My dad and I have been considering selling our 02 S2k and buying a Miata and turning it into a spec Miata. Has anyone done this or owned and raced a spec Miata? We would both love to get into racing and learn how to drive better, but we don't want to miss the S2k either. I'm thinking that once we started racing we would never look back, because everyone that I have talked to that has done any sort of track days or racing has really liked it.

Once the car is done, can you drive it to the track or do you have to tow it? Is it still street legal? I know it would be noisy and stiff, but the PIR is only 20 minutes from my house.

Also, I have heard final costs to be in the $10,000 range. Is that a reasonable price to build a car or would it be more or less?

Thanks

 

I have to say that Miata is a very fun track car, it doesn't have much power (shall we say momentum)...you can't make mistakes on the entry and make up on the exit like other more powerful car..you want to carry as much speed as possible through the corner (you can really see the momemtum different between more powerful car and the Miatas [check Turn 12 in PIR{Portland International Raceway}])...I think the fastest time in the Spec Miata at PIR is around 1:32-1:33 with Chicane which is fast....

You can still drive the Spec Miata on the street...$10,000 will definately get you a Spec Miata....Spec Miata can be prep anywhere from say $5,000 to $25,000...check specmiata.com

 

Why not build the S?

 

the only place to race a s2k is nasa HC, and it's big bucks to be competitve, NO WAY it street legal etc.

spec miata rocks! m Sounds like you need to do a little research 1st though, try specmiata.com.

They aren't very streetable, but I've driven ours to the track (1 hr to BFR). problem with driving to the track is limited space for spares, tools, extra wheels. If you break or crash your screwed.

If you do ALL the labor, you can spend less than $10k, but if you can't afford to drop $10k, racing is not the best hobby for you.

 

I think ludedude did exactly this, maybe you should speak with him.

 

There are a lot of places you can race an S2000....you won't be competitive in SCCA or NASA due to the other cars it's classed against, but I'm running my S2000 in the ARC race series and the NCRC TTs in 2006, others on the board will be competing in the S2000 Challenge with Speedventures and I'm sure there's plenty of other club-level race series out there across the US. And not only is the S2000 insanely competitive (My last TT), it's insanely reliable.

Based on your post, carrnut21, my recommendation would be for you and your dad to attend as many club events in the car you currently have and spend the next year having fun and get comfortable with speed. The Spec Miata class is arguably one of the most competitive classes out there and the entry level price only makes the class look inexpensive to run. If you ever do race in a Spec series, be prepared for lots of contact damage--something that's rare in club racing where 1/2 the guys don't have trailers and need to drive their cars home after an event.

 

Good info

 

While you can build a spec Miata for $10K, its not likely you can build a competitive one for that price... Along the same lines, while technically you *can* drive a well built spec Miata on the street, you likely won't want to. The extra-stiff suspension and extra-low, very thinly padded seat will rattle you like a mexican jumping bean, not to mention noise, the bolted on hardtop, etc.

Race cars are race cars... Street cars are street cars... The idea of having a street car you can use for anything more than open track days and test & tunes, or a race car that is actually fun to drive on a sunny weekend is, IMHO, a pipe dream. Well, maybe a Ferrari F-40 or another ultra-exotic race tuned supercar.

With all that said, If you want to get into racing, the spec-miata is absolutely the most fun, cost effective way to get started, with the possible exeption of carts.

 

wow, 7 replies and no "Miatas are chick cars" comments- I'm impressed!

I love Miatas and I would love to own a spec Miata. I think it would be a fun project and possibly a great bonding experience for a father and son. It would also be a great way to improve your driving skills. I say go for it!

 

I would have to guess that you will be dissappointed when you get out there with so little horsepower.... spec miata's are about 5-6 seconds slower at summit point (1:22's vs 1:28's) which is a HUGE difference in fun (in my opinion)..

A guy who ran H1 in nasa honda challenge in 2004 attempted to run an H5 Honda in 2005, but hated it really quickly and sold the car... he is moving back up to the fast cars for 2006.

If you do decide to go miata......buy someone else's already competetive spec miata and save some $, unless you have a line on a really cheap miata.....

I bought a really cheap S2000 to use as a race car...... so I didn't completely lose my ass when i sold it (besides repairs that is).