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My first Miata drive happened when a friend offered, "take it out, have fun". Thought process was "what if I damage it?", eh, $6K tops if I burn it to the ground, so ok. Getting in was a tight fit, I'm broad shouldered and heavier than I should be. Got all the belts snugged up and gave him the thumbs up. He closed the door and if felt like this:
Almost bailed but I'm glad I didn't.
Oh. my. God. what a fun little car. Very go-karty. Very direct. Oh so cheap and broad knowledge base.
The only think I've driven more go-karty was a Gen 2 Spec Racer Ford. My advice is don't turn down a chance to drive either.
Haha. I know exactly what you're talking about.....
WOW! Thanks for all the input guy! I didn’t have a chance to check in all day and was floored to see three pages of responses.
The whole “do you fit” thing is a concern for me. I’m 6’, about 190lbs now (recently lost 40 lbs with effort). At 55 and lots of injuries over the years mean, I’m no yogi. Helmet clearance is a real concern.
I am a believer in learning on low HP machinery. I raced bikes many moons ago, and of all the bikes I raced, mostly middleweights, but also short stints in Superbikes, the experience that raised my skills the greatest was a season I also raced a 125gp bike (air cooled, very old, about 2000 rpm of power).
I will also say, my home track, which will likely be the only place, the car will see, is a very tight a technical track. Lots of elevation changes, and very short straights. In a 996, 4th is only seen for a brief moment.
I should also say, my ideal is the be able to drive the car to and from track (about 45 min drive). I’d really like to avoid trailering. Being up here in Northeastern nowhere limits access to shops/builders so readily available in the US.
I like to work on my own cars and be self sufficient, almost to a compulsive level. So, warning, I’ll ask LOTS of questions to learn
OP: How about a 120hp 2000 lb momentum car for a learning tool?
Rennlist: How about a 330hp 3200lb car instead?
As has been said, as a learning tool Miatas are great. If you are racing other Miatas they are great. If you are out there on track with high horsepower cars it is going to get old real quick.
When I drive DE in my 944 I many times "demote" myself so I don't get murdered by cup cars.
The whole “do you fit” thing is a concern for me. I’m 6’, about 190lbs now (recently lost 40 lbs with effort). At 55 and lots of injuries over the years mean, I’m no yogi. Helmet clearance is a real concern.
Regarding fitting in a Spec Miata, watch the intro the SCCA championship, that BIG guy, Jim Drago is about 6' or 6' 2" and very good. https://www.scca.com/videos/2037563
Couple comments on Miatas: I’m 6’ 205 and fit fine.... or at least as good as I do in my 914
Parts are SUPER cheap: when we started NaroEscape Motorsports and started taking on brake pads, I kept laughing when I was entering the prices for the Miata pads. Some were under $100 per set. And since you really don’t use them, they last forever
A Porsche friend of ours bought a spec Miata for his first race, SCCA. He blew the transmission. Mazda Motorsports was on site and sold him a new gearbox, ready to go, with a 2 year warranty (includes racing and all) for $950!! And they even helped him install it!
A set of tires costs about as much as one of my slicks...and last much longer...
We have been seriously considering getting one ourselves....just don’t have the time to drive much at the moment...
Official Wednesday AM Red Bull F1 test driver Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 10,064
Likes: 987
From: North Scottsdale
I raced spec Miata with my two boys for several years. We moved from shifter karts when we realized it would be cheaper in a car! Sure, they're not fast but what fun! Always someone to race against- I'd be midpack and then one of my kids would win a race in the same car.
I'd look for a good SCCA prepped spec Miata in your neck of the woods...
I will also say, my home track, which will likely be the only place, the car will see, is a very tight a technical track. Lots of elevation changes, and very short straights. In a 996, 4th is only seen for a brief moment.
perfect track to run DE, HP won't make as big a difference. a tire trailer, is all you need.
see if you can join mazda motorsports parts program, the discounts are huge.
I’ve been in a SM first and now a GMX-5 for the past ten years. They are an absolute blast to drive, reliable, and parts are cheap and readily available. If you’re in a NA through NC, most parts are available at auto parts stores. Try that with a Porsche. At 6’ 190 you will have no problem fitting. There are floor-drop kits available at least for NA and MB if needed.
If you want to spend a little extra money And it’s for track days rather than racing I would consider building or buying a fully caged N.C. or picking up an ND Global MX-5 Cup. There’s should be a fair number of ND 1 cups available, as the BT series will almost certainly be all ND2’s next year. And if you really want a proper race car consider a ND2 with the Sadev Sequential.
As far as dealing with faster cars, yeah they can be annoying when they blow by you and then throw out the anchor, but then comes the joy when they get sick of you filling up their mirrors and give you the point by. 😁
I’ve been in a SM first and now a GMX-5 for the past ten years. They are an absolute blast to drive, reliable, and parts are cheap and readily available. If you’re in a NA through NC, most parts are available at auto parts stores. Try that with a Porsche. At 6’ 190 you will have no problem fitting. There are floor-drop kits available at least for NA and MB if needed.
If you want to spend a little extra money And it’s for track days rather than racing I would consider building or buying a fully caged N.C. or picking up an ND Global MX-5 Cup. There’s should be a fair number of ND 1 cups available, as the BT series will almost certainly be all ND2’s next year. And if you really want a proper race car consider a ND2 with the Sadev Sequential.
As far as dealing with faster cars, yeah they can be annoying when they blow by you and then throw out the anchor, but then comes the joy when they get sick of you filling up their mirrors and give you the point by. 😁
I'll take a black flag before I point by a faster Miata.
As has been said, as a learning tool Miatas are great. If you are racing other Miatas they are great. If you are out there on track with high horsepower cars it is going to get old real quick.
When I drive DE in my 944 I many times "demote" myself so I don't get murdered by cup cars.
Ahem - no. I'd say everything above 2L is a waste.
I've had a couple of Miatas and I have a NB race car now. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to race it yet with everything that's been going on. I'm 6ft 2, 200 lb, with a longer torso and I fit fine in a fully caged car that has the seat dropped pan welded in. Without the drop pan it's pretty tight for head room next to the cage. if you need a wider seat your options are limited because it's hard to access bolts, I'm running a Kirkey aluminum containment seat. The factory engines don't make a lot of jam however if you are not racing spec you can change the ECU and run on e85 to make a lot more power. Parts are refreshingly cheap: brakes, tires, everything. I paid $3 for a new fuel filter.
If I was starting from scratch and building a Miata now I would build an NC Miata. They are a lot newer. You can cheaply swap the 2L for a 2.5 liter to make a more power and torque. Mazdaspeed is pushing the NC as a future spec Miata platform so there's a lot of development and parts available now.
06-03-2020 | 05:25 PM
