Driving Sports

Though Travis contends my project won't have much of a weight advantage, his logic is about as shaky as the underpinnings of his busted old 1993 Impreza. According to MSN Autos, a 1993 Impreza weighs 2,635 lbs, versus my featherweight contender, a 1990 Miata, which tips the scales at a mere 2,182 lbs. A difference of almost 500 lbs. Last I checked, a quarter of a ton was still considered a good amount of weight. He'll have to work a lot of magic to pull of a win in this project car battle.

Even with the Miata's diminutive dimensions, it manages to have a track only one inch slighter than the Impreza's and is on the books with a height a full seven inches shorter -- and that's with the fabric top up. Travis can spin delusions of "lower center of gravity" and "the beauty of all-wheel drive" but the facts just don't back all his babbling. He's going to lose. That is, assuming his car is in any condition to start the race in the first place. Who's car has yet to put down a hot lap at our testing airfield? Oh right, that would be Travis' beloved Dreadnought Impreza. Excuses have ranged from "the clutch is going" to "the engine can't take any more," yes, I've heard it all. Fact is, the car simply hasn't been able to withstand an entire lap, let alone run a complete race.

But on to more important matters: details on the Miata build. My little secret is that I already own a pair of Miatas. One is getting built up for Forever MX-5 as a "wine and cheese" touring car. The other just returned from the paint shop with a new color (Nissan Green/Gray with a matte finish) and a new mission: Stomp the Impreza. This particular one is a 1990 1.6L with an open rear diff and is completely stock; save for the welded-in roll-bar (back-half of a spec-Miata cage) from Racetech Fabrication in Portland and an aftermarket exhaust that will be replaced with something else as the project progresses. The motor is a bit tired, too, and it will require a rebuild before we get too crazy with power.

On the topic of power, very little is set in stone as of yet, but I do know we're going to use AEM's plug-and-play engine management system (EMS). This will allow us to control every parameter of the cars electronics: from basic bolt-on bits to full-on race build. It's not a cheap solution, but changing our EMS down the road would be more complicated, so we didn't want to cut corners out of the gate. The box alone is worth about the same amount of cash as any well-worn 1990 Miata, ($1700 street.) It's designed specifically for the 1.6-liter engine and should be a simple installation. Alex Racz at The Carbeurator and Fuel Injection Connection will perform initial tuning.

Another known element is the method of induction: this car is getting a turbo and will be around 250 whp when completed. Not sure which turbo as of yet, but it will most likely start out simple (maybe a Greddy TD04 or the new BEGi-S kit) and will build in complexity as we get deeper into competition (larger turbo, intercooler, 550cc injectors). Anyone could plunk down a credit card and say "build me a fast Miata." We'd rather learn a few things along the way. More parts include coilovers, big brakes, sticky tires, a competition rear LSD and other crucial pieces. I'll post more details as they get solidified.

Travis and I are both running full-speed ahead on this project battle. The lines have been drawn, and the weapons are in hand, who are you going to root for? Post a comment and tell us who you think will win!