As some of you already know, I've sold the Spec RX-7 and plan to sell the street RX-7 as well (leacing me with the truck, which I plan to keep).

The original plan was to use the money to buy a 1.6L Miata for E-Stock autocrossing and HPDEing. But, I can't shake the need for something faster, like a kart. Similar money for either. The problem with the kart, is it seems to be really limiting in terms of HPDE-type events or racing. So, maybe the Miata is the logical choice and I'm just overhtinking the issue. I'm open to suggestions - only rules - the car/kart/whatever must either be streetable on its own, or fit in the back of the truck for transport.

Anyways, in HT.com tradition, I'm too big a weenie to make my own choice, so choose for me. Feel free to add you're own choices.

 

get yourself an F125 and have a blast...

consumables are so much cheaper, and they're so much faster.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get yourself an F125 and have a blast...

consumables are so much cheaper, and they're so much faster.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, but what can I do with besides autocross? There are no local kart tracks that I know of. And racing on the full size tracks with WKC seems lame, since they run too many classes, so competition is light.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

And racing on the full size tracks with WKC seems lame, since they run too many classes, so competition is light.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if you race it, they will come...

 

Hard to HPDE a kart. Hard to race a streetable Miata. Whichever you get, I predict you will eventually get a trailer for it, since it's just so much more convenient.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Geezer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hard to HPDE a kart. Hard to race a streetable Miata. Whichever you get, I predict you will eventually get a trailer for it, since it's just so much more convenient. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Miata would not be raced, only soloII and HPDE. Kart would have to be raced, as there are no HPDE options (that I am aware of). I've done the racing thing and have better things to spend money on. The Miata would remain stock - just add rollbar for track use.

 

Sounds like you already know which one to go with... I voted miata!

 

Kart.

plenty of places to race. Woodbridge Kart Club, BeaveRun, Lowes, VIR, and more.
(and there are occasional test days on a friday before a race)

I am currently making plans for karting next year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> And racing on the full size tracks with WKC seems lame, since they run too many classes, so competition is light.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Competition isnt that light. The classes look to be a mess and Im still learning a lot of them, but many of them are "duplicate" classes so that you can run a race on saturday and sunday. The Yamaha Kt100 classes are huge, and you can run in many different classes with just weight or muffler ("can") changes.
Personally, Im looking at Rotax to be able to use it for both sprint and sprint-enduro.

 

Miata.

Of course, I know nothing of karting events. But I can say that the Miata is a blast on track and in autox. While the kart may also be a blast in these places, the Miata has the added benefit of being a fan-frickin-tastic car to have on any nice day. Even more so b/c a Miata in confortable street trim is plenty capable on track/autox.

The kart seems the better answer if all you want to do is race, but if all you are seeking is a toy I think it would be hard to beat the Miata. Since you already sold the race car, I'm guessing that a race car is not really the target here.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, but what can I do with besides autocross? There are no local kart tracks that I know of. And racing on the full size tracks with WKC seems lame, since they run too many classes, so competition is light.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know much about carting, but I understood that the cart guys typically have more opportunities than autoxers.

I know an autoxer selling a cart; let me know if you are interested in finding an E-mail address for you (I saw the owner yesterday).

Don't cart guys still run at Summit (for the truly insane)?

 

Al,

In the original post you say it has to fit in the back of the truck or be streetable on its own. Does that mean you're not going to trailer a car?

I say Miata. If anything should break down, you can always drive it in a pinch. I have driven a few on the street and can only imagine what fun they'd be on the track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mark sans hippo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Miata.

Of course, I know nothing of karting events. But I can say that the Miata is a blast on track and in autox. While the kart may also be a blast in these places, the Miata has the added benefit of being a fan-frickin-tastic car to have on any nice day. Even more so b/c a Miata in confortable street trim is plenty capable on track/autox.

The kart seems the better answer if all you want to do is race, but if all you are seeking is a toy I think it would be hard to beat the Miata. Since you already sold the race car, I'm guessing that a race car is not really the target here.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree that the miata is a fantastic car, but i'm guessing the race cars got sold because it costs too damn much to race em. with hoosiers costing as much as they do, along with the other things one needs to buy on a continual basis to stay competitive, i can see the costs being prohibitive from the get go.

of course, we all know this.

which is why a kart makes so much sense to me. a set of kart tires will last you a whole lot longer and costt 6x less than hoosiers. you can easily transport it in the truck, and i think there's gotta be a competitive venue out there for them (though i am pretty ignorant of what that venue might be) on top of that it looks fun fun fun.

all i know is that i've got dibs on yoshi or bowser!

 

Guys, reading is fundamental.

Al doesnt want to race anymore.

He wants to autocross and instruct/HPDE....

 

Miata baby

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Guys, reading is fundamental.

Al doesnt want to race anymore.

He wants to autocross and instruct/HPDE.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I would consider racing the kart, if and only if it was proven to be relatively as economical as HPDEing the Miata (ie &lt;$300 weekend). But racing a productiob car is out of the question - its just too much freakin' money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Competition isnt that light. The classes look to be a mess and Im still learning a lot of them, but many of them are "duplicate" classes so that you can run a race on saturday and sunday. The Yamaha Kt100 classes are huge, and you can run in many different classes with just weight or muffler ("can") changes.
Personally, Im looking at Rotax to be able to use it for both sprint and sprint-enduro.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Looking at WKC's 2003 results, it seems most classes have only 5 or 6 regular entries. Coming from fields of 30-40 cars, that just ain't looking so fantastic. Rotax or Kt100 would be the most likely classes - shifters are a bit too pricey to buy and maintain.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kedwards &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Don't cart guys still run at Summit (for the truly insane)?</TD></TR></TABLE>

They sure do. I've seen them there once when I was on Jefferson - and the guy who bought my old Ford F-250 runs carts at Summit. Looked like fun.

 

Maybe a little more pricey but a used 97-98 ITR would be an awesome car for stock autocrossing and HPDEing. And waaay more practical to boot...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe a little more pricey but a used 97-98 ITR would be an awesome car for stock autocrossing and HPDEing. And waaay more practical to boot...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Miata or kart = $4000 or less
ITR = $12,000?

 

ok, ok. A lot more pricey in the US i guess. Around here, any decent Miatas are more le $6-7KUSD and will need plenty of work to be hpde/autox worthy. ITRs can be had for $10-11KUSD...

 

How about a Miata on a Kart track?



My real vote is for a Miata.

 

Texas World Speedway rents out stock 1st gen Miatas for $250 a DE weekend. Many students I instruct rent these Miatas so I get tons of time in them. Even stock they are a blast to drive and probably the best bang for you buck out there. There is a red one with a hardtop for only $2600 down the street from me. I have considered buying it but if I bring home a 5th car my wife would likely shoot first and ask questions later....

 

Al, my thought would be something that could hold 4 wheels/tires inside and you could eventually return to road racing with despite that not being your current goal. Perhaps a Civic/CRX, 2nd gen RX7 or something of that nature.

 

OMG, Al is considering a miata
Hehe, miata is a girls car and a kart is a childs toy I wresteled between the 2 for a while, decided to go with option 3, neither.

If I had to choose one now though, I think it'd be a miata.