you could get an FFR roadster. inexpensive to buy/fix/operate. 2100lbs,
250 hp/300lb ft, upgradable cheaply to 500hp, engine two feet behind front
axle so really a mid engine. tube frame, fully streetable (driven mine to
LA several times, also autoxed and drove to opera the next day- didnt even
change tire pressures), 23 MPG. legal in AP (or locally OSP) even with a
blower. good resale value, low insurance costs, easy on the eyes.
www.factoryfive.com
SP cars can really drain the wallet and arent (in my experience) suitable
for daily driver duties when prepped out. my rx7 was great, but i took a
$2000 car, spent another $4000 on it and had a $2000 car when i was done,
plus there was no way i could drive it on the street.
miatas are awesome, but lack V8 grunt. the elise? bring it on! :)
YMMV,
-James Creasy
*** Nationals Party 15 September - 8PM Club Mallard, Albany ***
-----Original Message-----
From: John J. Stimson-III <john@idsfa.net>
>I have three not-so related questions, two of which I realized are
>about mid-engined cars.
>
>1) I saw a listing for a Fiat X1/9 for sale, and having heard how they
> are dreaded in DSP (at least by the Integra Type R drivers), I went
> and checked out the technical specs. Very light, mid-engined, but
> not much power. 0-60 times greater than 10 seconds. Now I realize
> that handling is more critical than power in an autocross, but what
> is done to these cars to make them fast? Are they street-drivable
> afterwards?
>
>2) Like many others on the list, I am in awe of the Lotus Elise and
> dream of having one of my own. I saw a yellow one at an AAS event,
> but I'm guessing that it was an Elise 190, not street registered.
> Does anyone have one that is licensed for driving on the street, or
> know anyone who does? How did you/they do it?
>
>3) The "new" 2001 Miata suspension package and the LS model come
> with 16" wheels and 205/45-16 tires. A quick check reveals that
> the only race rubber that comes in even close to the right rolling
> diameter is a Hoosier road race tire. All the others are
> significantly taller. Since it's not strictly legal for them to
> downgrade to 15" wheels in order to put on race tires (and the 15"
> wheels may not fit due to the rumored larger brake rotors) what
> would a would-be B Stock competitor with such a car do? Running in
> Street Tire would be one option. Could they get special
> dispensation in SFR to run 15" wheels until the national club
> decides what to do? What do you think that the SCCA will decide to
> do, if anything?
>
> I suppose that requiring them to go ahead and run too-tall tires
> might counteract the acceleration advantage of the extra horsepower
> and keep the earlier Miatas more competetive.
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