emilio700

iTrader: (3)

We have expanded the Supermiata S1 rule set to allow all platforms at the same power to weight and opened the tire rules a bit.
For more info on the specific, visit the website: SuperGTRacing.com
facebook.com/SuperGTRacing

Clifs notes version:
Same 10.5:1 power to weight as S1, no adjustments for comp weight.
Any 100TW tire. No 200tw tires. Special allowance for Toyo RR (40tw) that wears like a 100tw.
Same aero as S1 so:
- OEM front end or flat air dam
- 4" splitter measured from most forward point of OEM bumper
- Single element wing, max 10" chord. Max width equal to rear fender width.
- Any tire or wheel size
- Any engine in same location
- Any syncromesh or OEM DCT trans. No dog or sequential boxes
- Any brakes

This is an expansion on the philosophical approach that created S2. S2 rules have not changed since 2013 with the exception of a ELBJ and seam welding along with some safety enhancements.
Big tires because bigger tire are more fun and last longer. Big brakes because big brakes cost less in the long run. Basic aero because fancy aero is expensive. We'll have just enough aero to guarantee that
every car has no lift and can be made stable at high speeds. 100tw and the RR because those are the best compromise between heat management, wear and cost.

We will be adding sponsors soon. There will be a modest prize money pool. Really looking forward to running Vegas against other platforms.

Meanwhile, we plan to swap the turbo BP6D out for a K24Z3. We'll drop down to about 210whp and try to pull 60 lbs out of it to make the lbs/hp cap.

k24madness

iTrader: (6)

Would it be possible to get a variance for my non OEM front bumper? Compared to Miata OEM and flat panel mine is not a whole lot different.

Would love to run with you guys!

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

One of the updates to the rules that way we are working on is just that. Allowing aftermarket bumpers. An air dam and a splitter pretty much equalizes everything so why not allow aftermarket.

Next event is Sonoma in about 5 weeks. Will you be there?

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

Rules updated for aftermarket front bumper skins and few other allowances.

k24madness

iTrader: (6)

I can’t make that event but you can bet I’ll be attending others in the future! Thanks for the adjustment!!! I really look forward to running with you all.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (2)

My new build plan (also K24Z3) will slot right into this. Hoping to make some of the more southern events in 2020. I like the rule set a lot so far.

KMiata

Awesome, this should be a really fun series. Wish we were closer!

ThePass

iTrader: (3)

Love the concept to allow multiple platforms and recipes to play at this power:weight "sweet spot". Should make for some exciting variety in the field. Is the spec Corvette class being assimilated into this?

Taking bets now on how long before one of the cheap DIY turbo Miatas that were complaining about not being eligible to run in the previous S1 class due to not having the mandated TSE kit shows up and overheats/pukes parts/catches fire on lap 3...

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

Spec Corvette is owned by John Nguyen of Trackspec. No connection to us other than sharing the same event host, Speed Ventures. Last I checked, spec Corvette did not actually have a power cap but presumably their cars could port over pretty easily.

The guys that have been begging us for the last 3 years to open up S1 rules to allow their Miata honestly, will probably never show up anyway. As a Miata geek, I would love to see some k swaps and various other configurations show up. But I think it's going to be mostly other platforms. Time will tell.

But yeah, the guy who shows up with a DIY turbo kit Miata that grenades in the first weekend...I will not say "I told you so".

mpaige22

Just bumping an old thread to see if there has been any progress moving the series forward. I purchased Williams S1 car this weekend and interested in this...

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

Polling the current drivers, it seems everyone is more focused on other racing activities and uses SGT as the random shakedown or extra track time. We handed over Supermiata (S2 class) to Speed Ventures which is no branded DriveSkills SuperSpec Cup.
In short, there doesn't appear to be a strong enough demand for what SGT offers. The rules in S1 and SGT were always built to cross over to NASA and budget enduro classes easily so there are plenty of places to race an SGT, including Speed Ventures.

tblackey

No spherical bearings kinda sucks. Rules me out.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

To be fair, we have accommodated and updated rules for drivers but they still don't show up. Club racing has been on a steady downslope for the last 15 years. Very few classes have large fields even in SCCA and NASA. Millenials are not interested. It's mostly boomers and few Gen X'ers.
So no matter how inclusive, how low the entry fields are, most drivers would rather do budget enduro than any sprint racing.

I posit that if you offered no entry fee, 100% open rules for a sprint racing series.. most drivers would still rather pay to run a crapcan in budget enduro or stick with HPDE. Nothing wrong with SGT rules, the market has just changed.

blackzx3_13

I would think a series like this could do well, given the success of GLTC in the mid-west. Seems like a similar concept. Both series seem like they'd be really fun to be involved in.

Icedawg

I am part of organizing wheel to wheel racing in Alberta, Canada, and we have faced the same decline over the past 15 years. We feel your pain on this on, Emilio. Not sure I'd break it up by generations quite the same way, the drop off is across the board, but it means the youngest have largely not even got a start in sprint racing.
We also see that when potential drivers complain about the rules being too restrictive, that changes made still do not bring them out.
We have even considered trying your tongue in cheek posit! If our sanctioning body had only listened to us about opening up licensing for endurance racing years ago, it would have helped, but that is a what if now.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

The Supermiata race series we started in 2013 for 140whp NA/B's had about 50 different cars that raced with us at least once since then. Biggest ever field was 22 cars at the first round in 2017 I think. Avg car count was 11 for 2019 I think.
Lowest entry fees, least expensive cars, best schedule, lowest consumables cost, best race format, most track time, free high quality BBQ & beer, free coaching and data analysis by top drivers. We all but maintained their cars for them. Still it topped out just a bit larger than average southern California Spec Miata fields. Late 2019 I licensed the series over to the event host Speed Ventures for free. They rebranded, found more sponsors and are starting to grow it a bit.

