I searched briefly but couldn't find an answer and I need in asap. I am debating with a buddy of mine about Miata vs Corvette at Willow. What kind of lap times does a heavily modded Miata put down?

 

Depends on the corvette... Ultimately, Corvettes are capable of faster lap times there IMO. It's a horsepower track, and even the most powerful track miatas don't have that much power compared to the world of Corvettes.

The fastest miatas on the West Coast have gotten to ~1:27 flat.
Miata time records for Willow Springs are listed here:
Miata Track Records

TrackHQ lap records shows two Z06 T1s on Hoosier A6s doing a 1:26.8 and a 1:27 flat. These are race cars, but they are limited in power for their class - a Z06 built for Corvette Challenge in the Super Modified or Unlimited category could easily have much more power, but then again the prep level/suspension for the T1 Vettes is probably higher caliber than what you'll see in the Corvette Challenge...
Link to THQ list: Top 25 Willow Springs Lap Times

Short answer though, if one of those T1 Vettes decided to not run T1 rules and went and switched to a 550hp motor (which is easy for an LS1 to make), it would run circles around any of the fastest miatas.

I was there last weekend and did a 1:35.2 in the summer heat. I think it was good for a low 1:33 at least in winter temps. That is with 170whp and Street Tires though.

Another angle to look at it from; you could compare the fastest pro-level cars of each make... For miatas that's Playboy Cup MX-5s. For Corvettes that's probably ALMS. I'm sure the ALMS Vette would beat a Playboy MX-5 by 10 seconds easy.

-Ryan

 

The argument was that no matter what was done to a miata it could not hang with a stock vett. I figured a built miata with 370-400 whp on R compounds would hurt his feelings. I was just looking for imperical data to show him. I almost have him talked into taking his 600whp Camaro SS on street tires to the Tail of the Dragon to run with my lowly ole 94 miata with a "stock" engine.....

 

A) Racing on the street is dumb.

B) Miatas can run laps around Corvettes. All you need is a large delta in skill between the two drivers

 

NOT TO RACE ON THE STREET!!!!!
I am not into that at all. I do however really enjoy rather spirited mountain runs in my very well set up miata. He is all about drag racing and thinks just because he has spent $20k on his Camaro SS that he will automatically be faster than me in every possible scenario. His neighbor is an instructor for SCCA and told him he wants nothing to do with me in the mountains and he is starting to believe. We are good friends and neither one of us is out to "better" the other. I would love to see the look on his face riding shot gun as I enter some of the corners as he figures out what cornering is all about.

With almost no first hand knowledge (yet) of high power miatas, nor newer vetts, I am really just guessing here. I know I am comfortable in the mountains running with about anyone and feel I won't be humiliated by a stock corvette ever. Am I mistaken? I know there are a lot of undefined variables here but you have enough to give your opinion. Can a 300+whp miata weighing about 2100 pounds with full suspension (Bilstein PSS9s) driven by an above average driver comfortably keep up with a newer stock corvette on street tires driven by an uptight average driver?

 

Why do you keep mentioning Corvettes when your friend has a Camaro SS?

 

Because he is a huge Chevy fan and is thinking about getting a Corvette. I told him about some of the high hp miata's on here and about a friend of mines LS1 miata.

 

A+ thread.

Would read again.

 

and nobody has replied "a corvette engine IN a miata?!" For shame!

 

stick to streets and very sticky tires if you want to keep up with a corvette

 

oh also a blown miata and stick tires with a good driver will **** off a c6 on streets

 

1. you didn't say if it is z06 or not. if it isn't a z06, challenge the Corvette to run CCW, engines will go kaboom....

2. if it is a z06. Miata needs ~300whp to match Corvette's speed assuming same tires.

 

Be a man and buy a sportbike. 4 wheels and safety equipment is for women.