AC Multiclass Abarth500/Mazda MX5@Silverstone, Wed 29th June 2022

HF2000 · Jun 29, 2022

@Allan Ramsbottom
Hey Allan, I saw Andre is back and also Fulvio signed up with the Mazda.
You will have to work hard for it tonight! And remember: in the Abarth I can defend you even with a blue flag!

Dzul · Jun 29, 2022

maxilogan said:
I was simply taking into account the next iteration of the same car I have (the Clubman R55) so going for the F54, but as of late I'm having a look at Abarths 500.. you guys are biasing me
Completely different cars, I know, but now that all the sons grew up I don't need a "big" car anymore. It has to be fun to drive..

So... why not a Mazda MX5 then?

On a more serious follow up, what are your "requirements"? Do you need space for more than 2 people? Space for a dog? You prefer RWD? I know it's a bit off-topic but such info can deliver better tips.

HF2000 · Jun 29, 2022

Dzul said:
So... why not a Mazda MX5 then? On a more serious follow up, what are your "requirements"? Do you need space for more than 2 people? Space for a dog? You prefer RWD? I know it's a bit off-topic but such info can deliver better tips.

The Fiat 124 Spider is then also an option. It's a MX5 clone.

And this is apparently also possible!

Allan Ramsbottom · Jun 29, 2022

@HF2000
On a major burst waste water main at work,cant leave till its repaired so depending what time the parts come i might not make it..Last time i did 1 of these it was a 19hr shift...

Kek700 · Jun 29, 2022

maxilogan said:
Wow! I'm sure it would be awesome! and for someone like me that finds it hard to have the time for more than one race in a week, it's nice to meet the same people but have the opportunity to taste something different every now and then.

Oh, and now for something completely off-topic.. but I'm surprising myself, now that the MINI starts showing the weight of the years it has (14 already..) searching for a replacement, even if it's something that won't happen before next year (just to have an idea of the next car). Up until now I was simply taking into account the next iteration of the same car I have (the Clubman R55) so going for the F54, but as of late I'm having a look at Abarths 500.. you guys are biasing me
Completely different cars, I know, but now that all the sons grew up I don't need a "big" car anymore. It has to be fun to drive..

I had the 2014 mini cooper F56 with the must-have chilli pack, a great car it was too.
driven a number of Abarth 595's a very good car if performance is number 1, but the mini is a much better car overall.
the only complaint was that I just wanted to race it everywhere and the controls were not exactly intuitive,
I would defiantly recommend it as a car and most certainly buy the same again, mine was an auto with a 1.5 petrol engine and would return 60 mpg when driven reasonably. Also with a very good auto box and spritely 3 cylinder engine.

Taj Johal · Jun 29, 2022

HF2000 said:
The Fiat 124 Spider is then also an option. It's a MX5 clone.

And this is apparently also possible!
View attachment 577374

Sacrilege, an ALFA Scuedetto on a Fiazda

(yes I know it was originally supposed to be the new Spider, but the Styling would have been more ALFA-like than the Fiazda)

danny26 · Jun 29, 2022

I've always driven relatively sensible hatchbacks, aka Golfs (Golves?), but like yourself Omar, I'm feeling the influence of this series. I've had several attempts at convincing my other half that I definitely need an MX5 despite working from home and driving less than 3k miles per year

She remains unconvinced!

maxilogan · Jun 29, 2022

Dzul said:
So... why not a Mazda MX5 then? On a more serious follow up, what are your "requirements"? Do you need space for more than 2 people? Space for a dog? You prefer RWD? I know it's a bit off-topic but such info can deliver better tips.

I'd like it a lot, but a 2 seater is most probably too stretched of a choice, while for sure being fun

HF2000 · Jun 29, 2022

danny26 said:
I've had several attempts at convincing my other half that I definitely need an MX5 despite working from home and driving less than 3k miles per year She remains unconvinced!

Same here!!! If you find the magic words, please, please let me know!!!

HF2000 · Jun 29, 2022

Allan Ramsbottom said:
@HF2000
On a major burst waste water main at work,cant leave till its repaired so depending what time the parts come i might not make it..Last time i did 1 of these it was a 19hr shift...

good luck with that Allan!

Dzul · Jun 29, 2022

Allan Ramsbottom said:
@HF2000
On a major burst waste water main at work,cant leave till its repaired so depending what time the parts come i might not make it..Last time i did 1 of these it was a 19hr shift...

Oh noes!

