Road Trip Series Part 2: Miata Reunion - July 31, 2022
As mentioned in my last article, I had not originally realized most of the events happening for Miata Reunion happened on Saturday while I was distracted with my first time on track. With that being said, Sunday's track paddock and vendor alley was still more than enough for me to blow through two rolls of film on my Canon F-1n. Before we dive into Sunday though, I wanted to give an honorary mention to Friday. I, like many others pulled up to the Hampton to check in to the event before the track paddock opened - my dad & I wanted to get our chance to make sure we got a spot with electrical hookup for his RV. When we arrived, my car was still on some daisies I'd done the almost 800 mile journey up in so I'd like to think it was a bit incognito.
After following some GPA shortcut routes, we had not seen one other miata until we were passing by Barber itself (the Hampton was just down the street). As we arrived though, it was obvious we made it. First a caravan of about 6 miatas making a u turn, and then pulling into the parking lot of course countless more. I've not gotten over the feeling that goes through me whenever getting close to an automotive event where you just start to see so many more enthusiast cars in a dense area.
The first car I spotted coming in was Gavin's 1990 (@efn_roadster on instagram). This thing belongs in a museum, it is impeccably clean, and sporting some 14" Panasports that he told me he bought as a set of 6 NOS sitting in a box in some guys garage for over a decade before surfacing. I caught him & his dad washing the car and peeling off the painters tape they used to protect the paint on their journey from Virginia. I love to see people driving their roadsters long distance, and this was likely this one's first such trip ever - the odometer striking a mere 40,000 miles since new.
After Gavin, I spotted a neat Montego Blue Miata sporting a mini trailer on the back of it, an MPI Mazda Motorsport Halo bucket seat, and a Texas state license plate. I already thought it was awesome, however after meeting the owner things only got better. I did not catch his name, but the driver was a kind, older man coming from Austin Texas. Traveling alone, and get this, even pulled out a tent to camp trackside and I believe tracked his car both days. I literally aspire to be this awesome when I retire.
I had conversations with a slew of other awesome enthusiasts, it was already an overload and the event hadn't even started yet. I only grabbed those few shots on the other camera I brought on the trip, my Canonet GL17 QIII - it's a smaller, quieter rangefinder that I find is the easier informal carry. Now, for Sunday. First things first - my car, sporting the new number magnet I got along with my run group sticker and wheels on. Much better.
Walking through the paddock and vendor alley was awesome. I got to talk with a lot of the people behind companies I've used to get so many parts from, or plan to some day. It was a reminder a lot of them are relatively small businesses, or how much things can spiral and grow when they begin by just making things easier for yourself and your local friend group.
First on the block, was Johnny from NineLivesRacing. Seeing the miata shaped object in person was a real treat. And I believe I saw him post he now holds a record for fastest "Miata" around Barber! NineLives Racing has really made the world of aero so much more approachable to many, in fact a lot of my favorite cars I saw on this trip were sporting their aero.
Now, what would be the perfect compliment for a strong aero package? How about some Honda power from the guys at KPower Industries. The two cars they brought out looked great in person. And having watched the swap kits they sell for years now it's amazing how they keep improving the kits. After this trip specifically I've decided a K24 will likely be in my car's future once I've worn out my mighty small block 1.6. More on that later, though.
I even got to speak with Greg, one of the guys from Good-Win Racing. No big booth, but all the better he road tripped from California to make the event just for the love of it. They did a write up themselves on their forum I encourage checking out.
Paco Motorsports came out flexing with their new offroad ND. I actually picked up a set of their fender braces at Miatas at the Gap after talking to them here.
These exocets by Exomotive were really impressive. It is a full exocet chassis rather than a chopped up miata chassis, but with a full miata drivetrain. Sounds like a perfect track or mountain toy!
I can't say I took pictures showcasing any of his parts, but Hall Roadster Parts makes the center console delete carpet I have in my car, and he has built a beautiful car himself.
Before I get to the non-vendor pit walk, on Sunday I was able to meet Tom Matano, & Norman Garrett and got them to sign the Miata Reunion Event sticker I had. It is so cool to me that 32 years down the road people are celebrating what these guys created.
Now, for the guys & gals who brought their cars from all over for the event making this event what it is. An awesome enthusiast gathering.
Last, I wanted to post the cars the guys at Napp Motorsports brought out. Not officially a vendor but these guys do youtube videos with build series for both of these cars and also offer a couple of parts themselves. They've been putting together some beautiful cars, and not pictured also have a turbo K swap miata as well. I took a lot of pictures of these because there really is so much to appreciate about them.
To wrap up my time at Barber, on the way out before stopping at the museum I took a couple pictures of my own car throughout the venue.
You would think this is enough of an experience for a road trip as is, but I had an entire week remaining leading up to Miata's at the Gap. The rest of my trip will be documented in a seperate post.
Author: Austin Yero
Date: 08/14/2022
Photography: Austin Yero
Event: Miata Reunion 2022
Venue: Barber Motorsports Park