Reply With QuoteHave you been to a race yet? It's really really close. Sometimes a little too close!Originally Posted by Titus
Unless of course you are budgeting for a new paint job after each race!
I can't see why you would want to spend a lot in paint... I would go for a $300 paint job to start with... Unless of course you are budgeting for a new paint job after each race!
Have you been to a race yet? It's really really close. Sometimes a little too close!Unless of course you are budgeting for a new paint job after each race!
CM, if you're looking to save money on painting costs (and unless you're made of money or own a body shop, I can't see spending big bucks on a Spec Miata paint job) you might contact your local high schools and/or community colleges, and offer your car up as a practice piece for auto body shop classes.
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
...or paint it with a paint brush! I had so many colors of red on Speedie, that I forgot which was the real one
92 Sunny 214k, 95 Dimples, 93 James Bondo, 92 SM (Speedie Jr)
Shelley, Apex, Tigger, Max, Baby(cats), Fluffy, Spot, and Peanut (mini horses), Cinnamon & Bitsy(dawgs)
MSR #1001, SCCA #208822Let's go racin'
#13 was the best looking SM in Texas when it was Laguna Blue with gold and white graphics, but after two years of SM racing there were four different shades of blue. Finally I took a page from ES's team and went FLAT Black. It is easy to keep it in tip top shape color wise with rattle cans. I had MAACO shoot it (and two extra front fenders). I think just having the two brand new fenders painted with 13 SM already on them hanging up in my garage, wards off the evil people who use to hit me (or the ones that MADE me hit them.) Sort of like every time on the golf course I open my umbrella and put my rainsuit on it stops raining. But let me get those pants pulled back off over my golf shoes and fall down and get dirty the rain starts right back up again.
Sealed SM engines would cost more then buying a $4200 Sunbelt. Guys like Merv can still beat most with a good junkyard motor. I would hope that at some point a set of specs can be written an adopted that would allow a local motor builder to build a motor that is equal to the Sunbelts. I don't know if that is using Touring guidelines as a basis or what. My self, I could have a blower in my SM and I am going to make enough mistakes in a sprint race to still not run with the fast guys. Now in an enduro, I usually get my timing down and get where I can repeat fast laps. Maybe that is caused by the objective of an enduro being to keep the car going and not to NEED to try to be too fast asin a sprint race..
So my suggestion is go with a basic (easy to match) paint job.
I still have not figured out a way to hide my turbo in Spec. Any suggestions?
93 FMII + LOTS MORE
The Black Mamba
This is a fundamental problem with many sports. In baseball, it's not cheating unless you get caught. Guys like Phil Nekro are legends for their ability to cheat. They are not shunned, but held up as heros. Nascar and other race classes basically follow the same mantra.
SM needs to put in place strict rules that make cheating nearly impossible, or at least make it so cheaters gain only small increases that keep the sport reasonably competitive. SM is an entry level race program designed to let people enjoy competitive racing without going broke.
93 FMII + LOTS MORE
The Black Mamba
Nitrous would be a lot easier to hide.I still have not figured out a way to hide my turbo in Spec. Any suggestions?
I really know nothing about SPEC Miata other than what is talked about here, but it sounds like the sport is growing to the point that a tiered system might be in order. Something like having a Development Circuit running before the Big Boys. The Development Circuit could allow junkyard engines, while the Big Boys would use sealed engines. 3 Development finishes in the top 30% of the field and you are required to buy the sealed engine and move up to the big boys. This would achieve several things, including keeping cost down for the new guys, evening the playing field for the Big Boys, dealing with the growing number of cars, and getting the inexperienced drivers out of the way of the Big Boys. It is probably completely un-realistic, but as I said, I really no nothing about SPEC Miata.
Yes, and a $4200 engine would pretty much be a breaking point.
RJ
The difficult part about a tiered system is gettng track time. The race weekends are pretty crammed full between practice, qualifying, racing and DE.
Not a bad idea though.
I think sealed engines could be provided for about $3-4000. And you should be able to get a competitive season or two before the engine would need to be refreshed again.
