| RoninSTI | 05-28-2005 12:56 AM |
Anyone do spec miata?
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I've been doing alot of research on spec miata lately and I'm really considering preppring a car over the winter for the next season. Does anyone have any experience with it?
I really want to race and this seems like the most fun/cost effective solution as I dont want to road race the STi. I also think driving a miata in a series like that can really teach alot about car control. Let me know any ideas or suggestions any of you may have.
thanks
I really want to race and this seems like the most fun/cost effective solution as I dont want to road race the STi. I also think driving a miata in a series like that can really teach alot about car control. Let me know any ideas or suggestions any of you may have.
thanks
| SolbergWRCfan | 05-28-2005 01:38 AM |
It is an excellent series. Also, due to the car's relative lack of power it is one that values a precise line and carrying as much momentum as possible. Direct drive small displacement karts are good practice. I have only driven a spec Miata once but I was impressed at how much fun it was with very little invested. I can't see any way you could go wrong with this series as IMO any road racing is an absolute blast and this happens to be one of the cheaper more competitive forms of road racing outside of karts. Try to get a 1.8 miata though (I am not sure on the years that they came in) as they have a bit more oomph. Once I get my feet on the ground after school I plan on prepping a spec miata as my first major automotive investment.
Jon
PS: No road racing is "cheap", but this does it damn well.
Jon
PS: No road racing is "cheap", but this does it damn well.
| PA04STI | 05-28-2005 03:51 AM |
super charge one...buddy has one and he wants to do that. Some new kit a company makes and it is crazy.
Matt
Matt
| mykrrrr | 05-28-2005 05:35 AM |
AFAIK, you can't run a forced induction in Spec Miata.
I've toyed w/this idea as well but I think I may have found my race toy (rally prepped Golf GTi) but this will only happen if I can sell my wagon. :rolleyes: :(
-mykr.
I've toyed w/this idea as well but I think I may have found my race toy (rally prepped Golf GTi) but this will only happen if I can sell my wagon. :rolleyes: :(
-mykr.
| yobtah | 05-28-2005 10:09 AM |
Right... no forced induction in Spec Miata. Because it's a "spec series", all cars must meet the specifications, and they end up being very close to the same performance. Somewhat surprisingly, the earlier ('90-'93) 1.6 liter cars are often more popular because the earlier cars are a bit lighter, and the later 1.8 liter cars must run a restrictor plate to make performance more even.
| jmolaver | 05-28-2005 11:51 AM |
My brother has a SM, and he's asked that I co-drive with him this year (as soon as my schedule stops borking my comp license school). The car is an absolute riot to drive, it's got more grip then you can imagine (NASA mid-atlantic mandates RA1s for the spec tire), and it's lack of raw grunt just means you have to be smoother.
An early generation Miata should be able to be had for ~$3,000 and all the bits will probably add up to a few thousand more (but the Spec Parts from MazdaSpeed are cheap). The car was a blast to prep, and the Spec exhaust sounds sooo nice (and could also make your ears bleed). One thing to consider is that your going to need a tow-vehicle and trailer, which adds significantly to the bottom line price of this project.
Let me know if you want to know anything else specifically.
An early generation Miata should be able to be had for ~$3,000 and all the bits will probably add up to a few thousand more (but the Spec Parts from MazdaSpeed are cheap). The car was a blast to prep, and the Spec exhaust sounds sooo nice (and could also make your ears bleed). One thing to consider is that your going to need a tow-vehicle and trailer, which adds significantly to the bottom line price of this project.
Let me know if you want to know anything else specifically.
| GarySheehan | 05-28-2005 02:43 PM |
I'm building one now...
[img]http://www.teamsmr.com/images/Build%20003%20Web.jpg[/img]
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.teamSMR.com[/url]
[img]http://www.teamsmr.com/images/Build%20003%20Web.jpg[/img]
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.teamSMR.com[/url]
| RoninSTI | 05-28-2005 06:51 PM |
Oh wow I didnt think it would generate this much response. Glad to hear such positive feedback. I have a one up as far as racing costs go because my dad manages an automotive restoration/race shop I have access to trailers and people who can build cages and the like. I'm going to keep researching and begin my prep this winter. I was considering buying a car already prepped, but I think part of the fun is building one of these guys so thats what i'm going to do. I'd like more details on your car Gary, when will it be track worthy?
| Georgethefierce | 05-28-2005 09:30 PM |
[url]www.specmiata.com[/url]
will give you general idead on cost, rules etc.....
