I just grabbed up a 91 Miata that wouldn't pass smog and will be tearing it down and race prepping it to compete in a Spec class. I was thinking that I should open up this project to the GTP forum for suggestions and ideas. Imagine starting with a blank canvas and everything from suspension ideas to paint graphics, nothing is off the table. I am hiding the car right now because it's also for my son to race so I'll be posting pics of it soon but lets face it, it's just another stock first gen Miata.
I'm looking at a racing organization called NASA and they have a Spec Miata competition that should be perfect. I was also thinking that my son would like the Mazda Teen Challenge so maybe there is some overlap there. Just looking for ideas from a truly racey place that I have enjoyed over the years. I have learned how to drive faster then I can imagine through the WRS, and I will now take that skill set and flex it for real. At 57 this could be my last bullet and I couldn't be any happier knowing that I will be team racing w/ my son. This will be a thread that I will be updating through the entire tear down to the build up and finally the racing.
As the others have said, best of luck to both of you. This is starting to become one of my favorite threads already, mostly due to the fact that this is a father-son thing.
The only license we have between the two of us is my CA drivers license, hopefully he will get his soon and then if the organization needs us to have a racing license we'll have to jump through their hoops
Hi Lefty. I remember you from the Ferrari Challenge/Supercar Challenge/NFS Shift gaming threads--long time ago now.
I'm a member of NASA NE. It's a great organization and their events are a lot of fun. However, word of warning, they will not let you race in competition unless you've progressed through the HPDE ladder (levels 1-4). I seem to remember you've had some prior racing experience and that will likely be taken into consideration. But I suggest you contact your local charter and/or post in their forums. http://www.nasaforums.com There are a lot of helpful people over there who would be happy to offer their assistance. And they can help explain the path for both your car build (it's strictly regulated) as well what you need to do to be certified for competition driving.
@jjaisli thanks for your feedback, this is the kind of help that I was hoping for from this thread. The pitfalls and stumbles we will go through will be tough enough but with help from my fellow brothers in arms is priceless.
Little Lefty saw the car yesterday and I will start posting picks soon and my journal will begin with regular updates. I have to work over my race shop to accept our new pony soon but it is really congested, we haven't had a project car in some time so the neglect is everywhere. It could take me a week or two before we will have the courage to include it in the pics .....
Little and I will be knocking off the rust by running some SCCA solo 2 events in my everyday 1st gen Miata. I can't wait because the last time I splashed around in that competition I was trying to compete in my 86 IROC-z and it was an automatic tranny so you can imagine what a difficult thing that was for an ex Moto-xer. The two worlds are so completely different and this place has brought that life. The outcome will be just as opposite in the outcome for the compo.
I didn't have an understanding of what it took to go fast back then so I can only describe my effort as something that could have been competitive in a drifting competition I hadum screaming when I was flying around the track because I was the only one who was treating it like I was on dirt. This time the outcome will will be different.
Here is the project car I just got some pics and this will do for starters. My race shop hasn't had a car in it let alone a race car for some time and now I have to wake it up and that is a couple week job on it's own. so for a couple of weeks I will be cleaning and preparing as well as getting ol blue ready for this years "Solo 2" effort. My car lift isn't quite together yet so it will be 3 or 4 weeks before that is ready to test. I bought it used for a good price and she's a dandy. I can't wait until I have everything firing on all cylinders. Any way here is Little's Red Rocket>
I'd try and set up the car for Super Miata series instead of Spec Miata. Spec Miata isn't really spec, as most of the top teams have 15-20k in just the "stock" motor.
I'd try and set up the car for Super Miata series instead of Spec Miata. Spec Miata isn't really spec, as most of the top teams have 15-20k in just the "stock" motor.
I wouldn't call it cheating; it's all within the rulebook. Unfortunately the rulebook is a bit too lenient and the costs have really gotten out of control if you want to be competitive.
I just found a caged up 91 Miata that should be a good track car for learning Laguna, Infinion, and Thunderhill. It's so low I about erased the nose off the thing and then it hung up on a seat bolt when I loaded it up on the trailer. Now if I can get it off with out destroying it or high centering it.
