Best Value/Most Reliable type of race car
#46
Rennlist Member
AND (knock on wood) I've never had an engine-related DNF in 14 race weekends (and 2 years of DE before that).
I'd say I've gotten my money's worth out of her...
#47
Race Director
Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming. I already have a tow vehicle and open trailer, so that is not a consideration when going to a race car. I live in Los Angeles and my budget is (race as cheaply as possible and have fun). I can't afford to go the cup car route, but could afford to go a step higher than SM or 944.
I had not considered the tire budget and how a spec tire could lower the operating costs. That is somethiing I really need to think about.
I had not considered the tire budget and how a spec tire could lower the operating costs. That is somethiing I really need to think about.
So if you think you can afford 20% more you will be find when you realize everything is going to cost 25% more than you planned. You would be only 5% over budget.
If you must spend more then Spec boxster is good for cost containted spec class. Non spec classes are much harder to put a handle on costs as you can spend a ton of money trying to make car competitive. A ton of wasted money on things that did not help or worse buying a car that will never be compeitive in the class you choose.
#48
Race Director
NASA seems to have unbelieveably good racers from top to bottom and extremely competitive in all classes. It would be hard and intimidating to start off with them. POC seems to have good racers and perhaps not as hard core as the NASA guys in terms of pure racing. Maybe more like PCA than NASA???
#49
Formula Vee must be the cheapest way to open-wheel racing.
And Miata is "best value" sportcar ever -- track or street.
Miata drivers routinely push around much more powerful 911's in all but the fastest high speed corners.
And Miata is "best value" sportcar ever -- track or street.
Miata drivers routinely push around much more powerful 911's in all but the fastest high speed corners.
#52
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Been a while since I visited. I'm partial to SRF (as a participant). It's everything you need, and nothing more. I trailer it behind the wife's SUV, and can carry two spare sets of wheels. Cobby old, non-interference engine, but a bona fide racing platform. Impeccable safety record.
After that it's Spec Miata. But to be in either of these groups, you have to be more into the racing than the cars ('cause the car's aint much). Some people, for very good reason, can't see themselves racing a girlie car (;-)), or in the case of SRF, an inverted hot tub, and they want a GT car image.
One thing you don't get with an SRF is a roof or a windscreen! (This was from last Sunday.)
http://youtu.be/hyG6rzHJ3lg
After that it's Spec Miata. But to be in either of these groups, you have to be more into the racing than the cars ('cause the car's aint much). Some people, for very good reason, can't see themselves racing a girlie car (;-)), or in the case of SRF, an inverted hot tub, and they want a GT car image.
One thing you don't get with an SRF is a roof or a windscreen! (This was from last Sunday.)
http://youtu.be/hyG6rzHJ3lg
#53
Mostly it's tired, inexperienced 911 drivers in torsion bar cars being out maneuvered by light weight Miatas running modern design suspension systems.
Some "learning curve" GT3 drivers, as well.
#55
Rennlist Member
i can vouch for that! i've got a tight group guys who all came up through the pca de ranks together (nearly all are pca instructors and are involved in racing in some capacity with scca, pca, nasa and others) 6 of us have dabbled in the spec miata scene as an adjunct to other racing endeavors, and all 6 of us have been involved in some type of incident in the miatas over the past two seasons. two cars were totaled (one of which was a car that three of us shared and was nearly totaled two times before her eventual demise). one guy got wrecked so bad (tagged from behind going into 4 at summit point) that he broke a few ribs and didn't drive for a year.
three are still pretty gung ho about the spec miata thing and enjoy that type of racing. three will never get into a miata again. i think you just have to try it to see which half you will fall into.
three are still pretty gung ho about the spec miata thing and enjoy that type of racing. three will never get into a miata again. i think you just have to try it to see which half you will fall into.
Last edited by ninjabones; 04-27-2012 at 09:42 PM.
#56
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#58
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Joe's hit it on the head. Spend the money to do a cheaper car right, and you'll come out ahead of trying to scrape by in a more expensive class.
I have an endurance season championships in the Miata populated NASA E3 class. Just won this seasons opener by 5 seconds after three hours of racing on a trouble free run (had to be!). Reliability is all a matter of preparation.
#59
18 through 20 is a sample.
Miata suspension is independent double wishbone front and multi-link rear. 1.6 liter engine mount point is behind front axle. 2150 pounds. Nearly 1 million sold to date.
#60
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