nitrodann

If you can use all that midrange torque its great, in my experience with the kinds of tracks we have in Australia and the tyres most people here run (read: road legal semi slicks) the midrange is usually tuned out anyways at least at part throttle.

Dann

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Trackpeed engine and EFR turbo kit, KMiata / E46 trans, E85, Getrag rear or stock housing w/ OSG. For that rule set (no foreign motors allowed) that's the ticket.

Blackbird

More than one way to skin the cat, 2.5L boosted MZR is legal and 700cc bigger.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Always options... and the 2009+ MZR is forged... but I think I'd want to stick to BP in this case where sequentials are out and you need to make a factory option transmission work.. primarly because with the BP there is (finally) a bulletproof trans option whereas the NC box, similar to the NA/NB units, becomes the eventual weak point when going for well over 300whp.

Blackbird

Dear OP,
No doubt keeping the BP is the easy button build, as LFX Ryan points out.

Signed,

Ferrari Moti

mx5-kiwi

Reverse logic (with a twist?)

Blackbird

Logic? What's that?

Goingnowherefast

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys. I took another look at the rules and you can indeed run a full cage as long as it doesn't go past the firewall. Most cars in Street Mod are between 250-400 HP with the high HP one's being a few Mustangs and a Supercharged E46 M3. Right now it doesn't look as competitive as the West Coast stuff yet, but regardless I'm just looking to try something new and continue to have fun. Getting my Xidas corner balanced and aligning in today so hopefully that'll point me in the right direction to be significantly faster than most cars in class in the corners. While I don't think I'll be hugely competitive, I believe a 2100 pound NA with 250-300 whp and aero will be at least semi-competitive given a decent driver.

Hehehe I wish I could go LFX, but I picked up a 2003 VVT with 39K miles for $800 that I couldn't pass up. Plan as of now is to drop in rods, and shoot for 250-300whp.

P.S. Just got your spoiler on, looks amazing. Can't wait to try it out. (Will have before and after track times)

Blackbird

Pics or it didn't happen

k24madness

iTrader: (6)

In stockish form VVT helps midrange. With cams it can do something entirely different. Think of it this way. Without VVT you can optimize a power curve over 1,500-2,000 RPM. With VVT that rpm ban extends to 3,000 RPM. That's makes for a great power curve with or without FI. Helps dig you out of a corner if slightly off the power band for some reason.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

In time attack where there are no power caps and virtually no limitations on motor, the only person who has 'enough' power is the one at the top of the podium who set a new track record. Everyone else needs more power.

natedawg

As someone that has lots of track time at their main track, Gingerman. I gave up on TA. as other have said it's such a HP/ Money game. Miatas are in a tough place. I placed 3rd in the wangfest series street class many moons ago which what eventually turned into Gridlife. My miata was around 1:50s then. got it into the 1:46s a few years later and then sold it to someone running it in Supermiata on the west coast.

Where you at with car development? Lap times at Gman? Faster than spec? I think the spec record is now 1:46-1:47? Crazy to think the fast car is a civic running 1:26s now at Gridlife. I don't see how anyone can compete with that.

IMO I think makes far more sense to build a nasa spec car/ scca car. For a variety of reasons.

I'd keep the NA. In my experience with my NB 100 pound difference is worth 1.5 seconds. in a 140hp NB at Gingerman. NA seem easier to get to a lower weight.

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

I love the idea of a Miata in Time Attack. You just have to go in to it with eyes open about the challenges you face and the type of car that you need to build to be competitive. Most people are not ready to build that car. They get into TA for fun and then end up disappointed when they realize they can't be competitive with a car not built specifically for the discipline.

Here we have the Superlap Battle each year at Buttonwillow, which is probably the top event for TA in the US. When I look at the podium times for Street, Limited and Unlimited RWD from recent years I see a huge challenge for a Miata, but not insurmountable. An unlimited car needs to be in the lower half of the 40's; sub 1:45 for sure, and limited needs to be well under 1:50... the farther under the better. Possible? Yes. But to give an idea of the challenge, no Miata has ever cracked 1:50 to date. Nobody is going to arrive with their casual Miata build and get on the podium. It will take a ground-up build focused on the class you're taking on where no bolt is left untouched and no allowance in the rules is left unexploited.

Blackbird

Exactly.
Coming with the state of mind of where Miatas normally compete won't take you very far.
Gotta get used to think out of the box, be willing to make big changes, challenge the common thought process and know that the further you go the less answers you'll find to your questions.
Some may find it intimidating, I look at it as a part of the fun.

Art

.

Goingnowherefast

iTrader: (1)

More great info here. Yeah it seems like Gridlife TA is in a really interesting place with 1-2-3 positions being highly contended by cars with 3 widely different drivetrains.

As for the comments about what you need to be competitive I completely agree. My only contention is that with the Gridlife season being so long with so many different tracks (many of which a lot of drivers are familiar with) means that wild things can happen. For instance, the Street Mod RWD class leader is in a Bolt-On E46 M3 with no aero. I'd guess a well setup Miata with similar power to the wheels while weighing ~1000 pounds less with aero would at least be competitive with that. Either way, I'm excited to get a season of real racing under my belt with whatever the result may be.

mx5-kiwi

I say go for it. We won the New Zealand Street Pro (road legal, log book cars) 2 wheel drive class this year AND a Top 10 Shootout from consistency and a really nicely balanced, mid level power to weight vehicle.

It's racing.....Anything can happen. Not to mention the massive learning curve racing/competing puts you in and the experienced gained.

I find too much focus on trying to win isn't much fun, focusing on competing and developing car and driver as best you can and seeing where you get to IS a lot fun......you never know, like us you may very well end up being more competitive than thought. Particularly from mid season on when a lot of the big power cars have broken and others have given up with lack of commitment.

mx5-kiwi

I was trying to say something like this...only true racers have this mindset it has slowly become apparent to me. Nicely said.

natedawg

Whats times is that e46 M3 running @ gingerman in street mod? I looked it's Brad Yonkers running 1:40.4 I could see davids Kmiata car being close to that. I think he did 37s or 38s on hoosiers but not sure if he's ran it on street tires. He's making 230-250hp NA. It seems doable if you can have 300whp+ and keep the weight under 2100 pounds. Should be well under the 1:40s.