45 replies to this topic

[ScratchRob13]

Hey guys, I inititially bought this car do really be a completely reliable track junkie car, and only really do HPDE events.  So when I had DWW Motorsports build my 2001 Miata, I did a 90% spec build... the rest I left alone... not thinking I would be racing anytime soon...

 

Well I'm signing up for a SCCA driving school, and am about to take the plunge into racing... so I have a few questions about my current car to get it into SM... But first what I did have done to the car:

-SM Suspension Kit

-SM Cage Built by DWW

-SM Legal electric kill, seats, etc

-Kosei K1 w/ 205/50R15 RA1

-Stock Sport Brakes, w/Hawk Blue

-Spec exhaust built

-Power Steering Depressurized/Deleted

-Steering Wheel

-tow hooks added

 

I'm sure there are a couple little things missing... but I have some questions:

 

1)  It's a 2001 Sport model, so which chassis braces must I remove?  The strut tower bar I read in the GCR... but I've been told there is one under the car?

2)  The restrictor plate...GCR says SCCA Enterprises.. guess that isn't a question

3)  Any tips on brakes?  I guess I need to buy some non-sport and swap over... cut and dry I guess.

4) Anything else I'm missing? 

 

Thanks guys... look forward to meeting many of you at the track! 

 

Picture of the car... wheels/tires have changed.

[ScratchRob13]

Also, does anyone have a suggestion on an Alignment shop between Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA area?  Or nearby?

[Michael Colangelo]

Matt Kessler in Berlin, CT (just south of Hartford) seems to do a lot of work on SMs. You might want to give him a call. Here's a link to his website: http://kesslerengineering.com

Where are you located? I'm actually in Berlin, CT right now visiting family.

[Parity]

+1 on Kessler.

 

A few things often overlooked when coverting a DE car to SM - fuel regulator, proper fuel injection clamps on fuel lines, fire suppression, proper decals, padding on cage areas close to driver.

 

May want to check condition of control arms, alignment bolts, prior to going for setup.

 

Also, all belts, seat, net, compliance and the date is still good. Driver's suit, nomex underwear, sox, balaclava, etc

[ScratchRob13]

Matt Kessler in Berlin, CT (just south of Hartford) seems to do a lot of work on SMs. You might want to give him a call. Here's a link to his website: http://kesslerengineering.com
Where are you located? I'm actually in Berlin, CT right now visiting family.

  
I'm in Suffield... I contacted Matt but he said he is too busy through MAY.

+1 on Kessler.
 
A few things often overlooked when coverting a DE car to SM - fuel regulator, proper fuel injection clamps on fuel lines, fire suppression, proper decals, padding on cage areas close to driver.
 
May want to check condition of control arms, alignment bolts, prior to going for setup.
 
Also, all belts, seat, net, compliance and the date is still good. Driver's suit, nomex underwear, sox, balaclava, etc

Fuel regulator and injection clamps cannot be OEM?

I am going to grab a 2.5# extinguisher this week... And I have all new belts this year and ordered nets last week. I have the driver gear from a lemons race I did last year... But thanks for the list because I don't think I have a balaclava.

Does the padding need to be sfi rated? I have some 1" foam padding on the cage now... But it isn't sfi as far as I know.

Thanks!

[marcusmazza]

The regulator can be OEM, but there is a lot of power to be gained by going to an adjustable regulator. Usually anything that your head is going to come into contact with should/needs to be SFI rated.

 

Anyway, welcome to SM. Hope to see you at some races.

 

Marc

[Bench Racer]

 

Well I'm signing up for a SCCA driving school, and am about to take the plunge into racing... so I have a few questions about my current car to get it into SM...

Welcome to the Spec Miata world, Have Fun. Sooner or later being that your going to do a SCCA school you might as well become fimilar with the SCCA GCR (General Competition Rules) because there will in all likelyhood be a written test. There is a section on Spec Miata rules which will back you up to other items. In the front 1/3 of the GCR are many items you will need to know how to find. Check with someone in your region or local SCCA racer about the requirements for school.   

GCR

http://scca.cdn.race...ril-mobile1.pdf

[Parity]

  




Fuel regulator and injection clamps cannot be OEM?

