Whats happening to the MX5 racing??

[tbro]

Chris I agree that the Spec Miata class in the us is a brilliant series and so are the Spec BMWs, BUT, unfortunately for us it can't work here due to the fact of not enough cars and not enough people willing to run by the rules.

I know enforce the rules etc but if you already have a ""legal"" 2f car why would you change it if it puts you out of running in Prodsport if you want to run both. You are only going to get at best 30 cars to run a series between Wakefield, QR and Lakeside and maybe Winton with maybe 18 surviving the first season your going to need a BIG sponsor. Now Mazda in Australia don't sponsor motorsport and honestly don't have the product in Australia to justify spending that sort of money required to PROPERLY do the series. Having worked for a Japanese Manufacture I have a pretty good idea on how they look at this type of sponsorship and Its usually filter out some money to a satellite team and see what happens.

The other big problem is who would run the series and I believe the cost would make it too expensive compared to other series. One make series have been here and done that and then folded back into obscurity, Nissan, Lasers and Protons You need big money or drivers with rich backers which is what killed the early series and NOT what we would want. After seeing what happens with the Porker series and the cost involved I can understand why they're battling to find new racers.

As for race tracks we are spoilt in QLD with QR and Lakeside open,regular sprint and practice days, at a reasonable cost, and AASA run tracks. Morgan Park is still a CAMS track and I believe suffer because of it, same as EC.

Would love to find a workable way to do a series but unless VIP want to back it and run it.

Terry

On my way out to do a shakedown and no its not an MX5.

[toppertee]

Not having a go at you here Tbro,
Look at the excel series. Look how many cars are running.
If, there should be no reason why the mx5 can't do the same thing? Run stock... Cheap grass roots motor sport!
IMO.

As you know I've had a look at sports production, with a mx5 it's like taking a knife to a gun fight.

What would you like to see happening?

I've not been involved in motorsport, so I don't know the ins and outs!

[zossy1]

Terry has a point to an extent. History suggests it would be a tough sell. But I don't see the need for a VIP sponsor... only the need to attach such a series to an existing series of race meets to cross-subsidise the costs. Maybe we get together with the HQ racers and the Excel racers and have our series travel together? Share track costs, insurance costs, etc. Just an idea.

But I agree that as a stand-alone series, it would never work.

As for the argument of 2F guys not wanting to come over and race it, well you have a point there too... but if the series proved to be competitive enough, I don't think it would be too long before you saw them all racing against their own kind.

I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I can tell you that the reason I'm not racing MX5s is because I doubt I can afford a race-winning 2F setup... and even a "race winning" setup is not likely to give me a package capable of crossing the line in first place when looking at the multitude of cars, engine classes, etc on the track. What 2F guys are spending on a new engine, I can buy a brand new kart and engine package for, ready to race, and still have a couple of grand left over. What ONE new tyre costs a 2F driver, I can buy a full set of kart tyres for and get three race meets out of them. And I'm racing against 20-30 other guys, 5-10 of whom could win on any given day, and I can race on any one of 8 tracks within 3-4 hours drive of Sydney and can race every weekend if I want to...

This is coming from a guy who is in the hunt for a state title in karts in less than 2 weeks time after only 12 months in the sport. But I'm also a lover of mx5s.

Give me a chance to come and race mx5s competitively at a reasonable cost, and i'll be there with bells on. Until then, i'll keep banging sidepods

[toppertee]

Terry has a point to an extent. History suggests it would be a tough sell. But I don't see the need for a VIP sponsor... only the need to attach such a series to an existing series of race meets to cross-subsidise the costs. Maybe we get together with the HQ racers and the Excel racers and have our series travel together? Share track costs, insurance costs, etc. Just an idea.

But I agree that as a stand-alone series, it would never work.

As for the argument of 2F guys not wanting to come over and race it, well you have a point there too... but if the series proved to be competitive enough, I don't think it would be too long before you saw them all racing against their own kind.

I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I can tell you that the reason I'm not racing MX5s is because I doubt I can afford a race-winning 2F setup... and even a "race winning" setup is not likely to give me a package capable of crossing the line in first place when looking at the multitude of cars, engine classes, etc on the track. What 2F guys are spending on a new engine, I can buy a brand new kart and engine package for, ready to race, and still have a couple of grand left over. What ONE new tyre costs a 2F driver, I can buy a full set of kart tyres for and get three race meets out of them. And I'm racing against 20-30 other guys, 5-10 of whom could win on any given day, and I can race on any one of 8 tracks within 3-4 hours drive of Sydney and can race every weekend if I want to...

This is coming from a guy who is in the hunt for a state title in karts in less than 2 weeks time after only 12 months in the sport. But I'm also a lover of mx5s.

Give me a chance to come and race mx5s competitively at a reasonable cost, and i'll be there with bells on. Until then, i'll keep banging sidepods

+1
Go karts are a no go for me 6'2 100kgs even when I'm off the pies I'm still 90kgs. You can't play in the front row and race karts!

[NitroDann]

Spec miata would be great, but I still think that a points based system is better in our tiny market, let everyone from every corner play on an even field, be it Lamborghini or Suzuki.

