Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 21

COVER STORY
The Mint 400
features a smooth
infield with plenty of
opportunities to fly.
Perry Parts' custom
granule print head
is a purpose-built
pellet extruder, using
injection molding
material rather
than traditional
3D filament.
Buddy takes on the two-day Rage at the River desert race in Laughlin, NV before
the Perry Parts bump stops were installed. After 60 miles of racing, the passenger
front upper shock mount gave up the ghost and we couldn't race Day Two.
stop, measuring what I like or don't like about the ride quality. Then, using
that data, he can tune the shape and internal structure of the bump
stop to make it stiff, softer, more or less progressive - whatever I want.
I've raced on the too-stiff rear stops twice - I'm a busy gal, time
against the mounting points and control arms. In the
past, I just gritted my teeth and kept going.
Buddy now almost feels like a whole new car. Sure, the
Fox shocks are better in the desert than the Konis, but I
no longer clench up when I see a big hole ahead. Perry's
bump stops keep the front end stable, dissipating the
extreme forces the car has to endure. I've got some pretty
good chromoly upper shock mounts thanks to my
fabricator, but the lower control arms are still stock and
were never meant to take such abuse. Yet here I am, running
the same control arms with nary a crack in sight.
The bump stops in the rear are still too stiff. What's
cool is that Perry takes feedback and can dyno the bump
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
gets away from me and sometimes good enough is good enough -
becoming the first Miata to race during King of the Hammers in
Johnson Valley, California. Sure, I came in last, but who cares? I got a
Miata around some of the toughest desert landscapes in the world
and drove the car home. I also repeated my class win at the Mint 400
this year, taking 40 minutes of my previous time and adding 5 mph
(8 km/h) to my average speed. Was that just 25 mph (40 km/h)?
Yes. But trust me, that is fast enough in a little Miata.
I've finally got the time to install the new, softer set of rear bump
stops, and then it will be off to the HooptieX rallycross in Oregon at
the annual Gambler 500 event. That will be a great first test of the
new rear bump stops, and I'll finally have Buddy's suspension dialed
in. After that, I swear, I'll work on the wiring!
June 2024 21
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE MINT 400; DANIEL CURIEL; PERRY PARTS

Automotive Engineering - June 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - June 2024

Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - INTRO
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - SPONSOR
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - BAND1
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - BAND2
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - CVR1
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - CVR2
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 1
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 2
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 3
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 4
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 5
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 6
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 7
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 8
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 9
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 10
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 11
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 12
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 13
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 14
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 15
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 16
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 17
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 18
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 19
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 20
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 21
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 22
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 23
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 24
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 25
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 26
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 27
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 28
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 29
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 30
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 31
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - 32
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - CVR3
Automotive Engineering - June 2024 - CVR4
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