texas miata challenge 2010
 

tentative 2010 schedule:

jan. 30th - msr-houston
mar. 13th - msr-cresson
apr. 24th - tws (ccw)
jun. 12th - hallett
jul. 30th - tws (cw)
oct. 2nd - ecr (eagle's canyon)

with another possible event @ hhr in feb or may.

we would need at least 10-15 competitor's per event to make it worthwhile. is this possible? if there isn't enough interest we can shitcan the whole idea. let's make it happen. last event there were six of us out of 20 there. these dates wouldn't change if it rained either. get tough.

more details/info to follow

I could make 3-5 events most likely. However we should probably call it "Miata Conquest" or "Miata Oddessey" so we don't get sued by the Miata Challenge people.

what about Grandsport?

Looks like I need to pick-up a little truck.

In

We could make it real simple and call it Texas Miata Challange...

Are you thinking Miata-only days?

What do you think of a Friday afternoon Test-n-Tune session at each of the tracks? Wouldn't that allow for the best bang for the buck and flexibility?

I know H2R has that as an option. With something like 40 cars, a Friday afternoon costs ~$115 each.

Chris

oops! logged in under jakes name

unfortunatly no. i don't believe that we would be able to get 40 cars per event. plus that track rental is at hhr. i'm sure the other tracks would be more expensive, nobody would have timing equip., what about insurance, what about newbs/instructors. if you wanna organize something like for a miata day, be my guest. i will def. be there.

no, as far as a challenge goes, i think the easy solution would be to piggy back another event. all those dates posted are nasa tx. events. with nasa we would get 5-6 twenty min. sessions. anyone wanting to come out could compete even if it was their first time at a track. there would be instructors for them or anyone that wanted some help. nasa rents amb transponders and prints time sheets after every single session. we would be following all nasa rules during the event, only we would be compiling lap times for all challenge drivers for our own use. all nasa events are 2 days, sat. and sun. for the challenge only 1 day will be used. (saturday) this will make it easier on the wallet for challenge drivers and also make it easier for some to get away from work or wives/kids, etc... one date that might change is tws in april to the. if they have an enduro on sat. we would only get 3 sessions before the enduro started. so that will most likely change to april 25th (sun.) also, the challenge portion will only be on one day. if you show up sunday the trophy's and points will have already been given out on sat. it happens rain or shine, so don't puss out. although, you will be able to drop your 2 worst events, or miss 2 events and still have a chance at the championship.
one thing we need some input on is entry fee. not for the nasa event, but for the challenge. i'm thinking $10 is cheap enough to keep from breaking everyone's wallet, but still enough to cover the cost of trophy's and maybe some sticker's or something. if enough people enter, any extra $$ could go to extra trophy's (for 2nd or even third place) and to the championship trophy's (which i think should be extra awesome) and prizes.
should we do that? or just do championship trophy's at the end of the season? i personally think people would make a greater effort to attend and do good when there's a simple trophy to strive for.

i wish we could do this...I'm almost motivated enough to buy a truck for it.

i'm probably driving my car to most of these events, but then again, i am pretty hardcore! lol.......;)

i wish i had a 2nd car. Although a friend of mine has a 2nd miata that is down and we are itching to do something with it. To bad the oil field is down and he doesnt have the funds to work on it right now, and my teacher salary doesnt let me run two cars and a masters at the same time

would there be classes or would everyone be lumped in to one?

three classes (street, modified, unlimited)
classing system here: Miata Challenge

Agreed

TWS is notoriously expensive.

That all sounds good to me. Maybe Ryan will weigh in on this.

street 4 me i see

Awesome! I hope a lot of guys come out for this.

Alright, I'm throwing down the gauntlet. :naughty:

Last Friday, I attended the Open Track Day at TWS, and I happened to score a personal best lap time (two minutes, two point zero seconds). I made a video of it, complete with top speeds and lateral G's. If anyone wants to call B.S., I can send you the Traqmate data file.