Make the audi R8s run street tyres and no aero and then someone can have a race import NB for 4 grand delivered, 1000 dollars worth of aero, and a set of tyres or 2 a season with some coilovers and the games even again.

Dann

[gslender]

Smacks of "can't see the forest for the trees" doesn't it....(state of MX5 racing options)

[NitroDann]

Theres a million ways to get the thousands of eligible mx5s on the track, and an a basic points system based on power to weight is fine.

Simply make disputes have a weigh in and power run at a designated 3rd party dyno with costs split between disputers if proven to not be cheating, and use a system that has a maximum section width as well as the points to stop someone buying a car that has full aero from factory also running 335 avon slicks and basically any car can compete.

Dann

[evil_weevil]

MX5 challenge is apart of the MRA rounds.

been going back since 2008/09 if I recall?

was really popular back then but dont know what happened.

yesterday was really fun out there, and apart from the Pug...!!

the best thing with MX5's is you can cross enter with superTT and have 2 x the fun!
I didnt, as I just wanted to concentrate on MX5 racing however either class you are competing against others of similar pace.

I have asked this before on here, there are people doing supersprints with cars that would easily be able to enter the MX5 class. all they would need is the kill switch as most have roll bags, tow hooks, seats and harness already.

oh, why were MX5s there for all british? easy - it was done through MRA who always invite the MX5 class and they support classes who support them

[zossy1]

Go karts are a no go for me 6'2 100kgs even when I'm off the pies I'm still 90kgs. You can't play in the front row and race karts!

I'm 94kg and have to add around 6kg of lead to my kart to make the minimum weight for TAG-R Heavy class.

TAG-R Light: 160kg minimum (driver +kart)
TAG-R Heavy: 180kg minimum (driver +kart)
TAG-R Super Heavy: 200kg minimum (driver +kart).

There are much bigger guys than you running and winning in the Super Heavies too. It's not your size or weight that will slow you down

[toppertee]

Go karts are a no go for me 6'2 100kgs even when I'm off the pies I'm still 90kgs. You can't play in the front row and race karts!

I'm 94kg and have to add around 6kg of lead to my kart to make the minimum weight for TAG-R Heavy class.

TAG-R Light: 160kg minimum (driver +kart)
TAG-R Heavy: 180kg minimum (driver +kart)
TAG-R Super Heavy: 200kg minimum (driver +kart).

There are much bigger guys than you running and winning in the Super Heavies too. It's not your size or weight that will slow you down

I did not know that.
Thanks for that I might look into that cheers.

[Boyracer]

For me I have been sticking with 1 hour races or MRA... Those meetings usually offer the best value for money.

Prod. Sports in NSW has lost the plot they appear to only want the GT cars to run and most of those are nowhere near legal, the state rounds are expensive and you spend a lot of time just sitting around.

It's a very expensive sport as we all know and the way the economy is there are always going to be less people running.

[tbro]

For me I have been sticking with 1 hour races or MRA... Those meetings usually offer the best value for money.

Prod. Sports in NSW has lost the plot they appear to only want the GT cars to run and most of those are nowhere near legal, the state rounds are expensive and you spend a lot of time just sitting around.

It's a very expensive sport as we all know and the way the economy is there are always going to be less people running.

So I can take that as your coming up for QR

A few are grumbling the same up here, but the way I look at it, there are the fast cars Lusty,JP, Famous etc, There are the bloody quick MX5s and then there is the rest and we still have full fields, and Famous is good enough to slow down so no-one is lapped (Lakeside) and you get a full race.
It should be good if it goes to plan that the MX5s will have their own races at the 1 hour meet.

My biggest concern is the speed difference with some GTs and the back markers, and lets face it just because you run a GT3 doesn't make you "special" or a good driver!!
On one forum the GT boys are all "they shouldn't be there if their not running at our speed," and then the typical answer is " fine, but if we don't show up there won't be a meet as you lot don't stick around if it doesn't go your way "

Just gotta hope that level heads provail, or it could go the way of the HQ and Geminis etc.

Terry

[mr2 spyder]

That US style handicap system sounds great. I am working on getting the Spyder onto the track but I wont be in a competitive category with the mods it has.

[evil_weevil]

For me I have been sticking with 1 hour races or MRA... Those meetings usually offer the best value for money.
.

This!

2011 I did all 4 MRA rounds, this year done 2. next year I plan on doing all 4 and hopefully a winton round too.
best value racing

[tbro]

That US style handicap system sounds great. I am working on getting the Spyder onto the track but I wont be in a competitive category with the mods it has.

Mate, that will NEVER happen, many have tried to work out a way to do it and all given up.

Even had a local offer to sponsor it, BUT trying to make a 1.6 only class just isn't viable.

And why wouldn't a MR2 be competitive??, do you have to win everything or are you out to have fun???

I might be wrong but wasn't Tim Browns car standard???, every time I saw him he had a big silly grin from ear to ear.

If you want to enjoy racing go and give it a go, you'll love it, you'll race others with similar abilities and cars, its still fun and will make you a better driver.

Talk to those who have done it, not those who are gunna do it, you'll find the real racers helpful and approachable, regardless of what they race its always good to see and help those giving it a go.


Terry