Usher

I was sent a few more pictures from that autocross. The Hoosiers had a lot of grip on that lot as long as I stayed where the other cars had driven. If I got even a little bit off to the side into the loose dirt and gravel, I pretty much lost all traction, though. http://www.msu.edu/%7Eushernat/start.jpg http://www.msu.edu/%7Eushernat/slalom.jpg http://www.msu.edu/%7Eushernat/spin.jpg

I did make a battery, but I haven't installed it yet, aside from putting it in once to test. The maximum float charge on the battery is 13.8V, but the stock Miata alternator puts out 14.0-14.5V. It might be okay to put it in as is, but to be safe I need to drop the voltage coming out of the alternator by almost a volt. I bought another used Miata alternator in the hopes of modifying the voltage regulator, but it uses an IC regulator, so I might not be able to do it. I'm planning to play around with it this weekend and see if I can get something to work without too much trouble. For anyone who is interested, the battery I made contains 12 A123 Systems lithium iron phosphate cells. It has 360A peak current output, and is 6.9Ah. The total weight including my waterproof enclosure is just under 3.5 pounds. http://www.msu.edu/%7Eushernat/IMG_0056.JPG

The ABS was really easy to install, since the kit uses the suspension uprights and brakes from the Miata. It would have been more work to try to remove the wheel speed sensors than it was to just install the rest of the system. The ABS worked really well at the wet autocross I took the car to, only engaging when it should. My Miata donor was a '93 model, which was before they started to make the system too "smart." I'm pretty sure the system only looks at the differential speed between wheels, and not at deceleration rate, or vehicle weight.

That's my car. It's one of the first Westfield kits sold in America that uses a Miata donor. The drivetrain is from my 1993 Miata: 1.6 liter engine, 5 speed transmission, 4.3:1 viscous limited slip differential. It's all stock with 180,000 miles on it, except for the lightweight flywheel and new clutch. The car uses a lot of other parts from the Miata including wiring harness, gauges, suspension uprights and brakes. I even kept the ABS system from the donor car. I just had the car weighed yesterday, and it's 1,396 pounds with a full tank of gas and spare tire on the back.