Did Neal buy Andy's Miata?

[modernbeat]

Someone on M.net hinted that Neal bought Andy Hollis' STS2 Miata. I know that Neal had made an offer for it in the past. Did Andy finally cut it loose?

[sammm]

Yep. Neal drove it at the AX event this past weekend.

[Steve E]

Someone on M.net hinted that Neal bought Andy Hollis' STS2 Miata. I know that Neal had made an offer for it in the past. Did Andy finally cut it loose?

It wasn't a hint and just when I was hoping that the new motor might help me get close to Neal.

BTW, Neal's other car is still for sale and its a solid piece of equipment.

[nealb]

Jason

Andy and I agreed on a deal a couple of days after the Ft Worth Tour, but due to travel plans and other stuff, I didn't get it till June 11

couldn't not buy it if you know what I mean

looking forward to getting used to it -- it is very different from the other car

and now with 3 Miatas, I'll make someone a deal on the 93 STS2 car

failing that, I'll part it out this fall and will have lots of parts to sell

[modernbeat]

Jason

couldn't not buy it if you know what I mean

That motor's power is addictive, isn't it?

I've got the same shocks. They were the best purchase I made for the car. I'd expect you to be nearly unbeatable in it.

BTW: Were you the author of "Rusty Nutz" in GRM?

[nealb]

I don't recall a Rusty Nutz in GRM

so no, I wrote for them in 1987 thru 1990, when they were AutoX

did a lot of car test and comparison articles, and event coverage

true story -- I was the safety steward at the very first autocross that Tim Suddard held in Daytona in 1984 as the precusor to the AutoX event coverage

Howard Duncan asked me to go over and be sure things were OK

they were

Tim is an interesting fellow

[modernbeat]

Rusty Nuts was Auto-X's no-holds-barred, tell-it-like-it-is column that ran from about '87-'88. It was unfortunately, anonymous. Was Howard Duncan still working for the county election office in Tampa when you were there?

I got into the sport in late '85 and out of it in '89. But I was a kid and didn't go very far in it. I wish GRM today gave SCCA and Solo the coverage we got back then.

[nealb]

the more I thought about it, I remember the column

none of us knew who it was and Tim would not tell me anyway

our best guess was a guy from New Mexico who really didn't run the national scene, but was very funny

yes, Howard was in the Hillsboro County election office until about 1984 or so

I met him in 1974 when he was fresh out of college there in Tampa and running autocross all the time

we competed against one another in various classes over the years, and he was not easy to beat

there were a bunch of us about the same age with kids about the same age and we hung out at and after events all the time

my son and Howard's son were good buddies when they were about 3

we served together on the board of directors of a local council of autocross clubs for 10 years

in about 1980, he started doing some Club Racing, and since there was no SCCA autocross program in our area, he went to the local SCCA board and convinced them to start one with him as the head guy

our local clubs were dying due to burn out among the officers, and insurance costs were soaring, so all the clubs sold their equipment to SCCA, and became SCCA members and Howard made the program flourish

don't know the details of how he got the job offer, but suddenly he was gone to Denver and you know the rest

[modernbeat]

Neal, I didn't know you spent time in Florida. Thanks for the background info. I remember you were always mentioned in the "who to beat". Seems like a lot of those guys are MIA, though a few of those names are still around. I remember Tommy from back then - Corvette and all.

I thought the SCCA Autocross groups sorta died out after Howard left Florida, to be replaced by the local clubs again. Did I have that backwards?

Are you coming to the Houston Divisional?

[nealb]

I started autocrossing in the Tampa area in 1974, moved to DFW in 1986.

The SCCA Central Florida Region is still active, as is the group around Ft Myers.

most of the other local clubs in central Florida have died (e.g., Polk Motorsports, Bay Area Club)

and the Orlando club is now small because of 9-11. Martin Marietta no longer lets them use the lots, so all they have is a sheriff's training facility that is so small they have to limit the entry to something like 80 just to have enough room

I cannot make the Divisional since I am working a Scion event in Austin that weekend

A choice of driving an autocross course (admittedly in a Scion) for about 12 hours over the weekend and getting nicely paid, or spending a bunch to tow to Houston for 6 minutes of driving (but in good competition and good company)

[Mark52]

Dang, Nealb, you must be older than dirt!!

So does anybody know what Andy H. will be driving in the future? He still has the Honda, right?

[Prova7]

That motor's power is addictive, isn't it?

There's no such thing as a fast Miata. Some are just less slow than others

[nealb]

Dirt was fairly new when I started running cars, after hurting myself on dirt bikes for several years.

You are as old as you feel, and I subscribe to Osborne's philosophy, never too old to have a happy childhood.

Someday I may grow up, but not likely.

Andy is going to run his STS Civic this year, and a lot of the reason is that Ann didn't like the Miata, plus Honda is paying major money for National event results.

And, the owner of the other car Ann has driven the last couple of years (Peter Lier in the GT3) has run the last couple of One Lap of America events, and has got Andy wanting to do it.

He's going to build a car for next year's event and wanted to use the Miata sale to help finance that effort.

[wrx74]

(....Peter Lier in the GT3) has run the last couple of One Lap of America events, and has got Andy wanting to do it.

He's going to build a car for next year's event and wanted to use the Miata sale to help finance that effort.

WOW! You paid him enough to buy a GT3!!! WOW!
That must be SOME MIATA!

[nealb]

WOW! You paid him enough to buy a GT3!!! WOW!
That must be SOME MIATA!

not exactly

Peter owns the GT3 and Ann co-drove in National events because she didn't like the Miata, and besides, what would you drive if you had the choice? Miata or GT3?

Andy's talking about a turbo Honda and I'll let him show everyone the details as he finalizes plans and gets it built

[Mark52]

[QUOTE=nealb;148199]Dirt was fairly new when I started running cars, after hurting myself on dirt bikes for several years.

As I recall, dirt was cleaner back then, too!

Thanks for the Andy info.