You remember the 24 Hours Of LeMons SF 2008 People's Choice-winning Eyesore Pimpin CRX, of course. The Eyesore Racing CRX showed us that pimpin' really ain't easy, and neither is finishing the race with a little Honda that's had the crap beat out of it while finishing in the Top Ten in three previous LeMons races.


Sadly, the Eyesore Racing CRX pimpmobile's racing career was over. Crushed! That meant it was time for a new car.


Mazda Miatas usually do quite well at the 24 Hours Of Lemons; a Miata won at the LeMons South event (and another got the People's Curse in Texas). The Eyesore guys managed to find a pair of totally crunched Miata wrecks, plus enough worn-out engine parts to assemble a possibly serviceable powerplant, plus a rusted-solid turbocharger. What next? Why, break out the galvanized plumbing fittings and rig up some turbo plumbing above the engine! Here's what Eyesore Racer and Jalopnik commenter Wrappedinbacon has to say about this rig:
The additional fuel to support the turbo's boost is done caveman-style—with a mechanical fuel pressure regulator. We bought a used one for $20. It's very simple—it squeezes down on the fuel return line when boost increases. Presto, fuel pressure increases, which forces more fuel through the stock injectors.

With the regulator handling things during boosted operation, the factory airflow meter is sort of just along for the ride. Keep in mind that we intentionally kept boost low—the turbo only generates a light breeze of 3.5-psi of boost. Now, I wouldn't say that the driveability is perfect (it isn't) or that our car will go the distance (just look at the turbo installation) but cost was the overriding priority. That's why our car still has the stock Miata exhaust manifold.

The turbo itself was free—it came from a Mexican Domestic Market (MDM, yo) Dodge Stratus and was rusted solid when we got it. The rest of the turbo installation consists primarily of scrap iron and MIG welding rod. The radiator enclosure is the sheetmetal of one of our team member's old hot water heater shed. Coolant lines are galvanized EMT electrical conduit from Home Depot. The engine was rebuilt with a two drills and recycled gaskets.



After god-knows-how-many hours of labor, they got their turbocharged, intercooled Mazda B engine putting out 140 horsepower with 4 pounds of boost. Sure, it's probably going to start spitting red-hot exhaust valve chunks out the tailpipe about 25 laps into the race, but what a glorious 25 laps it will be! Those guys on Team Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys and their Peugeot 505 Turbo had better watch out! Now go check out the whole Ghettocharged FrankenMiata story here!

Here's what John has to say about his past experiences and future plans in NASA endurance racing:

I’ve been competing in the NASA 25 hr race since its inception as a 12 hr back in 1995.. Usually with a first generation RX7.. last year we raced a Miata and the old warhorse RX. Some simple math says that that RX has 1500 hours of racing on it… that is a huge amount of time for a racecar… it has been put into semi-retirement, it is now eligible for vintage racing and will probably be used for just that.

This year we are going after the 25hr in a big way, two brand new ITA spec 1.8L Miatas and a third Spec Miata 1.6. Three cars, yes, I’m crazy. We’ve teamed up with Miller Motorsports, a team that has been a perennial contender for the E-2 class win, as we have been. Rather than race against them, we’re racing with them this year.

Our build up started back in June, we bought a 200,000 mile 1.8L Miata on Craigslist, acquired another one from one of my customers and started stripping them down. I’ve always liked the Lotus green/yellow combo. So we painted them half and half, then mixed up the parts. So the cars have a yellow/green—- green/yellow mashup. Our first test of the new cars was at Thunderhill at the end of October. We had many issues, no oil pressure in one car… some loose nuts and bolts, but in the end our drivers got us a 1st and 6th in the ITA race, a 3rd and a 6th in the 4 hour enduro and we won the Improved Touring cup, as the fastest Improved Touring (IT) finisher in the enduro. This past weekend we tested at Thunderhill again, both cars are down on power, so as I write this the engines are coming out, we are hunting for more power… let’s hope we can find some………. I will update you guys at Jalopnik as I have time.

If you can, come to the race. The start is quite a scene, with F-16 flyovers, bagpipers, and lots of other pageantry, and of course you can cheer for us boys and girls from Evil Genius. It is only $10 to get in as a spectator…… 11:00AM on Saturday Dec 6th is when it starts, ending 25 hours later at noon on Sunday.

