The Blackbird Fabworx demo car

Yep, she's up and running!
After a speedy building process that lasted just about one month (of l-o-n-g hours) the car went for a little shakedown run at Streets of Willow race track and proven to be a real sweetheart in the making.

And then, the SpeedVentures Miata Challenge season started with the first event at Buttonwillow raceway and the new car just had to be a part of the action.
So we went for it, and while the car still has a way to go towards maximizing the potential, the end result was a 4th place finish in the new SuperMod class, which was rather pleasing considering how much more there's still to be done.

More coming up, but for now, enjoy some great pics from the Buttunwillow!

Introducing - the new shop car!

Yep, after searching for "the right one" for some time, the right one has been found!
She's a 2002 LS beauty, complete with a Variable Valve Timing motor (VVT), 6 speed transmission, 3.9 ratio Torsen LSD, sport brakes and other factory goodies from the top of the spec for the year.

The plan is to demonstrate some of the capabilities of Blackbird Fabworx in this car as it is being  transformed it into a track car.
On the menu we have a diet and a radical diet it is, forget Atkins or lap band, we got grinders and plasma cutters!
After several hundreds of pounds will be trimmed from the car, the attention will  fall on safety and stiffness as a proper rollcage will find its way in, parts of the tub will get seam welded and more.
The work will continue with suspension modifications, aerodynamic enhancements and mild engine work involving mainly "breathing" improvements.
Exciting times indeed!

Watch this space as this build has already begun and will be taking shape in the next few weeks.

In the works..

Blackbird Fabworx is busy, really busy.
There are prototypes of two new products in the worx and there are of course customer cars that come in to get some BFW magic worked into them as usual.

For example, right now there's a gorgeous Mazdaspeed Miata in the shop.
It was driven down from San Jose for a couple of major upgrades, first and foremost the replacement of the 4 point rollbar that was installed on the car with our top of the line GT3 6-point with a curved harness bar to accomodate the glass rear window.
This bar will be getting a custom metallic grey powder coat before going in for the final installation, so things should look just as nice as the rest of this car.

While we're on the subject of upgrading, the owner had a rather known Norcal race shop installing a pair of Lotus Elise seats in the car, but the custom brackets that they built for the seat were not well thought out (to say the least).
Instead, all new brackets will be fabricated to locate the seats and seat belts properly, especially on the driver side.

There's also a stockish looking white 97 getting a makeover.
This car is going to re-write the chapter in the book about how stiff you can make a miata without a full cage.
Seriously.
Stay tuned, more to come!

The business end of things

Here's what it looks like.
This Miata left today with a full 2.5" SS exhaust system that weighs only 23 Lbs from the header-back, no P/S or A/C, depowered rack and a subtle chop of the rear bumper.

With overall weight savings of 63 lbs., free flowing exhaust, reduced aero drag and one less belt on the engine, this baby feels like it's ready for some serious business!

Making a car go faster!

The current project in the shop is a returning customer with a nice supercharged NB that already features a BFW 6 point roll bar.

This time around it gets a personality adjustment -
Depowering the steering rack, removal of the P/S and A/C systems, Mazdaspeed motor mounts and a custom SS 2.5" downpipe-back exhaust system and a rear bumper light chop.

The exhaust includes a smaller muffler and a CARB-legal cat on V-bands so that it can be swapped for a race cat when going to the track.
The rear bumper chop offers a reduction in aero drag, but also allows the exhaust system to be routed shorter (and lighter) with an exit left of center.

Between the elimination of the accessory belt off the engine, the new exhaust, a significant reduction in weight and reduced drag this car will be zippier than ever when it leaves next week.

Inside Line review - BFW GT3 6 Point, part 2

The guys @ Inside Line can't stop raving about their new Blackbird Fabworx GT3 6 Point rollbar.
See what they say in Part 2 of the review .

Inside Line Miata gets a GT3 6-Point rollbar @ BFW

...And judging by their blog entry, they are lovin' it!
The Blackbird Fabworx GT3 is the top of the line 6-point bolt-in rollbar in our product line, featuring the proprietary door bars and the distinctive gusseted X-brace.

Have a look at what Jason Kavanagh, the engineering editor of the magazine, had to say about the product in his review and impressions of the quality of both the design and the execution of the GT3 6 pointer.