What I learned corner working at Hallett Motor Circuit

"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4) 04/15/2019 at 11:22 • Filed to: None

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I should have an E-Production NB Miata

They are very very fast and look like a blast to drive.

That is all.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/15/2019 at 11:59

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Oh man, that looks awesome. I wonder if I’ll ever become a guy who trailers to the track...

The Hallett crew is always a fun group.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 04/15/2019 at 12:47

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Production class racing is a good way to drop 4 0 K+ (and you can end up with a 60K+ production car if you want to win) into a miata to build and much money to run. Think high dollar, high- compression race motors with lifespans in the not more the few dozens of hours.

I’d counter that this is the fast M azda you want:

https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?82204-2001-Formula-Mazda-for-sale

Way faster, way cheaper to buy and way cheaper to run via a spec class and sealed motors that can last multiple seasons unless you’re gun ning for runoffs . You can buy a runner in the teens, and the 20's will get you one that should run towards the pointy end of the grid.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:16

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My only worry is whether I’d fit. Otherwise, hell yeah. FM is so much fun to watch. They look so quick, right up until a Formula Atlantic passes them like they’re not even moving.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:18

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It’ll happen if you spend enough time at the track. Even if you never go full racing for real, eventually you realize that no matter how careful your prep, or how careful you are behind the wheel, sooner or later something unexpected on the car will break, and sooner or later the car is going hit a solid object or otherwise have an off course excursion that is going to break something , and that sometimes these things will happen through no fault of your own, and not figuring out how you’re going to get home or what you’re going to drive to work next week has value. Also, driving to the track on brakes capable of su stained 10/10ths running isn’t fun.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 04/15/2019 at 13:23

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I’d also point out that how fast you’re going around the track isn’t necessarily related to how much fun you’re having, but it does tend to be directly related to how much money you’re spending to do it. Bang for the buck, it is hard to beat something like a used IT car or Spec Miata (somewhat, as they still hit each and do bodywork way too often for my tastes), or a Spec class like SRF (especially the older cars without the new motor) or FM . Having a class, or even just a run group if you can completely check your ego and not care about winning) that has a good group of folks to race with at around the same pace as you is far more important for determining how much fun you have.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:34

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Yeah, I just love having a car that’s dual use (and not having to have the extra expense & hassle of a trailer, etc.). Maybe when I’m 60 and retired. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:48

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That would be how almost all the fellow racers I know and I all wind up driving trucks . Unless you only travel to a track pretty local to you, the reality of the tongue weight of a fendered car on a trailer and all the accouterments for a weekend at the track means a half-ton truck is the tool of choice for the job , and because all our money usually goes to supporting the racing habit, that truck also has to be your primary vehicle. And if you decide to get fancy down the road and succu mb to the siren call of an enclosed trailer, the combination of even more tongue weight and frontal area usually means a 3/4 ton diesel or better is now your daily driver.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:52

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Hallett is just more than an hour from my house, and Eagles Canyon and MSR-Cresson aren’t that far.

It clearly all comes down to seriousness, and if you want to do real racing or can be content doing track days. I’m guess the more track days you do, the less content you get with just doing track days.

A path forward for me may be joining a team that does endurance racing (LeMons, WRL, etc.), and be a pay driver in those scenarios (I’ve been offered this in the past, but wasn’t quite ready to invest in the full safety gear).

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:55

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That’s the slippery slope that leads to racecars. As much fun as driving fast around a track is, eventually you realize that racing for real is an order of magni tu de more fun.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 13:56

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Right. One day... (see my edit)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 14:10

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That’s not a bad way into it. While the Lemons/Chump car type thing doesn’t appeal to me, and in general enduro racing otherwise gets way beyond my budget really quickly, but renting/sharing a car with some established folks is a great idea.

You can get into it and see if racing really is your thing (because not everyone who is good at driving fast around a track is good at racing  or cut out for it ), and the car part of the equation is already taken care of. You don’t have to learn how to race and how to run a racecar at the same time.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 14:21

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I’m, unfortunately, very limited in my mechanical knowledge, so my contribution to any team would definitely be driver, mechanic assistant, gopher, and funder. Seems like there are regularly teams looking for drivers, too. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 14:24

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Indeed. R unning a car of your own without being able to do most of the wrench turning yourself would be a much more  expensive proposition .

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2019 at 14:26

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Joining a team would be a great way for me to learn more, too.