From SoCal, an Introduction, with Questions

#1

Hi everyone,

I’m not sure when I registered for this site, but I believe it was right after I received the issue of GRM covering Spec e30 back in 2006. Like many others, that article excited me - a budget spec series that was actually budget-minded! I lurked this site on and off since then.

Well, now I’m in a better position to seriously consider wheel-to-wheel racing. I’m currently looking for a decent car to start off with and hopefully make into a Spec e30. I do HPDE and autox in a Miata and have another car as daily driver. Spec Miata is a bit too competitive (read: bumper cars) for my tastes, and also I’m hesitant to hack up my Miata to make it SM. Call it sentimental value, I suppose. Anyway, Spec e30 seems like a natural alternative.

I have yet to join NASA or run in any of their events, so I have a way to go on that front too. Most likely, I’ll do HPDE-1 in one of the upcoming events in my Miata and try to talk to any Spec e30 folks out there on the same day. If I get an e30 before then, great… if not, well, probably better so I can really see what the SoCal Spec e30 scene is like. I’ve been emailing craiglist ads to no avail.

I have read and searched this site to try to determine whether Spec e30 is right for me. I think competing in 2 or 3 seasons is realistic, given time, budget and other requirements such as licensing.

Like many on this site, I’m looking at a “budget” build. $10k, plus maybe $1-2k is very reasonable to me. The Carr Industries packages (found during my searches) looks like the way to go for convenience sake. Are there other companies that make similar spec packages now?

Currently, I drive the Miata to events. For those of you in SoCal, you know this is a 2 or 3 hour trek. I’m wondering how many among you drive the e30 to the track, versus towing it? An old thread I dug up seemed to show a preference for towing, but only a few members chimed in and the thread is over 2 years old. I’m curious with the expansion of Spec e30, whether this has changed at all?

Regardless of whether you tow or drive it, how many have kept a working A/C in the car? This seems like a “must” to me if you are driving it to the track. Or perhaps I’m just a pansy? Towed vehicles can probably ditch the A/C.

Thanks for any info and other help/tips you can throw at a noobie. I hope to join you guys on the track soon!

Here I am at Buttonwillow:

track01.jpg701x468

As a side note, I was happily surprised that the weight difference between an NA Miata and the E30 is pretty much non-existent.

Roger

#2

Welcome Roger. I have been building my SpecE30 for about 3 months now. I’m getting close and getting more and more excited to get it one the track. I just passed the Driving Concepts Race License School, which I HIGHLY recommend. I plan on trailering to the track, don’t really want to drive a gutted, caged car to the track, especially on R-comps with 3.5*camber (killing tires on the long drives) I live near LAX, so BW is a 2+ hour drive and WSIR just over an hour 15ish (@ 5am) Keep your eyes on Craigslist, or Ebay, I just saw a 90% finished SE30 car that sold for 6700! Great deal. I have a great cage guy, I will post pics once I get my dash back in. Email me if you have any questions, or want to check out my car. Where are you located?

#3

Roger -

I am currently building a car so I’m new to Spec E30, too. Take this for what it is worth. I have raced Spec Miata for the past 3 years and have watched SE30 pretty closely for about a year.

I think the debate between SM and SE30 is a Yankees/Red Socks argument. Very few minds will change. And these are just my opinions - but here goes::blink:

With fields of comparable sizes, E30s and Miatas run into each other a similar amount. E30s and Miatas run lap times within tenths of each other, but do it in completely different ways. That frustrates both groups of drivers (each one thinks the other one is in the way).

I am optimistic that in Mid-Atlantic and Southeast the SM & SE30 groups will continue to grow and will be split most race weekends. That way I can enjoy racing in both classes.

If you like the driving dynamics of the Miata, the E30 will feel large and ponderous. At 6’2", I am looking forward to having more room and an easier ohshit! exit from the E30. NASA is brilliant for mandating an maximum exit time. But I digress.

The Miata probably has an advantage on resale (bigger audience right now). That would change in a hurry if SCCA would adopt SE30 as a class. The cost to get on the track is similar. The cost to build a tub-up, front-of-the-field car is similar, too.

thisberoger wrote:

[quote]As a side note, I was happily surprised that the weight difference between an NA Miata and the E30 is pretty much non-existent.
[/quote]

The early NA Miatas run at 2,325 lbs and the NB Miatas run at 2,475. The SE30s are 2,750. That may not sound like much, but it is way more than non-existent.

Good luck with the build.

Steve D.