Although my time is easy to beat, it will serve as a temporary benchmark for TWS 2.9 CCW fastest lap ever. :winner:

You all have until April 24th to make a video with a lower lap time. If no one posts a video with a faster lap, I will retain bragging rights up until the Texas Miata Challenge. :blah:

^^^^^

What did Rharris run (yellow stroker) on Friday? Post your setup please. I did a 2:07 in April of 08 in my POS Spec Miata no drafting...I'm faster now.

Late apex turn 14 (last right hander, in the chicane) so you can get on the gas sooner for 15. Let the car drift up higher on the exit of 15 so you carry more speed onto the front straight. That should be good for a second. The chicane (going CCW) is all about getting the best possible drive onto the front straight; the straight is so long, about 1/2 a mile from transition to transition (no shit), every bit of chicane exit speed counts.

I'd tell you more but I plan to run a sub 2:00 and cannot give it ALL away :D

If the dates are set my only question will be related to cost, I'm sure it may vary depending on location, but even a good idea is better than nothing.

all events are $180 for 5-6 20min. sessions. only ones that will be a different price (probably less) will be hhr or others if we add dates.
you will need to rent an amb transponder for $40 iirc, unless you have a gps or beacon based lap timer. cannot be a stopwatch for official lap time.
if you do plan on using a gps (i.e. traqmate) or beacon (i.e. hotlap,etc..) system for lap times, it will be your responsibilty to report your laptimes. also, they must be verified. so depending on your system, you may have to take your laptop to download data to show your lap time. winners will be announced after the last session of the day. if you didn't turn in your fastest lap time and get it verified by someone, your not getting the points or the trophy. nasa prints out the laptimes (every lap, every driver) of every session a few minutes after the session ends. makes it much easier to keep track of. all nasa based events are 2 day events. 2 days cost $295. the miata challenge will be based on sat. only. you can stay and run sunday, but no points or lap times will count toward the challenge as that will have been done on sat. only day that will be different is the tws event in april. they will be having an enduro on sat. which will cut the day short, only 3 sessions. so the challenge will be on sunday for that event only. if you do the entire weekend, you will have a good practice early sat. for sundays event.

sorry about the book. tryin' to cover all possible questions that would arise regarding $$$.

Spoolin,
Let' talk about what I need to do about licensing (if I don't give up on this car). I know NASA is open passing in the TT class, but what if I don't have a cage?

I'm down for MSR-C, ECR, and Hallett races pending reliability. I also live about 45-minutes from ECR and 75-minutes from MSR-C and have a somewhat comfy sofa for 1.

I did horribly. My car was overheating like crazy and I am trying to figure out why. DoubleO86 looked fast out there, so I know he was turning times faster than me, when I was able to actually be out there.

I will hopefully make it to a few events next year, schedule permitting.

Less talky and more action, please. :blah:

The gauntlet has been thrown down. :slap:

The challenge has been accepted. I want to beat my personal best lap there, a 1:57 on an SV-650. The car should be capable of sub 2:00 lap times; the question is, is the software as good as the hardware? :D

So I also need to get my NASA license. Maybe they will cut me some slack since I have an Expert CMRA license. Is a full cage needed for Time Trials? When I added up the points, it looked like I would be in TTU, based on the adjusted P/W ratio. I know we are not going to use the NASA TT rules to class the Challenge, but we do need to be able to get on their track.

Based on my read of the NASA TT rules and the NASA CCR it looks like a roll bar with padding is good enough as long as it meets their requirements.
http://www.nasa-tt.com/Rules

I know what you mean. My car is a sub two minute lapper, but I'm a 2:04 driver. :loser:

you've been pm'd

you'll get right in with your motorcycle racing license. to get classed properly, you need to email greenbaum. (nasaforums.com • Index page) but you need to weigh your car (competition weight=your car+you) and you can't weigh under whatever comp. weight you claim. also need to dyno your car and can't make more power than that or your dq'd. dyno prolly wouldn't be checked unless you win at nationals. but they can make you get on the scales at any event. especially if someone complains. (if your killing everybody in your class).

just so everybody knows, you can run hpde (1,2,3,or 4) and run the challenge. you don't have to be in time trials. group 4 is pretty much same rules as tt. fast cars on track too.

