I'm thinking about moving from karts to a spec Miata and I have some general questions.
1) Do you guys have testing/practice days? If so, where and is it an open track day where anyone can come, or do you need a license?
2) Karting would be great, except for those who believe they, or their child, are on the "ladder" to fame and fortune in motorsports. Are most of the people in spec Miata just there for some fun, or do they think that this is the start of their professional motorsports career?
3) I'll be buying a donor and building it with my son as a father/son project. We're little guys and I don't think weight will be problem. Would putting the effort into a 1.6L be worthwhile, seeing as how we are rank beginners and skinny to boot, or should we just get a '99 and be done with it?
-------------------- Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever. --Evel Kneivel
Region: south pacific
Car #: 31
Year : 91 Posts: 447
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quote:Originally posted by West Coast Frankie: I'm thinking about moving from karts to a spec Miata and I have some general questions.
1) Do you guys have testing/practice days? If so, where and is it an open track day where anyone can come, or do you need a license?
Yes the friday's before each race weekend with both nasa and scca, and no race license in required.
2) Karting would be great, except for those who believe they, or their child, are on the "ladder" to fame and fortune in motorsports. Are most of the people in spec Miata just there for some fun, or do they think that this is the start of their professional motorsports career?
For competitive fun
3) I'll be buying a donor and building it with my son as a father/son project. We're little guys and I don't think weight will be problem. Would putting the effort into a 1.6L be worthwhile, seeing as how we are rank beginners and skinny to boot, or should we just get a '99 and be done with it?
Having driven both (and being i think the lightest in socal) 99' you still have minimum weight requirements per the rules, and with the 99 you can play with weight balance a bit more.
Region: So Cal
Car #: #29
Year : 1993 Posts: 232
Status: Offline
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Welcome, as far as testing and practice days, we usually have one on the Friday before a race weekend. I would suggest however, that if you don't know the tracks to learn them by attending track days. Most racers aren't going to want to have someone on track that is new to both the car and the track.
I think for the most part the racers in Socal are just doing it for fun. Somewhat depends on your age and of course talent and money on how far you want to take things. I have just enough of both to get by.
As far as which car to build, I would do a search on this site. There is much discussion about that topic.
Look up the schedule on both SCCA and NASA and come out and watch some racing and introduce yourself.
-------------------- 2009 SoCal SCCA SM Champion "Only boring people get bored"
I'm not sure I want bolsters or a "halo" style seat, I'm kind of used to the carefree nature of kart seats by now.
For a head and neck restraint system, I'm leaning towards the Leatt as I am accustomed to the karting neck braces, I'd feel under dressed without one now.
I was wondering if there is someplace in SoCal where I can try different seats for size and fit. Does anyone know of someplace? I don't really want to buy something off of the Internet and discover it's the wrong size.
-------------------- Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever. --Evel Kneivel
Region: SoCal
Car #: 13
Year : 1992 Posts: 847
Status: Offline
posted
quote:Originally posted by Mike Colangelo: Frankie, try Subesports in Huntington Beach or Werks II in Burbank. They have race seats on display for your to sample.
Frankie, come visit us at NASAs event at California Speedway March 13th & 14th. Walk the paddock and ask car owners if you can try their seat, most will be cool with it... But just don't ask me, I'm a prick
-------------------- Thanks, John Mueller NASA SM National Director http://www.Weekend-Racer.com #13 "Tiger Miata" - 2009 SoCal SSM Champion
When reference is made to a "99" Miata, do you mean just the 1999 model year, or do you mean "1999 and 2000" model years, or do you mean "1999 to 20005" model years?
In other words, is the preference for just the 1999 model, or is it 1999 models and newer?
-------------------- Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever. --Evel Kneivel
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