GRM Exclusive Reveal: Exocet Spec-A

Are you trying collector or specialty insurance? It works a treat here in the US.

Yes unfortunately I tried several to no avail.

Keith might know or be able to ask a Westfield customer. Canadian car insurance isn't really my specialty. My knowledge limits are defined by the ability to use a hammer or a SpaceBall to fix the problem.

Call a broker. They've got access to a lot of companies you've never heard of.

Unfortunately I have. As for the companies themselves, Hagerty and Lant were two possible options, but they do will not provide coverage. I'm open to all suggestions.

Stop by a Lotus Club meeting and see what they have. Don't know where you are in Ontario, but there's a strong one in the Ottawa area.

IIRC isn't SkinnyG on here a Canadian Locost owner? Might find and PM him.

He's in BC, IIRC. Very different insurance setup there. It's all socialist and stuff.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rci-1120s/applications/

Any reason this would be bad choice for Fuel Cell?

How do the Kirkeys work in XP3? Can you share pix/details of mounts?

I'm not a huge fan of foams in fuel cells, as they degrade and need replacement every year or so. I very much like the Miata fuel tank. It's a little heavy, but it work well, bolts right in, and all that weight is on the rear tires anyways.

The Kirkey road race seats were surprisingly comfortable. We squeezed 47-series 17" (hip width) seats in there, 16" would fit a lot easier. The 17" seats are too big for me, even at 6'2", 240lbs. The race car we're building from XP-3's guts will likely have 15"-ers or 15.5"-ers. The new demo car / road car will have a lot of passengers of various sizes, so it will get get XP-3's 17" Kirkeys.

I used a 1.5"x0.25" section piece of steel barstock to bridge the Exocet seat mount tubes. I used large grade8 washers on all hardware, and he seats were directly attached to the barstock. We will be using this solution for the racecar, with two sets of holes in the barstock for our pro driver and Kevin/myself. I used a couple washers on the front of the seat to tilt it slightly back. The seat mount tubes are 1/8" wall thickness, so there is a lot of flexibility in mounting solutions.

Warren, any chance you could post a photo of what your Kirkey mounting ended up looking like?

Unfortunately I don't have photos, but I just modeled how we'll do it in the racecar. Remember to use large grade 8 washers on all this stuff. I put high-strength fender washers underneath the grade 8 washers on the seat itself.

The overall length is about 20". A 48" bar of steel flat stock from Home Depot or Lowes (1.5"x0.25") is around $10-11, and that would do one seat. It's just a matter of setting your seat up where you'd like it, making a few measurements, and then drilling a few holes. It would be wise to spread out the attachment points on the seat as far as possible. This system could be used in conjunction with side-mounts, too. Our racecar will have that type of setup with composite seats.

Yes photos please. Im using 17" as well want drivers seat on sliders. Im going to do a removable foam insert for myself. I was even thinking of using a stripped down power base thinking it would have least amount of rocking movement. Ive stripped one from a rover it weighs 4 lbs with computer removed. If i leave computer it has 2 memory presets that would be cool to keep. Anyone know of really solid feeling aftermarket sliders?

I personally don't feel comfortable combining sliders and harnesses, no matter how sturdy they feel. That being said, standard Miata sliders or aftermarket sliders designed for the Miata will work on the Exocet. Simply bend the ears straight. Kevin uses the Corbeau sliders on his Black Exocet.

When using sliders, it is highly recommended to use dual locking sliders to prevent twisting of the seat frame in a crash. Some sanctioning bodies will not allow you to use a single locking slider on the track with an aftermarket seat.

This sounds like the list of reasons I came up with that electric seatbase would be good idea. 2 wormdrive rails keeps both sides parallel is very easy to adjust & then kill power so nothing moves. I would only use grade 8 hardware & washers that is a given. I'm 5'4" I would like car to acomidate me or someone 6'2". Now i just need my Exocet to show up. I think it should be soon.

FWIW, I see that you can get the Corbeau "Miata" seat mount with an option for double locking for an add'l $20.

Thanx its worth a lot. I did not know double locker was an option.

In reply to Snrub: Canadian collector and modified insurance:

http://www.lant-ins.ca/silver_wheel_plan.php

I have the V-8 RX7 covered as a modified vehicle and my stock NA Miata qualifies for collector car coverage. Rates seem reasonable.

You guys are awesome.

OK, so I just finished reading every post of this awesome 36 page thread. It looks like you guys have put together an awesome car. I have a Miata now that I was going to turn into a full-fledged wheel-to-wheel racer despite the fact that people just keep telling me to sell it and buy a Spec Miata. (If everyone just sold their Miata and bought somebody else's used spec car, who would build the Spec Miatas?)

This thing looks like it would cost about the same as building a race Miata from a stock NB. Is this a reasonable statement? I mean, roll cage, hard top, Spec suspension... that's thousands of dollars right there. (Why does the word "spec" look so weird to me right now? I think I need sleep.)

Is the body made out of fiberglass or plastic? It would be really neat to see the body in translucent color. I would love to build one in translucent blue (think Hero Blue from the Buell motorcycles). Is that possible? I apologize if this has been covered: I may have missed the answer.

In reply to confuZion3:I know what you mean. I have always thought it would be cool to have a clear vacu-formed body like the Lotus 340R. http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/thecar/series/e340r/expose.html

This way a customer could paint the body whatever color they want or leave it clear and any paint is protected by the clear body which is exposed to the elements. This is also pretty light and fast to make. You could have your translucent color. It's just like an R/C model.

It kind of depends on what you want. Do you want to race, spend lots of money, risk getting your car run into but also get thrills not otherwise possible? Then Spec Miata.

If, OTOH, you just want to build something cool, drive something cool really fast, get lots of attention from having something really cool and giggle like a schoolgirl every time you drive it, then Exocet.

(Disclaimer: biased opinion from guy selling his race car because it's too expensive to race)

fastoldfart wrote: In reply to Snrub: Canadian collector and modified insurance: http://www.lant-ins.ca/silver_wheel_plan.php I have the V-8 RX7 covered as a modified vehicle and my stock NA Miata qualifies for collector car coverage. Rates seem reasonable.

Thanks for the suggestion. I previously spoke to someone from Lant they said they couldn't cover it. I previously spoke to Hagerty who is listed on that page as well. And after speaking to a superior, they came back and said they didn't have "a program for that kind of vehicle." I'm open to any suggestions. :)