FM TV

Pick a video!

Autocrossing the V8 Miata - Keith
Not Keith's fastest run of the day, but close. It's a fun one to watch. Who says V8 Miatas don't handle?
Keith and Brandon have different driving styles, but they tend to trade FTD back and forth.
Watch it! (6.27 MB, divx)
Watch it! (google video)

Autocrossing the V8 Miata - Brandon
Brandon's fastest run of the day in Elvis. He's a little boring to watch because he's smooth - sorry about that. He and Keith were within 0.3 seconds of each other.
And 4 seconds ahead of everyone else at the autocross.
Watch it! (6.24 MB, divx)
Watch it! (google video)

Whoosh on the track
Whoosh is our first Miata. Bill's been driving it on tracks all over the US for the past 15 years. They get along well. In this video, it's fitted with a set of old Toyo RA1 tires and running about 6 psi of boost. This was filmed at our Open House.
Watch it! (2.8 MB, quicktime)
Watch it! (google video)

The Seven on the track
Not as smooth as Bill, this is Keith in his Seven on the track at the Open House. This is the fastest lap of the day and was the record for cars on the track for a couple of years until Keith broke it again with the same car.
The car is running on a set of Toyo RA1 tires.
Watch it! (2.4 MB, quicktime)
Watch it! (google video)

FM Speed: The Superfour Challenge car in action
Not a great start, this is one of the early runs at the Superfour Challenge. The car got faster later in the day as the driver worked out how to launch this beast. You can hear it light up the big 245 tires near the top of first gear.
Watch it! (816 kB, quicktime)

Elvis on the track
Bill drives Elvis around the track at our Open House. The car is long on horsepower (it is fitted with the 350-ish hp engine from the Superfour Challenge car) but short on traction (it's running stock tires from our Mazdaspeed). Why did we put our slipperiest tires on our fastest street car? That's a good question. Regardless, Bill is very smooth and you'll never know just how hard the tires are working. Riding shotgun is Zandr Milewski, who is enjoying the acceleration.
Watch it! (3.0 MB, quicktime)

Testing the Track Dog: Wheelspin on the dyno
Bill runs through the gears on the dyno, full throttle. Wheelspin in first and second gear - yeehah. Watch the burst of exhaust from behind the driver's front wheel on the 1-2 shift.
Watch it! (620 kB, quicktime)

A Sunday drive with Keith
Keith's little Seven on the back roads near Grand Junction. Imagine a Miata that's 1000 lbs lighter. He was complaining about cold-weather traction in his Toyos for some reason. More videos and pictures of the car may be found at on Keith's site.
This is what the FM guys do when they're not working.
Watch it! (2.0 MB, quicktime)

Track Dog: Chasing the Datsun.
At Buttonwillow, chasing the Datsun around in the last session of OTC 2003. Watch the red M3 up ahead.
Watch it! (1.0 MB, quicktime)

Track Dog: 340 hp dyno run
A run on the dyno with our Track Dog race car. Not exciting to watch, but it sounds great. This run made about 340 hp and 300 ft/lbs on our 1.8 test motor. Don't mind the mess on the dyno - that's what happens when you're throwing parts into the car in a hurry.
Watch it! (1.2 MB, quicktime)

Track Dog: Willow Springs, chasing an M3.
Rick chases a yellow M3 halfway around Willow. The button he pushes on the steering wheel is for the radio - he's talking to the pits.
Watch it! (3.2 MB, quicktime)

Track Dog: Willow Springs, a fast lap.
Come along for a fast lap of Willow Springs. Rick Weldon is your tour guide. Don't pay any attention to the malfunctioning tachometer.
Watch it! (8.0 MB, quicktime)

Willow Springs: Chasing a Spec Miata
So, is the Track Dog faster than a Spec Miata?
Watch it! (535 KB, quicktime)

Willow Springs: Another M3, only this one's red.
Running down an M3 on RA-1 tires.
Watch it! (565 KB, quicktime)

Pahrump: A fast lap.
Gary Sheehan takes you on a tour of Pahrump.
Watch it! (4.0 MB, quicktime)

Willow Springs: Horsepower.
An extra 150 hp or so can make a difference. The Track Dog versus the Gerbils of Fury. The button he pushes on the steering wheel is for the radio - he's talking to the pits
Watch it! (400 kB, quicktime)

AFCO suspension through a chicane
So, how much can our AFCO suspension absorb? Lots. Here's what happens when you straight-line the chicane on our local track. The camera car - our turbo Westfield - couldn't keep up. Or, if you believe the driver, he was convinced he was about to be showered with flying parts.
Other people say this is cheating. Keith says it isn't.
Watch it! (2.31 MB, divx)

Track Dog : Pahrump, A close pass.
That was a close one! Watch the rear view mirror at the beginning of the video.
Watch it! (860 KB, quicktime)

Track Dog: Thunderhill in traffic
About half a lap of Thunderhill. Includes some real problems getting past the Fiero.
Watch it! (4.2MB, quicktime)
Watch it! (google video)

Track Dog: Thunderhill. Hey, get out of the way.
Horsepower versus handling. The Track Dog didn't have the power to get past the 400-500 hp tube-frame Fiero on the straights, but the Dog was a lot faster in corners. This cost us two fast laps. The Fiero driver said he waved us by - can you see it?
Watch it! (2.9 MB, quicktime)

Track Dog: Vegas. Transmission failure.
The first transmission failure. 3rd gear lets go, then 5th is gone. Rick Weldon struggles to find a way to bring in the Dog.
Watch it! (1.0 MB, quicktime)

Track Dog: Vegas. A quick lap.
A quick lap of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway 1.8 mile course. Gary Sheehan drives.
Watch it! (3.0 MB, quicktime)