Latest issue....Am I the only one that noticed....

First of all, it was a great issue....one of the best I've read in a good while.

But in the "Lap Dogs" feature, the text starts with:

"....the days of the 100-horsepower track car sadly seem to be over. The reality is that today's track scene requires a bit more grunt."

Then the first car is the Miata..."this is the sports car that all track enthusiasts should own and drive."

I know....the early Miatas had like 115hp, not 100....but the fact that the Miata remains one of the best track cars out there seems to discount the primary premise of the intro.

Anyhow, just thought it was kind of funny. I was imagining my english teacher handing out a scolding for "not supporting my thesis" or something

Yeah, I debated that. I drove a Miata at a recent track day. I spent the entire time driving in my mirrors. That's not really fun.

Why did it make the list? It still has a lot going for it, as it's a bit greater than the sum of its parts.

Oh, I think it definitely should have made the list. A few years ago I crewed at the SUmmit 12-hour for a spec Miata team, and kept hearing complaints from the next pit over (running a pair of Z06s) that our Miata was putting marks on their bumpers, hah....

I just thought the choice of "horsepower" premise was funny in light of the Miata being listed first :)

I haven't read the entire issue yet, but I did notice that opening line as well. I thought it was a bit strange, but I liked the list of cars. Some were ones I wouldn't have thought of.

We tried to mix it up. Honestly, that story got me thinking about a 350Z. Aside from not a ton of carrying room, there's a lot to like there.

Hey, a 1999 Miata is 40% over your 100 HP requirement. A 2006 is about 75% over. You guys are a tough crowd.

Of course, around here, most of our Miatas have power/weight ratios north of those Z06s...

Keith Tanner wrote: Hey, a 1999 Miata is 40% over your 100 HP requirement. A 2006 is about 75% over. You guys are a tough crowd. Of course, around here, most of our Miatas have power/weight ratios north of those Z06s...

The article specified Miatas starting with 1990 ;)

Yup, which covers 23 years of production. Only the first three years had 116 hp, then two years of 128 and it just kept going up. Not all Miatas are 1990s or even 1.6 cars. Most of them, in fact, aren't. Remember that 2006 I mentioned? That generation has been in production more than twice as long as the 1.6 cars were.

The article did miss one thing about Miatas, though. The PRHT cars make poor track cars because you can't really put a roll bar in them.

Hmm, excellent observation.

350z's look great on paper, in reality they make terrible, terrible track cars. They are too heavy, have some serious braking problems (many documented catastrophic brake failures, including a popular mag (R&T, MT...etc, can't remember which). I am talking about the brembo shod model unfortunately. Also they have some quirky suspension geometry issues. Do the research on this and you won't want to track this car at all...

Just got my issue here in Canuckland. I agree with the miata, e36 and Z06. Wrx would have me on the fence and the Z running in the other direction. I do value the "feedback and experience" more than anything, and enjoy the chase so I would not discredit the miata at all. I would probably prefer an FRS/S2k over the WRX for both consumables and driving enjoyment. If you have the money for consumables, nothing like chasing down 996/997 GT3s and Ferrari's for 1/3 the cost in the C5 Z06.

David S. Wallens wrote: We tried to mix it up. Honestly, that story got me thinking about a 350Z. Aside from not a ton of carrying room, there's a lot to like there.

There is a lot to like - they look pretty sexy in an odd, Japanese anime sort of way... great motors, can fit a lot of rubber, etc... but a wee on the portly side. I would like to see what the weight can be brought down to with regular race car prep that anyone with a trailer could do.

The track rats I know that used to bring them out had brake and bearing problems that I think could have been solved better by going on a 700lb diet than going huge on the rotor mass and carrying a lot of spare wheel bearings. The folks I knew at the time were driving them to work so lexan and roll cages were not part of the plan though. They bought E46 M3s and Z-06s instead.

The article got me thinking about 350z's. 3100-3200lbs isn't that porky these days. Frankly, I thought they were heftier.

I thought it was a great edition (the magazine). That said, I was surprised at some of the hyperbole used to describe the 240z - I believe "state of the art" or words to that effect. I expected to find modern hardware somehow stuffed into the car, but it was basically a (beautiful and awesome) retro modified car, the way I saw it.

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: I was surprised at some of the hyperbole used to describe the 240z - I believe "state of the art" or words to that effect. I expected to find modern hardware somehow stuffed into the car,

If it isn't powered by an L24, it is kind of "modern." We can quibble about HOW modern, but it is still sort of modern.

Speaking of which, I think I may need to start collecting old, unloved datsun inline sixes....

I also thought the bit about the mustang was a little off. no offence to brad grissom but most of what he mentioned isn't needed. The mustang praised for its stiff chassis still needs every piece of bracing you can throw at it? and he didn't even mention the brakes. :/

rwdsport wrote: 350z's look great on paper, in reality they make terrible, terrible track cars. They are too heavy, have some serious braking problems (many documented catastrophic brake failures, including a popular mag (R&T, MT...etc, can't remember which). I am talking about the brembo shod model unfortunately. Also they have some quirky suspension geometry issues. Do the research on this and you won't want to track this car at all... Just got my issue here in Canuckland. I agree with the miata, e36 and Z06. Wrx would have me on the fence and the Z running in the other direction. I do value the "feedback and experience" more than anything, and enjoy the chase so I would not discredit the miata at all. I would probably prefer an FRS/S2k over the WRX for both consumables and driving enjoyment. If you have the money for consumables, nothing like chasing down 996/997 GT3s and Ferrari's for 1/3 the cost in the C5 Z06.

Ducting and proper pads fix that.

Who takes 300+ hp 3300lb cars on track with stock pads? Likely not anyone in this crowd.

Well, I have to admit my M5 has seen track use in stock form. But that was just "I have to try this once".

^Yeah, but you weren't going out banzai, late/threshold braking into every corner, etc.

I'd like to take my Mustang out, but I'd drive like i do the Miata. That would = toasted tires and brakes in one day likely (still on the stock Pirelli's with no camber plates upfront and the stock GT500/Boss brembo pads)

z31maniac wrote: Who takes 300+ hp 3300lb cars on track with stock pads? Likely not anyone in this crowd.

I took my B5 S4 out at Laguna Seca bone stock once -- it set the brakes on fire. I looked at the cost of the brakes, suspension, tires etc to make it track-worthy, and decided never to do that again. Instead I sent that money to FM to put a turbo on my Miata and kept it as the track car. :)

The B6 S4 got autoxed once, but I haven't been stupid enough to try taking it out on a big track.

I think I was most surprised that a Civic/Integra didn't show up in this article at all. Cheap, easy on consumables, reliable, infinite aftermarket, and easy to make stupid fast with either boost or an engine swap or both.

Keith Tanner wrote: Well, I have to admit my M5 has seen track use in stock form. But that was just "I have to try this once".

I think that's the case for anyone's "extra car". I'm guilty of doing that with the 240sx, and it was in no way track-prepped.