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Mine - 06 six speed on Toyo tires and AST suspension...

Claffie:  

Imagine seeing you here!  I didn't realize you were planning to run the '99 in STR in addition to running Captain Slow in STS .  Sounds like you have a busy 2010 ahead of you.

Everyone:

I'm considering running in STR myself, for the following reasons:  My Mazdaspeed Miata is essentially a street car, but because I replaced the inexcusably small stock intercooler, that car is classed in BSP where it is woefully outclassed.  Meanwhile, the '94 Miata that I bought for noncompetitive track duty is, set up for HPDEs the way I like it, classed in XP, where it will be even more out of the running than the MSM is in BSP.  I certainly don't expect to have the dominant car in its class, but I'd like the car to be somewhere in the ballpark, so I can measure any progress I make as a driver.

Meanwhile, the NC Miata has grown on me over the last couple of years, and I'd like to acquire one to make into a street car that can also be autocrossed competitively (assuming I learn to drive).  Since the NC comes with ludicrously soft and high suspension, I'd want to swap it out, which pushes me out of stock.  The ST classes seem like they involve approximately the amount of modification I'd want to make, and it sounds like an NC could be made competitive in STR.  

So, my potential plan is to replace the MSM commuter with an NC, swap the dampers/springs/sways right away, get wheels/tires, and work in the other mods during the rest of the year, while competing with it.  I'd appreciate hearing your opinions on this plan of action.

Thank you for your attention.

Michael 

blkwrxwag:

Mine - 06 six speed on Toyo tires and AST suspension...

Did you hit it?

I am considering preparing our E Stock 1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula for STR, currently it is bone stock (we won't be able to use our V710's).

Reference note:  Converting BS cars to STR lowers the PAX (0.847 to 0.842), CS cars will see almost no change (0.840 to 0.842), and ES cars will increase (0.829 to 0.842)

Since our focus will be on finishing in the top-10 in our local region's championships (based on PAX) with maybe a Divisional or National Tour event, would it be worthwhile?  Will the modifications allowed be more beneficial than the loss in grip from V710's or A6's to "street" tires?  Thank you for your thoughts on this subject.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

John Croasdaile (Central NY Region)

On a 60 second course, you'd index identically if you ran .30 seconds faster on the BS index than the STR index.  Put another way, you can run .30 seconds slower in STR than BS.

Do you think the STR allowances would let you be that close to the BS configuration?

Edit: Man, did I blow reading comprehension on that one.  The post below breaks out the ES comparison relevant for the Fiero.

Mike

For an ES (older Miata, Fiero, 944, MR2) car you have to be able to cut 0.93 seconds off your 60 second time to be "PAX equal" in STR trim.

John

Ted - Minnesota

1999 miata sport

Currently: GC 500/300 on Bilsteins, RB 1.25 front bar, Topspeed header(I think), RB exhaust, custom intake, Momo Start seats, RS3s on 15x9s. The header and intake dropped about 14lbs and made a bunch more noise, no idea if it gained any hp, seats lost a couple lbs each. 

Planned: Poly bushings, dyno to check the health of motor/if I lost hp with mods, shocks eventually, test splitter

The car weighed 2268 with 1/3 tank of gas. Minus some gas and the roll bar and it's easily sitting at 2200. imo a fully prepped sport could weigh in a little over 2100.

As one can see this is a total budget build. No one will ever see this car at nationals since I'll never have the money to make it competitive. I am, however, ecstatic of STRs approval since it allows pretty much all the mods I've wanted to do that will make the car an awesome autox/trackday car. Only reason I posted was to show support to the class, anyone need a co-driver for nats? ;-)

p.s. If I misunderstood the intent of this thread and it was for national competitive cars only let me know, I'll remove my post.

Teddy,

I interpret this thread to be for any cars (and drivers) competing in STR at any level.  So I, for one, am glad to see your post.

I agree that STR allows almost exactly the mods I'd like to do (to the NC I hope to acquire to run in it).  Almost.

All STR competitors are welcome to post, local, national, whatever.  This is about building some, fun, fast, cars.

Here is an update for my MX5:

 Front and rear fenders are rolled, completely flat, had a professional body man do the work, truly outstanding job.  I have run the 255's on the front and the rear (not at the same time, yet :) ) and they clear, with only slight rubbing on bumps in the middle of corners.  I have been running 4 Enkei RPF1's 17x9" 45mm, 2 with 225/45/17 and 2 with 255/40/17 (they were on my stock S2000) My last event, I put the 255's up front, with the 225's out back, and was pleased that they cleared the front fenders with only slight rubbing.  Still not sure if the 255 is going to be the hot ticket for an MX5 though, but either way, my car is ready

Tomorrow, I will be mounting up 255's, and replacing the 225's, giving me 255 x 4.  I will be testing it out at California Speedway on Saturday, Cal Club Solo 2 practice.

