15 replies to this topic

[davew]

My brand new 2011 Mazda 2 in alien green was just delivered. Not exactly like a Miata, but should be a fun ride.

For the short term it will be my daily driver. But the plan is to "b-spec" it this fall.

A set of SM tires and wheels will go on tomorow. Bilsteins are ordered, but they will not be available for 8 weeks.

I will be starting a new website (www.mz2speed.com) to give updates on anything happening with the green duece.

Dave

[tony senese]

Dave,
Can't you do something about the silly grin on that car's face?????

[wreckerboy]

Dave - keep us posted. We've had a black Touring for 10 months and 20K miles and flat love the thing.

[JayF]

Congrats! Saw the FB post. Looks good

[davew]

Dave,
Can't you do something about the silly grin on that car's face?????

That is the same silly grin the drivers will have after every race!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave

[Mike Colangelo]

Congrats Dave! Looks just like mine. Fun little car.

By the way, did you order your B-SPEC suspension from MazdaSpeed Motorsport? Every time I call them I get a different answer on its availability.

[davew]

Yesterday we put an old set of R888 rains and D-force wheels on the car. Made a huge difference in cornering stability, but the 25mm offset puts the wheels too far out for my taste. For a street car anyways!!!!

I hope to have some time tomorow to put "The Alien" on the dyno, just for grins.

Since I buy direct from Bilstein, I have not checked availability from MazdaSpeed. I will tell you that Bilstein is out of stock. More are expected in about 8 weeks. Since I have 3 SM builds to get done, I have the time to wait.

I had a great conversation with Randy Hale yesterday. Learned a lot from his experience with his cars.

Dave

[wheel]

Anybody have any idea how many of these cars are being built? I'm wondering if this is going to take off next season.
wheel

[davew]

My opinion is a lot of people are sitting on the fence. Waiting to see how rules packages work out.

Rumors abound about various sanctioning bodies for pro racing. I have heard both World Challange and Grand-am have shown interest. And they will need their own class for club racing. I would think regionals only in 2012. Leaving them legal for SSC at Nationals. Putting them in SSC should be only a temprary holding pattern (for Nationals) until car counts get improved. Possibly a "demonstration" race at the Runoffs to gain excitement and momentum.

When I first heard about SM in the fall of 2000, there where only a handfull of cars. I built 3 in 2001 and it took off after that. We need to get some rules clarified and get a few built. I would be happy to get start working on a stand alone rules package that does not rely on SS rules for a basis. I think using the SM rules as a basis point would make sense.


We also need to get other manufacturers involved. Mazda is great, but the intent of the class is to compete against Honda, Toyota, Ford, Kia etc

I have 2 serious customers and a couple tire kickers already showing interest. And we only have 2 cars (one Mazda and one Honda) that have hit the track in the country. I have heard from other SM builders, that they are also getting inquirees

Would it be possible for the ARRC to have a b-spec class? I know this would push my build schedule ahead.


Dave

[1xracer2]

My opinion is a lot of people are sitting on the fence. Waiting to see how rules packages work out.

Rumors abound about various sanctioning bodies for pro racing. I have heard both World Challange and Grand-am have shown interest. And they will need their own class for club racing. I would think regionals only in 2012. Leaving them legal for SSC at Nationals. Putting them in SSC should be only a temprary holding pattern (for Nationals) until car counts get improved. Possibly a "demonstration" race at the Runoffs to gain excitement and momentum.

When I first heard about SM in the fall of 2000, there where only a handfull of cars. I built 3 in 2001 and it took off after that. We need to get some rules clarified and get a few built. I would be happy to get start working on a stand alone rules package that does not rely on SS rules for a basis. I think using the SM rules as a basis point would make sense.


We also need to get other manufacturers involved. Mazda is great, but the intent of the class is to compete against Honda, Toyota, Ford, Kia etc

I have 2 serious customers and a couple tire kickers already showing interest. And we only have 2 cars (one Mazda and one Honda) that have hit the track in the country. I have heard from other SM builders, that they are also getting inquirees

Would it be possible for the ARRC to have a b-spec class? I know this would push my build schedule ahead.


Dave

[1xracer2]

Rumor has it that SCCA drops Showroom Stock and replaces them with T1, T2, T3 and T4. Which would make all of the B-Spec cars being placed in T4.

[Randy Hale]

Hale Motorsports just delivered a new Mazda 2 B-Spec car last week. It was a lot of fun to run around the track with two Mazda 2s.

I know that Ford has built a Fiesta and Kia is building one Rio. I brought my Mazda 2 to Mazda Raceway for the Grand-am race for display. Grand-am came over and looked at it two or three times.

Randy

[Mike Lliteras]

Ford had a Fiesta at VIR with Rehagen, Cool little car, and Kinetic is building at least one Rio, supposedly for Grand-Am next year to run a sprint B-Spec only race around the Continental race. You can see some pics of the Fiesta on FandSenterprises.com under Friday UTCC group B.

[davew]

Not much has been happening in the last month. The pix shows me using the alien as a track support vehicle at Road America last month. We had 17 spec Miatas to support that weekend.

The car now has 2500 miles on the odometer. This afternoon it will be put on our Dyno-Jet chassis dyno for some baseline runs.

This weekend the real work starts. I have the Bilstein suspension package and the air conditioning delete kit. Plus I will be removing the interior to begin fabricating the roll cage.

I ordered my Bilstein kit through Mazda. I got their last set. BilstenUSA is backordered until October. If anyone is considering this, you mau want to get a set on order. I currently have 2 sets on the backorder list.

My plan is to have a partially completed car at Road America for the Runoffs. We will be in parking stall 410 in the Mazda paddock.

I hope to race the car starting at the Oct 8-9 Regional at Blackhawk. Then at Road Atlanta for the ARRC

I will be posting lots of pix as I “Disect the Alien”

[Bench Racer]

Different car, but how about a couple pictures of your V8 stuff job.

[davew]

The V8 car is getting close. It runs and moves under its own power. Will post some pix next week

dave