tadge44 still on track
Turbo Mini Forums

Long time since I posted anything on here but I am still alive to anyone who remembers the blue blobule, which now resides in Poole as I sold it 3 years ago.

I have been using MX5,s on trackdays up till lockdown and had a short spell in Norwich General after a spectacular car barrier interface at Snetterton but have now rather outgrown road cars on track.

Three of us have formed a syndicate we call TOBI (the old boys indulgence) and are using a heavily modified MX5 with a 2.3 Duratec (247hp) and a championship winning BMW 320 to share on a programme of trackdays starting at Mallory next Tuesday.

I shall be 77 shortly thereafter and our combined ages are over 210 years so that may give hope to some of you youngsters ??

excellent.

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

Good stuff. I was actually in contact with the guy that bought your A35 just a few weeks ago.

Phil.

WWW.TURBO-MINI.COM

I did consider buying it back Phil, but the reasons for selling havn,t changed so I went for the TOBI instead.

TOBI sounds a great idea. 250hp in a MX5 will do nicely!

Sorry to hear about the "interference" with the barrier, the less glamorous and often untold side of throwing cars about.

I'll keep an eye out for the blobule as it's local. Thank you for the hope that I may continue attempting to complete seasons for many years to come!

Brilliant stuff!! What a fantastic idea.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Good to hear from you.

Please keep us informed of the TOBI escapades, I would like to hear how you get on.

Dry sunny day at Mallory and a good day out, even if it was sessions only. BMW performed well with only 140 bhp but it is a very stable and forgiving car. Our star driver managed 100mph indicated in the BMW on the exit to Gerrards but I spun the MX5 trying emulate him, fortunately without hitting anything or anyone.
MX5 is mental. with a temporary diff at 3.7 instead of the usual 4.4 we used only second and third and third gear at 7800rpm at the end of each straight is about 115mph
Cadwell next on 19 May with the MX5 suitably geared, hopefully

Nice to hear from you.
Keep us up to date on your antics.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

I am so very pleased that some of you remember me.
I would never have got a reliable turbo A series without all the help that I got unstintingly from so many of you

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

WWW.TURBO-MINI.COM

Great stuff! I like the TOBI concept

'Where does the engine go?'

Long gap again between posts.
Cadwell was great with no incidents and I managed a session in the BMW with consistent improvements in lap times finishing up 8 seconds quicker
However Richard had an evening trackday with relatives and managed to blow up the 2.3 in the MX5
it was only yesterday that we got the engine out and stripped. There was no piston at all in No 4, just the conrod and gudgeon pin flailing around !!! Never seen the like .that engine is now scrap so looking at alternatives,possibly 2.5
This means that it will be only one car at Snetterton this Thursday.
Snetterton is the circuit where I crashed heavily about 18 months ago and have not driven in since.

Beat the jinx at Snetterton and had a good day in the dry with some satisfying laps in close company with a pair of MX5,s

"Our" MX5 is awaiting the fitting of RX8 rear uprights, RX8 diff at the right ratio and the six speed gearbox all in preparation for a replacement 2.5 litre engine presently being built in Texas with all the right goodies.
Expected hp around 275 with a better spread of torque
Next outing Cadwell again on 22nd.

My swansong will be on Dec 8th, driving the Silverstone GP circuit.

Are these common/easy modifications for a track mx5, or do they require a lot of fabrication?

Enjoying these updates. New engine in the mx5 should make it a rocket.

Nic, much RX8 stuff is pretty much a straight swap. Diff is not, but not too much to do.
Mazda Mk 3 of course not sure about the earlier ones.
2 litre engine in Mk 3 is pretty much just a 2 litre Duratec Ford so all Duratec variations and tuning will fit.
Big scene in the US with MX,5,s even with V8 installed and no external evidence

Last post on here at least on this subject
I have done 11 trackdays this year in the BMW and didn,t spin once.
Swansong was last Monday on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in the wheel tracks of Lewis and Max
Dry clear day and that circuit is awesome
Because we share a car and there was only two instead of three drivers I and we knew it was my last event I got lots of seat time and had a great day to put in the memory banks.
Definitely hanging up my crash hat for good now, at 77

Great swansong! Being only a year or two behind you, I always think this year could be the last.

'Where does the engine go?'

Despite the above I managed to blag my way into an M3 for a couple of trackdays and still enjoyed it but last outing was early 2024.
At 81 I really do now have to acknowledge that anno domino have beaten me, plus my wife has got Alzheimers and needs all my attention now
Many happy memories of all the times I had and all the interaction with all you guys

BTW if anyone has any knowledge of the blue blobule(A35 registered 575TMT pale blue) last seen in the Dorset area I would definitely like to know as I would now buy it back

all the very best, i too feel the racing is coming to the end. So sorry to hear about your wife, a lovely lady who gave me tea and biscuits when I came to pick up a cylinder head. If i hear of the Blobule I will let you know!

'Where does the engine go?'

Good to hear from you again, and I’m pleased to hear you have still been out on track.

All the best for your wife.
I hope you can be reunited with the A35 as a slight distraction