Built my own little ballast system

[lateapex911]

You will have to drill lots of holes to make sure the nut can
t back off too far.
I would drill at least a few, but I'd double nut it. The interference can really lock things down.

[CRallo]

Off the top of my head, I would say that is not technically legal. Though imho that is fantastic!

[Greg Amy]

Off the top of my head, I would say that is not technically legal. Though imho that is fantastic!

No technical limitations to ballast design/placement in Super Touring. Just make sure it's safe!

[smbstyle]

No technical limitations to ballast design/placement in Super Touring. Just make sure it's safe!

Definitely the top priority!

I was considering drilling a hole through each weight plate in the same location that lines up with a hole in the base plate, and then running a huge bolt through them and through the base plate, but I dont know if that would help anymore, or be considered "overkill".

[CRallo]

No technical limitations to ballast design/placement in Super Touring. Just make sure it's safe!

Gotcha. Good to know, wish it was that way across the board...

[jumbojimbo]

Are you sure you want that big rod sticking up in the passenger side if you need to get out in a hurry and want to use the passenger door?

[coreyehcx]

Thanks man, that gives me a good idea to go off for my 140lbs I need to add for STL.

[Chip42]

There's a bunch of things about this I'm not thrilled by from a design standpoint. I'd personally rather be able to locate the weight to my best advantage, and dislike the single point of failure design shown. ~90lbs is a lot of force at the regular g loading the car will see. at impact loads it's scary. plus, like Jim said, it's in the way. IT rules require a minimum of 2, 1/2" diameter bolts. I think there's a good reason for it, even if it's not required in ST. just my $0.02.

[smbstyle]

There's a bunch of things about this I'm not thrilled by from a design standpoint. I'd personally rather be able to locate the weight to my best advantage, and dislike the single point of failure design shown. ~90lbs is a lot of force at the regular g loading the car will see. at impact loads it's scary. plus, like Jim said, it's in the way. IT rules require a minimum of 2, 1/2" diameter bolts. I think there's a good reason for it, even if it's not required in ST. just my $0.02.

Chip,

Do you have any suggestions for changing/modifying this ballast system, or a ballast system that doesn't drilling a bunch of holes into the floorboard? I figured I'd get praises for this system after one the tech inspectors even recommended it to me after seeing it on another STL car...

How about the idea of running a bolt or two directly though the weight plates and down through the base plate?

[smbstyle]

Are you sure you want that big rod sticking up in the passenger side if you need to get out in a hurry and want to use the passenger door?

It's going to be trimmed down a bit once I see how high the weights come up. If I can get past the the halo seat and center net, I don't see this as being an obstacle. Plus, don't a lot of cars have a diagonal brace going from the main hoop down to the passenger side footwell mount of the cage, that would cut across any exit path the driver would have? And those seem to be a popular cage design for a Miata?

[smbstyle]

Off the top of my head, I would say that is not technically legal. Though imho that is fantastic!

I know for SM it's definitely not, but the chief of tech was the one that pointed out the other STL driver's ballast system similar to mine as a "good idea" for me, lol.

[smbstyle]

You will have to drill lots of holes to make sure the nut can
t back off too far.
I would drill at least a few, but I'd double nut it. The interference can really lock things down.

Good call, will do!