Miata Mailing List: September 1997, Message #159
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From: 	Brian Porter <porterb@ix.netcom.com>

Subject: The Hard Way was Re: Racing expectations

Date: 	Tue, 2 Sep 1997 00:06:49 +0000



Scott, 



In 1/4 mile the winner would be: 



1) Miata

2) Z3

3) Mustang (that is actually running right..which is rare)

4) The Miata isn't a 1/4mi car. You'll lose to everything you listed.



I've run my Miata on the strip once for grins.. The best time I could eek

out of it was a 16.08 at 84mph. I was launching at 6200rpm with little

wheel spin. The problem is gearing in the Miata. There is a shift to 4th

about 80ft from the traps. To get a lower ET, I ran through on the rev.

limiter so it was bogging through the traps..(but good for .2) :-(  My 92

SE-R with a Hotshot header, HKS exhaust, Stillen air-intake and

Eibach/ST/Tokiko suspension setup ran a 15.4 at 91mph (went through the

traps in 3rd at 7400rpm). My 85 GT with 300+ hp ran a 14.3 at 100mph..

Stock 5.0s run 15.0-15.8. (I absolutely STINK at drag racing..)

(oh, and just about everybody and their brother has a little bottle of NOS

nowadays..) 



Aside from being incredibly stupid, reckless and selfish, "racing" on the

public roads isn't really a race at all.  A 5-10 (okay, 15) minute jaunt

endangering public safety, your Miata, and your driving privileged (oh, and

your life) is hardly a RACE. Too many distractions and repercussions to

permit 10/10ths anyway (and include absolutely NO measure of safety).  The

only bit of accuracy is the measure of the participant's intelligence level

(or lack of). 



Since I've recently learned this lesson the HARD way, I won't tell you the

number of 5.0s, VR6s, SE-Rs, I've been "in front of". (or even the 5.0

Mustang that crashed trying to keep with the 95R through a few corners at

110+) Everything involves driving ability (or lack of) more than HP.

(unless your at a 150hp deficit to the other car with a straight road ahead

of you). The best way to "win" is to KEEP IT ON THE TRACK!! Your license

will thank you for it.. <g>



If your still curious how the Miata will fare, check out the race results

and most importantly whose doing the driving.. ;-) (oh, go attend a track

event with a local auto club, there you can rev. your engine all you want!) 



soap_box = 0



-Brian

(who's revving his engine in the garage for 6 months...:-( ) 



At 09:30 PM 9/1/97 +0000, you wrote:

>I read about 'charged Miatas beating 5.0s. I'm curious how stock Miatas do.

>

>How would a stock 1.8L Miata fare against the following (in other words,

who would win in, say, a 1/4 mile with drivers of equal ability):

>

>Stock 1.8L Miata vs.

>

>1) Z3 4-cyl

>2) Z3 6-cyl

>3) Mustang 5.0 (4.9)

>4) anything else sporty you can think of. i.e. Vettes, Camaros, etc.

>

>I love my car the way it is, I'm just wondering when I should rev my

engine at somebody.

>

>Scott

>Reston, VA

>'96M

>

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>

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