Spec Rio

sounds cool

starting thinking about this again in my spare time!

I've been watching this since the first post.

I've long had a similar thought for a pure stock cheap spec class. My thought was MK1 MR2, although the availablity has dried up and the ones that are still around aren't always cheap (as a Rio) or stock.

Anyway, when you get this running, count me in. I just want to show up to a HPDE 4 in a race-prepped Rio.

So my SpeCheateRio would be running a 1.6L Miata drivetrain with all the best cheater SpecMiata engine work, an Escort GT transmission with a limited slip and black powder coated Konis, springs and bars ;)

Gawd I suck.

ClemSparks wrote: Since there probably wouldn't be an immediate "run group" sized following in any given area...a good way to promote it would be to keep track of times and then post them to a website. Compare those times as a percentage of the quickest time for another car (a spec miata would seem an appropriate target) and rank yourselves nationally. That way you've got someone to "race" against until the competition at the regional level grows to fill the field. That is, if the winner of Spec Miata (for example) rand a 2:00 time at any given track and the "Spec Econo" ran 3:00, you'd be it would have an index of 150%. Compare percentages with other folks and go virtual-bench-racing ;) (Far from perfect...) Clem

Nice idea Clem.

Here is a weed out factor:

All cars show up at the track without numbers. During the drivers meeting everyone draws their car from a hat to drive for the day! You keep the car until the next race weekend when everyone rotates it out again.

I really really like the whitewall rule, racing on the crappiest tires would simply make driver skill that much more important...

Also, I would allow the only 'modification' be fluids as has been mentioned.

That way you could have a racing series based on bad rubbers and all sorts of fluids

Yeah, go back to the original idea of Spec Rio with a tire price cap. I vote for the mandatory audience controlled NAWWWZZZ as well. That is, as long as I'm the one holding the remote.

Sounds like a blast of an idea, but wouldn't cheapy tires chunk on the track even with such modest capabilities?

well, im bring it back from the dead once again, have the idea up at Nasa's website too, and im super serious about trying to think of some rules and ideas...

and any suggestions would be helpful...

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=30016

I wouldn't see a problem with running a spec tire, too. Some decent all season or something and everyone would run the same ones. The tire manufacturer could sponsor, too.

edit: in this case, they wouldnt be crappy tires but "quality, affordable and durable tires"

btw a kia rio apparently starts at $11500...

lets all trade in our clunkers and it'll only be $7000 for a brand new race car.....

(haha, looking at the website i saw "power package" and went ooohh. power windows, power door locks, etc...)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+200&partnum=77HR4HTR200&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

$47/ea. "high performance summer" in stock, base Rio size.

thedude wrote: lets all trade in our clunkers and it'll only be $7000 for a brand new race car.....

Then what would you tow it with?

Didn't Duran Duran do a song back in the '80s about this very subject? OK, they were prescient...

She drives a Kia and she spins it in the sand Off Ten at Summit rolling through the dusty land And when she smiles she really shows you all she can A Kia Rio heading for the promised land...

(Dedicated to Sue Roethel Jr for no particular reason...)

Engine must remain stock.

Intake manifold, throttle body, and ECU must remain stock. Anything goes for the intake leading up to the throttle body. No forced induction or other power-adders allowed.

Stock exhaust manifold must remain. Except for loudness limit, exhaust is otherwise wide open.

Any nonadjustable suspension goes. No fabricated suspension parts allowed - bolt-ons only. Coil springs may be cut.

No fabricated brake parts. Bolt-ons only.

Any 15" wheel allowed, with tires limited to 195/50-15.

Airbags may be removed. Interiors may be gutted.

That's it. What do you think?

^^^ - Perfect.

similar series - Kia Lotos cup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vviab1VlgvE

Go over and post at the NASA forum. They seem to be poo pooing this idea. Do they not understand that there needs to be a CHEAP racing class?

May have found a cage

http://autoweldchassis.com/rbc.ivnu

Scroll all way to bottom, 03 Rio is listed. Price is for ERW tubing, DOM available for quote.

I would sooooo do this. It sounds perfect!

ya, they are not recieving it well...

To the TOP!!

too bad this is about the only real site that has parts

http://kfxperformance.com/ixxocart/catalog/Rio-5-1.html

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: To the TOP!!

It's called ChumpCar. The prize was NOT behind door number 1 ;)

Realistically, with the karazy legal obligations you guys have down there, unless buying a prebuilt car, it's going to cost $6k to $8k to go racing (equipment, drivers, building the car, entry fees, tires, competing all in of course). That's life (and really, it's insanely cheap).

No self respecting sanctioning body (especially their insurance carrier) is gonna let you run on tires below a certain speed rating.

There are plenty of spec series out there, and most of them aren't doing so hot. My guess is, it would only be a matter of time until $20k Rio's started showing up if the class became popular, or it will become another Spec SE-R.

HiTempguy wrote: Realistically, with the karazy legal obligations you guys have down there, unless buying a prebuilt car, it's going to cost $6k to $8k to go racing (equipment, drivers, building the car, entry fees, tires, competing all in of course). That's life (and really, it's insanely cheap).

This is why circle track racing stays popular. I could take $8000 to my local dirt track and buy most of the 4 cyl field.