Got an email this morning from David, trying to sell his $1000 Miata. Ever since ive opened it, i have the urge to build a Spec Miata. Ive been reading and re-reading the NASA rules, going to ebay, craigslist and Miata tuner shop's sites, pricing up cages, wheels, hardtop, seat, ect... Now ive been all excited and eager to get one rolling. I just want to get out on track to do some lapping, see where i come on lap times out there, see if its competitive... Is it worth it?
Do you want to spend lots of money on body work? Do you enjoy bumper cars?
If so... build one :p.
RE splitime:
Spec Rio is the answer. Don't give up on your dream!
haha, yes it is!! I still want to sit down and write up a proposal to give to NASA or SCCA, see if they bite.
Count me in for that. Even if it turns out it's just the two of us, haha.
Don't do it.
Do forward me that email though. 
Talk you out of it?
A Miata?
In any guise?
Dude... you're posting on the wrong forum for that... 
thanks Carson, you cured me. Now I want a Kia Rio!!!
Hahah, you could prep a Rio for Spec Rio for less than a mid-pack Spec Miata and I'll guarantee you'll be the fastest Spec Rio anywhere in the country.
Carson wrote: Hahah, you could prep a Rio for Spec Rio for less than a mid-pack Spec Miata and I'll guarantee you'll be the fastest Spec Rio anywhere in the country.
until you build one, then we go head to head... door to door... bumper to bumper...
until you build one, then we go head to head... door to door... bumper to bumper...
Frame rack to Frame rack.
New addition to the "Spec Rio" mix:
Spec Rental Rio!
wow...think of the possibility (decidedly singular).
Clem
"can i have the extra coverage?"
MCarp22 wrote: RE splitime:
LOL AWESOME!
I have heard them called spec pinata, but this takes the cake
I had been thinking Spec Miata. I am now thinking Spec 944. I'm really liking the 944 community.
I have been really swayed by all the accounts of "I used to race Spec Miatas but switched to Spec 944 got tired of pulling body panels after every race weekend and didn't want to have to buy a $20k engine to be competitive. Now I don't even have to trailer my car, if I don't want to."
A really competitive 944 can be purchased for less than an entry-level SM. Heck, nice ones can be found for what I was quoted to turn an existing nice Miata with a good drivetrain and hardtop, into a spec racer.
Plus you get to brag that you race a Porsche.
Salanis wrote: I have been really swayed by all the accounts of "I used to race Spec Miatas but switched to Spec 944 got tired of pulling body panels after every race weekend and didn't want to have to buy a $20k engine to be competitive. Now I don't even have to trailer my car, if I don't want to."
Unfortunately that means that Spec 944 will eventually become a pinball game as well.
Seriously though, here is a ready to race (so the ad says) 944 Cup car that is Spec 944 eligible as well. Priced was dropped to $5800 Monday.
http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28667
I was talking to a Spec racer a while back. He had a good philosophy - he'd rather be mid-pack, fighting like hell with 6 guys for 14th place than with one other guy for 1st. Don't need a $20k engine for that.
well, with all the input i have recieved, i think i am going to purchase it so i could build it into a track slut. I just want something to go lap on a open track day, then i might move up to a 944 cup car. Those 944s are pretty lil racecars i must admit...
$1k Miata... throw in a rollbar, tune-up and $500-$1k in suspension and you will have a really fun track car.
If you're looking into picking up a Spec car to be ready for wheel-to-wheel, I will pass on some good advice I got from this board:
Go to events and hang out with the racers from different series you're considering. Pay attention to the people, not the cars. Pick your car based on which group you want to be spending your time with.
Don't take my thinking that 944 is for me as talking bad about Spec Miata. That would be a fun series that I can't really tell you that it's bad. I can just tell you there are other good series that cost less. I was estimated $7500 by a good race shop to turn a solid Miata with a hard top into a SM car. I can buy a 944 Spec or Honda Challenge car for enough less that I can probably also get personal safety equipment.
That $7500 is for them to do the work. Advanced Autosports sells a "Spec Miata in a Box" kit for $5495, and even that includes things you don't necessarily need. For example, nobody says you HAVE to change the exhaust. Sure, you might not be competitive, but I'll bet you'll find someone to race with in any SM pack.
i live right down the street from OPM, and those guys do a stellar job at preping a SM...
If you guys want to race wheel to wheel but are concerned about banging fenders, you might consider vintage racing. It's not just limited to old farts driving old cars. It is often referred to as "gentleman's racing" partly because car contact is frowned upon. In many clubs, you can still race as hard as you want, as long as you are considerate of your fellow competitors. Though many vintage cars are expensive, you can still find affordable vintage cars. Spridgets can be quite affordable and make great race cars. Formula vees and even formula fords can be had quite reasonably as well.
-Chris R.
You could look at BMW Club Racing as well. They follow the same 13/13 rule that vintage racing does. It encourages racers to avoid each other. 
Go with Spec Miata or if you're focused on SCCA exclusively, Spec Racer Fords. The contact is higher than other classes, but it's overblown. Both classes have a higher percentage of talented drivers than most of the other classes and if you can do well there, you will kick butt in about everything else.
You'll need to log in to post.