I've seen decent ones for as little as 9K and great ones for as much as 30K
Spec Class or no Spec class racing = $texas
will give you general idead on cost, rules etc.....
I've seen decent ones for as little as 9K and great ones for as much as 30K
Spec Class or no Spec class racing = $texas
| GarySheehan | 05-28-2005 11:00 PM |
[QUOTE=RoninSTI]I'd like more details on your car Gary, when will it be track worthy?[/QUOTE]
I think it will be ready in about 2 months. I'm looking for a place to media blast it for a decent price. As you can see, it's going to be a ground-up build.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.teamSMR.com[/url]
I think it will be ready in about 2 months. I'm looking for a place to media blast it for a decent price. As you can see, it's going to be a ground-up build.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.teamSMR.com[/url]
| Subaru Gwinnett | 06-01-2005 09:53 AM |
I race a Spec Miata. I've got somewhere between $10-$12k in it. I actually drive the car to the tracks, which I know is risky, but I always have a flatbed on call...
We got 2 double schools at Roebling Road, with 4 races at Roebling, a race a Road Atlanta, a bunch of auto-crosses, some time at Barber, a hour and a half enduro at Daytona, a BUNCH of time on TGPR, and 16 THOUSAND street miles out of a set of RA-1's. They started full-tread depth for first double school at Roebling in the wet, then we just kept driving them.
They are still usable, but they are pretty dry...
The car is a blast, even my wife enjoys driving it. I rent it at the Siegel Racing Driver Education Clinics. Brake pads, rotors, hubs, and tires all last over 8 weekends... Hawk HP+'s were almost enough for street and track, the Carbotech XP9's take a bit more pedal pressure but seem to work well for street and races.
The car's just a kick. We check the oil and lug nuts, set the tire pressures, maybe the sway bars, and go racing.
Compared with sprint shifter-karts, where we were prepping extensively before a weekend, making major changes EVERY time we came off the track, thrashing after the day to get ready for the next, and spending LOTS on motors. This motor is supposed to get better and better for the next 40,000 miles...
SS
We got 2 double schools at Roebling Road, with 4 races at Roebling, a race a Road Atlanta, a bunch of auto-crosses, some time at Barber, a hour and a half enduro at Daytona, a BUNCH of time on TGPR, and 16 THOUSAND street miles out of a set of RA-1's. They started full-tread depth for first double school at Roebling in the wet, then we just kept driving them.
They are still usable, but they are pretty dry...
The car is a blast, even my wife enjoys driving it. I rent it at the Siegel Racing Driver Education Clinics. Brake pads, rotors, hubs, and tires all last over 8 weekends... Hawk HP+'s were almost enough for street and track, the Carbotech XP9's take a bit more pedal pressure but seem to work well for street and races.
The car's just a kick. We check the oil and lug nuts, set the tire pressures, maybe the sway bars, and go racing.
Compared with sprint shifter-karts, where we were prepping extensively before a weekend, making major changes EVERY time we came off the track, thrashing after the day to get ready for the next, and spending LOTS on motors. This motor is supposed to get better and better for the next 40,000 miles...
SS
| RoninSTI | 06-01-2005 12:46 PM |
Wow thats great to hear, about how much does it cost per weekend if you dont mind me asking?
| SolbergWRCfan | 06-02-2005 10:35 AM |
Do you want car only costs or food and such?
Jon
Jon
| turboICE | 06-02-2005 10:43 AM |
You are in the heart of an area with companies that rent SM's. Not sure that they rent for track days though. If you have some track time, then get started on your SCCA novice paperwork and enroll in one of the upcoming licensing schools and rent an SM for it. This will give you a good idea on the car and steps toward licensing.
