Took the 2 out today.

[SomeMarine]

Today I went to a track day at a local sheriff's training track. The track was tight and maybe 3/4ths of a mile per lap. Four or five cars would go out for five laps at a time, passing was permitted, but only in one area. Cars were let onto the track in five to ten second intervals. While it was tight there were a few places where a car could hit 80 mph+. Well, some cars, I took a ride along in a Z06 and we did 90 a few times, the fastest I saw in the Mazda2 was 65. I took the 2 because my Miata has been making a clunking noise in the suspension, and also because I could. The two is completely stock save for an armrest and "Demio" badgeing. After the parade lap I was fairly certain I had made a huge mistake, but it could have also been my hangover.

During the first heat I passed a modified Evolution. The driver seamed a bit dejected after asking me about my mods and hearing they consisted of a badge and valve stem caps, but we talked throughout the day and he just told everyone else I was "crazy". The final heat of the day I passed two Nissan 300ZXs (second gen, one turbo, one NA) and probably could have caught the NC Miata that was next if I had more time. I was never passed. While my Miata is more fun and much more capable, I almost had as much fun in the 2, especially considering how much more of an accomplishment things are in an econobox with 100 hp.

After the trackday was over I folded down the seats and picked up a hatch full of cones.

The Mazda2 is my girlfriend's daily, if I wasn't moving to Korea this winter I would be selling my jeep and building a B-Spec next week.

 

[eyeballs]

Nice! As if this car wasn't enough fun to drive as is, the underdog factor is always there to ensure further entertainment.

 

[DanR]

You know the old saying, it usually comes down to the nut behind the wheel. Another 2 well represented on the track.

 

[EF9]

Yep. I've been called crazy my everyone in my group of car friends for all the shenanigans and head scratchers I've managed to pull with such an under-modified car compared to theirs

 

[SomeMarine]

The problem now is that I want to drive it at 10/10ths all the time. Though I usually end up flogging my Wrangler for a few days after a track day, so hopefully It'll pass.

I was really surprised by the neutral handling. I've never tracked a FWD car before, and while there was a bit of understeer on some corners I definitely had the back out consistently on some of the transitions. Scared me the first time it happened, but the car was so predictable it helped me get around the track after I knew when it was going to be happening.

I'll probably take it autocrossing next Sunday. I imagine I'll be much more competitive against in the B class than against all the other Miatas.