Sunday, January 30, 2011

Spec Miata Racing - Getting Started Right

Simply "Googling" Spec Miata brings up a ton of information, but not all of it makes sense to someone just starting to think about turning an MX-5 into a Spec Miata race car.

The transformation involves installing a roll cage, and converting over to standardized suspension and wheels to keep a level playing field between competitors.  The rules for the series put a premium on driver safety and also result in keeping costs to prepare a car to an absolute minimum.  It's up to you to decide if converting the Miata you already drive makes more sense than finding a "donor car" to transform into a dedicated race car.

Because the Spec Miata Series is so popular, checking out an event local to you is fairly easy.  There are also companies who will rent you a fully prepped Spec Miata for track use, and once you get connected with your local Spec Miata scene, it's likely you will meet people who have already built cars that they are considering selling.  Going with a car already prepped and certified for Spec Miata racing might be the most affordable entry into the sport.

Spec Miata was designed to be a low-cost way to enter into club racing, and it has turned into one of the most popular spec series. There are events and participating sanctioning bodies nationwide. My goal is to gather the most useful resources on Spec Miata racing.  Let me know if there's something missing that would improve the site...