What are the tradeoffs between PCA club racing and SCCA? I've done lots of searching, but I am having a hard time figuring this out. I have been investigating low-cost spec-car wheel to wheel racing. SCCA offers the Miata spec car, while PCA offers the 944 spec car. It is amazingly complex.

Suppose the goal is inexpensive (by racing standards) wheel-to-wheel spec car racing. What are the tradeoffs of going SCCA vs. PCA club racing?

In my experience the PCA Club Racing is a little less rigid when it comes to that rules, but that being said I'm sure it depends on your local track and the people who host/run the events. You might check with other racers in your area and talk to both an SCCA racer and a PCA club racer and see what they think.

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K-Man S

Check out NASA also. they have reputation as laid-back. grass roots racing. i believe they have both spec miata & spec 944 classes.

I've been running SCCA for years and find it fits your list of needs/wants. But as Ken said, it depends on who is more active in your area. Around here the PCA is not very big but SCCA is huge. I also like a mix of cars...so I run in the IT class.

But you could get a 944 and run in all 3, PCA, SCCA, and NASA...though that might get pricey.

I'd venture a guess that a spec miata is cheaper to race than a spec 944. Just brake pads alone are probably a fraction of the cost, and you use them less.

dw

dw

If your looking for inexpensive racing, the IT classes in SCCA are probably the way to do, you can buy a car already fitted out to race in these classes for very little money. A friend of mine bought an ITB class VW ready to race for less than 4k. Of course he made some improvements but the fact is you can go racing on the cheap.

unless you are a great driver or you have a great miata you will not be competitive. people that spend 30K on their miata's have a chance, others will never finish on the podium. the 944 class is newer and less competitive. It maybe more expensive for consumables but you will have a better chance.

Very interesting question posted, there is no one answer unfortunately.

Building a competitive race car, in any series, depends on the class and series rules as to how much it costs to run at the sharp end. Given you can drive at the sharp end.

I don't think the build and preparation costs of Spec Miata and Spec 944 will be that different. We haven't built a Spec Miata (yet) but are completing our third Spec 944 this year. The costs discussed for the build and prep on most of the posts are B. S. Yes you can buy or build a 944 for 10-12K but it won't get you a reliable AND competitive car. The cost savings for the spec classes is in reduced component cost due to the rules restrictions for that class (stock brakes, Toyos that last a few weekends vs. Hoosiers that last for one etc.). The big advantage for the spec classes is that it is not nessessarily the size of your wallet that will determine the race.

As for which series you run, where and when do you want to race? we race in PCA because it provides a great opportunity to travel to great tracks and meet and compete against people from around North America. We have made many friends doing this. If you want to race more frequently and perhaps not travel so much then SCCA and NASA provide regional series to accomplish this. The advantage of PCA and some NASA classes is the 13/13 rule. This rule eliminates contact as a race strategy and greatly reduces operational expenses and risk. We all go back to work on Monday.

The Spec 944 can be run in both PCA and NASA now. We think this is a positive thing and will contribute to the growth of the class over the next few years. With that in mind, MantisSport is preparing two cars for rental to customers wanting to try racing or try the class. We have plans to prepare more when and if demand warrants. We think they are a relatively inexpensive car to build and maintain and, with rules stability, will continue to be competitive assets for some time. Our forecasted operating costs are a fraction of our little yellow Cayman S which competes in PCA stock D class. If they get 5+ cars out on the track it will be very competitive racing compared to PCA stock classes which require considerable investment to run at the front.

Having said all of this, racing cost money. More money to win. Pick the car and series that suits your budget and aspirations. Do you like to build? Do you like to drive? How much set-up and tinkering do you want to do? Where do you want to race and how much time do you have to race. There is a place for everthing and everyone out there.

Have Fun;

Stan

right on stan. my friend is the west coast champ in SM also runner up in national. he said to really build a car, with such old chassis, every rubber bushing are replaced. most likely control arms are shot... little tiny t hings like these eventually add up to big $$$. and i am not even talking about the engines.