 I have replaced the rear muffler with a straight pipe, adding a hanger right at the diff, to allow running just a turn down at big events (saves another 4lbs).  I ran it at the last San Diego Championship event, didn't receive any sound warnings.  My ear meter thinks it is about 87-89db.  Car sounds great without the muffler, very deep tone.

I had the car aligned:  -2.1 camber 0 toe up front, -2.3 camber 1/8" toe in, rear.

I installed a set of Koni 30 series shocks with 650# front and 350# rear springs, on Saturday.  They were custom built by Jeff Wong at Pro Parts.  Still have some tweeks to do, but so far so good.  Test drives up my favorite road tell me that she is much stiffer, but much more capable of cornering harder than before.  First outing will be this Saturday, can't wait.  All the other suspension mods are hinging on the shock/spring package, and wether or not I will need a diff (base 5spd, no diff), which up until now hasn't been much of a problem with wheel spin.

RX8 front sway bar, and either the OS Giken, or a factory Torsen are the next big mods.  I will know more after Saturday.  I have been running the car with the rear bar disconnected, it's an Eibach Sportline bar, having 255's x 4 might change all that.

Removing the A/C, and swapping to a light weight battery are in the near future.

I have had the car a month and a half now, 3 race weekends under my belt, and having a blast. 

Good stuff!  Sounds like you're well on your way.  See you at nats I guess... Mr West Coast. 

zo7vette:

All STR competitors are welcome to post, local, national, whatever.  This is about building some, fun, fast, cars.

 

Here is an update for my MX5:

 Front and rear fenders are rolled, completely flat, had a professional body man do the work, truly outstanding job.  I have run the 255's on the front and the rear (not at the same time, yet :) ) and they clear, with only slight rubbing on bumps in the middle of corners.  I have been running 4 Enkei RPF1's 17x9" 45mm, 2 with 225/45/17 and 2 with 255/40/17 (they were on my stock S2000) My last event, I put the 255's up front, with the 225's out back, and was pleased that they cleared the front fenders with only slight rubbing.  Still not sure if the 255 is going to be the hot ticket for an MX5 though, but either way, my car is ready

Tomorrow, I will be mounting up 255's, and replacing the 225's, giving me 255 x 4.  I will be testing it out at California Speedway on Saturday, Cal Club Solo 2 practice.

 I have replaced the rear muffler with a straight pipe, adding a hanger right at the diff, to allow running just a turn down at big events (saves another 4lbs).  I ran it at the last San Diego Championship event, didn't receive any sound warnings.  My ear meter thinks it is about 87-89db.  Car sounds great without the muffler, very deep tone.

I had the car aligned:  -2.1 camber 0 toe up front, -2.3 camber 1/8" toe in, rear.

I installed a set of Koni 30 series shocks with 650# front and 350# rear springs, on Saturday.  They were custom built by Jeff Wong at Pro Parts.  Still have some tweeks to do, but so far so good.  Test drives up my favorite road tell me that she is much stiffer, but much more capable of cornering harder than before.  First outing will be this Saturday, can't wait.  All the other suspension mods are hinging on the shock/spring package, and wether or not I will need a diff (base 5spd, no diff), which up until now hasn't been much of a problem with wheel spin.

RX8 front sway bar, and either the OS Giken, or a factory Torsen are the next big mods.  I will know more after Saturday.  I have been running the car with the rear bar disconnected, it's an Eibach Sportline bar, having 255's x 4 might change all that.

Removing the A/C, and swapping to a light weight battery are in the near future.

I have had the car a month and a half now, 3 race weekends under my belt, and having a blast. 

 

Brian and Jeff,

You guys have the 5-speed Miatas, so you don't have FSTBs, right?  What are you planning to do for a FSTB, if anything?  All the ones I know about, including the stock one from the 6-speed, connect to the firewall.  I believe the rules for STR only allow 2-point models, right?  So, what's a guy to do?

skeeler:

Brian and Jeff,

You guys have the 5-speed Miatas, so you don't have FSTBs, right?  What are you planning to do for a FSTB, if anything?  All the ones I know about, including the stock one from the 6-speed, connect to the firewall.  I believe the rules for STR only allow 2-point models, right?  So, what's a guy to do?

fabricate one. 

I will be running a 99 Miata. I just ordered some Koni race shocks and Ground Control coilover sleves and springs (700# front and 350# rear). I will be ordering some 15 x 9 wheels and running Hankook RS3's 225/45/15. I am planning on the tubular Racing Beat front sway bar with Racing Beat adjustable end links. I have no idea what I will do for the rear sway. Like Jeff I will decide that when I run it with the new springs and shocks. Unfortunately I wont start testing till March or April (stupid winter and snow). I am thinking I will align it to -2.0 camber up front w/ 1/8" toe out, and -1.8 camber in the rear with 1/8" toe in. For the exhaust this year probably just a turn down to save weight and next year I will worry about power and do headers, highflow cat, and C.A.I.

I am new to Miata's so any advice on my setup would be appreciated.

Brandon Davis

Utah Region