Tons of Questions
Ok I was asked to move these questions to a new location so here it is. LOL
Let first start by saying thank you for all the info you guys have shared so far and I can already tell this is going to be fun.
Details:
I have a 01' Mazda Miata MX5 w/ Pirelli P6 P205/50 R16
Questions:
First question is, what tire size comes stock on the miata from the factory so I can be sure to get the correct size for autocross next season and be able to stay in the novis stock class.
Second Question, I know the rotors on the car are a little warn, should I go ahead and replace them or do you think new brake pads will be just fine. I don't think the rotors are bad but, I also have never done autocross so would it be a good choice to replace them with new ones?
Third Question, is this helmet the type I need to have for autocross? Here is a link let me know if this one is the right type or not.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Simpson+Helmet...AV5S9/10002/-1
Last Question, well at least for now. Do I need to by a driving suit? I am new to all this so I just want to make sure I have all my bases covered well at least most of them.
Thanks again and I am sure I will add more questions to this in the near future.
1. You can run any size rubber you can fit on stock rims. What year is you Miata?Originally Posted by amdman
2. Get the rotors turned and buy new pads. Hawk + or Hawk HPS are good but can be noisy.
3. That helmet would work. Others can be found at http://www.saferacer.com/.
Rules for SCCA http://www.scca.com/documents/Solo%2...lo_Rules_2.pdf
The only issue I have with that helmet is that isn't "only" M rated so you can't use it at a track like MSR.
If you ever plan to go there (with a member, Apex or TheDriversEdge), then you need an SA rated helmet.
I believe M rated helmets are OK at all unless you are wheel to wheel racing.
Ok, so just get rotors turned and put on the new pads.
Helmet is ok but no really what I should be looking for.
My Miata is a 01.
Will look at some more helmets so I can find one I like the looks of, and at the same time meets the requirements I will post what I find on here so you guys can help me make sure I am getting one that will pass all the way around. Ok, figured out how to tell if it is SA certified, wasn't as hard as I was making it.
Oh another question, as far as the SCCA membership goes. I know where to sign up, but I read on here about getting a discount. Is it ok to go ahead and sign up now?
Last edited by amdman; 12-07-2008 at 07:40 PM.
I've had good luck with just OEM brake pads, but YMMV.
Just my .02, why don't you participate in an Autocross first and see if you like it before ya go paying membership fees. Plus we have a bunch of Autocross clubs the DFW area give them all a try and see which one ya like best!
You don't need anything other than your car to start autocrossing! Loaner helmets are availible and you don't need a race suit. I wouldn't bother with any mods right now, just come out and see how you like it!
I also agree with pos racing that you should try out autox with a few different clubs before you do any membership. And the membership discount isn't huge anyway so many people who race a few times a year never become members at all...
All you have to do is fix any maintenance or safety issues you may have and come on out to the first event you can make. There are a lot of Miata mechanics on this forum if you need repairs and you should be able to get volunteer help if you want to try it yourself. Just ask.
Stripe Das Sape
We are leading the world to democracy by example.
Ok, well I can almost garentee I will enjoy it, but I will take your advise and won't pay for membership untill after I have made it to oh lets say two maybe three events.
Helmet, well I am needing one any ways for drag racing at Kennedale anyways and I found one that I liked that is a SA2005 helmet so no biggy there.
Did I mention a race suit, LOL if I did I am sorry I ment race shoes. I think I remember reading something about it, and they aren't that much so heck don't worry about that question something else that will be handy for drag racing as well as this so I will get a pair some time next year.
Ok brakes are covered, figured out what I need to do on that one and tires are no longer an issue so hey half the headaches are gone and now I just have to figure out some more headaches to put out there for answers. Oh by the way if this is anything like the gocart track they have where I use to live, well the gocart track didn't have cones, but it had a lot of corners and some wild S turns, and I know this is a car not a gocart but non the less if it is even half as fun as that was I will be in it for a very long time.
Well once again thank you all and I am sure there will be many more questions in the future.
Ok, another question. I know people have said just wait till I attend at least one race to see if I really will like it or not. I hear most the talk being SCCA for the membership now that isn't a club right.
So when you guys talk about a few differant clubs out there. Like what clubs are you talking about. Are people on here in differant clubs and not the same club?
For local autocross there is SCCA, ER, NTAXS (previously known as NTS2K), BMW, Porsche. I don't think any of them require you to be a member to run with them, but I'm not positive about BMW or Porsche.
You don't have to be an SCCA member to run in their events, but you get a discount if you are. SCCA & ER also offer a discount if you pre-pay for the year to run in all their events.
Hmmm ok so SCCA is actually a club type membership. See learning something new all the time. Well then I am going to still hold out just as planned untill I attend the first or first couple of events then will go from there. Thanks for the information.
Once the season kicks back in watch the Autocross events section (http://forums.dfwmiata.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10) 99% of all AX events in the area are posted and we tend to banter a bit before and after every event!
We also try and keep the Calender updated with all the Autocross events in the DFW area to the best of our abilities (http://www.dfwmiata.com/component/op...dar/Itemid,66/).
I would just replace the rotors, its about the same price as turning them.
That way you keep the thickness to dissipate more heat.
Flush/Change your brake fluid too.
Most importantly, A top IT driver told me when I started..........
"If you can't drive it stock, you can't drive it modified"
Run your first season bone stock.
Ya I am going totally stock for the first year that way I can learn all the ropes, might even keep it that way for the second year that will be decided after the first year of course.
As far as the rotors go, Creek passed on that same info to me as well. I will get those replaced at the first of the year and will go ahead and drain all the fluids and replace them as well.
Are bleeding the brakes on the Miata the same as most cars. One person inside the car pushing and holding down the break while one person outside opens and then closes the bleeder? I know that you can use a bleeding tool, I just prefer the old school way of doing it.
Last I checked rotors are about $20 a pop and that's at cost from my work! I'm sure O'Reilly's will turn them for $10 each...?
FWIW IMHO, Hawk HPS & HP+ brake pads are terrible! I will never buy a set again! I do love the Hawk race compounds. I use the Blues on my Spec car and I have used the Blacks before. I actually forgot to take the Blacks off of my daily driver after a track day and decided to keep'em on the entire year with no problems. The Blacks don't have to be warmed up like the hardcore race pads and I didn't get a single freakin sound out of them unlike the "sounds like a stuck pig in heat coming down the road" sqealing from the HPS & HP+ pads!
*Oh yeah, running EBC Yellow on my daily car and they are great for aggressive street and would probably work great for AutoX. Not good for advanced drivers on a road course though...I toasted them in only 3 or 4 laps at Hallett!
There's a couple ways to bleed the brakes but the way you mentioned works just great and only cost ya a beer for your buddy to push the pedal!
90 MX5 281k miles! - euro spec, Porsche Riviera Blue w/black hardtop, 97 motor swap, vintage Borbet rims, GC, FM shock hats/frame rails/rear sub-brace, AGX, sway bar, stb, Fidanza/ACT combo, EBC Yellows
92 COMMA SM - new paint coming soon...
Is the price the same no mater what size front rotor?
The wife's '02 has a slightly bigger front rotor and uses different pads than my '99. I think the big rotors started in 2001.
I have priced the rotors on my 01 from autozone have a buddy there and the rears were like 20ish but the fronts were closer to like 80 to 90 each.
oh question, if I install a cold air induction to replace the air filter system that is on there now would it still be counted as stock? I was looking at that just for better air intake and any one knows that the more the engine can breath the better it runs.
Nope. You can replace the air filter itself, but that's it.
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