20 replies to this topic

[jaje]

I'm making progress on the car getting the mechanicals set and ready. Next up will be setting up the safety cage area. I'm 6'4" so was considering deleting out the wing window on the drivers side in case I'd ever have to crawl out if the door was for some reason disabled. What tips / tricks do you recommend in doing this? I will plumb a vent window from the passenger side though.

Next up was the door mirrors when I read "any mirrors maybe used or removed". Does everyone delete these or keep them? I'm putting in the 14" wide angle mirror on my car. I do notice I hardly used my side view mirrors when racing anyway.

[Bench Racer]

I'm 6'4" so was considering deleting out the wing window on the drivers side in case I'd ever have to crawl out if the door was for some reason disabled. What tips / tricks do you recommend in doing this? I will plumb a vent window from the passenger side though.

The rearward vertical track for the side window will un-bolt. A bolt or two behind the sheetmetal. At the top of the vertical track there are IIRC two Philips head screws under the weather strip. Might need to cut the front/angled frame for the vent window.

Next up was the door mirrors when I read "any mirrors maybe used or removed". Does everyone delete these or keep them? I'm putting in the 14" wide angle mirror on my car. I do notice I hardly used my side view mirrors when racing anyway.

By rule the exterior mirrors SHALL BE RETAINED. You may change there position by 6 inches.

The interior mirror may be removed, relocated or replaced. Before you mount your 14 inch mirror get your seat in it's final position. I also happen to use a 14 inch single plane mirror & have it mounted/positioned from the windshield so that I can view out the drivers door window opening all the way to the passenger side door window.

[Jim Boemler]

If you pay attention to your mirror placement, you can also get a rear-view for your video, which is very handy.

[MPR22]

If you watch your mirrors to much you will:
A) miss turni in and drive off track
miss braking point and hit driver in front of you
C) get passed soon , because you are driving in your mirrors.


Guilty of all three as a newbie, best thing I ever did us get rid of the giant mirror. Your ears will tell you more about where your competitor is on the track relative to you. Let's face it this isn't a DE, you don't point the guy by on the next straight away. You were in front of the other car for a reason.

[Jim Boemler]

I'm sure thankful that attitude hasn't oozed up to the Northwest.

[MPR22]

Its not an attitude, its how you race. If you still need a big rear view mirrow to tell where you are vs your competitors you are the one who is not safe. Side mirrors and ears should be sufficient.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

I'm sure thankful that attitude hasn't oozed up to the Northwest.

MPR22 is a clean racer. I think you are misinterpreting his response.

[Keith Novak]

I really really like a parabolic mirror mounted on my drivers side. I have one bolted to my roll cage. My OEM mirror is pointed right along the rear fender so I can see how close I am when I'm running tight but sitting in grid, I've checked the view angle many times and the car next to me is invisible. With my head restraint I can't turn enough to see much. The little parabolic gives me a great wide angle view so I can easily tell if someone is there, roughly how close and switch to the other mirror if they're really close. Racing at night the light isn't dazzling in the parabolic so I can actually tell where people are.. I've also found I prefer a mesh window net to a ribbon style since I always end up with a ribbon right where I want to look in the stock mirror.

The rear view mirror might not be as useful in an all SM field, but if you have a mixed field (in STL I race against some VERY high HP cars that will be on you in a heartbeat down straights) the rear mirror can be very useful. Mine points mostly right since I don't really care what my forehead looks like and I probably use it more than my OEM side mirror since I get a very good perspective of how close they are with that mirror alone.

[MPR22]

Very good point Keith. We don't race in mixed fields in the SOWDiv. I have raced some with Miatas and GT 2 cars at the same time and it is important to check the rear view in that situation. However, I can do that with the factory mirror.

[davew]

For the interior mirror I use a stock 1.6 rear view mirror (the style that bolts to the window frame, as opposed to being glued to the window) attached to the roll bar with hose clamps. I mount it offset to get a better view.

I wrote the outside rear viw mirror rule when I was on the SMAC. The wording about within 6" on the outside of the door was to keep someone from mounting the mirror on the inside for aero purposes. An easy way to get better vision on the drivers mirror is to move the mirror forward by one mirror length. In other words, mount the mirror by puting the rear bolt in the front hole. Then drill a new hole for the front bolt.

Simple and effective

Dave

[jaje]

By rule the exterior mirrors SHALL BE RETAINED. You may change there position by 6 inches.

