A Supermiata with nowhere to race - Long time lurker comes out
 

I've been lurking on this forum since 2009 (8 years makes me feel real old), and basically everything useful I know about Miata's is from the Race Prep section. My questions are becoming specific enough that searching the various forums is no longer helpful, so I will avail myself of the resources here!

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This 2001 NB was my first car, and because I'm an idiot I've built it into a racecar instead of just buying one. It's built to Supermiata S2 specs (mostly), but since it appears Supermiata with WRL on this side of the country is going to be vaporware its future is TBD. Maybe STL with my local SCCA region, or PTx with NASA. I currently run in our local SCCA region's time trial series, where the car is a regular podium contender in class and occasionally for the overall win, when I don't drive like a moron. I also instruct at various HPDE's around the east coast, and will likely be taking over the operation of the time trial series for the 2018 season.

The important mods:
- Cage built by Piper Motorsports in VA
- Cobra Evolution Pro Fit with OMP 6 point harness in a custom bracket, also built by Piper Motorsports
- Xidas with billet coaxial mounts, helpers, etc
- Racing Beat front sway/5x Racing rear
- Sadfab Polybronze bushing kit
- Racing Beat header/K&N intake/MBS Spec Miata exhaust
- 15x9 6UL's with RC1's or R7's
- Blackbird Fabworx spoiler, homemade front airdam and radiator ducting
- Singluar Motorsports brake ducts with PFC 11's
- Treasure Coast lightweight hardtop
- 6 speed transmission with MiataRoadster short shifter, 949racing 4-puck unsprung 1.6 clutch and lightweight flywheel
- 4.3 Torsen
- A bunch of other stuff

Here's some more pics of the car in various states of prep:
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And since this is MT, I know these are the really important pics:

Mochi and Mongo, my wife and I's special needs Siamese kitties

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Riker and Spock, our new-ish miniature Dachshunds

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Hope I don't embarrass myself!

where are the cat tails? so confused.

Welcome to the forum. Are you planning on running with NASA Southeast region at all this year?

Any photos of the radiator ducting? As soon as I'm able to install my oil cooler I'd love to hit you up about instruction where and when.

They're modest.

Thanks, I'm up near DC so I'd be running with NASA Mid-Atlantic if I chose to go that route next year. Scheduled this year is all SCCA and other clubs.

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Pretty simple sheet metal box, riveted together. This one doesn't actually go the full width of the radiator, it's about 17" wide. Keeps temps to about 205 in all weather conditions so far, with a cheapo Mishimoto rad and water/water wetter/splash of antifreeze. I'm in the process of putting together a new duct, that will span the full width of the radiator and have the brake duct inlets integrated. I remove the front bumper to get the car on/off the trailer, so doing that will eliminate one more step in setting up and tearing down.

For the rest of the year I'll definitely be instructing at the last 3 WDCR SCCA events (Summit Shenandoah, Dominion, and Summit Jefferson). Might to a few more days with Trackdaze or MBCA GWS, haven't decided yet.

They're modest.

No, I'm up by DC so it'd be NASA Mid-Atlantic if I chose to go that route next year. This year is all scheduled out for SCCA and maybe some other clubs.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4328/...8404e370_c.jpg

Pretty simple sheet metal box, riveted together. It doesn't span the full width of the radiator, it's about 17" wide, good enough for temps around 205 in all weather conditions so far with a cheapo Mishimoto rad and water/water wetter/splash of coolant. I'm in the process of building a full width duct that integrates the brake duct inlets, because I have to remove the bumper to load/unload off the trailer and not having to deal with the brake ducting will save some time.

I'll be instructing for sure at the 3 remaining SCCA PDX events this year (Summit Shenandoah, Dominion, Summit Jefferson), and maybe some Trackdaze or MBCA GWS events.

Very cool race car! Was it ever a street car or did you go full tilt right away? Do you get lapping telemetry or juicy vids for us to see?

I really want to try an NB 6 speed/4.30:1 combo. Sounds like a shifty-good time.

I bought the car bone stock in 2006, and have been building it ever since. It's been track only since 2012, and the cage went in last winter. Here's some personal bests from this year and last:

Summit Point Shenandoah: NCCAR Clockwise: Summit Point Jefferson:
The 6 speed/4.3 combo has not convinced me - there's so much shifting I'm not entirely sure it's worth the effort. It introduces lots of opportunities to money shift!

Pardon my ignorance. But with this much time and money why have you elected to stick with the 4.3 instead of something lower? Is there a strength benefit? or are you just sticking with what was original to the car? I would think the longer gearing of a 3.6-3.9 would be much better.

On paper, moving from a 5 to a 6 speed will lower the overall gearing for the car. Lower gearing = higher revs everywhere = making more power everywhere = faster everywhere. In theory. Being able to drive well enough to take advantage of that and all the extra shifting that is then required is another story.

Thanks for posting the videos. Good quality! I need to look into what 'Race Render' is. I'd like to get a telemetry/timer set up like that and all I've looked at so far is the AIM MXS dash and Smartycam HD combo - but its hugely expensive.

With your power level, that transmission and final drive don't seem mismatched. It seems natural on your car, and the power band seems to fit the spacing well. You are right though, you gotta be super zen when shifting that much to minimize risk of money shift. Lots of opportunity.

I use the TrackAddict app on my iPhone, with a 10hz external GPS and a wifi OBD2 dongle. Works pretty well, but you have to sync up the data with the GoPro video manually in RaceRender. It isn't difficult, but it takes some fiddling to get things to be synced up.

Super miata S2 is 'stock' engine. Ie no boost.

A 3.6 would be a dog. 4.3 allows for better acceleration out of corners. Ratio depends on the track though, but 3.6 or 3.9 would prolly be rough without boost on a track car.