10 replies to this topic

[Gordon Fairulegoat Everitt]

Hi all,

1 st post woo !

Just recently appreciated the smile factor of miatas at a beautiful track day at Laguna Seca.

Reckon I'll give spec miata a go. As well as some solo and whatever else I'm eligible for.

Whats the consensus for building a spec miata ? Buy a build kit from a vendor or craigslist/ebay it ? And from who ? I'll be doing all except welding in the cage myself. I'm partial to hunt n find on ebay for previous flavours of motorsport but the kit would get me up and racing faster and less mistakes I guess when the rules gorilla has a peek.

Apologies if this has been asked 12 billion times already I appreciate any links you guys can supply

While I'm typing surely not the most exciting incab you'll see all day but heres my best rolling start lap of laguna which was awesome fun.. just please ignore the noobie enthusiastic encouragement whilst shouting at 'Weenus'.. the miata... chasing the coopers.




cheers and thanks,

Gordo

[Caveman-kwebb99]

You can get an account at mazda motorsports http://www.mazdamoto...catalogId=10001

Also you have a pretty good source in NASA's SM dirrector out there In Calf. he also has Racing Parts On line Store
http://www.weekend-r...sort=20a&page=2

Introduce yourself to John Mueller he is the NASA SM director out there you can send him a PM on thie site by going to members tab on top and you can Type Mueller into search box to find him the fastest.

There are plenty in Calif that will be more than willing to help you...

I buy things on Ebay, as well but unless you really know what your after it can be a jungle and you may not come oout with what you really need.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Also http://www.advanced-...page=page&id=18 they can be very helpful to you as well, somewhere on the site you can buy a book of how to build a spec miata, as well as the site sells most everything you would need.

I suggest you buy the book and then take it from there.

[LarryKing]

If you're handy mechanically, buy a 99, have a pro cage it, buy a pro motor (on the west coast Rebello builds a hale of a motor), the rest you can do yourself. It ain't rocket surgery.

PS: Has anyone else noticed that you can't post h3ll anymore? It comes out 'hale' (sounds like one of them redneck boys).

[davew]

Do a lot of reading first. As you metioned, this has been asked on this site a billion times. As recently as a month ago. Read the past posts.

Read and understand the rule book for whatever group you plan on racing with. They are similar, but have slight differences.

Read my book. I may sound self serving here, but over 900 copies are in the hands of SM racers. The book must have some value.

Understand your budget. Do you have $30k to buy a front running car? Do you have $10k to buy a well used car? Do you have the $3k to fix up the used car? Do you have 300 hours to spend building the car in your garage? Do you want to race next week? Next month? or Next year?

Watch what you buy on ebay. Price is not always the best value. Example, a customer brought me a gasket set he bought on ebay. Box showed it would fit a Miata. Head gasket did, intake did not, valve cover did not and several needed parts where not in the kit. Example #2, I have sold cars on ebay. probably will again. A couple years ago there was a car advertised on ebay that said I built it. The car had my sticker on it. I brokered the car for a customer, but I did not build it, prep it, or work on it. Buyer be ware!

Good Luck and welcome to the family
Dave

[Ron Alan]

There are several cars for sale in the bay area right now. Pm me and i can give you more info. If you really want to get the bug, come out to Sonoma Raceway(Infineon, Sears point) July 6th-8th for the SCCA weekend. You'll be able to get a lot of free info, ideas, and watch some great racing...the SM field has sold out...70+ cars!!!

[Todd Tagget]

Since I've just been through this I'll comment..
If you're handy and it sounds as you are.. do it yourself.. buy a donor car.. Get Dave's book and start building . If you don't want to build the cage there are a lot of local guys who will build you a cage ( Evil Genuis Racing amongst others).
Unless you've got a ton of seat time,, hold off on the pro engine and some of the other expensive stuff. learn to drive it, get the car ironed out..
There's a lot of self satisfaction from building your car yourself.. and it's not that difficult.

[Gordon Fairulegoat Everitt]

Thanks guys the info is very much appreciated. Dave's book sounds like a winner. I have a 90 in fair cond that will be getting the SM treatment.

I'm hitting search for this forum to start amassing SM info so I don't have to do things twice. I'll be running the stock motor until the smoke escapes then decide where to go from there although its strong for now. Can someone please clear a question about the air box reg for a 90 SM. The current SM rule set states a 90 must use a airbox (which can be mod'd) and flat filter. I this correct or am I confused ? The car currently has a racing beat u bend k&n pod which I assume it not reg for a 90 SM.

Cheers!

Gordo

[Jim Drago]

in Sm you can run that filter, SSM is the class with stock air cleaner boxes. 94-05 use only stock boxes

[KentCarter]

Gordo, the racing beat system is legal. It doesn't make great power, but it's legal. It's heavy, too.

[Gordon Fairulegoat Everitt]

Ok thanks. Was looking as ssm not sm. didn't even know there was a ssm until then...