 

 

It's fairly common to see clamps that have been replaced with standard hose clamps like this:

 

http://www.delcity.n...CFRQS7AodAiUAKA

 

But these are correct ones:

 

http://www.delcity.n...CFZRr7AodWBMA9Q

 

Padding must be SFI rated if it can contact helmet.

[ScratchRob13]

The regulator can be OEM, but there is a lot of power to be gained by going to an adjustable regulator. Usually anything that your head is going to come into contact with should/needs to be SFI rated.

 

Anyway, welcome to SM. Hope to see you at some races.

 

Marc

I'll have to look into it, thanks.

 

Welcome to the Spec Miata world, Have Fun. Sooner or later being that your going to do a SCCA school you might as well become fimilar with the SCCA GCR (General Competition Rules) because there will in all likelyhood be a written test. There is a section on Spec Miata rules which will back you up to other items. In the front 1/3 of the GCR are many items you will need to know how to find. Check with someone in your region or local SCCA racer about the requirements for school.   

GCR

http://scca.cdn.race...ril-mobile1.pdf

I'll be doing my homework prior to the School... I've read there is usually a test of some sorts.

 

It's fairly common to see clamps that have been replaced with standard hose clamps like this:

 

http://www.delcity.n...CFRQS7AodAiUAKA

 

But these are correct ones:

 

http://www.delcity.n...CFZRr7AodWBMA9Q

 

Padding must be SFI rated if it can contact helmet.

Ok, I'll check the clamps, and order up some SFI foam.  Thanks!

[DrDomm]

I'm pretty sure the way the GCR reads is that padding must be equivalent to SFI rated padding.  Check out Advanced Autosports or Saferacer...they sell the padding that is equivalent, but cheaper.

 

 

Edit...

 

"All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver 

must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding 

that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved 

padding), or SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat 

padding) specification is recommended."

 

 

There you go...recommended.

[Bench Racer]

 

 

"All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver 

MUST be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding 

that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved 

padding),    OR     SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat 

padding) specification is recommended."

 

 

There you go...recommended.

 

Be careful how you read that ^ rule specification.    The " SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat 

padding) specification is recommended." If your using the curved material it SHALL be padding "that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001." 

[FTodaro]

drill out the steering wheel lock in the ignition. see archives 

[Alberto]

FYI - you don't need all the "power" adders (like the adjustable fuel regulator) to do the licensing school.  You don't need it to race either so you can plan that mod when the time is right.  The adjustable fuel pressure regulator really should be combined with some dyno time and air-fuel ratio (AFR) tuning in order to be safe and yield any power.  Not tuning AFRs can cause the car to run lean and damage the engine or overly rich.  At the very least, you need to set the fuel pressure to stock if you do install it w/o dyno so that you maintain the existing AFRs.  The locals can probably direct you to a good place to do that sort of thing.

 

What matters most is that the car is safe - as in up to safety specs and regulations as defined in the GCR - and reliable.  When I did licensing school, I was still running the stock exhaust including cat, didn't have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator etc.  Come to think of it, I ran the stock exhaust and cat for the first 6 races of my rookie season.

 

 

PS - Here is my old thread on the steering wheel lock removal: http://forum.specmia...=1;t=004462;p=0

 

2 sticks of the SFI padding will be more than enough to pad the areas you need to - and want to. 

Place it "anywhere where you head can make contact" - so behind/above your head on the roll bar and downward sloping cross bar, front cross bar over the windshield, side downtube bar near the left side of your head and also:

- your knee and ankle on the down tube

- your hand on the downtube near the steering wheel

 

I also placed some on the top of the pax side downtube since I kept bumping my head on that when I popped my head in to do something.

[Bench Racer]

 

 

 

Edit...

 

"All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver 

must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding 

that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved 

padding), or SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat 

padding) specification is recommended."

 

 

 

Folks, the rule changed a couple years or so ago. The rule no longer specifies head, the rule specifies the driver. That friends makes a world of difference. Totally agree with Alberto, all the razel dazzel is not required for school. Your not trying to win races at school.

