ProCoach

That's a GREAT answer...

I've been in motor homes for a support series driver when opportunity comes knocking for a ride in the big(ger) leagues.

Nobody does much cost/benefit analysis at the time, they're just glad it happens!

kgorman

Spec e30 is awesome. Very fun. Raced it for several seasons. We ran two car team. Ran the car in the 25 hours of TH as well. Lots of info/data if you want it.

It's not inexpensive to be at the pointy-end. PM me if you want for details.

StoogeMoe

And remember, Mike Skeen came from Spec E30!

stujelly

[QUOTE=ProCoach;13878979]Man, those things are getting old. Some parts are getting hard to find, but the racing is pretty good.

Talk to class founder Carter Hunt, National Champ x 2 Robert Grace, Sandro Espinoza (another champion) over on the NASA Mid-Atlantic forums. Al Taylor sells parts for them. The guys on the forum can give you his contact info (or I can via PM).

One of my favorite videos:

That is freaking impressive. Looks like alot of work, but guessing by his hand signals he is having a blast, wow

audipwr1

Thanks guys

Talking to the local folk I've been told no spec e46 , spec e30 good but harder to keep up the car from breakdowns and gremlins, and that I need to get a 99/01 spec Miata and have Tony recage it to drive to sling me into the car

Hate being tall - sucks to shoe horn into these cramped cars

Paddy

Curious why "no" on the Spec E46?

ProCoach

No critical mass where audipwr1 is?

audipwr1

Yeah light fields right now - too bad as I like the platform

What are people's thoughts on running front pack 99/01 spec Miata for operating costs?

What gets used up? Consumables look cheap, cars 40+, but I've heard they are pricey to be competitive - thoughts there?

hf1

Lots of "secret magic sauce" games played with the engines and set-ups. I've heard of cars that sold for 70k. There was a huge scandal couple of years ago when the top half dozen cars at the Nationals at Laguna got disqualified by the scruts.

Very, very competitive series. Plus much more physical contact allowed vs PCA -- things can easily get dirty and vindictive (hence the moniker 'spec-pinata'). Couple of close friends raced SM.

ProCoach

Lots of clean up in the class since that Laguna debacle. SCCA is competitive, NASA a little less so, IMO.

audipwr1

Looks like tire costs are tough in SCCA other areas of operating costs that aren't great?

ProCoach

I think "front pack" is not cheap, period. The parity is incredible, at least around here (East Coast). i would call Jim Drago, Tom Fowler, Nick Leverone, Chris Windsor, Rob Greenwood and ask them. Not. Cheap.

Paddy

Bummer. Hopefully, that changes over the next year or two.

ProCoach

AFAIK, that is NOT the case here in the East, especially Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regions. Good fields, VERY competitive up front.

ProCoach

Here's a relevant article on the costs of pro racing. And the figures given are on the low side...

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/...-so-expensive/