Miata question

[EvoLady]

My friend has an ES miata with a hard top. If he removes the soft top does that put him out of ES??

Thanks!

[engled]

Yes.

[EvoLady]

thanks Darryl!

[rodhx]

not only takes him out of ES, but straight to CSP. Gotta have the soft top for STS/STR as well as Stock.

[JohnW8]

My friend has an ES miata with a hard top. If he removes the soft top does that put him out of ES??

Thanks!

I would say if he removed the soft top that is creating a model that wasn't available from the manufacturer. Removal of the soft top does lighten the car a bit which is a no no in stock. I would think he'd have to run the hard top all the time. Local events it doesn't matter much unless you become an overdog and the competition doesn't like it. But I don't know all the ins and outs of stock. I've never run it.



13. STOCK CATEGORY
From the 2010 Solo rule book, I can't find my 2011 rule book:
Except for modifications authorized below, Stock Category cars must
be run as specified by the factory with only standard equipment as defi
ned by these Rules. This requirement refers not just to individual parts,
but to combinations thereof which would have been ordered together
on a specifi c car. Any other modifications or equipment will place the car
in Street Touring, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Prepared or Modifi
ed Categories as appropriate.
13.2 BODYWORK
A. Accessories, gauges, indicators, lights and other appearance, comfort
and convenience modifications which have no effect on performance
and/or handling and do not materially reduce the weight of
the car are permitted.

[slowautoxr]

It is my understanding that the reason you're allowed to remove the soft top from NA and NB Miata's is through the update/backdate rule. That means that there is a stock version that does not have a soft top. If you make your car exactly like that version, you can run it in stock.

[rodhx]

Yeah, but I don't think there was an NA that came without a softtop so that avenue to stay in ES or Street Touring is not open for Sara's friend. Update/backdate allows an NA in CSP to go without a softtop thanks to the 25 2003 Club Sports that were made without the softtop. That would mean the only way to legally run without a softtop in a Stock or Street Touring class would be to convert an 01-05 NB to full Club Sport specs.

And yes, that is 25 total cars. There were only 50 2003 Club Sports produced, 25 softtop only and 25 hardtop only.

[Max Bales]

No update/ backdate in stock.

[JohnW8]

For some reason I thought there was a NA version of the club sport that was stripped and ready for "racing". Maybe that was the JDM version? Oh well. Sara tell him to come out and play we'll find a class.

[kilgojr]

He can run whatever class he wants, until someone protests him.

[rodhx]

He can run whatever class he wants, until someone protests him.

[rodhx]

For some reason I thought there was a NA version of the club sport that was stripped and ready for "racing". Maybe that was the JDM version? Oh well. Sara tell him to come out and play we'll find a class.

Yeah, I don't think that one made it to the US. The R package was as good as it got for the NAs. Otherwise the ES folks would have been converting cars to that spec rather than R spec all these years.

[zachcrosen]

Thanks Sara for the question. I just got around to registering for this forum since I have finally gotten back into the game! I was the only one this past Sunday in ES. The only reason I was wanting to remove the soft top is because it is completely trashed and I don't care about putting another one on! I replaced the one in my previous white one and it was a PITA. I had to open it due to the rain and the smell was aweful. That was the second time. I guess I may have to run in CSP and see how that goes!

[aMaff]

John, there was no NA club-sport version, as previously mentioned. The reason the NA is able to update to the Club-sport spec no-top in CSP is because the NAs and NBs fall on the same line in the rule book. Maybe that's what had you turned around?