Well, my new SM is finally finished up in Memphis. Jim Drago at East Street Auto (the best place to get your used Miata parts) has built 3 or 4 of the best SMs in the country over the past two or three years. He is a good friend and has built a great 95 for me.
The car was a flood victim that he stripped down to the tub and then replaced everything. Used parts where it worked and tons of Mazdaspeed new parts where needed. Jim Daniels, Pat Sandelin and Drago ran a test day this week at Memphis Motorsport Park and my car ran right with theirs meaning in good hands it is fast. So I can expect the old "half arse fast" in my hands:D .
I was planning on my annual long haul race trip to be to Elkhart Lake this next (22nd & 23rd) weekend with a golf week following and then a second RAmerica race weekend at the end of the week. Things change (I have some health issues to work on the following Monday) and you have to roll with the punches. Instead of going north I am going southeast to RAtlanta for the annual tripleheader (SARRC / ECR / Pro IT) race weekend. As hot as it is I plan on doing the SM SARRC race Saturday and the ECR enduro Sunday morning and heading back that afternoon. This race weekend back in 2000 was my first trip to RAtlanta and also the introduction of SM racecars to the southeast. Shannon MC. the Racernetwork boys and myself took our four SMs over there and ran in the IT rungroup. Tons of racers crawled all over the cars in the paddock for three days asking a million questions. My main source of help was to show that someone who knew nothing could have a great time as the cars and their upkeep are so simple. The next year Jim Mackay and myself took one car to the same weekend and ran four races. We split the enduro and finished first in class ( my only win ever!) By that time there were twenty SMs running. It (SM) really took off after that.
Returning to the scene of the crime again should be a great first weekend for the newest SM. With a test day all day Friday, I should get decent by the enduro. If any of you get a chance to ever go to RAtlanta do it. Not only a great track to drive, but the spectating is great. Lots of great vantage points to watch. Merv has raced it several times, and other then MSR or Hallett, I have raced it more then any other track (even more then TWS). It has several "thrill" spots for me such as taking T1 at speed, going down thru the esses and avoiding the wall at T5, and taking the final turn down the hill full out tracking toward the wall and the Flag stand! If you have good rubber no problem.... if your tires are going away lord help you.::Angel:: This is my last race for a while so I hope to have a blast. I will try to give some race reports (which usually turn in to pretty funny reports on stupid moves I or others around me make.)
Mac ::Flag::