That's probably the only w2w series that's doing as well on the west coast. Every other new w2w car is for budget enduro, Champcar, Lucky Dog, WRL, etc. The remainder a smattering of cars for smaller class fields in SCCA, NASA, PCA,VARA, etc

Icedawg

I don't think Lemon's intended it at the beginning, but "race $500 cars" turned out to be a brilliant advertising gimmick. Novice teams actually believed that price, not recognizing the net cost was going to be closer to $5000 on a moderate build. But that byline, and the team camaraderie, really sold it.

k24madness

iTrader: (6)

Guilty as charged! Looking back on my quest to build a monster track car I didn't consider how the passing years would affect my appetite/availability for such a commitment. I was very active in the scene when I started the project. By completion life seemed to shift under my feet enough that committing time and financial resources became less appealing. I should have known better since I've seen the same in other parts of my life as the years have passed. Still have a really cool motorcycle sitting in the garage unused for over a decade. Another relic form the past. It seems Mt Biking is the one thing that's never faded.


I agree the market conditions have and will continue to change. I think there's a LOT more life in it though. If various groups better understand what's behind the decline adjustments can be made. The greatest appeal of running with your group was the people! Each time I came out to visit on those days I thought yeah these are people I want to spend the weekend with. Sure driving and competing is paramount but it's the underlying foundation of the group that makes or breaks it for me. I am sure I am not alone in this thinking. I also see more people bringing girlfriends and kids along. Making it a family adventure prolongs the ability of some to continue racing.

Years ago we use to play street hockey in Haight Ashbury on Saturday mornings. It was a great mix of talent levels and we all had fun. Even the girls got involved. Nobody plowed the net or steamrolled over those less talented. The good players would go head to head at times but we consciously made it fun for everyone. Post game would be coffee & bong rips and laughter in the Haight. The whole day was fun! It all fell apart when BASH (Bay Area Street Hockey) came through and recruited players. I was pursed and tried out for a team. During the game there were fights and nonstop agro play. I know that's what hockey is kinda about but I had no desire to spend my Saturdays fighting. God knows I did enough of that in high school and Marines.

I feel like the above applies to racing for me. I'll go head to head with equal players and love the competition. I wouldn't dive bomb or ruin someone's outing just to get by em in a place where they're struggling. I love passing in corners but someone green can get spooked pretty easily by maneuvers others with more experience would welcome.

I am not sure what Motorsports are in this old dogs future. Returning to HPDE is not an option. I got my eye on vintage racing. There's some amazing cars I'd love to be on track with. I have another race car with historic log books that would qualify for such events. Just don't think I am ready to deal with the old cranky SCCA officials. Whatever the case I know I'll need a fix soon. Just not as often as the past but I don't think it will ever go away.

Just wanted to share my OG perspective. Didn't mean to completely derail the thread.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

Not at all. Your perspective is important.

Many years ago I realized some of my best memories were simple HPDE days chasing a friend around a track in red group in whatever shitboxes we had that day. The slower the car and junkier the tires, the better. While the national championships and big wins were emotional highs, the workload, stress and expense dampened my enthusiasm over time. All of us on the team got burned out on maintaining that national level performance around the same time. It was the friends, shared experience and camaraderie that brought me back to the track, not the actual competition. That was the epiphany that led me to create the Supermiata series, entirely around that vibe. The BBQ, coaching, inverted grids, cheap and easy to drive cars that rewarded ballsy driving. Short races so we only do the best part of the race, the first few laps then throw the checkered. Invert and do it all over again. Then drink beer, eat tri-tip and watch each others in car videos. The cars were very much a means to an end. Which is why the folks that asked us to tweak the rules just to allow their mongrel builds were give the same answer, no. If a driver is focused more on having the best car than enjoying the weekend with your new friends, they don't get it yet.

icantlearn

As someone who built their car to s1 spec. I do not fall into this category. However, it would have made it a way easier for the series to gain traction by allowing those "outlier" cars in to play. You have to see their perspective of just wanting to go race, rather than having the absolute fastest car out there. Having to change turbo kits, this, that etc. is more effort and money than it's worth. S1 rules demanded the best turbo kit on the market, so anyone else would not be a threat drivetrain wise. Opening up the pool of racers would have decreased parity, but would have likely increased the number of participants, to which they would likely tweak/optimize their car over time to regain that parity. GLTC has a bunch of fast guys in the front, mid pack, and slow in the back. Nobody in the back goes out there expecting to podium. They just care about dicing it up with the guys around them. This is why its so successful. I truly feel if SPM/SGT adopted this ideology it wouldn't have died or could be revived.

And again, as someone who built their car to race in s1, I really am not happy about the series tanking. I spent a lot of time and money building the car to the rules and was extremely excited to get out there. Now im left with st4 and whatever "odd ball" classes/series the car will slot into.