
It is a credit to you godders and i'm looking forward to the next update.
Also i saw it at players last year and it was just stunning

Oh and i love the title name

 

Eventually, after entertaining ourselves throwing stones at a coke bottle (desperate times) my knight in shining armour turned up and towed me home, tail firmly between legs.

The next day I got a lift over to a breakers yard in Bath, who had promised me a replacement part. Monies exchanged hands and back I went to the garage to start the strip down.

Secured the engine with a crane, disconnected numerous nuts and bolts, and dropped the front subframe just enough so I could contort a ratchet wielding hand in the general direction of the sump fixings. And off it came... doing it properly was possibly a bit of an understatement. I reckon even the scrap man would require some persuasion to take this off my hands...

Then I set about cleaning up its replacement, removing the grotty remains of the old gasket, and applying a fresh line of new stuff. I then folded myself back up and under the car, manoeuvring it into position to bolt on. Only it wouldn't fit. Even after 20 minutes of varying tactics and head scratching. Eventually I admitted defeat, returned to my feet and got the tape measure out. Sure enough it was 20mm or so longer than the original. Aka it was a 1.8 one. Superb! On the blower to the breakers and it turned out they had indeed given me the wrong part, and the 1.6 originally destined for me was, in fact, damaged. They did refund me the paper outlay, but the time and petrol lost in the mean time will never be regained, which was most unsavoury.

Finding a new part locally proved impossible, so it was back on the phone, this time to the legend that is Junk Yard Dog, who sorted me out with one for mere pennies. Unfortunately this was late doors on a Friday, which meant ETA wasnt until mid next week.

Undeterred, I decided to use the free time, and relieve some built up stress, by tearing out my redundant air conditioning system. It is quite ridiculous how much all this gubbins weighs, and quite why they saw a need to fit it to a rag top in the first place is quite the conundrum. I also binned the washer bottle, in favour of a footwell mounted washer bag, and plumbed in my MSPnP and Innovate Wideband and Gauge. All in preparation for snail-power.

The lack of carpets in the above footwell picture have reminded me of a rather important update which I have completely failed to detail. So, hop into my tardis and lets rewind a couple of weeks, back before any oil was spilt, and everything in Mazda land was well.

Step up Area52. Second home of Bruce Holder, of Teenage Dirtbag fame. He had kindly offered me the use of his ramp, alongside his head, 2 hands, and a kettle, for a couple of days. The plan was to fit my Spec 2+ clutch, 1.8 Flywheel, swap my worn old VLSD for a Type 2 Torsen, and fit my P5 chassis rail braces, all of which had been adorning my workbench/bedroom floor for far too long.

One flying MX5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ain�t got nothing on this�

It has to be said the chassis braces were a long time overdue, my floorpan was in a sorry state. Take note kids; slam is bad. A bit of nursing back into shape with the trusted mallet and a good lick of Waxoyl later, and we were back in business, with everything now safe behind a big slab of laser cut stainless steel.

Obviously the carpets had to be taken back to bolt the braces through the floor, so I made the executive decision to bin them completely, which meant moving a lot of other stuff first, including the dash. We also took the opportunity to strip out some old wiring and tidy up the remaining spaghetti as much as possible. With 41 hours left until I was due on a stand in the Japfest paddock, my cabin looked like this:

Hardly show worthy! But we persevered, and a few hours later she was back on all fours, ready to roll. And I was long overdue a shower. So I parted company with Bruce and stalled my way home down the M4� going from a paper thin, slippy OEM clutch to a brand new hybrid paddle job certainly keeps you or your toes (and yes, once again, pun very much intended. Sorry.)

So I made it to Japfest, where the car went down a storm among some extremely strong company on the Yokohama Power and Style stand. And shortly after I made the trip up to Milton Keynes for a Stanceworks UK get together, in convoy with the not-so-dirty Dirtbag.

This brings us back into some semblance of chronology. With the car facing skywards in my garage, sans sump. And this is where this instalment must end, as my stomach is telling me dinner time is long overdue. So in summary, since the last post, we have got precisely... nowhere. Hopefully the next update will be more successful!

Goodnight.

 

Hands down my fave mk1 on here!

 

Loving the write up and the car itself. Top job!

 

i've read every page and comment of the last write up but this one was a great write up too

 

Cracking write up, first saw this car on ED38 and it's still my all time favourite '5.