The interior mirror may be removed, relocated or replaced. Before you mount your 14 inch mirror get your seat in it's final position. I also happen to use a 14 inch single plane mirror & have it mounted/positioned from the windshield so that I can view out the drivers door window opening all the way to the passenger side door window.

I must be missing where this requirement is as when I'm looking through the previous version and the updated 2012.1 SM rules for NASA it has nothing in there that requires keeping the exterior mirrors - the only statement about mirrors is 19.1.4 where any maybe used or removed. http://www.nasaprora...miata_rules.pdf Am I missing something here? I'm a lawyer so reading it carefully but I do not see any requirement to keep the exterior mirrors. I have yet to remove them and won't until later on. I dunno.

[tony senese]

NASA and SCCA rules confusion here....

NASA - 19.1.4. Any mirrors may be used or removed..... so if you are not going to run with SCCA you can remove the mirrors, if you are really slick like Nate Sparks, you spin in the uphill in the rain, blast the drivers side into the tire wall, loose only 2 spots, (removing the drivers side mirror) and then use your "Aero advantage" to come back and win the NASA championship......

Seriously Dave, Aero advantage.....

[Glenn]

NASA and SCCA rules confusion here....

NASA - 19.1.4. Any mirrors may be used or removed..... so if you are not going to run with SCCA you can remove the mirrors, if you are really slick like Nate Sparks, you spin in the uphill in the rain, blast the drivers side into the tire wall, loose only 2 spots, (removing the drivers side mirror) and then use your "Aero advantage" to come back and win the NASA championship......

Seriously Dave, Aero advantage.....

At Daytona, Charlotte, Homestead......get the picture!

[Bench Racer]

I must be missing where this requirement is as when I'm looking through the previous version and the updated 2012.1 SM rules for NASA it has nothing in there that requires keeping the exterior mirrors - the only statement about mirrors is 19.1.4 where any maybe used or removed. http://www.nasaprora...miata_rules.pdf Am I missing something here? I'm a lawyer so reading it carefully but I do not see any requirement to keep the exterior mirrors. I have yet to remove them and won't until later on. I dunno.

Sorry about my SCCA rule, it doesn't match with nasa.

[davew]

I did not say it would make a difference. I said some people would do it thinking it was an advantage.

Remeber we had to change the muffler rules for aero advantages

[jaje]

Sorry about my SCCA rule, it doesn't match with nasa.

That explains it - not looking at the SCCA ruleset only NASA. I think I'll keep the mirrors or maybe do what Dave does and move them up 6 inches for better clearance to crawl out if needed. Or remove them and maybe get that aero advantage!

[Bruce Wilson]

Its not an attitude, its how you race. If you still need a big rear view mirrow to tell where you are vs your competitors you are the one who is not safe. Side mirrors and ears should be sufficient.

I'm with Jim and don't agree with this statement. What'sa behind you does matter, at least with SCCA rules. Also the ears work when there's only one or two cars max, any more and forget it and still not going to cut it with SCCA rules. If there's any side by side overlap, you must leave racing room, i.e. you need good mirrors (all three) to race clean (and keep from getting turned for that matter)! I don't race my mirrors but I use them.

Actually I use my convex mirror instead of the objects are closer than they appear mirror because it provides a much better picture of who's on my quarter. The passenger side mirror is back on the car now due to the new rules, I just never use it and sometimes it gets folded in when people walk by my car in the paddock 'n stuff

[tony senese]

I did not say it would make a difference. I said some people would do it thinking it was an advantage.

Remember we had to change the muffler rules for aero advantages

Just messin with ya Dave, anyone who tunes for an Aero advantage must be the worlds most consistent, fast and rich Miata Driver, and I am pretty sure that guy (we all know who I mean....) was suspended at the SCCA runoffs...

[Dave Lewis]

For the interior mirror I use a stock 1.6 rear view mirror (the style that bolts to the window frame, as opposed to being glued to the window) attached to the roll bar with hose clamps. I mount it offset to get a better view.

I wrote the outside rear viw mirror rule when I was on the SMAC. The wording about within 6" on the outside of the door was to keep someone from mounting the mirror on the inside for aero purposes. An easy way to get better vision on the drivers mirror is to move the mirror forward by one mirror length. In other words, mount the mirror by puting the rear bolt in the front hole. Then drill a new hole for the front bolt.

Simple and effective

Dave

I had moved my right side mirror forward of the wind screen, about 18" forward of the A pillar, before that rule, and have no plans to put it back. I can check my right side without moving my head, just an eye movement. Paper coming my way? Ah well.

[tony senese]

here's some miata Aero for ya!