The Answer and HPDE

So, if you were to take a new MX-5 and have it for street use and for HPDEs, how would you modify it? And, which model (spec?) would you start with?

Get an extra set of track tires so you don't have to worry about shredding your street shoes and then leave it alone until you're absolutely sure you've reached the limit of the stock suspension (hint - you probably won't)

markwemple wrote: So, if you were to take a new MX-5 and have it for street use and for HPDEs, how would you modify it? And, which model (spec?) would you start with?

I wouldn't ... but every car I've ever planned to track got full coil overs, sways, solid bushings, extra wheels with race tires, all airbags and any superfluous weight removed, corner balanced and ... A rollbar/cage, seats, harnesses and a Momo wheel. It never ends.

Then better brakes, aero, and power in that order.

Which is why I wouldn't start with a new car.

edit (doh! Double wishbones aren't much helped by camber plates, eh?)

How about: A good alignment: a bad alignment can make a good car drive very badly when pushed (and vice-versa). I assume new miatas are adjustable enough like my NA6 .

I'd look into rollover protection. I also found the stock suspension rather soft and rolly when I Auto-Xed my ND.

For track use I'd probably get at least sway bars if not coilovers as well.

accordionfolder wrote: Oh - camber plates *if* the stock suspension doesn't like being adjusted - a bad alignment can make a good car drive very badly when pushed (and vice-versa). I assume new miatas are adjustable enough like my NA6 .

No Miata has ever had struts.

OK, as an explanation.... looking at these as tools to get people track time and entice into getting into Spec Miata. SO it would be other people paying to drive these cars on track.

New Miatas are as adjustable as any. They also still don't use struts, so camber plates don't do anything.

I'd start with the Club (non-Brembo) because of the LSD and I like the selection of toys it comes with. Then I'd throw on an FM Fox Stage 2 suspension and some good tires. Bolt in a Hard Dog roll bar and enjoy. I say this because I've actually run a car set up like this on the track

You could get a car that was almost identical in performance by starting with a Sport. You've save some change, but will notice that open rear diff off tighter corners. I say this because I've actually run a car set up like this on the track

It's not a powerhouse, you need to throw it in pretty fast to get it to rotate and you'll spend a lot of time with the throttle pinned. So it's a Real Miata, then It'll pull over 1g on the skidpad. That's pretty much how the ND was set up in this writeup: http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a32131/miatas-at-mazda-raceway-miatagasm-mega-test/

In reply to Dashpot:

In reply to Keith:

Lol! - I apparently was having a "senior moment" (as I own a miata and an Exocet...) - I stand by the rest though. ;)

I was mentally applying his question to my current predicament (my Speed3) - which needs some camber plates - I'm having trouble getting a decent alignment on it.

Thanks Keith, that's very helpful.

So that's a sub 30k car. How much would you anticipate the upgrades to be.

Stage 2 Fox suspension: $2319
Hard Dog roll bar: $525
Wheels and tires are a bigger variant. You can staple it to the ground for lots of speed, or you can go a little lower on the grip so you can move the car around a bit more. Tell me the grip level, I can give you the cost.

I raced a showroom stock Miata 20 years ago and in stock trim they do indeed roll a lot. So my pick would be anti sway bars, decent dampers and brake pads. I'd also add a proper roll hoop. After that I'd drive the snot out of it.

To.

In reply to markwemple:

I'm not familiar with your level of track experience. I'm assuming you do have some hpde under your belt. I apologize in advance if my thoughts suggest otherwise. That is not my intent.

For most mere mortals, myself included, modern sporting oriented cars are far more capable than the owner. To that end I would only invest in a decent set of track wheels and tires coupled with a professional alignment setup. High quality brake pads would be a must . Next I would go to a decent Driving School. Then I would spend every month for a year attending an hpde at every possible track. After that year then I would think about what further mods to the car I would do. In my early days of learning racecraft, performance mods often masked my own shortcomings as a driver.

When I started wheeled wheel road racing nearly 30 years ago I quickly learned that the biggest Improvement in lap times came through driver improvement and time behind the wheel not the latest and greatest upgrade.

I know you have a 911 and a bugeye. To that end the Miata is perfectly in the middle of those two cars. LOL

YMMV

A lower, wider seat would be the first thing I'd do, because I'm too tall and too fat for a Miata. No idea which one I'd start with. Probably an old, used, cheap one.