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Looking into a couple of classes for next year. I like the idea of Spec E30 but I’m concerned with the local car counts. What kind of numbers do you guys see with races in this region?
Are the cars good matches for anything in SCCA or BMWCCA?
Also looking at ITA and SM, so if anyone of you have done those previously I’m curious to hear your views on the differences.
Jeremy Lucas
FastTechLimited.com
Jeremy, go ahead and build out a SpecE30 car. In the Southeast, the rapid ramp-up in car counts was noted like this (RR is Roebling Road):
RR 9/04 1 racers
RR 7/05 2
RR 9/05 1
RR 5/06 2
RR 9/06 8
RR 5/07 18
RR 9/07 23
The word is out on SpecE30, and it seems like in each region once a few pioneers get out on track, everybody else comes off the sidelines.
To partially answer your original question, our cars don’t really fit in BMW CCA. Not legal for KS, and too underprepared for KP. Somebody else will have to chime in on the SCCA scene.
My take on SM is that you’ll spend a lot more money and have no better a time. Those guys are spending more on pro-built motors than some SE30 guys have in their complete cars.
Yeah, that’s what’s turning me off on SM. I do like the competition & car counts though. I really want to do RWD and ITS is too expensive.
Hopefully one of the guys more local (Ohio/Indiana) can jump in about what’s going on here. I see typically 4 entires on the result sheets but they might know how many more are currently being built.
Hey there, if I was you I would go ahead and build but I’m bias. You will definitely get more competition in the region in Spec Miata, but it is a chicks car 
. Right now we have 3 regulars in the OH/IN region. Myself, Michael Osborne & Joe Woodward. Joe used to race Spec Miata when it first started so he can probably chime in on this subject. Tom White is also in the region but blew a motor last year, he can chime him but I expect him back next year. Victor Hall is also a very active racer but wrecked his car last year, not sure when he will be back in the fray. I know of at least 3 cars being built. 2 are basically finished and just waiting on the driver to get qualified to race. I’m sure there are probably a few others. Once we get to around 8 cars I think our region will start to take off just like it did in the Mid Atlantic/Southeast. Plus you are guaranteed a good field for Nationals which is at Mid Ohio. We had 16 cars at Nationals this year compared with 8 or so the year before. I expect 25 is not out of the question next year. A spec E30 is pretty much on par with a Spec Miata in terms of lap time. We have more power but the miata handles better. Its upto you I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Jeremy, the decision is easy.
Build a car this winter.
Go to the dyno and get it tested. Better be in the 150+ area.
Go ahead and race with Hunter, Osborne, Hall and Woodward. These are some great racers, just check the results pages.
So, regardless of the car counts, if you can run with these guys you’ve got it "going on."
Or, if you are like me, race 'em and hope for greater car counts.
Regards, Robert Patton Southeast region
Jeremy,
I totally agree with Robert…I raced GTI-Cup in NorCal http://www.norcalgticup.com for four years and the most cars we had at a race was seven. Some of the best racing I have ever experienced was with just two or three other GTIs on the track.
One other thing…I’ve raced both a SpecMiata and a SpecE30 and I much prefer the E30 because of its interior room and great visibility. I’m only 5’10" and the SpecMaita was way too cramped for my liking. Maybe if I had started out in a SM I’d feel different…the GTIs were very roomy for their size (rolling breadboxes).
If you haven’t done so already, I would recommend at least sitting in a race-prepped SM and a SpecE30 to see if the interior fit makes a difference to you.
Good Luck,
Scott Neville
NorCal SpecE30
http://www.norcalspece30.com
P.S. Smaller fields = Better chances for Toyo Bucks!!
I am building a car for next year. I have all of the spec suspension parts now. Only things left to acquire are window and side nets, fire suppression, HANS, a new harness, and the transponder.
If I could just get finished with the engine and get my cage done, it’d be ready to go.
I have to get my license come spring. The plan is to do comp school at the first or second NASA event at Mid-Ohio.
I know of another guy here in the Cincinnati area building a car.
David Nalley wrote:
[quote]I am building a car for next year. I have all of the spec suspension parts now. Only things left to acquire are window and side nets, fire suppression, HANS, a new harness, and the transponder.
If I could just get finished with the engine and get my cage done, it’d be ready to go.
I have to get my license come spring. The plan is to do comp school at the first or second NASA event at Mid-Ohio.
I know of another guy here in the Cincinnati area building a car.[/quote]
If I had it to do all over again, I’d look at the R3 Head and Neck Restraint System. I tried on one of the systems that the Hall’s had at RRR. Much more comfortable than the HANS (IMO).
Good luck with your build. Hope to see you at Nationals next year.
I have done Showroom Stock for several years including the Runoffs so I know about close running being what makes it fun. Larger fields just make it more likely that there will be people at your pace.
It’s encouraging to hear about the additional cars.
If you have links that would be helpful for me to read, please let me know.
Jeremy, if you’ve done showroom stock then you’re ready to run with the likes of Hunter, Osborne, Hall and Woodward. I’m betting that the Ohio region , with you in the mix, would be ne of the fastest race groups.
Regards, Robert pATTON