I assume in SM there is more standardization among the cars than in IT - so follow the mantra of buying instead of building. It cost me a lot less to buy my ITA 240SX - but the build decisions have frustrated me to the point where I am now building one but it is going to cost a whole lot more even doing much of the work myself and getting a good caged shell.
Also be prepared for really stiff competition running SM but it will teach you a lot.
I assume in SM there is more standardization among the cars than in IT - so follow the mantra of buying instead of building. It cost me a lot less to buy my ITA 240SX - but the build decisions have frustrated me to the point where I am now building one but it is going to cost a whole lot more even doing much of the work myself and getting a good caged shell.
Also be prepared for really stiff competition running SM but it will teach you a lot.
| RoninSTI | 06-02-2005 10:54 AM |
[QUOTE=SolbergWRCfan]Do you want car only costs or food and such?
Jon[/QUOTE]
Might as well include anything, i guess if you had a race weekend coming up how much would you be likely to set aside including race entry fee and the like.
Renting an SM is an a great idea, I will look into it to see if theres any renters in my area.
Jon[/QUOTE]
Might as well include anything, i guess if you had a race weekend coming up how much would you be likely to set aside including race entry fee and the like.
Renting an SM is an a great idea, I will look into it to see if theres any renters in my area.
| joey1313 | 06-02-2005 11:04 AM |
build or buy....i still can't decide
| turboICE | 06-02-2005 11:26 AM |
There is definitely a company that rents SM and RX-7's at New England Region events, just can't think of the name right now. Their entire fleet was rented out at the Lime Rock license school last month.
And if you go to Summit Point at all King Rat rents 3 or 4 of them down in the mid-Atlantic areas.
And if you go to Summit Point at all King Rat rents 3 or 4 of them down in the mid-Atlantic areas.
| kfoote | 06-02-2005 11:39 AM |
[shameless plug] [url]www.dwwmotorsports.com[/url] has a few cars at Lime Rock last weekend, and they rent cars for most of the driver's schools, regionals, and many club days at Lime Rock and NHIS. [/plug]
| SolbergWRCfan | 06-02-2005 04:14 PM |
Altogether in a weekend it is probably about $300-500 including traveling to the track food, and the entry fee. We trailer ours up there and just sleep in the bed of the truck or on the floor of the trailer and we bring along a grill to cook all our food. The main cost is the gas to get to and from the track depending on how far away it is (our F350 gets 14mpg with the trailer on it, 6.0 Powerstroke) . Our car is set up with RA1s also, and they last a whole season generally, unless I do something stupid to them.
Jon
Jon
| kfoote | 06-02-2005 04:28 PM |
Entry fees are more at Lime Rock. My entry fee there for the National the weekend after next is $350.00. Most other places it's $225-$250.
| MattDell | 06-02-2005 04:46 PM |
What are the possibilities of a 6'4" guy fitting into a specced Miata? I can fit fine into a normal Miata, but that's also without a helmet or rollbars.
-Matt
-Matt
| ChrisW | 06-02-2005 05:11 PM |
Gary,
just out of curiosity, what is the cost of your SM build up?
just out of curiosity, what is the cost of your SM build up?
| kfoote | 06-02-2005 05:28 PM |
[QUOTE=MattDell]What are the possibilities of a 6'4" guy fitting into a specced Miata? I can fit fine into a normal Miata, but that's also without a helmet or rollbars.
-Matt[/QUOTE]
As long as the cage and seat are set up right, the chances are good. I'm 6'1", and like to sit farther away from the steering wheel than most, and I've had someone 6'5" in my car that said they could drive it as is. I've seen people as tall as 6'7" in Spec Miatas.
-Matt[/QUOTE]
As long as the cage and seat are set up right, the chances are good. I'm 6'1", and like to sit farther away from the steering wheel than most, and I've had someone 6'5" in my car that said they could drive it as is. I've seen people as tall as 6'7" in Spec Miatas.
| GarySheehan | 06-02-2005 08:13 PM |
[QUOTE=ChrisW]Gary,
just out of curiosity, what is the cost of your SM build up?[/QUOTE]
As of right now $1,700 for the cage, $650 for the seat and materials for the undercarriage.
