Why Spec Miata?

[TX02Z06]

Hopefully the guy who wants to buy my Z06 can finally come up with the money. Then it is a Spec Miata.

Been asked why Spec Miata? Here is a question from Specmiata.com that I found that explains my position well.

"After buying a lot of expensive tires and parts, I've decided that racing my Vette is a)too darn pricey and b) way too risky. I've concluded that Spec Miata is the right choice for me, but should I buy or build? I assume building one is a lot cheaper (is it?)... but that a newbie to the class might be beter off plunking down the money for a used racer for a variety of reasons. Opinions please? Thanks!"

[xsiveone]

Plus! You can race it. Running a DE with the Z06 is one thing, but racing it is quite another. Just ask Subdriver. He basically sacrificed his Z for the thrill of racing and I know that it hasn't been cheap for him. Then again, his experiences are priceless.

Good luck with it, Dave.

X

[quickZ]

Frankly, when I think of real racing, as opposed to HPDE's, the first thing I think of is sponsors, rather than cars. It is very expensive. If you could just get someone interested in sponsoring some old guy in a Vette in a series with little if any mass media exposure.....

[kllr13b]

Here is some good info from a guy I know that just made the jump into Spec Miata.

http://www.mantissaracing.com/Mantis...iata/miata.htm

[xsiveone]

I'd love to be part of a spec Lotus Elise series. Too expensive though and there aren't enough cars to support a series like this.

Dave was telling me that you really learn how to drive in these cars because you don't have the torque of a Z06 to make up for your mistakes.

X

[TX02Z06]

Originally Posted by xsiveone

Dave was telling me that you really learn how to drive in these cars because you don't have the torque of a Z06 to make up for your mistakes.

X

There is a number of guy's I started out with doing HPDE's with who sold thier Z06's and when the Spec Miata Route. The bottomline were these guys are much better drivers then myself because of seat time, seat time, seat time. Spec's are cheaper to run, so you can pay for more DE's. Two of the guys have gotten into racing. I was running with one of the guys in the race/instrutor group in March and he was faster in his Spec Miata then myself, a C5 Coupe and two TransAms. Of course it was a track were SM do well.

He said he missed the Z06 power, but the SM allowed him to get into instructing and racing.


Thanks for the link!!!

[xsiveone]

There is a number of guy's I started out with doing HPDE's with who sold thier Z06's and when the Spec Miata Route. The bottomline were these guys are much better drivers then myself because of seat time, seat time, seat time. Spec's are cheaper to run, so you can pay for more DE's. Two of the guys have gotten into racing. I was running with one of the guys in the race/instrutor group in March and he was faster in his Spec Miata then myself, a C5 Coupe and two TransAms. Of course it was a track were SM do well.

On top of that, if you take your spec Miata to a DE and pass a faster car, it's humiliating, but if you get passed by a faster car, it's expected.

x

[TX02Z06]

Originally Posted by xsiveone

On top of that, if you take your spec Miata to a DE and pass a faster car, it's humiliating, but if you get passed by a faster car, it's expected.

x

This particular track favors Miata's a lot of off camber turns and there is only one straight were you can hit maybe 115 mph. I know one guy who hit 120 mph, with over 420 hp at the rear wheels.

Now at Texas World Speedway the Z06 becomes king. With a 145 mph straight you put a lot of real-state between you and the Spec Miata.

But for 10,000 - 12,000 dollars it is so hard to argue the cost and the fun factor.

[xsiveone]

I know what you mean. The Z06 dominates at tracks like Road America, but a good handling car like the spec Miata can equal the Z06 at a track like Gingerman Raceway nearby. It's definitely not a hp track.

X

[No Doubt]

You can learn and will learn a lot racing a car that requires maintaining momentum and that requires finesse like TX02X06 said. Horsepower can make up for a lot of mistakes like over braking for a corner for example. In a car like the Miata or Formula Vee maintaining momentum is paramount because you can't rely on h.p. to make up for losing it.

[Subdriver]

Dave,
Good luck out there! You have made a wiser decision than I.

I hope we can meet at Hallett later this summer.

If you could just get someone interested in sponsoring some old guy in a Vette in a series with little if any mass media exposure.....

If anyone figures this one out, I'd appreciate knowing how.

[David Pintaric]

but a good handling car like the spec Miata can equal the Z06 at a track like Gingerman Raceway

I don't know about a spec Miata, but the SSB cars were a bit slower than the 1:29-1:32's being turned by the T1 crowd at Gingerman. The Corvette still handles pretty good, don't forget that.

But with equal cars (as in Spec Miata), you do get used to "scratching" for time and speed, and THAT'S how you get better.

[xsiveone]

Well.. Maybe not Gingerman then. More like Blackhawk Farms.

If you could just get someone interested in sponsoring some old guy in a Vette in a series with little if any mass media exposure.....


If anyone figures this one out, I'd appreciate knowing how.

X

[Subdriver]

David,
The Spec Miata's are much faster than SSB. Not sure exactly what the rules are, but they look stripped and sound more powerful.

At a handling track, the Spec Miata's are tough. Even at Memphis with a 4500' straight, they are fast. My first regional I ran in IT so I could squeeze two regionals into one weekend. Although I put the vette on the pole, there was a Spec Miata beside me and 25 or so other IT cars behind him.

[No Doubt]

They're fun. I've seriously considered building one.

I have to watch what I say. I seriously considered modding my Z at one time too. Note: that was past tense.