[crashnscar]

So I want to start racing competitively. I had planned on building a spec miata and racing that but have recently thought about my other options and am having a hard time making a decision what to do.

What do you think I should do and why? And if option 4 is what you think I should do, make a second selection from 1-3 since that may not be a possibility.

Options:
1) Race Spec Miata
2) Turn my 07 STi into a time trials car (gt52, fmic, cage, 17x10" wheels or something crazy like that, fender flares, somewhat stripped but would still be my "daily driver", etc)
3) Build a turbo Miata to do time trials in (probably about 250whp and 2000 lbs)
4) Not sure if this is even a possibility, but it might be. Time trials a Factory Five GTM. Rear engine (LS7), 500 hp 2300 lbs).

[upncummr]

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[boondocksaint]

Unless you own your STi outright, I would not race it competitively.

Try and chat with spazegun on here. He races competitively, and has done so in a few different classes. He may be able to offer you more sound advice.

Personally, I'd think the Spec Miata stuff would be plenty affordable. Your STi will be a faster car, but the Spec Miatas are no slouch.

[///M Power]

I would not turn your daily driver into a competitive race car because you are only asking for problems. I would advise owning the car free and clear and have no other uses for it other than to race competition. I like the factory five option best!

[crashnscar]

I do own the STi outright, and the GTM is already owned and the build is near completion.

I think the costs will be similar, provided I don't wad anything up.

[RONIN]

STI FTW...BTW I work with a girl who's B-friend designs those Factory Five cars...Is that yours?

[crashnscar]

No, one I'm building (not really owned by me) is not completed yet, but is close and will look very similar to that one.

[BoostJunkie]

What is your driving background/experience?

[Vypurr]

I would build a turbo miata. It's small. Easy to handle. It is cheap. It can be fixed for less that your STi. And you can do whatever you want in it.

Learn in a miata, win a few races, and then try to pull in sponsors!

[crashnscar]

Driving experience:
18 year old, 1 year of track days, but run in the highest non-track-prepped group in my STi (exhaust and suspension)

[wacerx]

i think budget is your biggest factor like many are saying. take into consideration cost of repairs etc. not to mention if you have an off in a daily driver... what do you drive now? the factory five cars are awesome and i plan on doing a build down the line but i figured it would cost a minimum of 50k to do so. i say stick to the miata.

[upncummr]

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[SWortham]

You may also want to look into Kart Racing. Some of the best drivers in the world got their start with racing Karts. It's a cheaper way to get lots of seat time. Also, from what I hear, a kart is less forgiving of driver mistakes and so it can be a great way to improve as a driver.

A 125cc Rotax Kart is what I'd get.

[BoostJunkie]

Originally Posted by crashnscar

Driving experience:
18 year old, 1 year of track days, but run in the highest non-track-prepped group in my STi (exhaust and suspension)

One year of track days isn't much...most organizations wouldn't even let you do a comp school unless you packed a ton of events into that one year. I'd keep at that, maybe get some professional instruction at a race school if you want to speed up the process. Karting is a good suggestion too, I've thought about getting into kart racing myself. It just seems to me that at your experience level, racing a 500hp car seems like a bad idea. I'm in my 4th year of doing track events and I'm just now feeling like I'm ready to get into competitive racing and do it safely and successfully.

[CGMDan]

I've seen ALOT of people in the "advanced" groups at track days that have NO idea what they're doing. Put a crappy driver in a fast car and they may appear fast, but as soon as someone shows up who knows what they're doing and blows you away in a "slower" car, you'll understand.

track days, time attacks, and autoX are NOT racing (wheel to wheel), It's a whole different ball game.

I would race in Spec Miata. You'll actually learn to drive, cause you won't have HP to get you out of a mistake. Racing an STI is jumping into the deep end before you learn to swim.