32 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

EFFECTIVE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Full version
http://cdn.growasset....pdf?1440094754
 
J~

[Johnny D]

Recommended Items for 2016

SM
1. #16474 (Ralph Provitz) Driver Seating Position
Thank you for your request. Change 9.1.7.C.7.a.: a. The driver’s seat shall be replaced with a one-piece bucket-type race seat.
All seat mountings shall be reinforced. Factory seat tracks/brackets may be modified, reinforced, and/or removed to facilitate
replacement mountings provided they perform no other function. The passenger seat must be removed. The transmission tunnel
may be modified for the purpose of installing a competition driver seat. The driver’s side floor pan may be modified to accommodate
larger/taller drivers. All modifications shall be contained between the transmission tunnel, driver’s side rocker, rear bulkhead and
no more than 24” forward of the rear bulkhead. The modification shall not extend below the factory floor stiffener/frame rail. The
steel used in the modification shall be no thinner than .060”. All modifications shall be welded in place. This modification shall
serve no other purpose other than seating position.

2. #16519 (Dave Wheeler) Allow Auxiliary Fan Switch for Radiator Cooling Fan
Thank you for your request. Add section 9.1.7.C.1.o.8.: 8. Auxiliary control of the radiator cooling fan may be added to power
the fan independent of the ECU. OEM control of the fan must remain functional.


CLUB RACING TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Spec Miata
1. #15775 (Dan Tiley) Allow Pigtail to be soldered to cam sensor to fix known issue
Effective immediately, in 9.1.7.C.1.p, add a new section 9 as follows:
“An electrical pigtail ranging from 3” to 6” in length and terminated with any 3 pin electrical connector may be soldered and potted
to the OEM cam sensor for the purpose of correcting a known issue with the factory connection. The factory harness connector
may be removed and replaced with the appropriate mating connector.”
See RM 15-08

2. #17418 (Spec Miata Committee) Hardtop Attachments
In 9.1.7.C.6.e, clarify the convertible top language as follows:
“Convertible tops and attaching hardware shall be completely removed. Cars may compete with the Mazda factory detachable
hard top in place (latches shall be replaced with positive fasteners and rear pin attachment mechanisms must be used or
replaced with positive fasteners), but it is not mandatory. When no top is used, driver shall wear arm restraints, and the cage will
meet the helmet clearance rule. It is allowed to attach the hard top to the upper windshield bar of the roll cage.”

[Todd Lamb]

Your SMAC at work....

[Johnny D]

https://www.youtube....h?v=pco91kroVgQ

J~

[Bench Racer]

"The driver’s side floor pan may be modified to accommodate
larger/taller drivers."

 

Ralph/SMAC, might larger/taller drivers need some restrictions. Example, must be larger/taller than Jim Drago. Used Jim as an example because he is a larger/taller driver. Otherwise it becomes center of gravity must do/cost escalation issue.

 

I've viewed plenty of factory floor stiffener/frame rail crushed damn near flat to the floor pan. Is this floor pan lowering opening the door for a safety issue with modified floor pan at the same level bottom level of the non crushed floor stiffener/frame rail. With the floor pan lowered the floor pan becomes the thing that gets crushed. Hmmmm and maybe someone's a$$ and the family jewels.

[Johnny D]

A person with a tall torso would want it as well.

 

You can only go so low for CG before you can't see over the wheel.

J~

[Tom Hampton]

I can see it now...newly bred miata drivers: fat and butt, long torso, tiny chest and head.

[Ron Alan]

There are some pioneers with the floor mod and fan switch already out there...they will be happy

 

Regarding the floor modification...

 

I dont see a potential cheat/gray area here...but maybe a safety one as David eluded to? How about a simple max dimension? Lets say "X"x"Y"x 1.5" ?  Should there be something in front of the dropped pan to deflect or be hit first by an object driven over? The frame channel/stiffener that will need to be cut should be limited on its compromise. Assuming sub-belt bolt will be in this area...maybe a design should be thought out and speced...dont want a bolt suddenly sticking down to far that has the potential to be hit and ripped out 

[JRHille]

Yay now I can put my good looking matching hardtop back on

[Johnny D]

"The modification shall not extend below the factory floor stiffener/frame rail."

 

What's that give you, an inch or so ??

J~

[Ron Alan]

"The modification shall not extend below the factory floor stiffener/frame rail."
 
