I bought a Mazda Miata without time to get it ready for track season

In general, there are two types of minds when it comes to modified vehicles: built and purchased. Some say the only way really I know Your only car fact The way to get excited, is to build it yourself – add your chosen parts, and assemble them with your tools. Others say that buying something is more cost-effective is overwhere the most you will have to do is regular maintenance.

I took the middle path, and it would be an interesting path.

Until recently, I owned a 2014 Scion FR-S. I took it to the track, took it to autocross, and had all sorts of plans to modify it into the perfect track car. After all, I live in Brooklyn now – I don’t exactly need my car to be a daily operation.

But It turns out that the “Modify to make the perfect FR-S track” spreadsheet comes in at about $24,000. This doesn’t count the car either. Even after all that work, I’d still end up with a bigger chassis than I needed and a motor with it Lubrication problems at high rpm And the spark plugs that you can’t reach without an elevator. Perhaps, instead of building, the purchase will be more logical.

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That train of thought led me to this: A 2001 Mazda Miata, purchased for about eight grand with its slew of track mods and accessories. I only saw the car through a pixellated, choppy FaceTime video before the purchase, though I did have someone drive it t0 confirm that nothing’s truly broken. It’s got track-ready aero, suspension, wheels, tires, even a stripped-out interior. So why am I so concerned about getting it prepared for the upcoming track season?

The car has one simple problem: I don’t fit in it.

Everyone’s body shape and ideal sitting position are different, and my Sailor Moon body proportions don’t seem to line up with the previous owner of this Miata. Even in its fixed-back racing seat, my head is just about flush with the top of the roll bar. I can’t see the gauges, let alone any traffic lights, and adding a helmet would firmly make me fail the test broom stick. I need a new seat, rails, harnesses (existing ones expired six years ago), and a HANS. In the next two weeks. As for the car, I can only see it in a weekKindes. I promise I’ve thought about it.

Most tall drivers seem to have trimmed the seat mounts (or the entire floor under the driver) to get more room on the first and second generation Miatæ. I wouldn’t want to do it if I didn’t have to, simply because of the time constraints and the fact that I don’t have a welder to fix things up. I’ve tried other, more modern bucket seats from Facebook Marketplace sellers, but even the FRP wrap doesn’t completely Keep me low enough in the car. If I wanted a comfortable seat, looks like I might need a bride.

This is my plan now. Somehow, during this week, I need to measure myself in the Bride Low Max seat and figure out the height on a set of bars that I can’t see in person. Then, End of this weekI’ll need a seat rail and two sets of seat belts to get ready for a track day the following weekend. What is a painful project without time constraints?

The car itself is absolutely cheerful To drive, but ergonomics is a big problem. If you can get it fixed in time, the Northeast track rats among you may see this car going really poorly and sluggishly all summer long. If not, at least it looks good while seated.