Guess the 2023 season is pretty much at the buzzer, right? The Miata’s Falkens still sport some tread and it’s clear and sunny down here in Florida, but the calendar on the wall (work with us here) says that 2024 is rapidly approaching.
Did you get to all of the events on your 2023 schedule? Make progress on your latest …
Not even close. I didn't get to turn one wheel in anger this year. I hope to rectify that on the last day of the year with Champcar.
Last January, dawn at Thunderhill:
I didn't make it to *all* of the events I wanted to, but I did get a pretty good assortment. I raced at Sonoma, Laguna Seca, and Buttonwillow, missed out on racing at Thunderhill when someone drove into me on the test day and I went home early. 4 different orgs -- NorCal and SoCal NASA, SFR and CalClub for SCCA. Did a couple of enduros, along with a whole bunch of sprint races between 7 or 8 events.
We came first in class at the Sonoma enduro, and the last event at Buttonwillow I managed to win both races that weekend. It was a small field, granted, but it's still more competition success than I've had in motorsports before, so I'm pleased!
Wrapped up with a test day at Buttonwillow and a planned motor refresh in December. That's done, so now it's time to find the next event!
(GRM sticker on the trailer if you look closely!)
I had a good year in autocross.
I was hoping to be competitive in E Street in our SCCA chapter, and I did better than expected, holding first place for points for most of the year, and finishing second.
Totally unexpectedly, I won my class in E Street with Martin Sports Car Club.
I drove the miata in my first National Tour event, and wasn't last, which was my goal. E Street is a tough class, one of our local drivers raw timed the Super Street cars on day one.
I drove the Miata in the State Autocross Championship in October, shared the car with the previous owner, who's an excellent driver. He was second to the same driver that won the tour event. The miata didn't have enough to catch the MR2. My performance pretty poor, but I got two days of coaching, which was great.
For the last event of the year, I drove Vtec Slow, my 1.8 liter civic at the last Martin event, finished first in H Street and raw timed all of the B Street cars.
One track day. I got to drive forum member Toots' supercharged miata at the second annual GRM posts challenge track day. That's an experience I'll never forget.
The Morris Minor challenge car is being worked on again. Stampie came down for two days last month and helped me tear down the short block, I'm acquiring parts and tools to get the engine running, and have been steadily working on it.
Finally, I'm selling the GMT400, bought a 2021 Expedition, to double as the daily for the Mrs and once I get a trailer, to tow the fun cars.
I met my goal of at least getting one track event in before the end of the year.
Haven't been to Harris Hill Raceway in several years so it took a while to re-familiarize before attempting to explore the limits of the new mods.
This year was spent installing parts I'd been gathering since 2019: conversion for the steering system, swapping front hubs, rear axle, and brakes, and new wheels & tires to go along with all that. Plus new heat exchangers and made new AN hoses.
I raced my first w2w races ever, and did it in lemons, GLTC, and NASA Spec Miata. I got my LS miata going. I also got my instructor certification. Lots of plans with lots of friends for '24. What a great year. I'm enjoying reading everyone else's year breakdowns, that's fun.
Didn't get to the local test n tunes like I wanted because they are only on Wednesdays and work decided I didn't need to be at the track.
Did get to do HRDW tho. Had to miss sick week tho.
My tires need replacing before next year.
They were fun in the rain.
Despite a busy work schedule and family commitments, made it to 5 SCCA local events with the BRZ and a couple of Porsche club events with the Boxster. Lots of projects planned for both cars in the off season including a short shift kit for the Boxster and some suspension tuning for the BRZ.
I had a baby. AT FORTY. So no David. I did not get enough seat time.....
In reply to Olemiss540 :
Labor must have been a bitch. 
In reply to Olemiss540 :
No worries old Dad. I am an old Dad myself and have enjoyed watching my boys grow up around cars and become enthusiasts too. Enjoy your little miracle.
In reply to Olemiss540 :
My son with his 04 WRX and me with my 15 STi.
I'm gonna start running non SCCA autoxs in addition to the SCCA ones. I'd like to get more seat time and more importantly I'd like to see you guys more often. Autox buddies > all other buddies. That was a fun last event of the year, the miata looked great out there, and I had a blast with you guys at the meet up afterwards. I lost my mentor that got me started down this path this year....it was and still is very hard for me but I learned a very valuable lesson. MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE. You never know when the next time or if you will see someone again so my 2024 motorsports focus is actually just gonna be getting out there and spending more time running over cones with you guys. Thanks to everyone for making 2023 a blast!!!
Did my last autocross with the F500.....it's off to a fellow hive member in Atlanta.
The Datsun will start it's 35th season in 2024.
I made it to many virtual events, but rarely made it to enough to be in the running for anything (combined with some poor driving). Still, much fun was had.
This year was all instructing for me. I exersized the 94 Miata a decent bit, as well as a few Lambos, Ferraris, and the likes.
Not as much as I wanted. My Mirage had some teething issues and I spent the year addressing them. I finally think I am a good place with all of that though. So looking for a full season in 2024. It just needs the coilovers installed and tune in the chassis. It'll be a lot of fun. My nephew is getting into it too so I may toss the keys to him for a few events.
Eight tire tests this year for GRM, plus a couple manufacturer tests. Several in triple-digit weather. Uggh.
Here's one you'll never see in the magazine...
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