kotomile

iTrader: (24)

It's your head/upper torso.

mr_mazda329

I have had my rollbar for 2 years now and it hasn't attcked me yet..haha. Spend the money for that extra piece of mind knowing that you can walk away from a rollover and share the story with a couple of friends over a case of beer that same night..

Next..upgrade the suspension. You will be amazed at what a set of nice coilovers can do for you on the track. Try to cornerweight the car also

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

What?

I've had my rollbar a little over two years now and never had an issue. If your worried that you might bump your little head on it, then pad it.

Seriously though. Rollbars stiffen up the whole car, look badass, and are there for your safety. +1 for everyone that's using a rollbar.

Vash-

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I'd rather have a padded roll bar than not when I get rear ended by a truck and bisected at the torso.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Markp

You are misinformed.

Where is your data?

What injuries from a rollbar on the street are you referring to?

Here is my data, N=1.



My street car: my injuries = 0

The roll bar saved my life.

Mark

PS - Nice compromise on the seats are the mazdaspeed type F.

silentbob343

I believe he is talking about typical "street" cages that in the event of a crash can cause more harm than good. I.e. smacking your head on some thick walled tubing without a helmet. I havn't read anything in regards to roll bars though.

curly

iTrader: (25)

I've had my roll bar for about 3 years, never attacked me either. get one.

put on a hard top and ditch the soft top, good for aerodynamics and weight reduction (once you loose the soft top)

you can get 225's on 7" rims, find something really sticky in a 225 and put that on there.

+1 on getting something better than the kyb's. I've got them and they're great when I go to the track, but I have no intention of attempting to beat a new z06 with a miata. to that effect I agree with what msydnor said, you'll spend a couple thousand on all these new bits, push your car to the limit a little farther and be even with him. then he'll spend a couple hundred on new pads, start pushing his car farther, and he'll drop another few seconds. you said this was your new rival? meaning this was his first time on the track? that tells me he's still got room to improve, where as you might be reaching your limit if you've been there 5 times.

MX_Eva

Well I dunno about reaching his limit after 5 times at the track. I think everyone has more potential than that.

I think everyone's comments here are really the same. As such I don't think you can really easily ignore them.

Roll bar. You've already got a seat coming that will put you further down into the car, especially if you just bolt it to the floor and not on sliders or anything like that.

You may feel you aren't at the limits of the suspension now...but you are. If you are beating the cars you said you are it's gonna be time to make a better suspension plan. Certainly if you get stickier and wider tires you are gonna be limited more by the suspension than anything else.

Now that I think about it there are both benefits and problems with it being on a karting course. The very narrow and tight nature are both good. However, I imagine it's very flat. With no elevation it kinda limits your ability to really take advantage of the light car. Though no elevation changes means there are no uphill for the vette's power and torque to really pull ahead.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

So with doing some math we find that the Vette is about 6.5pounds per hp. Your miata is probally around 10pounds per hp. That means serious weight reduction of serious amount of power to add to get the weight to hp ratio the same. So I suggest going with the Westfield. This should get you to the same weight to hp ratio if you turbo it. It should also have no problems making up 5 seconds or so.

BenR

iTrader: (2)

On a kart track you actually have a decent chance. I wouldn't worry about power, focus on grip.

What do the rules say are "street tires"?

dc2696

iTrader: (2)

Street tires are above 140 treadware(140treadware puts u in race tire), so no RE01R's or anything else good enough to create a decent advantage.

dc2696

iTrader: (2)

Well I've head enough, I'll start looking for a roll bar soon and yes as someone mentioned I was thinking of a cage more so than a bar in regards to injuiries on the street, thanks for clearing that up.

So rollbar is in the works and I only have a few events left on my azenis so I'll see what I can find in a 225 for the next set.

I guess I''ll start reading up on some new springs and shocks or even coilovers.

One guy mentioned something about the vette guy only attending a couple events, I mentioned he was experienced in my op. He has 20+ years bike racing exp and has been racing various muscle cars for years(lapping).

BenR

iTrader: (2)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...irePageLocQty=


The 195/50VR15 and 205/45ZR16 RE01R are both 180 tread wear.




These look intersting, R-S2 245/45ZR16 on the widest 16" wheel you can find may be a pretty hot ticket.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...irePageLocQty=



For shocks I'd suggest just throwing some bilsteins on if the collars can be transfered over.

jayc72

iTrader: (14)

Even on a tight autocross course he wouldn't have a chance, unless the difference in drivers was significant. The amount of tire you can fit on a Z06 compared to a Miata (street tires) is retarded. At an autocross yesterday I was parked next to an 08 Z06, he has more contact patch in 1 tire than I do in 4.

A turbo Miata is fun, but it can't defy the laws of physics.

BenR

iTrader: (2)

You can't defy physics, but you can easily change the tire size variables with a hammer, or sawzall.

Keep in mind the only rules that seem to apply in this class is tire wear ratings. If this class is that wide open there is ALOT of opportunity for creating speed.

jayc72

iTrader: (14)

What's the largest street tire you can get on a Miata? You think that's going to help compensate for every other area where the Miata is lacking (power, braking, handling)? The only thing the Miata is going to win on is cost and MAYBE fuel economy There isn't anything REALISTIC he can do to his Miata to come close to the Z06. How many Miatas can do a sub 12sec 1/4 with street tires? The Z06 can bone stock. 11.7s I think, and it's not setup as a drag car.

Not bashing the Miata, it just isn't in the same league as a Z06.

jayc72

iTrader: (14)

I found just the item that will allow you to beat the Z06. Good news, it's easily available and cheap!

BenR

iTrader: (2)

Quarter mile times do not directly transfer to road course and autocross times. Especially when the rules are completely wide open. If that were the case my poor miata would never have a chance against the various mustangs, and porsches I typically beat at the track.

What's the largest tire you can fit on a miata? At least a 245 with the right wheels. More with the right wheels and sawzall/hammer. Keep in mind even if you look at in the most simple terms of weight to tire ratio, a miata looks favorable with even just 225 size tires.

I'm not saying the z06 isn't incredibly fast in every way. It definately is. I'm also not saying the vette can't be further modified. However I don't see the z06 guy pushing the envelope of the rules just to beat a miata.

dc2696

iTrader: (2)

Well **** the Z06 then. I''ll just stick to beating everyone else or maybe start running racetire and try to fight with the 440whp racecar RX7