130 replies to this topic

[Mike Collins]

We are getting donors now in the $7500 range (or less)

[DrDomm]

Is there a place for an SM5 in other classes? STL? This would make these cars more appealing.

[Glenn]

We are getting donors now in the $7500 range (or less)

Or wait till my daily driver hits 250K and poof.....instant SM5 doner.....

[Glenn]

Is there a place for an SM5 in other classes? STL? This would make these cars more appealing.

If many arrive in STL, you can BET they will add MORE weight to teh RWD cars!!! IT WILL KILL all other cars in teh class to date!

These cars will be good STL cars if built to STL trim, otherwise they will not be competitive. BTW , some $%%^&* showed up in an 02 Miata in STL this year and they are already increasing weight and RWD adder about and additional 90 lbs on my car next year, about 2600 lbs..

[svvs]

I think for those of us who have been driving SM for a while, this would be a cool "step-up" class if it takes off. Fsater car, ABS......basically a "grown-up" race car. Especially with the new hoosiers.......tires are only competitive for one race weekend anyway so it's not like the tire budget is a big difference.

Once this class hits 10 regular drivers or so in a region, it will work. A lot of guys out there are driving tired cars (my chassis has been a SM since 2001 or 2002 or so) and it feels weird to me to spend money on another SM and not "move up" in class.

[Michael Novak]

"We are getting donors now in the $7500 range (or less)"

We never seem to have any in my area that cheap... The cheapest right now is $11K on Criagslist----Or it has been driven through the winter and in Michigan it is junk then....

MIKE---Maybe talking about all the classes: STL, STU, Playboy CUP---something else... might help move some people..... Do you have a cost breakdown for the times needed to turn it back and forth from a playboy cup car to a STL? SHOCKS, DATA,?????

[Neil O]

Watch the values drop in winter, that's the time to buy. Got one last year for $8500 w/ 90K. It's nice and my daily driver... until...

[Mike Collins]

Chris Windsor converts his cars from SM5 to Playboy Cup for the pro stuff. He can do it in less than an hour per car. Mind you that he built and set up his cars with that in mind. All of his cars were built for SM5 with Playboy Cup in mind. I could convert mine in an hour.

[LarryKing]

This has probably been answered before, but I assume that one could begin with a former Playboy Cup car and easily convert it to a SM5, yes?

[DrDomm]

A lot of guys out there are driving tired cars (my chassis has been a SM since 2001 or 2002 or so) and it feels weird to me to spend money on another SM and not "move up" in class.

That's why I think it will be cool when the NA cars are phased out of SM, and the '99's are "unleashed" without their restrictors.

[Mike Collins]

This has probably been answered before, but I assume that one could begin with a former Playboy Cup car and easily convert it to a SM5, yes?

that is what I did...I bought a Playboy Car (actually three) sold off the suspension kit and that financed buying a hardtop and SM5 suspension kit. Had I kept all of the kits I could swap the cars back. the Playboy Cup suspension kit is a POS!

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Doc, the problem with your premise is that most regions including mine are innundated with 1.6's.... He ll I wouldnt have anyone left to race if it was only a 99 up field, which would lead me to quit racing all together.

I could certainly step up to another class as Vic suggests, I have raced in some other classes, and there is 1/10 of the competition in most of them, and certainly no parity. Would SM5 be different with the parity issues I beleive it would, but its just my opinion if it get very popular it will end up and ARMS race just liek SM.

What other class, has Pro's come out to race and they are just another serious competitor at the front of the pack? There is no place to go but down, when you alredy race in the best, tightest, most tallent field in amatuer racing. I'm not saying sm5 cant be that eventually but it certainly isnt that now.

[Mike Collins]

SM5 is the future of Spec Club Racing in the SCCA. Mazda made this car from 2006-current and we have one more year to go. There will be a lot of Playboy MX5 Cup cars that will get dumped into the market place when the new ND comes out.

Parity is great in this class. The sealed engine program works!!! The only only open item on the entire car is the tire and that is likely to stay open for a long time. Only the size is speced.

All parts on the cars are all the same. You pick....seat, steering wheel and brake pads and tires. The cars and HP output are all the same.

[Rob Burgoon]

That's why I think it will be cool when the NA cars are phased out of SM, and the '99's are "unleashed" without their restrictors.

Careful what you wish for. That plate is what saves you from having to test dozens of manifolds.

[Jim Drago]

Careful what you wish for. That plate is what saves you from having to test dozens of manifolds.

Truer words have never been said!!!

[SaulSpeedwell]

What I was just thinking the SCCA needed more than anything, right now, was another class.

If I didn't know better, I would think the goal is to turn all the Miata-based classes into what Formula-class racing has become - about 10 completely dysfunctional and unsustainable classes of a handful of cars each.

Oh well .... success is what it is reported to be, by those that request it be reported as such.

[Johnny D]

Have you seen this?

What I was just thinking the SCCA needed more than anything, right now, was another class.

If I didn't know better, I would think the goal is to turn all the Miata-based classes into what Formula-class racing has become - about 10 completely dysfunctional and unsustainable classes of a handful of cars each.

Oh well .... success is what it is reported to be, by those that request it be reported as such.

Have you seen this?
http://www.scca.com/...x.cfm?cid=51180

[SaulSpeedwell]

SM5 is the future of Spec Club Racing in the SCCA. Mazda made this car from 2006-current and we have one more year to go. There will be a lot of Playboy MX5 Cup cars that will get dumped into the market place when the new ND comes out.

Parity is great in this class. The sealed engine program works!!! The only only open item on the entire car is the tire and that is likely to stay open for a long time. Only the size is speced.

All parts on the cars are all the same. You pick....seat, steering wheel and brake pads and tires. The cars and HP output are all the same.

Right, right, and if this was winter of 2005, we'd be hearing about all the SSB racers in '99 cars that were just begging to join SM as resounding and perpetual underdogs!


History lesson:
http://forum.specmia...43;t=003036;p=2

[SaulSpeedwell]

Have you seen this?

Have you seen this?
http://www.scca.com/...x.cfm?cid=51180

Yes.

[Ron Alan]

Right, right, and if this was winter of 2005, we'd be hearing about all the SSB racers in '99 cars that were just begging to join SM as resounding and perpetual underdogs! History lesson: http://forum.specmia...43;t=003036;p=2

I just spent an hour reading a 6+year old thread...OMG Just like the same old crap we get every 4 years! Pretty interesting though and how many people will never change! Of course i like that in some cases...