Convertind 94 SM to ITA

[tnord]

i dunno exactly what the bettencourt plan is, but i know what i would do first assuming a full SM build already exists.

1) get down to weight
2) oil cooler
3) proper springs/shocks

as you have found out, you're not going to gain a whole helluva lot even with a big $ header.

[JamesB]

Well the SM suspension isnt that bad afterall. Bill managed to qualify 3rd.

[lateapex911]

If you guys keep talking about the Bettencourt Plan, we're going to have to use a dart to deflate his big head, LOL.

Gotta admit though, he's running pretty well. But then SMs are going 1:02s around lime Rock.....

[Fastfred92]

Baugh humbug........ Andy B. is sandbagging regardless of the results :P He knows the Miata 1.8 was got it good in ITA and does not want to have that change..................... Can't say as I blame him

[lateapex911]

Ummmm...Fred...it's "Bahhh" not "Baugh.."

As for the rest....i dunno.

[IPRESS]

After getting some very good direction from Andy (almost step by step) I described his info as "THE BETTENCORT PLAN". It is very nice of Andy to share his development stuff with others. Being an "ITA Dummy" getting the info on where to find the right add ons saved me a bunch of time and money. The miata is hard to get much out of in the HP/TQ department, but doing several things together should help a little. You couple that with improving on the SM suspension (which is pretty decent to start with) and I think you can compete at the right venues. My first ITA race in 5 years was at the TMS oval/ road course combination. I was a star on the road course part of the track and dead meat on the oval! Either way the miata in ITA trim is fun to race.
I will tell you this about the guys who keep throwing the SM lap times out there, Andy is dead on when he says SM times don't transfer to ITA. The deal of SMs not holding each other up in corners and being able to draft together is so true. Put the miata out there with no help drafting and let it get held up by the high HP cars in the corners and it creates problems for the ITA miata. Even so I think ITA will be a great place for my former SM.

[tnord]

Put the miata out there with no help drafting and let it get held up by the high HP cars in the corners and it creates problems for the ITA miata. Even so I think ITA will be a great place for my former SM.
[/b]

don't i know it!

my "IT traffic" pace is about 1/2 to 1 second off my "SM traffic" pace.

[JLawton]

You guys will get no sympathy from us ITAers in the Northeast that have to run against Andy!! I've already sent my letter in to have an SIR added to the ITA Miata's!!

[BillH]

With the mods I have already made (header, intake and fuel pressure regualtor) my '94 Miata is faster now running in ITA than when I was running it without those mods in SM. I gained about a second. I am still running the SM suspension, but was just persuaded to lower the car so i am now cornering on the bump stops. Seemed to help make the car quicker in the corners, especially the slower ones. I still think I will try to upgrade the suspension with stiffer springs/shocks and sway bars this winter.

I would suggest anyone who wants the benefit of Andy's experience/plan to contact him via pm. He was quite helpful when I did that. Bill