[S4to335]

Spec Miata race at Laguna Seca raceway on 6/12/04. Yes, its me.

[BeAmW335i]

Thanks. So what exactly is a Spec Miata? Nice driving!

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by BeAmW335i

Thanks. So what exactly is a Spec Miata? Nice driving!

Spec racing..where all the cars are very similar..its the driver and the car set up..that determines most of the outcome of the race. We all run on the same tires..the same suspension...with two engine choices...with the cars not to below a certain weight with driver in car at end of race.

http://www.specmiata.com

[BaLLzZz]

Very nice driving. Is there a crack in your windshield???

[Dascamel]

Nice driving!! you should post that video in the thread of people questioning your driving vs the 135i. I liked the pass and turn in off line at the very end. Awesome!!

[flukey]

nice driving!

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by Dascamel

Nice driving!! you should post that video in the thread of people questioning your driving vs the 135i. I liked the pass and turn in off line at the very end. Awesome!!

Thanks...you are one of the only people on here that have ridden with me.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by BaLLzZz

Very nice driving. Is there a crack in your windshield???

Shush..the tech nazis will find out. Yeah..in races debris is thrown up repeatedly...I got a rock from a previous race..

[LOLrance]

i've always wanted to see videos of you at driving events. Glad you could finally upload one.

[kenneth]

Smooth driving!

[5soko]

You do some WORK on the track!

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by 5soko335i

You do some WORK on the track!

What do you mean...? Did you see me almost lose it like twice in the andretti hairpin (Turn 2)?

[S4to335]

Here is the continuation of that race...

[nicknaz]

OP, can a spec miata be used on the street or are there modifications that make it not street legal?

The Mrs and I are thinking about getting a second car and I am thinking of passing my E90 to her and picking up a 'spec miata' for myself to use a daily and school car

[S4to335]

I have a friend that use to drive his spec miata's to races...you can do it...but it will not be officially street legal. You could do like 90% of the spec miata modifications and still be street legal.

[oddjob2021]

Excellent, Excellnt racing, reminds me sooo much of my time at skip barber, except I was at Road Atlanta. I wish i could share my video but its encrypted so i cant host it online or download it to my computer

couple of comments if you dont mind though:

I noticed a few times you had TTO but the car didnt react the way i thought it would, and some of your downshifts sounded like you TCO'ed with no "yunga's" :P (skips term for rev matching) but again, your tail didnt wig out. You must be great controling how your car reacts great apexing and great pass, you definatly had a higher exit speed than some drivers there

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by S4to335

I have a friend that use to drive his spec miata's to races...you can do it...but it will not be officially street legal. You could do like 90% of the spec miata modifications and still be street legal.

I realized after posting that I could just read the SM rules myself so I looked at the NASA spec miata rules and I can't figure out what modifications make the car not street legal. it seems like it is a bone stock miata with suspension mods and safety equipment?

Thanks,
Nick

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by oddjob2021

Excellent, Excellnt racing, reminds me sooo much of my time at skip barber, except I was at Road Atlanta. I wish i could share my video but its encrypted so i cant host it online or download it to my computer

couple of comments if you dont mind though:

I noticed a few times you had TTO but the car didnt react the way i thought it would, and some of your downshifts sounded like you TCO'ed with no "yunga's" :P (skips term for rev matching) but again, your tail didnt wig out. You must be great controling how your car reacts great apexing and great pass, you definatly had a higher exit speed than some drivers there

I got a confession...I dont heel/toe downshift...(I cant dance worth a darn either) I try to rev match most of the time..but sometimes I just got concentrated on the guy in front..AND the guy in back of me..and dont do exactly what I should have. You dont see it..but I mis-shifted in that race twice going between T2 and T3.. TWICE. One time three spec miatas went by..and it took forever to get those positions back. I was a midpack guy at best. I had a junk yard engine..but you couldnt tell it from some of those passes..huh? I have about 20-24 days at Laguna as I figure it...in seven different cars (Audi A4 2.8Q(borrowed), Audi S4, Audi S4 Avant, Audi A4 1.8T(borrowed), Audi A4 1.8T(mine), Spec Miata and my 335i). I needed to brake later and harder..that much I learned from viewing the tape and studying it.

P.S. Most of my tail wagging was due to off throttle oversteer...when I took those inside passes going into the Andretti hairpin. BTW, could you tell I didnt have a LSD ..you can really see it in T4 (right hander)

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by Nick Nazareno

I realized after posting that I could just read the SM rules myself so I looked at the NASA spec miata rules and I can't figure out what modifications make the car not street legal. it seems like it is a bone stock miata with suspension mods and safety equipment?

Thanks,
Nick

You can remove the cat...that is one thing that makes it illegal for street. You could also have very loud exhaust..I didnt..I had an exhaust that was only 90db...so I could run Laguna without being hassled by the sound guys.

[oddjob2021]

Originally Posted by S4to335

I got a confession...I dont heel/toe downshift...(I cant dance worth a darn either) I try to rev match most of the time..but sometimes I just got concentrated on the guy in front..AND the guy in back of me..and dont do exactly what I should have. You dont see it..but I mis-shifted in that race twice going between T2 and T3.. TWICE. One time three spec miatas went by..and it took forever to get those positions back. I was a midpack guy at best. I had a junk yard engine..but you couldnt tell it from some of those passes..huh? I have about 20-24 days at Laguna as I figure it...in seven different cars (Audi A4 2.8Q(borrowed), Audi S4, Audi S4 Avant, Audi A4 1.8T(borrowed), Audi A4 1.8T(mine), Spec Miata and my 335i). I needed to brake later and harder..that much I learned from viewing the tape and studying it.

P.S. Most of my tail wagging was due to off throttle oversteer...when I took those inside passes going into the Andretti hairpin. BTW, could you tell I didnt have a LSD ..you can really see it in T4 (right hander)

thanks for the detailed responce! i always enjoy it.

to respond: yeah TTO is trailing throttle oversteer which is why i mentioned it you have obviosuly a lot more experiance on track than me and i applaud you for that! a lot of cars and time will make a good driver great and I'm sure you'd waste me ...

i try to heel toe on the streets actually, like from U.S. 1 (3 lane per side highway in florida that has multiple street and avenune exits) to a side street on a 90 degree turn, ill go from 4th to 2nd and heel/toe (the cheater way :P no lateral rotation of the right foot, only bliping the throttle with my pinky, middle and ring toe ) its good practice, because when i do get my track time, which is few and far between, its like driving normally, i dont have to concentrate on it and can focus on the road and my lines.

and btw, im buying OCha's LSD for the new low price of 2,000, i think quite a steal considering i have a welded diff and would have to pay a fortune otherwise! (we're switching diffs) ill let you know my experience on the track when it is on versus before, i cant wait!!

[951's 330i]

This is awesome!!! Nice driving man. Mind if i ask what camera your using?

[Mr. 5]

Nice video!!
I love to watch Laguna Seca.
It looks so fricken fun!!