NSXCApadaes, March 16-18th, Miami/Homestead FL

(photos and copy by Wei-Shen Chin)

Driver Dwight Brady and instructor Brian Rasche SCREAM into turn 1 at 110mph!

Newsflash....NSXCA club responsible for ending long drought in South Florida as 5 inches of rain soaks Miami!  Yup, can we pick'em or can we pick'em!  Despite the Saturday rain, 16 NSXs participated in our third Miami area meeting that we call NSXCApades.  We had a flurry of events starting with an autocross tire test conducted by Bridgestone Firestone at Pro Player Stadium Friday afternoon.  Bridgestone is introducing their new high performance S-03 Pole Position and RE950, both with superior wet handling due to a softer tread compound. 

An instructor admires Brian's new blue 97 NSX-T at Pro Player stadium...the entire event staff ran out of the tent to look as the first three NSXs screamed in!

An autocross was set up and wet down and we ran BMW 325's through the course with traction control off.  It was a BLAST!  Not only did we gain experience pushing cars at the limit on wet pavement, but we got to see what different tires would do to the car's handling.  The test was blinded in that the sidewalls of the tires were scraped clean of the identifying manufacturers marks.   After grading all three tires that were compared, the SHAVED RE950 came out the clear winner.  Although we did not test the new S-03, the Bridgestone rep said to expect event better handling with the ultra high-performance tire.  We'll see when they become available next month.  Nelson Landa had the second FASTEST time of anyone....including the instructors and his team also won the "24 minutes" of Lemans, a speed/time trial which included laps and crew changes.

Nelson wins!  Anyone want to buy some low mileage (450miles) BMWs...never driven on the street....honest....

Friday afternoon and evening was tech inspection and registration for our track event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  We all gathered at the Hampton Inn, Florida City in the late afternoon and just goofed off for 3 hours, culminating in an impromptu dinner at the Mutineer (much to their surprise!).  Tuner Mike Alcalde and Nelson Landa brought their newest toy, a Japanese spec Honda Civic Hatchback with a 185hp 1.6L 4 banger.

Look, the engine is in the FRONT!...much safer if you hit a deer.

Track day was Saturday March 17th at the fabulous 2.25 road course at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  After tech inspection and drivers meeting the track was open for business.  16 NSXs showed up to play...along with a bunch of other awesome cars.....a Viper, several M3's, RX-7s...FOUR Formula Mazdas.  At around 10am, a private rain event was developing just north of the track with vicious looking thunderstorms.  It seemed like we were going to get drenched any minute....but miraculously the rain skirted us, at times only grazing the north side of the track with a few errant drops.  That luck ran out at 230pm when the rain finally did arrive.   The track did dry out around 430pm but by then, most people had packed up.  We had planned to run the 4 FM's out the track in an exhibition "race" but that was cancelled....NEXT TIME.

Thunderstorms raging just north of the track during our noon hour photos

The Homestead facilities were excellent.  We particularly liked the TVs in each pit tuned to the 12-hour Sebring race AND the Weather Channel radar!  Unfortunately this event had two crashes....a Porsche 911 hit the wall in turn 2....and believe it or not....an RX-7 hit the wall during the PARADE lap...hmmmm.  Thankfully nobody was hurt in either event.  We had no NSX carnage....just one clutch that gave up and some HOT brakes.  Mustang had to be towed back to Tampa when the tranny let go.

The RX-7 guys and their cars at the lunchtime photo shoot

After a well earned shower many owners actually CLEANED their cars prior to our run up the Turnpike for dinner at Captains Tavern.  Yes, we were a few minutes late (15 to be exact) but the hostess was having a major cow!  She threatened to cancel the whole dinner if we wouldn't order RIGHT THEN.....just "chill" lady.....

The dinner culminated with a surprise birthday celebration for Elizabeth Landa!  Happy Birthday to YOU. 

View from the open deck at the Rusty Pelican with the beautiful Miami skyline

Virtually all of us slept in on Sunday morning.  We took a scenic drive down Old Cutler Rd. through Coconut Grove, finally arriving in Key Biscayne and brunch at the Rusty Pelican.   The view was outstanding although the storm clouds gathered AGAIN and we had another private rain event right after we quickly got group photos overlooking Biscayne Bay!

We did manage to get this group shot before the raindrops started (and the park ranger told us to split or pay $50 each for parking violations!) and had time to say our good-byes.  Until next time......thanks to the Miami NSXers for helping organize this weekend of events!

Wei-Shen

MORE RACE AND MISC PHOTOS BELOW.....ENJOY

Gary Jensen's new TOY!  Now we have two FM's in the Florida NSX group (pictured left to right, Kerry (Cougar) Jacoben, Jennifer Jacobsen, Gary Jensen)

Nelson flogging his new Civic!

Aren't these pits the best...you could take apart a car in here!

A Supra heads into turn 1....looks like it's taking off?

Gary Chappel and his 911

That's all for now.  The END.

Wei-Shen