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Hello everyone. I just purchased a used 01' Miata MX5 and was very happy to find this group. I am currently in a 3rd Gen Camaro and Firebird car club so I was hoping I would find one for my Miata.
I have noticed you guys do way more then the 3rd Gen club does and I am excited to come and hang out with you guys. I know there are a few things I would like to do to my Miata after I save up some money to put into it. I look forward to meeting all of you in the near future.
Congrats on the Miata and welcome! :clap:
welcome
Thanks. So just wondering when and where abouts do you all usually meet?
A few of the Eastsiders get together on Wednesday night in the Plano, N.Dallas, Lewisville area. The location moves around on whim so check the events thread on Wednesday to see what the consensus is.
We have a lot of autocrossers here that try to make every weekend event. They don't start back up until Spring, just keep an eye on the Calendar section.
Welcome! Keep an eye on the event sections, as well as the open track and autocross forums. You'll find a group of us having a beer somewhere in the Plano area every Wednesday night. The westsiders get together occasionally as well, but they're a weird bunch. :wink:
Welcome. You will enjoy your Miata.
Welcome to the MIATA world.
Thanks again and I will keep an eye out on the Wednesday night get togethers. I may not be able to make all of them, and I don't drink but I would enjoy making as many of them as I can just to hang out with you guys and get some ideas for my Miata as well as just bsing. Ohhh what do you guys count as westside and eastside group?
West side is the Fort Worth guys, East side is the Plano people. Welcome.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aalvarez04
Well then I must be a central person LOL Thanks for the info. Now one more question well maybe not but one more for now. This road racing stuff you guys do, well some of you do. It sounds like fun, what all do you have to have done to your car to do this, and what type of safety equipment do you have to have? I ask this so I can try to get stuff together between now and when it all starts up again so I might be able to join in.
FYI - Neither group claims the kids from Arlington since the Arlington kids are a special group! ::Fruity::
Welcome to this! ;-)
Welcome!
Most track events require a roll bar and Snell 2000 approved helmet. Car must also pass tech which usually means fresh pads and fluids and good rubber.
Oh, what does a roll bar for the miata go for and how hard is it to install? Any ideas on a good place to get one? I ask how much do to the fact that I do a christmas light show in my front yard every year this year being the first year the lights are animated to music and money is a little tight right now and will be somewhat that way most of 09.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nails
So how often do you guys do these track events like are they monthly every few months and you replace pads before every event and change the fluids before every event? As I said tring to get as much info I can so I can hopefully come and have some fun with you guys when the time comes.
Hey, now. ::Rant::Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Welcome.
Check out trackdogracing.comQuote:
Originally Posted by amdman
Welcome!
We are special and it is a good thing. You are in the best company in Arlington ::Banana::Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Many of us don't do track days as often as we autocross or do time trials. I'd start with autocross if you don't have eleventy billion dollars ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Nails
You can enter an autocross with your car right now - assuming it is in good mechanical shape. You don't have to have a roll bar and you can use a loaner helmet until you decide to buy your own. The AX season just ended and will crank back up in March for most clubs. SCCA, EquipeRapide, Honda, Porche, and BMW all welcome Miata drivers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
See here is where it shows how much a noob I am LOL what is the differance between autocross and Track days? I don't mind staying in autocross and time trials just want to ensure I will enjoy it and have good company. Was thinking of having a little bit of fun at Kennedale as well so you can see I am pretty open to almost anything as long as it is in good company.
I thought you said you were part of the Camaro / Firebird group, did they just polish fenders in the garage or did they ever take the cars outside?? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by amdman
Good folks around these parts just show up to something and see! Just watch out for the Arlington kids!
Good stuff on Autocross - http://forums.dfwmiata.com/showthread.php?t=1626
I don't think any of our track guys have done a similar writeup (yet).
As I said they don't do half of what I thought they would. There were a couple of us that tried to get the group to come to Kennedale to support one of the club members that was braket racing there and we were lucky to maybe get one or two other club members to show up.
This is one of the things I have read here that you guys actually do, and that is show up and support each other and even race together.
I know all about braket racing on the Kennedale drag strip, but this other stuff I have no clue on.
Welcome to the Miata world, I used to drag race until I figured out it was fun to turn right and left also.........
check out http://www.autocross.com/ for infor on auto X
check out http://www.thedriversedge.net/ for info on track events
There are lots of choices to do either in N Texas, have fun.
Autocross is a blast. It seems as if the Miata was purpose bulit for it and it outnumbers any other type of car at most events. Just show up, sign up and ask a million questions like I did. I just finished my first season and didn't buy anything for my car that I regreted later because I got advice or looked at everybody elses car before I bought anything. This winter I am making the first major mods to the car (shocks, bump stops, sway bar and roll bar) that I decided on this summer. I hope to try the track days this year. If your car is not ready for competition, come out anyway and drive or ride in one of ours. You are welcome anytime.
Ok, I am going over that book right now. That is tons of good information for me. I think my car is good for the autocross for a beginner. I will take all this advise I am getting and run with it per say.
I do like the idea of next year talking to people and making a game plan of what I will need to buy and install to better my car. I do know that I am seriously looking at going either Turbo or Supercharged and from talking to my friend and now reading more on it, I am leaning towards the Supercharged. The supercharged idea seems like it would help out in the autocross racing more then the turbo would and it would also work well for the drag racing as well.
I am new to all this as I have stated so any ideas on this would be great. I know I won't be doing anything untill I have experianced the autocross for one full season. You know don't want to do something and then find out that is wasn't the best thing to do after all.
