Miata or Boxster as my next track car?
10-28-2009, 10:09 PM
#31
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
To answer all the questions:
I may race someday, but it won't be anytime soon. So DE is the only venue for now.
The local PCA regions are friendly to non-Porsches. And I help out with organization so I'm in.
Not to worry about me fitting in a Miata. I'm 5'3" tall. If anything, I'll have to put in a booster seat!
If I get a Miata, it's gonna have a full roll cage.
I am concerned about giving up the paddock mojo stuff. I have never had as much fun as when I was a Porsche driver at PCA DE. It was a dream come true. I was a race car driver! (OK, I felt that way).
I know I'm going to give up some of the feeling. But it's that or give up the track altogether.
This is happening because I hit a tirewall at MidOhio a few weekends ago. I'm paying for the repairs out of pocket (not through insurance). It reinforced what I already knew: I don't want to keep my 911 on the track. It's just too cool of a car for me to bang up out there. And I can't afford to anyways.
I was never gonna have a high power Porsche. Never gonna compete on the basis of HP. Never wanted to. I never wanted anything beyond a 993. I don't want a car that takes me for a ride. I want one that I drive. That was the appeal of my 87 911 for me. I think the Miata will be similar. So would a Boxster.
Thanks to everyone. I value your input and please keep it coming.
By the way, I rode in my instructor's Miata last DE. He was all over the bumpers of the GT3 and Cup Car in front of us. He had to slow it up significantly so as not to run over them in the corners. It took them 3 laps to finally stop being aholes and stepping on the gas in the straights. But he did pass them.
YeeHaw! If I can do that one day... I won't miss that 911 at all
If only the Boxsters were cheaper to keep.
I may race someday, but it won't be anytime soon. So DE is the only venue for now.
The local PCA regions are friendly to non-Porsches. And I help out with organization so I'm in.
Not to worry about me fitting in a Miata. I'm 5'3" tall. If anything, I'll have to put in a booster seat!
If I get a Miata, it's gonna have a full roll cage.
I am concerned about giving up the paddock mojo stuff. I have never had as much fun as when I was a Porsche driver at PCA DE. It was a dream come true. I was a race car driver! (OK, I felt that way).
I know I'm going to give up some of the feeling. But it's that or give up the track altogether.
This is happening because I hit a tirewall at MidOhio a few weekends ago. I'm paying for the repairs out of pocket (not through insurance). It reinforced what I already knew: I don't want to keep my 911 on the track. It's just too cool of a car for me to bang up out there. And I can't afford to anyways.
I was never gonna have a high power Porsche. Never gonna compete on the basis of HP. Never wanted to. I never wanted anything beyond a 993. I don't want a car that takes me for a ride. I want one that I drive. That was the appeal of my 87 911 for me. I think the Miata will be similar. So would a Boxster.
Thanks to everyone. I value your input and please keep it coming.
By the way, I rode in my instructor's Miata last DE. He was all over the bumpers of the GT3 and Cup Car in front of us. He had to slow it up significantly so as not to run over them in the corners. It took them 3 laps to finally stop being aholes and stepping on the gas in the straights. But he did pass them.
YeeHaw! If I can do that one day... I won't miss that 911 at all
If only the Boxsters were cheaper to keep.
Last edited by 911vet; 10-28-2009 at 10:54 PM.
10-28-2009, 10:34 PM
#33
Rennlist Member
By the way, I rode in my instructor's Miata last DE. He was all over the bumpers of the GT3 and Cup Car in front of us. He had to slow it up significantly so as not to run over them in the corners. It took them 3 laps to finally stop being aholes and stepping on the gas in the straights. But he did pass them.
Really?..........and I thought you had to be fast to become an instructor......
10-28-2009, 10:39 PM
#34
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
No way is a Miata going to take a GT3 or Cup car given equal drivers, I realize.
Thanks Sig. I was actually going to run in the next run group even after hitting the wall, but my tires were delaminating. As you say, I wanted to make sure I stayed on that horse after he threw me. The damage ended up being worse than I first thought, but overall not so bad. I look forward to seeing you next spring.
10-28-2009, 10:55 PM
#35
Rennlist Member
BTW - I should have added. I say get the Miata, AND........ I currently own a 944NA racecar, a 1988 911 Coupe street car, a Spec Miata, a street Miata, and another Miata waiting to become another Spec Miata. I've also built Spec Miatas and a few fairly fast Porsche racers and street cars over the years. Spent seat time in cars varying from SRF to Cup Cars to NASCAR, raced PCA, SCCA,NASA, and plenty of DE's.
10-28-2009, 11:10 PM
#37
Race Director
"fold yourself up into a little triangle...fall in the miata and unfold yourself"
10-28-2009, 11:41 PM
#38
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I say get the Miata, AND........ I currently own a 944NA racecar, a 1988 911 Coupe street car, a Spec Miata, a street Miata, and another Miata waiting to become another Spec Miata. I've also built Spec Miatas and a few fairly fast Porsche racers and street cars over the years. Spent seat time in cars varying from SRF to Cup Cars to NASCAR, raced PCA, SCCA,NASA, and plenty of DE's.
10-29-2009, 09:18 AM
#42
Three Wheelin'
Get the Miata. It's the best car to run for financial reasons. The consumables and parts are VERY cheap. I'd love to see you in a boxster, but that car can be very expensive.
Miatas are very fun!!
Miatas are very fun!!
10-29-2009, 09:55 AM
#43
Rennlist Member
the tracks you will run on matter, too. Horses for courses.
If you go Miata, at Watkins Glen you'll spend the better part of your day trying to get out of the toe of the boot. Tracks with long straights (VIR) are no fun, either, you'll get four laps to a session.
A shifter kart, on the other hand, was not a bad idea at all!
And I don't know why 944's are not getting the nod, full race ready turn keys are flipping weekly for 6500-7500 on the 944Cup forum.
If you go Miata, at Watkins Glen you'll spend the better part of your day trying to get out of the toe of the boot. Tracks with long straights (VIR) are no fun, either, you'll get four laps to a session.
A shifter kart, on the other hand, was not a bad idea at all!
And I don't know why 944's are not getting the nod, full race ready turn keys are flipping weekly for 6500-7500 on the 944Cup forum.
10-29-2009, 10:21 AM
#44
Rennlist Member
You can pick up a good running, cosmetically challenged 944 for a couple grand. Strip out the interior, put in roll bar, race seats, and harnesses for another $2k (or $1k for used stuff). Give the car a roller paint job for $50. You'll have at least $5k left to spend on any needed repairs over the coming years. Some buddies and I did this for 24 hours of lemons (except that the car was bought for only $250). It's got a full cage, new tires, rebuilt engine, fresh shocks. All in, well under $2k.
Or, you can buy a completely prepped 944 cup or spec car for $7-$9k these days. I see them for sale all the time.
I know miata's are good reliable track cars, but they just don't do anything for me. I drove my buddies spec miata and it just couldn't get out of it's own way.
Or, you can buy a completely prepped 944 cup or spec car for $7-$9k these days. I see them for sale all the time.
I know miata's are good reliable track cars, but they just don't do anything for me. I drove my buddies spec miata and it just couldn't get out of it's own way.
10-29-2009, 10:26 AM
#45
Rennlist Member
Also, 944 parts are very cheap if you consider buying stock, used parts that are constantly for sale from guys parting them out. If you are the type of person that has to upgrade everything, 944 performance parts will be more expensive than miata performance parts, I'm sure.