There's quite a bit to go though. I still need the suspension, rear diff, rear uprights, an axle, new bearings all around, a hard top, trunk lid, fender, media blast and paint.
It ain't going to be cheap, but it's going to be done right and it's going to be fast.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.teamSMR.com[/url]
just out of curiosity, what is the cost of your SM build up?[/QUOTE]
As of right now $1,700 for the cage, $650 for the seat and materials for the undercarriage.
There's quite a bit to go though. I still need the suspension, rear diff, rear uprights, an axle, new bearings all around, a hard top, trunk lid, fender, media blast and paint.
It ain't going to be cheap, but it's going to be done right and it's going to be fast.
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
[url]www.teamSMR.com[/url]
| Roy Dietsch | 06-03-2005 02:16 PM |
Spec Miata is about $550 a weekend for one race...minimum, probably the lowest cost you can build one for with cost of a doner is $7,500 this does not include personal safety gear about $500. I have alot of info on our team site ...ITC,B,A is probably cheaper to start but to be competitive $$$
Roy
Roy
| RoninSTI | 06-04-2005 12:18 PM |
Wow thats actually cheaper than I was exspecting more for a race weekend. Is there a place that lists when all the events are and where they're held? I was on the specmiata website and the scca website and I cant seem to find it. Can anyone point me in the right direction, sorry for my retarded/n00bness.
thanks
thanks
| Roy Dietsch | 06-04-2005 09:19 PM |
There arn't many "Spec Miata" events there are however alot of roadraces with spec miata classes...check your local region SCCA there should be an SM class at every road race and they are at ALOT of tracks
Roy
Roy
| ChrisW | 06-05-2005 12:32 AM |
[QUOTE=Roy Dietsch]Spec Miata is about $550 a weekend for one race...minimum, probably the lowest cost you can build one for with cost of a doner is $7,500 this does not include personal safety gear about $500. I have alot of info on our team site ...ITC,B,A is probably cheaper to start but to be competitive $$$
Roy[/QUOTE]
Roy,
can you post a link to your team site?
thanks.. Compared to what I am spending on my autocross budget, a Spec Miata is not too much of a stretch for what you get.
With all the political contraversy with running one of "those damm rally cars" in autocross, SM sounds very appealing at this point.
Roy[/QUOTE]
Roy,
can you post a link to your team site?
thanks.. Compared to what I am spending on my autocross budget, a Spec Miata is not too much of a stretch for what you get.
With all the political contraversy with running one of "those damm rally cars" in autocross, SM sounds very appealing at this point.
| RoninSTI | 06-05-2005 01:06 AM |
[QUOTE=ChrisW]Roy,
can you post a link to your team site?
thanks.. Compared to what I am spending on my autocross budget, a Spec Miata is not too much of a stretch for what you get.
With all the political contraversy with running one of "those damm rally cars" in autocross, SM sounds very appealing at this point.[/QUOTE]
Funny you bring that up, at our local autoc the damn rally car was few and far between with people complaining about them, now the lot is littered with subies and evos. If you cant beat em join em i guess :lol:
anyways back to the topic, SM is sounding extremely attractive
can you post a link to your team site?
thanks.. Compared to what I am spending on my autocross budget, a Spec Miata is not too much of a stretch for what you get.
With all the political contraversy with running one of "those damm rally cars" in autocross, SM sounds very appealing at this point.[/QUOTE]
Funny you bring that up, at our local autoc the damn rally car was few and far between with people complaining about them, now the lot is littered with subies and evos. If you cant beat em join em i guess :lol:
anyways back to the topic, SM is sounding extremely attractive
| elgorey | 06-06-2005 10:13 PM |
building a spec miata currently :)
| Roy Dietsch | 06-07-2005 12:30 PM |
no I can't post a link but I hope I can do this beatracing period company abbreviated
SM is cheaper per min on track then autocross by a large sum, but its also 10 times more expencive... :)
Roy
SM is cheaper per min on track then autocross by a large sum, but its also 10 times more expencive... :)
Roy
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