For those of you unfamiliar w/ Pro Solo, it’s basically autocross on steroids – mirrored courses w/ a drag tree start where you launch against a competitor: EXCITING! For more information, you can check out solo2.com and scca.com.

Luckily for me, Stanley’s regular co-driver, Joe, was out of town. He offered me a co-drive in his SSM Miata. 275 wide Hoosier A6′s all around & 180-200ish whp (since cylinder 2 was low & boost was turned down to 15 psi, haha); “slow” as Stanley puts it. How could I refuse?

I had an absolute blast, despite stalling the poor Miata all around paddock on Friday getting used to the competition clutch. I didn’t stall off the line during my runs, but I didn’t launch very well either; everywhere from the high .6xx to 1+ second range (.500 is the perfect reaction time). The car is a MONSTER. I was having a tough time all weekend since the course was coming up so much faster than I’m used to. I still had a blast & came in 7th out of 11 while Stanley came in 5th w/ about 1 second lead over me each side of the course; not too shabby considering it was my first time driving this car & not being able to launch manuals very well, haha.

This driving experience will definitely help me with the Sprite, which seems “slow” in comparison. If I can get fast in this Miata… oh the possibilities.

Here are some pics of me from Jeff Shyu @ ikonique.com from the weekend. Check his web site for more pictures.

We all saw it coming. After AE86 Corollas saw price increases of $500 to thousands of dollars, the touge/canyon racer crowd saw the potentials in Miatas aka the MX-5. A couple months later, we saw fat fendered Miatas running around California with 0 offset sportmax wheels, and a new early 90s civic was born!

But a Miata as a testament of your own rebellion against society? Really man? Come on. I heart miatas too, you can’t have more fun with 1500 bucks, RWD and a vert. But we all know how the rest of the world sees em. Remember that.