During the GTM/HOD annual gathering, GTM member, Steve F, attending the event with his son, Jordan, was talking about building up his ‘93 Miata as a track car. Steve already has a track car (actually 2 of them) but he wanted an inexpensive but safe car that he could use for Time Trials while his son could use for Track Events, saving his street car from any potential sadness. Having recently “retired”, I joined the discussion and somehow volunteered to help them with the build.
RP Performance, the supplier of the infamous “used 17-inch race rubber” is also a full-time race preparation shop focusing on everything Mazda but mostly NA and NB Miatas. RP had a “spare” hardtop AND a set of used Spec Miata suspension that helped push the project over the edge. By the end of the weekend, it was decided that Steve would purchase the hardtop and the suspension which I would help install over the coming week.
The only real challenge were the logistics – I’m based near Summit Point and the car (and Steve) are located near Lancaster, PA. No biggie – I’m “retired” so a 2 ½ hour road-trip (one way) isn’t the end of the world. Come Monday, I make the trek to RP Performance to pick up the hardtop and the suspension with the understanding that Steve and Bret dePedro would talk cost – my role, at this point, was merely that of a “mule.”
As usual, I left later than anticipated and didn’t arrive until almost 6 pm. Fortunately, Steve was understanding and upon arrival, we immediately set about installing the hardtop. For street applications, the hardtop simply clips on, much like the soft top. However for race applications, the clips are replaced with bolt-on plates which aren’t difficult to install, just slower than just pushing a simple clip. It was interesting to see how the simple addition of a hardtop changed the appearance of the relatively stock Miata.
Discussion turned to the “next steps” – Steve decided that the used suspension (at less than half the cost of new) was a cost effective option. At the same time, the decision was taken to upgrade the seats and add a rollbar so the car, while not completely Spec Miata legal, could be used for Time Trials. Seats, brackets, 5-point belts and race pads were ordered and a review of bolt-in rollbars commenced.
After dinner, peppered with more even more Piñata discussions, I trekked back to rural VA with the understanding that I would return later in the week, once the seat parts arrived from GTM sponsor, OG Racing. The drive home was surprisingly long – apparently in retirement, my ability to drive endlessly has withered and now I need to stand and walk about after about an hour behind the wheel. #gettingoldsucks
Steve called on Tuesday afternoon to say that his care package from OG Racing had arrived and that we were on-schedule for me to return the next day to help install both the suspension and the seats. It was also decided that I would bring a trailer and tow the Piñata back with me to give the car a shake-down at a Chin Motorsports event. True to form, I got a very late start on Wednesday and arrived again around 6 pm.
I was greeted by a very eager Steve, his son Jordan and Jordan’s supportive but not necessarily mechanically inclined girlfriend, Tina. In advance of my arrival, Steve and Jordan removed the stock seats which was a great help. Wanting to make progress, we immediately set about replacing the passenger-side suspension. With just a floor jack, 2 jack stands and hand tools, we had the passenger side suspension swapped in roughly 4 hours including a break for dinner.
From my viewpoint, it was great to have not one but two helpers who, once shown what to do, were able to work without an excess of “hand holding.” That afforded me the luxury of moving between projects – front suspension, rear suspension and seat/harness installation. The only delay we encountered was a lack of seat bracket hardware – something I thought we had ordered but wasn’t on the invoice.
As of Thursday morning, we were able to source enough correct hardware (Grade 8 hex-head screws) to install the driver’s side seat. The next order of business was to install the driver side suspension (thanks to Jordan) and to install the front sway bar. All the while, Steve fought the seat installation – first the seat was too far forward for anyone other than a midget but after some well placed holes in the seat base, the installation was much more usable. The bigger challenge was ensuring enough room for Jordan (6’) and Steve (5’10”) which ultimately involved removing the bottom cushion from the seat and using it as a back bolster for Steve.
The suspension and brake installation went smoothly but the seat install turned into a saga. The seat and bracket moved from the car to the work bench multiple times in order to modify it’s placement so it fit both drivers. That would have been fine BUT this placed the mounting bolts for the seatbase UNDERNEATH the seat. At the same time, we discovered that the eye bolts we intended to use for the new harnesses were too long and even when fully seated, these bolts prevented the seat base from mounting in the car. This resulted in yet another delay, removing the eyebolts and installing the new harnesses with the OE hardware.
After a long, hot day in Steve’s garage, we had a Wreck Piñata except for a roll cage. Father and son took quick test drives and proclaimed the work to be satisfactory. We immediately loaded the car onto my trailer and headed to dinner before I made my way back home.
That trip home was tough – having spent a full day crawling on the garage floor, I was exhausted. While towing a trailer isn’t anything new for me, I could barely keep my eyes open. I made a stop in Gettysburg, using my front seat as a lumpy and uncomfortable bed before fighting my way home, stopping periodically for coffee and an opportunity to stand (so my back would stop hurting).
The following weekend, Steve, a real track junkie, was at Summit Point for a Chin Motorsports event. After mounting a set of tyres, I brought the car to the track for Steve to do a shake-down. Even on a damp track with race rubber, the car proved to be fun albeit slow compared to other cars he owns. To my embarrassment, one of the rear swaybar links was loose and rattling. A quick turn of a few wrenches and all was good again.
Now the car is waiting patiently for the installation of a HardDog rollbar – the full SM conversion will come at a later date… stay tuned.
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