Ok well back to reading that autocross guide. Thanks again and I will keep checking back and can't wait to meet all of you some time soon I hope.
Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
When I click on this link
(An article by our very own Tailchaser will give you some great information on Autocrossing, with specifics about Autocrossing in our area (DFW).)
it says, You are not authorized to view this resource.
You need to login.
What do I need to be able to read this article. I believe I am loged in since I am posting on here, or is there a differant login for that section?
OK, see told you more questions to come. LOL OK, so been reading this book and anyone on here have sponsors for autocross? I know I can't say I want I sponsor, you have to earn sponsorship this I know. Just wondering if anyone on here who is doing it has been offered and is currently being sponsored?
These are the things I find cool. I would have never thought there would be something like this and there are actual sponsors for this. Ok back to reading.
Oh ya thanks for checking on that link for me, glad to know I wasn't missing something there. I will keep checking back to find out when the link is fixed and to see if anyone else has posted on here. Thanks again for the info.
Go to the main page and sign-on with your same ID and password -Quote:
Originally Posted by amdman
http://www.dfwmiata.com/
Here's the link you probably want -
http://www.dfwmiata.com/content/view/25/50/
Ok, it is working for me now and I am reading it. Thanks for the help. More reading and learning all about this. Thanks again
I just love a happy ending (sniffle/cry) :-) welcome to the forum
Here is a couple of videos. My car is stock, well SCCA E Stock legal, on street tires with no roll bar or racing seat.
First video is from Hallet Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma. This event was for Miatas only and I was in the novice group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTXgLMro4Hk
Second video is from an autocross at Mineral Wells Airpark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ack0cHu5I8E
Ok, the road course video was cool, but I am liking the looks of the autocross video even better. I like a good challenge and it looks like the autocross is way more of a challenge then the road course but I also know looks can be decieving, but non the less I am going to check out this autocross idea next season.
Still wondering, I read about people getting sponsorship from racing and winning in autocross when I was reading that book. Has anyone on here gotten sponsorship, or been to the finals/nationtionals?
At the local level the main "sponsorship" is in the form of free tires given away in drawings at the end of the season. Every event you enter with certain brands of tires you get one chance in the drawing for that brand.
I don't remember all the brands this year but they included: Hoosier, Yokohama and Falken. Tires are definitely one of the things you want to ask around about. Like they say it's the only thing touching the pavement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by creek
That is cool. So talking about tires, right now I am using Pirrelli which came on the car. I have been doing a lot of reading and I am seeing talk about Falken, Kumho, Hoosier, and Yokohama. I know from reading that if you want to be part of that drawing and be able to place an entry at each event you have to have one of those 4 brands. I also know that tires are like the number 1 thing I need to focus on having before I worry about turbo, or supercharge upgrades.
I have always liked Yokohama tires, but I mainly find all the talk to be about Kumho or Hoosier mainly do to the fact that they both offer a wet and dry condition tire. I have read that this is a good thing so if it starts raining half way into the event or it dries up half way through the event you can switch the type of tire you are using but still be qualified to race as long as you keep with the brand you started with.
Ok well here is the question. I know I can't afford 2 sets of tires one for wet one for dry well at least not for the 09 season. What brand and series of that brand would you suggest and why. I know I have asked a million questions already and I am sure I will ask a million more. Thanks for all the input. Everything I have read has been dead on, people in this sport actually do share info and don't mind doing so.
I spent my first season in the Novice class on street legal tires on the stock rims (required for stock classes). Falken Azenis. If you go to slicks you have to tow the car or tow the tires to the event and change them out on site. More than I wanted to do the first year mainly because of expense: tires, wheels, trailer, hitch, etc. Most of the guys running streetable tires around here are on Azenis. You can certainly just run what you got.
http://www.edgeracing.com/tire/1536/
Ok, I am looking at those tires and have to ask another question. That link you put up are for 17" tires, and I have even noticed in a few of the things I have been reading the talk is about 17" tires. Why 17" and not 16" tires?
As I said I am running Pirrelli right now and they are Pirreli P6 205/50 R16's.
Just tring to understand why the 17" tires seem to be a big thing to have.
You have to run the size wheels that came on your car. Unless you are ready to jump into some non-stock class, and you don't want to do that yet.
When you move up from novice to one of the stock classes ( CS ), you can run race tires. Then you may be interested in wet and dry tires, but they will still have to be the size that came on your car. If you decide to buy a second set of wheels in 16, you will be forced to spend a ton on anything lighter than Miata wheels.
Light wheels = fast
Shiney wheels = bling
You picked the best/worst time of the year to get interested. All the time in the world to read and ask questions, but no chance for seat time.
Ok what comes stock on the miata, cause when I bot the car it came with the P205/50 R16's. If these aren't the stock size then I need to know so I can make sure I get the correct size that came stock on the car so I don't have any worries when it comes to that part of the car. Thanks for all the info and yes I know I won't be getting any seat time but this allows me to have plenty of time to get the car preped for when the season starts.Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
I also need to know about the SCCA membership. Is it too early to sign up for membership? If not do I need some special information for the discounted price that I read about on here?
Why not start a new post in the Autocross Tech & Technique section.Quote:
Originally Posted by amdman
It is fun and free give it a try! ::Banana::
I was just guessing on tire size. I put it up as an example of the tire. You can change the size on the website to whatever you have.Quote:
Originally Posted by amdman
http://www.edgeracing.com/tire/1533/
Thank you all so much sorry I dragged this out in the introduce myself section just got all caute up in my own questions. I have moved all further questions into the tech sections as requested. Thanks again.
welcome and thanks