msdunkel

I'm a 47 year old white guy, am I even allowed to own a car with such a big wing?

msdunkel

Sorry for the multiple replies, edit seems to be disabled for my account and I keep thinking of things to say. The car looks awesome at a good price considering what's been done to it but I'm probably going to try and find something closer. Maybe after a few months of searching I'll be kicking myself for not getting this one.

blueosprey90

If you want to race:

a) Find out what club / organization you want to race with. Sometimes track dependent. SCCA, NASA for modern cars (I'm sure there are others), clubs for Historics and Vintage. I race vintage - think 1959.
b) Once you've identified a viable organization to run with, figure out what class you might want to run, then what cars are competitive in that class.
c) Find out what is needed to get a competition license. Everybody has their own rules. Follow the rules and get the license. Sometimes you can rent a race car (not inexpensive) for this purpose.
d) Do you want to be competitive, or are you happy mid pack or racing against yourself? Find a car and go racing.

My own 2 cents is that for a modern car, I would start with a Miata. It makes a very good race car, readily available and inexpensive (in the grand scheme of things), plenty of go fast parts. You can always move from there in a few years. The potential downside of racing a spec Miata is the constant trading paint. After the Miata, I would consider a BMW.

I'm not sure that an S2000 is the best platform for a race car. Of course, never having raced an S2000, what do I know? Others can correct me and provide first hand insight.

robrob

Wheel-to-wheel racing requires a fully caged race car. If this is what you want to do then buy a used race car. It's cheaper to buy one than to transform a street car into a race car.

Actually, as mentioned above, renting a race car and getting your competition license is a good way to get your feet wet in wheel-to-wheel racing.

I would strongly recommend Spec Miata or the equivalent for the sanctioning body you will run with. If you want to keep it street legal (or close) then SSM Miata is a milder form of Miata racing. You can do track days and always find other Miatas to play with on the track. Consumables are as cheap as they come. I raced an S2000 and in hindsight I would go with Spec Miata if given a do-over.

If you just want to do casual track days a used S2000 with a roll bar can't be beat.

freq

OP, that's a track car, you could TT or DE it but no wheel to wheel racing in that, at least not with NASA.

miamirice

msdunkel

Thanks guys, didn't think I'd come to an S2K board and get Miata recommendations! So would it be a correct summary to state that if I just want to stay casual and "race" for time or against myself at track days and autocross an S2000 would be a fine pick, but if I want to actually race against other competitors then a Miata is the way to go?

blueosprey90

You have so very many options for both track days and racing. For track days, what car do you have in the garage? It might be more than sufficient.

In all honesty, I do track days in the S2000 more for the social aspects. Check the brakes and swap the pads and I'm done. I drive maybe 8/10, look at the scenery and listen to the birds.

The racing is more challenging, more expensive, more time consuming and more fun. I spent all winter working on the car! The funny thing is that I'm almost just as fast in the MGA as I am in the S2000.

Here is a motorsportsreg link to club events at Road Atlanta. https://www.motorsportreg.com/venues...a-braselton-ga

CHIN Motorsports has an event in a couple of weeks. In new England, CHIN is stock S2000 friendly, but I don't know if they offer instructors for novice. Go to the event and check it out. You can also find CHIN Motorsports website for more info.

miamirice

InsaneSp

Come check out the NASA event at Road Atlanta in June and talk to racers and DE guys. Should be a good turnout for s2k's.