1st time on track w/ MSP

[SDMSP]

Just came back from Willow Springs Raceway, we had a track event on the big track. I just bought my MSP four weeks ago, and this was the first time I drove it on a track. All I have to say is this car is the best handling front wheel drive car I have even driven and that includes the all mighty ITR. The car is all stock except I change the stock rubber to Falken Azenis 225/45/17. It is easy to drive this car at its limits. The car ran consistently all day with no problems. It is stable under braking and neutral in corners. Im really happy with my purchase, I just wish it had 30-40 more horsepower

 

[jersey_emt]

Yes...I love how this car handles. Today I took a turn off a highway a little too fast...and actually got a bit of oversteer...which is incredible for a FWD car. VERY progressive and controllable...the car slid exactly where I wanted to go. Of course it was a bit scary at the time, because the ramp was only about 15 feet wide.

Then this afternoon, I went on a fun run with another MSP and a regular Protege, and had a blast. Windy backroads are so much fun with this car.

I can't wait until the track around me opens up their road course... 1.5 miles with 13 turns.

 

[Jawaiian23]

I raced willow springs on sunday. Conditions were perfect. my stock Protoge5 was decent. The stock tires took a pretty good beating. I started out with 36psi front/34 psi rear then ended up with 38 front/35 rear. All the hondas were taking me on the straights, but i kept up on the turns. Especially going into turn 9 and down turn 5 into 6. What does your second gear top off at. I don't know what speed mine was topping off at, but 1/2 down turn 5 i had to shift to 3rd, back to 2nd then back to 3rd going into turn 7. Oh well it was fun.

 

[SDMSP]

I raced willow springs on sunday. Conditions were perfect. my stock Protoge5 was decent. The stock tires took a pretty good beating. I started out with 36psi front/34 psi rear then ended up with 38 front/35 rear. All the hondas were taking me on the straights, but i kept up on the turns. Especially going into turn 9 and down turn 5 into 6. What does your second gear top off at. I don't know what speed mine was topping off at, but 1/2 down turn 5 i had to shift to 3rd, back to 2nd then back to 3rd going into turn 7. Oh well it was fun.

yeah the conditions were great, I kept the front and rear tires at 40 psi (hot). I believe I was toping 3rd gear around 97 mph at 7000 rpm. I down shift to 2nd at turn 3 and shift to 3rd after turn 4, slowed down a bit for turn 5 but stayed in 3rd gear. 3rd gear through 6 and shift to 4th before turn 7, WOT all the way through turn 8 (doing about 110mph) Man I can't wait til next event, are you going to the Feb 20th event?

 

[Jawaiian23]

Wow you were going pretty fast. I'm planning on attending the next event. I haven't raced the street course with a car. I raced it counterclockwise on a sportbike. I will be running the same stock Protoge5. Hope you see you there!

 

[GUNNAR]

How did the tires (Falken Azenis 225/45/17) do on the MSP, any rubbing and where the tires on the Factory rims? If they weren't mounted on factory rims what offset were you running?

 

[Turbo Matty P]

top of third in a p5/msp is no more than 83-85mph.....97mph is well into 4th gear.

 

[SDMSP]

top of third in a p5/msp is no more than 83-85mph.....97mph is well into 4th gear.

I was changing gear at 7000RPM and my speed was 97 give or take couple of miles

 

[lamp3]

I'm very curious about how the falkens worked out as well

 

[SpicyMSP]

SDMSP check out MOCCForums.com. We just had a buttonwillow track day

 

[Brian MP5T]

Very cool, The "Old" Protege frame will go down in history as one of the best handling cars in this price range. Too bad the new three didn't incorporate this feature into it's design. (nervous)

 

[SDMSP]

I'm very curious about how the falkens worked out as well

There was some rubbing in the back, I had to trim the plastic cover and that did the trick (thumb)

 

[GUNNAR]

There was some rubbing in the back, I had to trim the plastic cover and that did the trick (thumb)

So you used the Stock wheels?

 

[SDMSP]

So you used the Stock wheels?

yes, normaly I use race tires like Kumho Victoracers, but since the 16" Rota Slipstream rims that I ordered didn't come in on time, I put the Falkons on the stock rims, but it worked out well.

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

I love the oversteer I get on this car. I got a little in my P5, but when I had just got this car, I truned super fast and hard, like I would in the P5, an almost spun the car(there was dirt on the road, so that helped me loose traction once i got the back end out a bit). It's great for drifting in the snow without useing my e-brake.

 

[SDMSP]

SDMSP check out MOCCForums.com. We just had a buttonwillow track day

Looks like you guys had a lots of fun, when is the next event?