Any Spec Miata Racers on Here?
11-12-2011, 07:35 AM
#31
Pro
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting. I was thinking about getting a kart for around $7k. For nearly the same money it seems SM is worth a look: low maintenance, lots of races and lots of competition.
11-12-2011, 10:23 AM
#32
They're probably the cheapest racing in motorsports... We have run 12 days DE (double duty) and not run thru a set of rotors. Gone thru two sets of tires (flat spotted by the youngsters0 and one set of carbotech pads (we changed back to hawks because they last longer).
The SM community is great!
Mike
The SM community is great!
Mike
11-12-2011, 01:20 PM
#33
Basic Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
__________________
.
The apex of performance, comfort & safety since 2011.
All new racewear available now→ traqgear.com
.
The apex of performance, comfort & safety since 2011.
All new racewear available now→ traqgear.com
11-13-2011, 10:44 AM
#34
Advanced
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Springfield, Ohio
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Been racing SM part time since Aug '09 (3-4 weekends a year, limited by young children & budget 
). Running with NASA Great Lakes -- super group of guys, and extremely competitive. Haven't run with SCCA yet, although around here NASA fields are bigger than SCCA, and lots of guys run both series. Looking forward both sanctioning bodies having the same rules this year -- will bring out all the big guns to NASA Nationals @ Mid Ohio.
These are great cars to drive -- you have to run on the ragged edge to be competitive. Relatively inexpensive to race, and the talent is amazing.
). Running with NASA Great Lakes -- super group of guys, and extremely competitive. Haven't run with SCCA yet, although around here NASA fields are bigger than SCCA, and lots of guys run both series. Looking forward both sanctioning bodies having the same rules this year -- will bring out all the big guns to NASA Nationals @ Mid Ohio. These are great cars to drive -- you have to run on the ragged edge to be competitive. Relatively inexpensive to race, and the talent is amazing.
11-13-2011, 10:30 PM
#35
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow - there's a lot of closet SM racers here! Sounds great. I'm not sure of what field we'll have next year as NASA CR is new so we'll have to build a core group of drivers and racers. I am going to do a cheap engine rebuild myself before sinking a lot of dough into a pro built motor. I will be blogging my build so hoping it'll help. I also just got my Dave Wheeler book today so started reading that.
Thanks everyone and hope to have a good time racing next year.
Thanks everyone and hope to have a good time racing next year.
11-14-2011, 12:33 PM
#36
Drifting
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Suburban DC
Posts: 2,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not surprised by the number of SM/SSM folks here. We're all car guys and racing guys, and SM is almost pure racing (as the cars are largely equalized). Equal cars and big field mean lots of learning. You can run regionally in SCCA GT1 or GT2 (big V8 racers) and spend most of your races alone, or running with one or two others. In SM or SRF, you're nose-to-tail and side-by-side for lap after lap. You can get more racing experience in a weekend than some groups get in a season. When you start racing at 50, you want to learn fast!
That said, SM/SSM (and SRF) jockeys dread the one question that they always get asked by noobs at cocktail parties, "So how fast does it go?"
That said, SM/SSM (and SRF) jockeys dread the one question that they always get asked by noobs at cocktail parties, "So how fast does it go?"
11-14-2011, 06:09 PM
#37
Burning Brakes
Der Professor, who pilotes both an SM & an SRF (and other stuff, too) has a standards response here:
"Well, I haven't had it over 185."
And I haven't.
11-16-2011, 03:23 PM
#38
Instructor
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another SM racer, started racing SM in SCCA 10 years ago and can honestly state that I have not regretted a single track day or race in my Miata and racing in the more competitive fields has made me a better racer. Even though this is SPEC Miata, there are basically 3 types of Miata’s. 90-93 is the lightest with a 1.6 motor. 94-97 looks the same on the out side with the pop-up headlights but has a 1.8 motor and more weight. The 99+ has the molded headlights with a better breathing 1.8 motor. Both SCCA and NASA have very similar rule sets so it is easy to race with both groups. The mix of year model and weight along with performance mods keep the different cars very close. And at least in SCCA, a SM can double/triple dip in ITA and STU.
Another aspect that I really like about SM is that it makes for an excellent endurance racer. They are easy on tires and brakes and fairly low maintenance.
A SM is an easy and rewarding car to drive well but very difficult to master.
Another aspect that I really like about SM is that it makes for an excellent endurance racer. They are easy on tires and brakes and fairly low maintenance.
A SM is an easy and rewarding car to drive well but very difficult to master.
11-16-2011, 10:03 PM
#39
Drifting
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Suburban DC
Posts: 2,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another SM racer, started racing SM in SCCA 10 years ago and can honestly state that I have not regretted a single track day or race in my Miata and racing in the more competitive fields has made me a better racer. Even though this is SPEC Miata, there are basically 3 types of Miata’s. 90-93 is the lightest with a 1.6 motor. 94-97 looks the same on the out side with the pop-up headlights but has a 1.8 motor and more weight. The 99+ has the molded headlights with a better breathing 1.8 motor. Both SCCA and NASA have very similar rule sets so it is easy to race with both groups. The mix of year model and weight along with performance mods keep the different cars very close. And at least in SCCA, a SM can double/triple dip in ITA and STU.
Another aspect that I really like about SM is that it makes for an excellent endurance racer. They are easy on tires and brakes and fairly low maintenance.
A SM is an easy and rewarding car to drive well but very difficult to master.
Another aspect that I really like about SM is that it makes for an excellent endurance racer. They are easy on tires and brakes and fairly low maintenance.
A SM is an easy and rewarding car to drive well but very difficult to master.
11-17-2011, 02:08 PM
#41
Basic Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
11-17-2011, 05:35 PM
#42
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Small
Business Sponsor
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Small
Business Sponsor
11-18-2011, 02:38 PM
#44
I prefer chapters of War & Peace during stints on VIR full courses back straight...
That said, bumpdrafting with other SMs is a hoot!
Mike
That said, bumpdrafting with other SMs is a hoot!
Mike
11-19-2011, 12:26 PM
#45
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just bought a caged Miata that was built for SM but the owner gutted too far and will take too much effort to convert back but it has most parts I will need and I got a good price for it. I'll swap over the good parts to my build then the stock parts back over to the other car and sell it as a chump / Lemons chassis as it's already caged.
