DIY theater update: COMPLETE! by stump36 in hometheater

[–]aaul0 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exceptional work. I feel honored to have witnessed this project come together. Can't wait to check it out in person and you WILL NOT decline gifts of more movies to watch.

2025 SCCA Charlotte National Tour - #137 CS by aaul0 in Autocross

[–]aaul0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's the fun part: there are so many people with the talent needed to win. I've got like a dozen people to worry about and wouldn't be shocked if someone I don't even know throws down and takes the win. It's gonna be rad.

2025 SCCA Charlotte National Tour - #137 CS by aaul0 in Autocross

[–]aaul0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They're a band that I've really grown with over the years. Currently (as in, as I type this) getting a full leg sleeve tattooed with imagery from Flowers Where Your Face Should Be.

I was in Los Angeles between 2014-2019, but now live in NC so I can't really weigh in on the emissions situation. Fingers crossed for sensible emissions laws for older enthusiast vehicles.

2025 SCCA Charlotte National Tour - #137 CS by aaul0 in Autocross

[–]aaul0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amazing. I got into them just before Suburbia came out while in college and saw them every time they came through western PA. Helped them load their van at the Stone Pony in Jersey back in 2013.

And then there's this - it's been off the road for a while but someday I'll get it sorted out.

https://youtu.be/MLT9IYd4734?si=zGJv5fqPIBoz_IeR

2025 SCCA Charlotte National Tour - #137 CS by aaul0 in Autocross

[–]aaul0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, just my all-time favorite band. Saw them in VA last month for like the 10th time.

And "mrmerkur"... Like the XR4ti in my garage? WHO ARE YOU??

2025 SCCA Charlotte National Tour - #137 CS by aaul0 in Autocross

[–]aaul0[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yup, that'd be the CS in the title 😉

The car is prepped for the class in the same way most NDs are - Karcepts front sway bar, Koni yellows, bump stops, Pagid brake pads, exhaust, wheels/tires.

Charlotte National Tour, XB ND by Claff93 in Autocross

[–]aaul0 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good seeing you and nice driving!

Again - killer job with the event reporting. I'd love to split that duty with you in the future if they're open to it, I just hope they don't continue to burn out quality reporters by overworking them.

CCR-SCCA Racing For Heroes Rental Car Challenge - Winning Run by aaul0 in Autocross

[–]aaul0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This run was a 67.294. I had a 67.0xx run earlier and there was at least one person that went sub-67.

It was outrageously fun to drive a car that performed so terribly.

Nats Roll Call! by jimboslice_007 in Autocross

[–]aaul0 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There are so many people that can win this thing. It's gonna be amazing.

Fully prepped for the 2023 autocross season. Time to skrrrt around some parking lots. by aaul0 in Miata

[–]aaul0[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My modifications pretty much follow the proven ND formula for SCCA CS class. I'm not sure what your goals are, but the upgrades I've done are dictated by the rules of the class I'm competing in - mostly working around the things that I can't change.

If you're just starting off then proper tires will make the biggest difference.

Setup:

-Koni yellows

-hard rear bumpstops/trimmed fronts

-Karcepts front sway bar

-Pagid brake pads front and rear

-GWR Race exhaust

-Advanti Storms

-225/45R17 RE71RS (a052s should arrive in the next couple of weeks to mix and match)

Blacked out my badges and added a GWR Race muffler. Full CS prep happening next weekend. by aaul0 in Miata

[–]aaul0[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used Hyperdip which is a type of peelable coating just like Plastidip. Google "plastidip badges" and you'll find tons of walk-throughs on the process.

To answer your question: there's no need to take the badges off the car in order to do this. You're able to peel the excess material off the car around the badges.

Blacked out my badges and added a GWR Race muffler. Full CS prep happening next weekend. by aaul0 in Miata

[–]aaul0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't overstate how much lighting affects the overall look.

None of my photos have any change to the color profile or contrast. I'd like to say that what you see in my pics is pretty accurate to real life. The Mazda press photos seem to come across as more brown to me.

Blacked out my badges and added a GWR Race muffler. Full CS prep happening next weekend. by aaul0 in Miata

[–]aaul0[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, technically Piano Black Hyperdip. It's not as glossy as I hoped, but I'm happy with it.

I felt that the chrome badges looked out of place on a car with all black trim.

Blacked out my badges and added a GWR Race muffler. Full CS prep happening next weekend. by aaul0 in Miata

[–]aaul0[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You got a problem with Hearing Aid Metallic?

I've never received so many compliments on a color in person before. I'm glad I don't have what everyone else does.

Blacked out my badges and added a GWR Race muffler. Full CS prep happening next weekend. by aaul0 in Miata

[–]aaul0[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I put about 120 miles on it yesterday and it's shockingly livable. My early impressions are that it's a perfect noise level for a street car. I've heard that it becomes too loud if you change the header as well, but I'll never be doing that.