Hopefully you are as fast finishing the job as you are on the track.

Best of lucks amigo!

Dzul · Jun 29, 2022

danny26 said:
I've always driven relatively sensible hatchbacks, aka Golfs (Golves?), but like yourself Omar, I'm feeling the influence of this series. I've had several attempts at convincing my other half that I definitely need an MX5 despite working from home and driving less than 3k miles per year She remains unconvinced!

Same here... my excuse is once my kid leaves the nest there is no reason for a car for more than 2 people, a dog... and a towbar (right Han?)

.

maxilogan · Jun 29, 2022

HF2000 said:
The Fiat 124 Spider is then also an option. It's a MX5 clone.

I know, an ex-colleague of mine did buy it, and he's super happy with it.

HF2000 said:
And this is apparently also possible!
View attachment 577374

Oh please no.. not with this design at least..

maxilogan · Jun 29, 2022

Dzul said:
So... why not a Mazda MX5 then? On a more serious follow up, what are your "requirements"? Do you need space for more than 2 people? Space for a dog? You prefer RWD? I know it's a bit off-topic but such info can deliver better tips.

Yes I need space to deliver more than 2 people, while I usually leave the dog home when I'm travelling as I have someone who can care about it.
Never driven an RWD in real life, and that's the thing that scares me the most. If I happen to drive it like I drive it in simracing, I'll spin before even exiting the car dealer

maxilogan · Jun 29, 2022

danny26 said:
I've always driven relatively sensible hatchbacks, aka Golfs (Golves?), but like yourself Omar, I'm feeling the influence of this series. I've had several attempts at convincing my other half that I definitely need an MX5 despite working from home and driving less than 3k miles per year She remains unconvinced!

We'll definitely sustain your cause if you really want to succeed

maxilogan · Jun 29, 2022

I wanted to check if the race duration was 45 minutes or one hour, and in Simracing.gp i saw the registration list: it seems it'll be quite a crowded grid! (Especially for the Mazdas).

I couldn't practice for the entire duration, is a pitstop needed for the Mazda?

Allan Ramsbottom · Jun 29, 2022

HF2000 said:
I will organize an MFT01 race on Wednesday instead of the multiclass.

NO,no, no no, and a NO,keep it for the thurs crowd...On another note,whats happened to the little sexy Estonia???

HF2000 · Jun 29, 2022

maxilogan said:
I wanted to check if the race duration was 45 minutes or one hour, and in Simracing.gp i saw the registration list: it seems it'll be quite a crowded grid! (Especially for the Mazdas).

I couldn't practice for the entire duration, is a pitstop needed for the Mazda?

I guess it will be tight. Probably depends on your driving style. Prepare a pitstop just in case.

HF2000 · Jun 29, 2022

Allan Ramsbottom said:
NO,no, no no, and a NO,keep it for the thurs crowd...On another note,whats happened to the little sexy Estonia???

It will be a one time change, Allan. Don't worry. Wednesday will be for the multiclass.

stigs2cousin · Jun 29, 2022

maxilogan said:
Never driven an RWD in real life, and that's the thing that scares me the most. If I happen to drive it like I drive it in simracing, I'll spin before even exiting the car dealer

If you drive on the road as we do in simracing you deserve to be

"cut from the gene pool" my friend

But in all seriousness, I´ve been driving RWD cars since 1993 and never have spun on public roads.

Even with my current car which I´ve spun more than 100 times ( thrice this week alone when "tyre testing" on a skid pad

) never ever spun on public roads, only test tracks, race tracks and skid pads.

Apart from all responsibilty reasons current cars do have stability control and if you switch that of on public roads I´ll be after you with a rusty version of the tool above.

On a practicall note, this thing above seats two very comfortably, up to two big dogs and has a very usable luggage compartment.

But no trailer hitch and no bike rack, period!!
( my L frame Liteville 301 does fit in the trunk if you remove both wheels.
No problem with my longbow, the trunk can house about 2.000 arrows if needs be

If you want something like this be quick about it, the sportscar is about to die an agonizing death because of electrocution.
The BRZ2 and GR86 will be the last of the enjoyable and affordable sports cars.

Ok, theres still the "hairdressers Porsche Miata, but it´s on it´s last legs,too.
And if I remember correctly the Fiata is already dead. I would have preferred the Miata becuase of 2.0 NA, the 1,5 "rebreather" Fiat engine was only a peasants car heart on life support.

Now let´s see what you have at silverstone, heading over now

Carsten