OK, wiseass, so you need some space to vent. Here it is. Direct letters to the editor to sccnews@sourceinterlink.com and we'll do our best to come up with a snide response. Or completely ignore you. But hey, at least you've got a voice.
Free Stuff!
To help bring him up to speed, we're giving Jim a case of 0W-50 oil from ENEOS Oil. Produced by Nippon Oil, Japan's largest oil company, ENEOS is a 100% fully synthetic motor oil that promises high wear resistance and temperature stability. Visit www.eneos.us for more info. To follow in Jim's footsteps, send us your feedback to sccnews@sourceinterlink.com, or to Sport Compact Car - Inbox, 2400 E. Katella Ave. - 11th Floor, Anaheim, Calif., 92806.
Letter Of The Month
Though I've got a '99 Miata, I've been upgrading for only the past two years - Jackson supercharger, KYB adjustable shocks, '01 Miata big brakes plus Hawk pads, HardDog rollbar, bigger wheels with Kumhos, etc. Soon I'll get into sporadic track/performance events. However, since I haven't been fiddling with cars since drag racing in the 60s, I'm way behind in technology. Hence my interest in your magazine and three big questions:
A)What's the best "primer" for modern automotive technology (if there is one)?
B) Now that I've read your Oct '08 issue, how can I get parts 1, 3, 6, 8, 9 10, 11 and 12 of the previously published "Suck, Squish, Bang, Blow" series (which would adequately answer "a" above)?
C) How can I get reprints of the five part "Making It Stick" suspension series?
These two series alone would be worth putting into a compilation for sale. Hey, it's tough to put together a respectable daily driver/performance car and try to sort through various mechanics' opinions, anecdotal "histories", vendor promises, et al and being 30 years (or so) behind the times!
Jim Morton
Marietta, GA
We've been putting some extra time into our website, www.SportCompactCarWeb.com, and plan to have complete archives up soon of your favorite past tech stories and series. But if you're looking for a solid, real copy that you can take to the bathroom or the garage, then the task will get a little bit harder. "Suck, Squish, Bang, Blow" began back in 1999 and it's not guaranteed that our back issues department (at www.primediabackisues.com) will still have copies on the shelf. The chances are much higher for finding hard copies of the later "Making It Stick" series. So for those of you that don't have SCC issues from '99 sitting on your bookshelf, who else wants to see a compilation or "best of" printed up separately? - JL
Read any good books lately?
Two thumbs up for your "Best of 20 Years" issue, I more than enjoyed.
Well allow me to get right into my request. I want to better prepare myself for being a tuner upon my release from prison. I would love to specialize in engine and suspension tuning. So if you can, I would greatly appreciate any references to reading material that covers tuning in the above two fields.
I don't have the 12-part issue "Suck, Squish, Bang, Blow" (Aug 1999 - May 2003) and there's no way I could get some good ol' hands on experience behind these walls. So your recommendation would be appreciated.
Christopher Martins
Federal Correctional Institution, NY
As long as you've got some spare time, I'd study what racing teams are doing. Then you can de-tune your approach for tuning street/weekend track cars. The bible for racecar set up is Carroll Smith's "Tune To Win." It is part of a series that he has written. They're each very informative on their own. But to avoid saying the same things over and over they frequently reference the other books. I'd start with "Tune To Win" then hunt down "Engineer To Win," or "Prepare To Win," or whatever other area peaks your interest. "Drive To Win" is a must for any aspiring track drivers out there.