So, I can show up as simply an HPDE participant, rent an 'amb transponder' and NASA will record all my laps?

If it's as easy as that, I think that's the way to go. No need to obtain a license and get put in a class with Porsches, 350Z's, Evo's, and STI's. :2cents:

you don't really need a license for time trial, just get signed off on it. you only need a competition license for actual wheel to wheel racing (i.e. american iron, spec miata, spec e30, gts (german touring series) etc....)

the higher de run groups have all sorts of fast cars, just like tt. hpde4 is basically racecraft prep.

time trial info: NASA TEXAS RACING // OFFICIAL SITE

hpde info: http://www.nasatxracing.com/about_hpde.php

HPDE 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all point by on straights no passing in corners. TT is not a race (to Nasa) you are out there for your fastest time. You can pass anywhere but aggressive race passing (dive bombing etc) is super uncalled for as its not a race. There is no special liscense for TT. If you already have a race liscense they will probably start you in TT, maybe 1 watched session in 4...no idea. This really needs to be in a totally seperate thread.

Nasa is awesome in that a complete newb can come out and run in HPDE 1 by the end of the year he might be running NASA TT. The point is that everyone gets to run, which gives them Miata Challange points. Lets keep the other stuff like NASA TT etc out of this so people don't think you have to run W2W, caged, race liscense, etc to compete in Miata Challange. If anyone has NASA specific questions start a NASA ? thread and Spoolin2bars and myself will try to help. I think I've ran NASA for 2 years and Spoolin2bars 3 years.

Not trying to be a dick or sound like I know it all just not wanting to thread jack this sweet thread, NASA ?'s could fill pages

If you mean me I was not trying to hijack the thread to determine what I needed to run in NASA TT. The point of my question was to make sure we all understood what the requirements were for us to show up and run at a NASA event FOR the Miata Challenge. Plus if I understood correctly, there could be at least one event where there would be no HPDE on that weekend and we would have to run in a TT, or at least in practice, to get times. That is what I meant when I said we have to meet their requirements to participate in their event.

At any rate, question answered. Thanks. It is good to know my 'track' car is ready to go once I get it reassembled.

Oh not anyone specific. I'm sure everyone who hasn't ever ran with NASA will have questions. The problem is everyone will have a different questions and answers depending on their experience. There is one important thing to remember, EVERYONE CAN RUN from the never tracked noob to Speed World Challange driver. It's real easy, show up, pay, they class you by experience, rent amb, get times.

As far as NASA TT its cool if you want to run in it but NASA will be the one that decides if your ready. Get a driving resume in order so you can show your experience and they will either put you in TT or put you in 4 with a TT instructor for an evaluation on the first session.



Haha just saw your sig, I can't stand Mark Booth...what a Fucking tool! I got into it with him last year about something else.

Yeah it was over a discussion with another m.n tool, namely Catman; I called him an 'elitist penis' (which he is) and got my pee-pee whacked by Mark Booth. I thought the whole thing was pretty funny.

nope, that had to do with only getting 3 sessions (hpde,tt or otherwise) due to an enduro on saturday, so it might not be worth it to run that day for some. so we will be running on sunday that weekend so everybody gets a full trackday. that's gonna be the april tws event.

Ahhh OK got it. Thanks. I know a lot about the CMRA, but next to nothing about NASA as you can see :D

just wanted to let you guys know, i've been contacted by a famous racer, representing a big time race prep/builder that wants to be involved with the texas miata challenge. this could mean a nice prize for series champions, or a dedicated track day or other wonderful things. but, i'm worried about turnout. we are going to see how the first 2 events turn out before making any plans with this great company. also, means we could possibly have other manufacturers, and shops jump on board if this one does. (i'm talkin' 25hrs. of thunderhill winners kind of big!) so please, just show up. you guys have nearly 3 months to get prepared, save cash etc...

I really, really plan to be there. This is the sort of thing I am building this LS1 car for.

I plan on being there too for most of the events barring anything major happening. I know I will be there for the MSR houston and TWS events. MSR cresson is a maybe, but everything else is about a 75% chance.

