I am really sorry to post butt… here goes….
How does this discussion have anything to do with the topic heading??? No idea but someone did call my bro lame, so I must post a reply in support of my bro!!! Sorry for continuing the off topic discussion.
So…
How does "Do not read any furhter if you are looking to argue" = 'Do not read any further unless you agree with me...'
How does someone posting their thoughts on a class (both negative and positive) = getting called lame?
How does “We just build 2 this year as well and I would say that they cost about $12K out the door IF you have a good solid motor” = justification to sell a used well-beaten SM for over $10,000. (IMO any front running car no matter what class has to be “well beaten” or should I say well used otherwise it could have been that much faster)
How does “In all honesty I completly disagree but I don't have a ton of knowledge about the cars and I admit that first and formost” = someone claiming that they do know everything”
I look over the previous posts and the one thing I take out of it is my brother is right about one thing. The people that are building and selling these cars and “spec” parts for these cars are making a fortune. The market for SM unfortunately has not gone where initially intended IMO. I think that the class was supposed to be an inexpensive feeder class into SCCA. It has become a very expensive place for people to race in SCCA, and I find that it is actually taking drivers away from other classes rather than feeding them into them.
I also agree with my brother that as long as people are willing to pour money into the class and as long as other organizations such as the recent circle track ventures continue to use the SM model then the class will continue to grow, and become more expensive. I think it is great SCCA can claim SM as a "fad" they started. I also agree that it is a great class, I wish I had the “25,000” it takes to win
.
I try to give constructive criticism and I think my brother also does. I also try to post the positives that I see in something or someone’s opinions. We try to post our opinions on how we think things can be done or how things could be improved. We try to support the idea that someone does not have to pour thousands and thousands of dollars into racing to have fun or even to win. $$$ are the barrier to SCCA and I think that this site does not help change that perspective and encourage others to race. The people that post on this site seem to be the “big spenders” who do not encourage fun racing mid to back pack while not spending a lot of money. The site does however relay a true fact that if you want to win you will likely need to spend big $$$ unless you can do a lot of work on your own like we have.
In Spec Miata, is it illegal to run stock parts rather than the spec’ed parts listed? Do you HAVE to spend $12,000 to build a legal car or can you spend less if you are just looking to have some fun?
Raymond Blethen
PS: here are some responses to a couple of quotes, just to keep things exciting J
“Can you buy a worn-out, tired, poorly-built Spec Miata so that you can go on the track and tell your girlfriend you're a real race car driver?” For all racers out there I will take that as an insult and clarify that I don’t know anyone in SCCA that races to look cool in front of a girl. That is a LAME comment. People will race a car that is “poorly- built (your opinion) and worn out” to have fun, that is what regional racing is intended for.
“I suppose you could look around for used suspension parts to put on your Spec Miata, but Geezuz, man, how cheap-ass can someone possibly get?” We get as “cheep ass” as we possibly can get and it feels good that we spent $10,000 less than most people do in IT building a car and we built 2 cars. It feels good that we run on tires for at least 4 weekends and I still run up front (the ARRC we went with a truck load of used tires, I think Hoosier felt bad and gave us 1 new old tire that we ran that on the outside front). It fees good that us cheep-ass people still finished 1st and 2nd in the NARRC, 1st in the NERRC and 3rd at the ARRC (with only 10 or so prior laps at the track and a falling apart bent car)?
Edited: took out some "hobby-stock" coments...
[This message has been edited by RSTPerformance (edited March 22, 2004).]
