Is the only way to build a Spec Miata is to buy a Spec Miata, or when are the NCs coming

I have been searching now for about two weeks and can find plenty of great base cars for Spec Miata but NO HARDTOPS!!!

So you have to have a hardtop to be competitive. Well NA/Bs are getting very long in the tooth and the aforementioned hardtop issue, with the fact the ND is now available for Cup ($53k isn't bad for a prepped and ready turnkey spec racecar all new,) when will the NCs be brought into the frey of SpecMiata-dom? Or will they just have their own class in perpetuity.

I just see hitting them with a restrictor and/or weight penalty and let them go at it with the first two.

The NC Cup class is no more, if I understand things. They're now club racers. It'll take a fair handcap to make one competitive in Spec Miata, though - they're quite a bit quicker.

The only way I see the nc being allowed in is if you have to drag a 500 lb safe on chains behind the car

So when do we have an NC class? Or are they must going to skip that generation and go right to the ND's?

icaneat50eggs wrote: The only way I see the nc being allowed in is if you have to drag a 500 lb safe on chains behind the car

I'd go to see that.

Are you looking for a SM, or are you just talking out loud? I've got a built car that needs a motor, and a daily with a hardtop, both 1990's.

I'm guessing he's just talking out loud.

NC in SM. Not gonna happen. Here's a couple of things you can do with your MX-5 Cup car: Take 'yer MX-5 Cup and.. Race it

What about ordering a hard top from Treasure Coast? They have a race version that, I think, is aimed at the SM crowd.

Treasure Coast hardtop isn't SM legal. But OEM hardtops come up on our local craigslist about every month. You're going to pay ~$1k but that doesn't mean you can't build a Spec Miata racecar, its just not going to be free.

racerfink wrote: Are you looking for a SM, or are you just talking out loud? I've got a built car that needs a motor, and a daily with a hardtop, both 1990's.

I was just talking till you post stuff like that......

Here is my issue, end of the season I have a bonus coming up. Also being end of season Miata's usually get sold. I would like to have another one. Thinking about buying one, but the end goal would be a SM car. I can't find hard tops ones that would be in a state I would strip it to build a race car. So now I am pondering buying a hard top, but I can buy a car for less than the cost of the top. Well hell, at that point I am in NC money.

I have Summit Point 45 minutes away.

Then some guy comes along and says, "Hey you just talking or you want to take a look at mine..."

I would have to figure that the stock of OEM hardtops have to be getting really really low. Why not approve another manufacturer as long as it is a knock off, gives no aero advantage the only real difference is weight which would be probably negligible and you would have to make it up in gross weight anyhow.

Woody wrote:

icaneat50eggs wrote: The only way I see the nc being allowed in is if you have to drag a 500 lb safe on chains behind the car

I'd go to see that.

The very definition of spec pinata

In reply to racerfink:

Does that mean they are for sale?

It's my understanding that 1.6 Specs are pretty much obsolete these days, and they're going pretty cheap. Like $6-8k for logbooked, legal cars. Sure, you won't be battling for first, but if you want to go wheel-to-wheel it sounds like a pretty good bargain to me. I've heard that the 1.8 swap may become legal, which will bring them back up to competitive level.

A quick check on SpecMiata.com revealed this:

http://mazdaracers.com/classifieds/item/1756-1990-spec-miata-7500/

If the NC cup cars are that much faster and are now obsolete/cheap, it sounds like there's room for a new Spec NC class.

Since you are near Summit Point I suggest you buy an SSM Miata. SSM is a regional class but we have the largest run group and the best racing in the DC region. Plus cars are cheap and plentiful. Now you could go and buy a full tilt Spec Miata but there is only like 20 cars racing in the region versus 50. Like this weekend there will be at least 50 SSM Miatas racing at Marrs 1.

In reply to markwemple:

Yes. I've gotten into Chumpcar, WRL, and AER endurance racing, and I like it a lot more than SCCA sprint racing. I've been going back and forth on this idea for a while, and finally decided on which direction to go this weekend. I'll have to make up a list and post it in the open classifieds.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Same car is in the back of 'sports car' mag too.

codrus wrote: If the NC cup cars are that much faster and are now obsolete/cheap, it sounds like there's room for a new Spec NC class.

SM and SM2

Woody wrote:

icaneat50eggs wrote: The only way I see the nc being allowed in is if you have to drag a 500 lb safe on chains behind the car

I'd go to see that.

There was a documentary a few years ago about a couple Chargers pulling a safe.

There are normally a bunch of hardtops in the area. Just consider it a $1000 rental, if you keep it a few years, you can sell it on for what you paid for it. I'm in Richmond and keep an eye out myself for the random cheap one.

Almost got this but it sold and is one of the other black ones listed lol. https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/5511603280.html $500 but already gone.

https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/5523006326.html silver

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/5523510738.html black

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/pts/5512559922.html another black

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5478295519.html black

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5519921151.html red

couple older posts

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5438182626.html blue

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5450330699.html blue

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5481943649.html red

There was a documentary a few years ago about a couple Chargers pulling a safe.

DOCUMENTARY! Now THAT'S funny!!!!

johndej wrote: There are normally a bunch of hardtops in the area. Just consider it a $1000 rental, if you keep it a few years, you can sell it on for what you paid for it. I'm in Richmond and keep an eye out myself for the random cheap one. Almost got this but it sold and is one of the other black ones listed lol. https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/5511603280.html $500 but already gone. https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/5523006326.html silver https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/5523510738.html black https://norfolk.craigslist.org/pts/5512559922.html another black https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5478295519.html black https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5519921151.html red couple older posts https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5438182626.html blue https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5450330699.html blue https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5481943649.html red

Apparently I have no clue how to use searchtempest anymore.

Anyone know a good craigslist search engine?

Robbie wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: Same car is in the back of 'sports car' mag too.

Very nice looking car, which begs the question, why is it not scooped up already?

Happy Carmore wrote:

johndej wrote: There are normally a bunch of hardtops in the area. Just consider it a $1000 rental, if you keep it a few years, you can sell it on for what you paid for it. I'm in Richmond and keep an eye out myself for the random cheap one. Almost got this but it sold and is one of the other black ones listed lol. https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/5511603280.html $500 but already gone. https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/5523006326.html silver https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/5523510738.html black https://norfolk.craigslist.org/pts/5512559922.html another black https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5478295519.html black https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5519921151.html red couple older posts https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5438182626.html blue https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5450330699.html blue https://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/5481943649.html red

Apparently I have no clue how to use searchtempest anymore. Anyone know a good craigslist search engine?

Craigslist. Now that you can search nearby areas I don't try to use other search engines.

Happy Carmore wrote:

Robbie wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: Same car is in the back of 'sports car' mag too.

Very nice looking car, which begs the question, why is it not scooped up already?

It's a race car that's been up for 3 days (at least that ad).

The cage looks (to me) a bit dated in design vs how they are built now, and it looks like the owner was too lazy to give it a good cleaning.

Also according to the ad, it's been sitting for nearly a decade.