Me too! this is going to be a sweet year of tracking in Tejas!

Track Dog Racing in Dallas
 

If you haven't already, you should reach out to Gary at TDR (as a participant, not a sponsor). If he's down for the competition, he'll bring his band of supercharged drivers. Maybe Wags can pitch this to Gary.

:2cents:

It takes a lot to get Gary to bring out his red car, but this might do it. I'm looking at a $2000 Chevy to pull my car if I can somehow make it stay together. Unfortunately Gary will whip my ass like a bitch...unless I've learned to drive recently, which may be the case. I'd love to get out there and run 18psi for a session at a TT.

Yeah, Gary 'owns' MSR Cresson and Hallett, but perhaps he's vulnerable at TWS...? :naughty:

i don't know, i think i could hang with him with my current tires, suspension and power. ( i had to turn the boost all the way down) at the tdr all miata trackday at cresson early this year, we were about even in the twisty parts, he just pulled on the straights. he did have a passenger, so maybe he was toning it down a little.

I'll talk with NASA officials and see what they might be able to do in facilitating this.

I will own Hallett in due time.

We don't need anything from NASA really. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just amb transponders.

so i only have my DD miata, that I use to autoX.

I would do the HPDE's (hell no am i wheel to wheeling my only car) but would anyone else be tracking a DD. I there are more inherent risk being on an open track.

That said if I can get what I need on my car by then I just might. 01+ header is comming and i'm trying to contact the PO to see what bar he had on the car so I can just bolt it right into the holes.

But if they know they will gain exposure through hosting it, they will likely help promote it!

^^ Yeah I figured that is what you had in mind, some synergy. Why not?

BTW where are you? Come get your hard top!

I'm sure you will be fine. HPDE 1 and 2 is very safe.

this is spoolin2bars: dammit i keep forgot to log in. (i'm on jakes computer obviously)
.
that would be awesome. but i don't want them thinking were doing anything unsafe. make sure they know that nothing would be different than any other hpde or tt. we're just compiling lap time data. only real issue i see is some instructors not liking the idea that their student is trying to get laptimes on their first event. if we even get any newbs. most of these guys have atleast a few trackdays under their belts. thanks in advance ryan.

Sounds like a good idea, but 'First, do no harm'.

Right now, what they don't know won't hurt them. I would hate to read that NASA came out against this idea and then all the potential sponsors ran away.

looks more and more like i might not have what I need by jan :(

it's the end of jan. so it's like another month! yay! lol
anyway's, what do you need?

Need a roll bar (car is already drilled as PO had a bar in the car. Just need to double check if the sports bar will fit were the HC bar went as I need to fit my HT)

wanted to get a new suspension setup.
(Some GC custom rates + have my bilsteins revalved)

+ wanted some new wheels and tires (would be the 4th set currently owned for this car lol. Probably just end up usingsome old azenis on one of the OEM sets of sports package wheels)

got the 01 header in.

but an ER visit last week changed where some of my funds went :(

sorry to hear about the er visit. as far as that list of parts goes, that's a wish list. not a must have to do trackday list. even the rollbar could wait if you had to. you'd pass insp. with your hardtop. suspension would be nice but you could always save a little longer if needed and swap it out after the first event or two. same with the wheels/tires. (you've got four sets for god's sake!) i've been running on agx/ qa1 springs/ and ebay coilover sleeves for the last 2 years. and kickin' some ass if i must say so my self. i eat porsche's of all model's and levels of modification, z06 vettes, etc... so you can make do for another couple months if needed. i'm a pro at budget racing so your gonna have to do better than that if you wanna talk yourself out of it.

Hallet looks to be the only one that I know for sure I can't make it to. The rest seem to be a go.

awesome! ^^^^^^ i'm gonna try, but i might not make it to hallett either.

My apartment in DFW is about half-way to Hallett for you Houston gays. Spoolin and Rharris can share my sofa.

better be a big sofa! i don't stack well.......with guys.

I have a gay friend I can bring to entertain Trey.