93 FMII + LOTS MORE
The Black Mamba
Thanks for the confidence, Mac, but I've never run with a junkyard motor.....YET
92 Sunny 214k, 95 Dimples, 93 James Bondo, 92 SM (Speedie Jr
Shelley
MSR #1001, SCCA #208822
If you couldn't afford a $4200 engine, then you probably have no business thinking about competing in wheel-to-wheel racing on anything more than a very part time, ad hoc basis.Yes, and a $4200 engine would pretty much be a breaking point.
RJ
I have a friend with an ITS car. It's a moderately competitive car, it's a relatively durable car, and he doesn't even race the full Southwest Divisional schedule. Still, he went through seven $800 sets of race tires last season, plus a transmission rebuild, plus entry fees (typically $200-300 per race weekend), plus fuel, plus brake parts and fluids, hotel costs for out of town races, food, etc, etc. He didn't even have to replace any body work last season, didn't have any large scale mechanical failures, didn't have any damaging off track excursions, yet he still estimates he spent over $10,000 racing last year, just on tires, entry fees, fuel (both for the car and the tow rig), and other miscellaneous costs.
Keep in mind that figure doesn't include a single penny towards building the car to begin with.
Wheel-to-wheel racing, even at the grassroots level, is very expensive. That's why I keep myself content with autocrossing and the occasional DE, although I'd be tempted to look hard at something like Formula Vee or karting if and when I felt the urge to compete wheel-to-wheel.
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
That's the very reason why I gave up my Spec Miata ideas. The misconception that SM was affordable was what had suckered me in the first place. Affordable is a relative term...
After doing the math, it was just too out of reach (for me, anyhow)...
Yes,
Affordable is a relative term... and yes, I know about a lot of those costs.
For me, it's a learning experience... and partly something I just want to do. I figure if it helps me be a better driver and I can have fun doing it then there ya go.
I know it will cost $$$ but who cares if I put a JDM/Junkyard motor in rather than spending thousands on a crate or a built motor? Who cares if I build one up myself?
I don't care if I place in the top 10 (or 20, 30, 40, or even dead last) for racing. If I dent every panel on it that would be fine too... I figure that if the car gets totaled then I can handle that too... Some people are just too damn serious!
RJ
Perhaps... but I couldn't have remained married and SPEC racing...
Perhaps... but I couldn't have remained married and SPEC racing...
(You knew it was coming)
These are Miatas we're talking about! You don't have to spend a lot of money to race a Miata. They are very reliable. You can build one for $7-8000 and run mid-pack if you're a decent driver and have more fun than you'll ever have at an autocross. I've rented three average Specs(nothing high dollar) the last three years and my average finish was seventh out of 30+ cars, and expect I can do even better when I build my own and finally get some seat time again.
I kept good records on Speedie and just happen to have them here today. A typical race weekend (1 practice session, 2 qualifying sessions, and two races equals about two hours of track time.
Tires: good for maybe 12 heat cycles+ some extra practice sessions @ $600/set = three race weekends.
Brakes: front pads - 16 hrs Rear pads - 22 hrs rotors - 32 hrs
Fluids (Redline synthetic): engine oil - 5 hrs diff/trans - 10 hrs
Front hubs - 55 hrs
Rear wheel bearings - 100hrs
Head refresh - 60 hrs
Engine rebuild - 120 hrs
Clutch - 60 hrs
suspension: ball joints - 60 hrs bushings - 120 hrs
Anything else was caused by "incidents": fenders, a-arms, fenders, tie rods, fenders, bumpers, fenders, door, and DID I MENTION fenders!
Average annual track time - 24.5 hrs
Average annual miles - 1745
Average speed - 71 mph
Average cost - I don't want to know........
92 Sunny 214k, 95 Dimples, 93 James Bondo, 92 SM (Speedie Jr
Shelley
MSR #1001, SCCA #208822
True... and that's why I currently enjoy modding the hell of out my car without worrying if I'm still going to be within my class rules!
Just don't tell that to the guys in STS2 at SCCA meets!
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