Soo, long time no update 😉
A lot has happened since the last race. The next race is already just a few days away.
I’m happy to say that, as of now, I’ll be taking part in the second round of the Roadster Challenge in Oschersleben with Erika, the MX-5 NC that’s been converted into a race car.
Erika wurde letztes Wochenende auf dem Prüfstand abgestimmt. Allerdings bin ich bisher weniger als 500m gefahren und habe auch sonst keine Vorerfahrung mit dem Auto. Daher steht am Freitag vorab eine Test- bzw. Einstellfahrt in Oschersleben an. Samstag und Sonntag folgen dann direkt Trainings, Warm up und Qualifying der Roadster Challenge.
I'm mentally treating the whole weekend as a way to get to know the car and I'm curious to see how well I'll get used to it (hoping that any issues that come up will be fixable 😅).
What exactly happened in the meantime?
- Engine overhaul
The engine installed in Erika suffered damage during the dyno run before the first race, which is why Erika wasn’t ready for use. This issue has now been resolved. - Dry sump conversion to baffled oil pan
Since, among other things, the dry sump conversion was not ready for use, we decided—due to limited time—to postpone it to the winter. Instead, a standard oil pan was installed again, but it was fitted with baffle plates to reduce the risk of air being drawn in. - Engine wiring harness overhaul
In addition, the engine wiring harness was rebuilt. Until now, the engine still had the stock wiring harness, with many additional components connected to it and some connectors no longer needed. This was removed and rebuilt so that it now exactly matches the current technical specifications of the car. - Switch to electronic throttle control
With the overhaul of the wiring harness, we also decided to switch back from a cable throttle to electronic throttle control. Now, the throttle valves are operated by a small electric motor, and an ignition cut during gear shifts has been programmed. - Other
In addition, continuous improvements were made. For example, I removed the rust from the driver's floor, we closed the corresponding holes, and finally installed the external main switch.
A few minor adjustments still need to be made over the next two days, but we’re optimistic about competing in Oschersleben.
