GDyn Posted July 6, 2021 Report Share Posted July 6, 2021 Like many other Miata teams out there we decided to dump the stock hard top and go with a chop top. Sick right? Well yes definitely except there's one big negative, not having a waterproof top any more. Now being a team of more modest means requires us to be more "nimble" with our trailering...aka open trailer life for us. We bought a cheapo car cover on amazon thinking we could be smart and put our own holes in the cover and really strap it down to the car so it wouldn't blow off. That lasted all of 15 seconds on the freeway and was immediately ripped to shreds. It was raining quite heavily but luckily the last 2 hours of the drive was dry and the car was "mostly" dry when we got to the track. However I would much rather have a better plan than this. Which leads me to the big question: How do you chop top Miata teams who are also poor deal with rain while towing? Anyone have luck with one of these? Was thinking maybe this is the next move.. trying to majorly reduce the surface area in attempts to reduce the flappage. Possibly be smarter about the holes and try and stich in some strengthening gussets to strap to. Let me know if you have a solution! Thanks, Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Infiniti Posted July 6, 2021 Report Share Posted July 6, 2021 Harbor freight tarp and ratchet straps X or star pattern, pulled down decently hard to keep from flapping. We don’t have a Miata nor did we cut the roof off, but we do travel with an open trailer and only a windshield, computers have been relocated out of the mist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostmint Posted July 6, 2021 Report Share Posted July 6, 2021 will the hardtop or a convertible fit over your cage? Seems a bolt down option would be good. Might have a funny looking bracket or two on the car but at it would be dry inside we drive it or open trailer it depending on distance and I slide the windows back into the tracks/window frame for transport any time the weather looks to be sketchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMiskoe Posted July 7, 2021 Report Share Posted July 7, 2021 I know that in street cars with no lids, if it starts to rain you can often just drive fast enough to keep the rain out of the car. I'm curious if this sort of approach would work on the trailer? What do you think? Take the seat cover off, drill holes in the structure so the water won't puddle, then you at least don't need to sit in a puddle to unload it. If it is an NA miata with the ECU on the rear bulkhead behind the passenger seat, wrap it in a plastic bag. Drill a couple of drain holes in the floor (if there aren't some already there). The car is going to get wet on track, so if it gets wet on the ride home you may not be changing much. I'd just do your best to get it dried out once home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinskl1 Posted July 7, 2021 Report Share Posted July 7, 2021 Heavier duty cover - perhaps custom made by a boat cover upholsterer. Boats are towed all the time with covers that span from the windshield to the rear seat and flap like crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donovan Posted July 7, 2021 Report Share Posted July 7, 2021 I like the above idea of making the car water tolerant vs covering it. I mean, you're going to race in the rain too. Just seems like the effort you put into it will help with reliability. I rented with a roofless RX8 team quite a bit- the builder had electronics covered and up out of the rain. Pull seat cushion. Drain holes, etc. Always on an open trailer, and that car finished tons of races... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TiredBirds Posted July 7, 2021 Report Share Posted July 7, 2021 The cover you show wouldn't last 2 minutes at highway speed. Whatever you use has to cover the entire car and be tied down tight. That said it could damage the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChampCar Staff DuncanDana Posted July 13, 2021 ChampCar Staff Report Share Posted July 13, 2021 So in the way back days when I had my Factory Five these Serpent Express covers were popular. You can get just the frame and cover to add to an existing trailer. https://serpentexpress.com/home 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takjak2 Posted July 27, 2021 Report Share Posted July 27, 2021 Tarp over the seat. Dash stays dry. Everything else can get wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espog Posted July 27, 2021 Report Share Posted July 27, 2021 Maybe something like this. Its is not my ad i just saw it and thought of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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