[DrDomm]

 

Be careful how you read that ^ rule specification.    The " SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat 

padding) specification is recommended." If your using the curved material it SHALL be padding "that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001." 

 

 

This has been debated elsewhere, but I still don't agree with your interpretation of the grammar used in that rule.  It states that 1" padding must be used, and recommends that it meets or exceeds SFI/FIA standards.  I believe Longacre makes the padding that is similar, but doesn't have the stamp.  Besides it clearly says that it can meet or exceed the standard...doesn't say the stamp needs to be there.

 

Just sayin...

[Brandon]

Flatout Motorsports is in MA (uncertain as to the exact location; never been there personally).

It would be a 4 hour tow there/back to get to Planet Miata in Swoyersboro, PA (near Wilkes-Barre) - Marc Cefalo's a good chap if you're up for it.

 

As others have noted, get the car safe to pass the tech inspection and you can address the other parts at a later time.  This does mean SFI-rated roll bar padding, extinguisher, seat-back brace if you're using and AL seat (cant' tell from the pic), & deleting the steering wheel lock.  Get those things taken care of and you'll have fun & pass the school.

 

Regarding the legality of some of your "car bits" - since it's a school (presuming the NHMS one) combined with your no potential desire to race that weekend, don't worry about them.

You mention the brakes, a chassis brace, and the restrictor: I'd say the most important to get right before the school would be the restrictor but thankfully it's the easiest to buy & install.

Either of the shops I named would probably have one to sell if you make it to them and/or order one directly from Advanced Autosport (Dave Wheeler - hit the Google).

 

Best of luck, and welcome to the crazy sport!  Hope to see you around elsewhere in the NE!

 

Brandon

[Johnny D]

Flatout Motorsports is in MA (uncertain as to the exact location; never been there personally).

 

Their ad pops up from time to time up time ^^

J~

[Bench Racer]

 

I'm pretty sure the way the GCR reads is that padding must be equivalent to SFI rated padding.  Check out Advanced Autosports or Saferacer...they sell the padding that is equivalent, but cheaper.

 

 

Edit...

 

"All portions of the roll cage subject to contact by the driver 

must be padded with a minimum 1 inch of material. Padding 

that meets or exceeds SFI 45.1 or FIA 8857-2001 (curved 

padding), or SFI 45.2 or FIA sports car head rest material (flat 

padding) specification is recommended."

 

 

There you go...recommended.

 

You may pick all the nitts you want. Your, "there you go...recomended", is meaningless. If you care to read "Interperting and Applying the GCR" you will find the word "must" is mandatory. What is mandatory is that the padding must/shall  meet or exceed what is specified. The secondary flat material is an alternate recomendation. LongAcre does not specify SFI padding and our friend Dave Wheeler specifies SFI padding manufactured by LongAcre. Maybe Dave will clarify the padding he sells. My padding is stamped SFI 45.1. If your padding is not stamped SFI 45.1 how you going to prove to a tech that the padding is FIA 45.1??? It would be a beach to fail tech and sent home because the roll bar padding couldn't be varified SFI 45.1. 

 

Or you tell what you ment with your, "There you go...recomended".

[Alberto]

Flatout Motorsports is in MA (uncertain as to the exact location; never been there personally).

It would be a 4 hour tow there/back to get to Planet Miata in Swoyersboro, PA (near Wilkes-Barre) - Marc Cefalo's a good chap if you're up for it.

 

Brandon

 

Wow.  Is there not a decent race prep place in CT or NY that can do a cornerbalance and alignment on a Miata?  

[davew]

Wow.  Is there not a decent race prep place in CT or NY that can do a cornerbalance and alignment on a Miata?  

 

As much as we like to think the world revolves around Spec Miata, we a re a very small portion of the racing world. there is maybe a dozen or two, full time shops scattered around the country. Being within a 4 hour drive is relatively close.

 

Roll bar padding; As quoted above must cover anything the driver may come into contact with. that means head, arms, legs etc. It is recomended to use the SFI rated stuff, but that is not required. My personal recomendation is to use SFI padding around the head area and standard soft foam roll bar padding for the arms and legs area. Anticipate 2 soft and one SFI to do the car properly

 

Dave