68 replies to this topic

[MPR22]

Quote from Mr. Dewhurst "No question the 1.6 can & does win. My only question has ever been, can a 1.6 win at you know where. Maybe we'll know after the June Sprints."


Why does it matter to YOU, if a 1.6 can win the Runoffs at Road America?

1. Do you have the talent to win the Runoffs? if yes then;
2. Is your car's prep level Runoffs worthy? (Pro motor, everything with the special grease, you have 6 sets of tires.......) if yes then;
3. Do you plan on racing at the Runoffs? If yes then;
Your original question is relavent.

The reason I ask is becasue I ask the same questions of myself and my car (99 by the way).

The answers from me,
1. Probably not, I need another year of development and maybe I will never have the chops.
2. My car is still being developed and chances are it will never be good enough to win the Run-offs, we are too heavy.
3. Not really, too far away, miss to much work, don't need the experience to complete my life.....

The problem is not the parity between cars. The problem is the track (yes I know its closer to you than Atlanta, Mid Ohio, of any other suiable venue). Why should the entire class have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to change their cars to conform to one track? Can a racer on a shoestring budget ever win the Runoffs? Probably not. So if the desire is to build a car to win the Runoffs in a given year, I suggest the the racer choose a platform and develop it to its maximum potential and go race. Oh wait somebody did that, just last year, and low and behold they won.

Hobby racers are the life blood of the class, but that will never stop the "cool kids" from spending 50-100k a year to win the Runoffs. Will that kill Spec Miata? Don't think so, it hasn't since 2006 when it became a national class. The west coast boys have a blast running almost exclusively regional races and if they want to go to the Runoffs they run enough nationals to qualify and then they go to the Runoffs. Can you buy/build a respectable car for 15k or less, Hell yes. Can you race it 6 weekends a year and use 2 sets of tires, camp out at every event and spend as little money as possible and still have a blast, Hell yes. Can you spend 15k on a car, spend zero time on development of the car, race 4 National races and go to the Runoffs and win? NO FREAKING WAY, even if your name is Loshak. Nobody gets to the top of any sport by putting in minimal effort, financially or otherwise. The horse is dead, or at least out of the barn. Race your car "as is" if you want but don't try to insinuate the powers that be have not done enough to give the 1.6 a shot at the title. Just becasue it hasn't or won't win the Runoffs is not the same as it can't. And if it can't, who cares? It is one race. What is good for the class is there are cars and races at all levels for people to enjoy. Racing is a blast and on that I think we can all realate. Spec Miata is one of, if not the best class for road racing available to the masses. As I have seen over and over again in posts "You always have someone to race".

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Who is thei Loshak? I think I remember a story abotu Loshak, Meshak, and Abendigo... Same guy NO?

[dstevens]

Who is thei Loshak?

Oh, oh, oh Mr Kotta...

[Jim Drago]

no no that is Horse shack, he said Loshak

[MPR22]

Maybe he meant sleestak?

[Jim Drago]

no no no.. he said Lo- ve shack

[Bench Racer]

The four of you clowns can pick on me all you care to, but when you pick on a two time SCCA national champion your a pretty sick bunch. In ANY car, the Dude will drive away from each of you.

Mr. Ross, I'm seventy years young, I hope when you age to 70 you'll still have a desire to enjoy this hobby while being the spacer between the seat & the steering wheel. I've raced at nine different tracks in the midwest including Mid Ohio.

[Andrew Charbonneau]

[Andrew Charbonneau]

[Andrew Charbonneau]

[Jim Drago]

The four of you clowns can pick on me all you care to, but when you pick on a two time SCCA national champion your a pretty sick bunch. In ANY car, the Dude will drive away from each of you.

You are just figuring out this is a sick bunch? "A little slow on the up take are you Trebek?"

Look, I don't know the guy, I'm sure he is an excellent driver and we were picking on you since you are putting this guy in as a pinch hitter and putting him on a pedestal. While you would have to be a fool not to respect a two time National champion's abilities, but I don't idolize them either.
I'll say it again, I am no more or less afraid of him than the guys I race week in and week out like Andrew, Buras, Clements, etc.

[Andrew Charbonneau]

this is what happens

[Caveman-kwebb99]

The four of you clowns can pick on me all you care to, but when you pick on a two time SCCA national champion your a pretty sick bunch. In ANY car, the Dude will drive away from each of you.

Mr. Ross, I'm seventy years young, I hope when you age to 70 you'll still have a desire to enjoy this hobby while being the spacer between the seat & the steering wheel. I've raced at nine different tracks in the midwest including Mid Ohio.

SCCA national champ? I never heard of him, just like I wouldnt know Drago from Drano, or the Gorilla from a Babbon if I waznt racing SM...

If he is so good why isnt he driving your top shelf 1.6? Thats the real question...

[LarryKing]

1.6, 1.7, whatever it takes.

[MPR22]

David,

Please answer the original question.


I should have left Mr. Loshak out of the discussion as it seems to have hijacked the thread. I only used him as a reference because you hold him in high regard. I believe you are a bit misguided to think that any of the top 5 cars and drivers can be beaten by Mr. Loshak in a poorly developed car. I have raced with several Pro's and by Pro's I mean guys who get paid to race bigger and better cars. I have not experienced this driving away phenomenon of which you speak. Adimitedly their cars were not as good as mine but they did not drive away from me and I am not a top 5 driver nor do I have a top 5 car.

I respect that you admire Mr. Loshak's drving talent.
I respect that you are having fun at 70 years young (doubt I will still be doing this at 70)
but please

Please answer the question: Why does it matter to YOU, if a 1.6 can win the Runoffs at Road America?

[Caveman-kwebb99]

David,

Please answer the original question.


I should have left Mr. Loshak out of the discussion as it seems to have hijacked the thread. I only used him as a reference because you hold him in high regard. I believe you are a bit misguided to think that any of the top 5 cars and drivers can be beaten by Mr. Loshak in a poorly developed car. I have raced with several Pro's and by Pro's I mean guys who get paid to race bigger and better cars. I have not experienced this driving away phenomenon of which you speak. Adimitedly their cars were not as good as mine but they did not drive away from me and I am not a top 5 driver nor do I have a top 5 car.

I respect that you admire Mr. Loshak's drving talent.
I respect that you are having fun at 70 years young (doubt I will still be doing this at 70)
but please

Answer the question: Why does it matter to YOU, if a 1.6 can win the Runoffs at Road America?

please send funds to the meshak loshak and abindigo fire defense fund! This will assure that S?M will live long life after Drano wins june sprints with 1.6 OPM podium...

[LarryKing]

Mario Andretti (72 y/o) could beat all y'all driving a Pinto.

MPR Twenty Two, you're about 2 years behind this discussion. This horse has been road kill for a long time.

Answer the question:

What's the magic word?

[Caveman-kwebb99]

+1,000,000,000,00,o0oo,oo0ol,
on super mario. I think even pacMan beats everyone. OKne fast mother

[MPR22]

Mario Andretti (72 y/o) could beat all y'all driving a Pinto.

MPR Twenty Two, you're about 2 years behind this discussion. This horse has been road kill for a long time.



What's the magic word?

Edited, thank you. I was not respecting my elders.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

is the majoc word UnKle?