I'm autocrossing my '03 S and having a hoot. I do it with a couple of the local PCA regions and mostly with nearby SCCA regions. All within an hour of my house. I'm getting better every time out. I work hard and took an instructor with me about 50% of the time the first 10-12 autocrosses. I've gone to 16 autocrosses. I changed from 17" to 18" wheels (8" front, 10" rear) and Bridgestone RE-71R's. In my class are the ND Miata's and the Ford FRS with the sport suspension. I'm catching/passing the middle of the pack Miatas but still a couple seconds behind the front runners. I'm not looking to be a solo national champ I just want those pesky Miatas to know they shouldn't make a lot of mistakes.
I plan on attending one or two EVO driver schools in the spring. I'm also considering suspension upgrades. I'd like to stay in C-Street with SCCA.
Here is my question:
Should I uprade to the M030 suspension and go with a GT3 swaybar (the rules state you can change one swaybar to non-OEM) or can I, within the rules, go to PSS9's or some other suspension?
Here is the rule section for shock absorbers:
The make of shock absorbers, struts, and strut housings may be substituted providing that the number, type (e.g., tube, lever, etc.), system of attachment and attachment points are not altered, except as noted below.
The interchange of gas and hydraulic shocks absorbers is permitted. The following restrictions apply:
1. No more than 2 (two) separate external shock damping adjustment controls are allowed. This permits the use of shocks which originally came with more than two external adjustments, which have been converted to double-adjustables, only if the additional adjustment controls have been permanently disabled (e.g., via welding, epoxying, grinding off).
Gas pressure adjustment is not considered a damping adjustment.
2. Suspension geometry and alignment capability, not including ride height, may not be altered by the substitution of alternate shock absorbers. Aftermarket strut housings are allowed provided that they meet the Street category shock requirements defined herein (i.e., that no suspension geometry changes result). This includes the position of the steering arm attachment point in the case of struts with integrated steering arms.