I'm not to worried about having to drive the Miata to the track, I'm only 18, and can tolerate that kind of stuff for 20-30 minutes at a time. My dad could drive his pickup with the tools. Why we thought about going the Miata route is because we could probably sell the S for 22-25K and then build a Miata for 10K. My dad doesnt want to track the S because he is very scared of wrecking that car. Even if we built the Miata for 10K we would have at least 12K left over for repairs and weekend entry fees and such. It would save alot of money and be more fun. If anyone in the area of Portland has one for sale (either a stock Miata or Spec Miata), please let me know

 

No other entry level car I can think of besides those 80's porsches

 

You could build a Spec RX-7 for probably half of what a Spec Miata would cost.

 

Though I thought about racing in a Spec Miata series it's just way too competitive...huge fields of cars and huge amounts of money being poured into 'em. Though I like to track my car for fun, there's no better reward than placing well. I simply wouldn't have a lot of fun busting my butt to come in midpack. But if you look on the fringes of racing, there's a lot of other series that are made up of guys who just love to race, but don't really want to be confined by a national-type series. OTC, Honda Challenge and the other events I mentioned above are an alternative to what 'everyone else' is doing. Spec Miatas do often compete in non-spec miata races (like OTC, for instance), and no doubt about it--they make great race cars. Just don't think that's the only way to race cheaply.

I think the real question is that you should ask yourself what events you'd like to participate in--do a lot of research on what competitions are available in your vacinity--at the tracks that you want to race--and then build a car that fits with the timeframe/level of competition and budget that's right for you. It'd suck building up a Spec Miata only to find that ther's only 2 races a year at the track you can get to easily. And look into the prerequisites necessary for you and your pop to compete.

 

I'm looking to start out by just doing track days, and then move on to racing. I know it would be a good idea to track the car stock at first, but we want to build the car this winter so it is ready for the racing season. The main reason I thought of a spec miata is that it seems like a good car to learn on. Not to much power, good handling and brakes, rear wheel drive. I've always been a honda person, but I miatas are great cars. We had a 99 miata before the S2000 and sometimes I find myself missing it. Anyways, I wouldn't mind getting into racing with a front wheel drive Honda (CRX, Civic, Integra, etc...) but I don't know much about them. Also, my dad has no mechanic skill and I have very little (trying to learn) so something trouble free is important, because we will be paying someone to do alot of the work.

 

If you haven't done any DE's. That is probably the place to start before getting serious about a SM. I would do some DE's in the S2k. I have done DE's in my NSX for the last 2.5 years and only now am *thinking* about going racing. DE's are a blast, and safer than racing.

To be competitive in SM, you will need to spend $25k.

good luck.

 

sorry, but what exactly is a DE?

 

delaware?


















Drivers Education

 

DE(driver's education) courses are designed to teach the student car control on a race track and in a relatively safe environment. Passing zones are controlled, you will have an instructor in the passenger seat teaching you the basics of car dynamics, control. You must live near portland. I would look into DE's done in that area and sign up.

I am not sure who teaches near portland, but heres is a list of DE's all across the U.S.A.

http://home.kc.rr.com/mbartlett4/