What's that give you, an inch or so ??
J~

Hmmm...I would have guessed that rail was down about 2.5" but just measured and it's about 1.75".

[Johnny D]

A bit off topic.

Are the steel stand-offs and longer bolts used on the steering column to lower the wheel where you want it in the rules?

J~

[Mark]

Multi-driver and rental cars pose an issue if their are stipulations on driver size and floor modifications.

 

"The driver’s side floor pan may be modified to accommodate
larger/taller drivers."

 

Ralph/SMAC, might larger/taller drivers need some restrictions. Example, must be larger/taller than Jim Drago. Used Jim as an example because he is a larger/taller driver. Otherwise it becomes center of gravity must do/cost escalation issue.

 

I've viewed plenty of factory floor stiffener/frame rail crushed damn near flat to the floor pan. Is this floor pan lowering opening the door for a safety issue with modified floor pan at the same level bottom level of the non crushed floor stiffener/frame rail. With the floor pan lowered the floor pan becomes the thing that gets crushed. Hmmmm and maybe someone's a$$ and the family jewels.

[Jim Drago]

"The driver’s side floor pan may be modified to accommodate
larger/taller drivers."
 
Ralph/SMAC, might larger/taller drivers need some restrictions. Example, must be larger/taller than Jim Drago. Used Jim as an example because he is a larger/taller driver. Otherwise it becomes center of gravity must do/cost escalation issue.
 
I've viewed plenty of factory floor stiffener/frame rail crushed damn near flat to the floor pan. Is this floor pan lowering opening the door for a safety issue with modified floor pan at the same level bottom level of the non crushed floor stiffener/frame rail. With the floor pan lowered the floor pan becomes the thing that gets crushed. Hmmmm and maybe someone's a$$ and the family jewels.

I have near wore a hole in hard top and helmet from years of my head banging against the top. I have never met the rule of my head being under the hoop. My head has always been over the bar. It will help taller drivers to put the seat more upright and not leaned way back like a low rider. I see no safety issue at all if done well. If done half ass, just like anything else.. it can be a problem.

[wheel]

No stipulations on driver size.  As Drago says, do it right, it's your ass on the floor.

[Bench Racer]

I have near wore a hole in hard top and helmet from years of my head banging against the top.

TMI

[38bfast]

head seems to me to be more important than ass. Then again some drives head and ass share the same space

[Brandon]

^^^ this guy!

*snort*

*snicker*

 

And to anyone claiming there's a gray area to exploit - the minimum thickness allowed is thicker than what you're replacing so you may be lowering the CG but you're adding a reasonable chunk of overall weight to the car.  Outside of some creative "aero goodness" that might come of this (but even that's debatable/limited with the total area delineated) I don't believe you will find this to be a 'must do' modification unless.

 

In fact, I'd go as far as to say you may have more cars usable/salable with this allowance as now you can lower the pan when an otherwise good car/cage would prevent you from buying it.

[davew]

2. #17418 (Spec Miata Committee) Hardtop Attachments
In 9.1.7.C.6.e, clarify the convertible top language as follows:
“Convertible tops and attaching hardware shall be completely removed. Cars may compete with the Mazda factory detachable
hard top in place (latches shall be replaced with positive fasteners and rear pin attachment mechanisms must be used or
replaced with positive fasteners), but it is not mandatory. When no top is used, driver shall wear arm restraints, and the cage will
meet the helmet clearance rule. It is allowed to attach the hard top to the upper windshield bar of the roll cage.”

 

I hate the word "IT". The word leaves people wonder exactly what you are refering to. In this case does IT refer to; positive fasteners or latches or hardtops? Now, I know what it refers to. But, for the newbie it could be misunderstood. Please replace the word" IT" with the phrase "Hardtop use"

 

Under the same situation, please change the last sentance to "The hardtop may be attached to the upper windshield bar of the roll cage.This attachment does not count as an additional attachment point(s) of the roll cage"

 

Also, please change the length of the pigtail allowed on the cam sensor from 3" to 6". To 3" to 12" length. Just gives everyone more room to work. FYI, we did this fix to Tom Browns car, which has been a notorious cam sensor eater. 2 weekends without a pop. Thanks Dan.

 

I spent the weekend with Todd and Ralph, I see good things coming from this SMAC. Keep up the good work.

 

dave

[ChrisA]

I think because everything relating to the brackets and fasteners is within parenthesis, apart from the hardtop, that it is pretty clear that "it" refers to the hardtop.