Dirty, dingy and scraped up, sure. But trash? Absolutely not! Click here for the high-resolution image because the Gawker hamsters can't seem to let me display the big image in this post. Grr!

The fourth generation MX-5 is expected to show its face in around 2012, but what will that face look like? Van den Acker hints the design is actually moving towards an application of the Nagare design language as seen on the Mazda Kazamai concept they've been showing lately. As one of the worlds few remaining compact roadsters, legions of Miataphiles will be eager to see just how the sweeping lines and flowing curves of Nagare will attach to the shape of their little corner carver. [Autocar.uk]

1 – 90 – Endurance Karting Miata

2 – 29 – Kielbasa Kids Honda Civic

3 – 60 – Scuderia Limoni Alfa Romeo Milano

4 – 0 – Keystone Kops Volvo 244

5 – 06 – Scuderia Testa di Spillo Alfa Romeo Milano

6 – 21 – Team Pro-Crass-Duh-Nation Alfa Romeo Milano

7 – 01 – Schumacher Taxi Service Toyota FX-16

8 – 03 – Dentonators VW Golf

9 – 2 – Schumacher Taxi Service Audi 90

10 – 77 – Team Rob, his two loser friends, and stupid brother VW Golf

11 – 8 – Bean Counters Out Back Racing Subaru Outback

12 – 4 – Nut Job Racing Honda Civic

13 – 07 – Go Green Honda CRX

14 – 64 – Legion of Doom Chevrolet Malibu

15 – 00 – No Budget Racing Pontiac Firebird

16 – 20 – Mostly Motorsports Toyota Paseo / Mazda RX-7

17 – 11 – Team Eliminators Toyota Camry

18 – 37 – Italian Job Racing BMW E-30

19 – 66 – Chard Beef Racing Buick Regal

20 – 02 – Jungle Cat Racing Jaguar XJ-6

21 – 9 – La Grande Fromage VW Jetta

22 – 45 – Vlad the Impala

23 – 3 - Freddies Freakin Fiends Toyota Calica

24 – 70 Stugots Le Mons Mercedes Benz E 300

Though the grille includes a more RX-8-esque rotary shape, this design seems to be more of an indicator of what we can expect from the 2010 Mazda3. Actually, it's not that dissimilar from the Mazda3 concept that turned out to be a Photoshop, indicating that Mazda is following closely the design language they established. [AutoWeek.nl]

How about give the aftermarket a few months and work on paying down those credit card balances. Mazdaspeed can supply a full array of suspension and engine upgrades, while Cosworth has their supercharger — said to provide 210 HP to the rear wheels — on the test bench as we type. Additionally, Flyin' Miata claims they'll have a centrifugal blower ready for action soon, hopefully by the holidays. [Mazda via Autoblog]

OK, well, you would be able to listen to it purr if it actually stayed running. But isn't that why we take on projects like this, just to suffer the pain of anticipation? We can't wait 'till he gets it out on the street. Sure it may not be as powerful or reliable as a well-built Ford V8, but who cares? It's a V12!
[Miata.net via VWvortex]

As Kim Taylor was running down the hill beside her driveway, chasing after her red Mazda Miata, she couldn't help but be confused. She was sure she had put the parking brake on. And yet there was the little convertible, on its way to her neighbors' pool for a 40 MPH splashdown. We have a feeling this was just one of those days.(Thanks Chris)
[York Daily Record via 11Alive]

Editor-in-Chief

Now, at least one Solstice forum found out about this week's Showroom Showdown, but I doubt that alone explains the fact that the Solstice won by a 4 to 1 margin. Ouch! Personally, I think the Solstice looks way better, but I'd still take the Miata...

Miata + Photoshop = Fun! [moesrealm.com]

Related:
Well, Actually, It Could've Come From Your Loins: Trans Am Photochop [Internal]

JDM geeks, get out your marble notebooks and jot down another set of parameters from which to spec up your domestic Miatas, er, MX-5s. Mazda's launching a new edition of the roadster in Japan, the "Blaze" MX-5, which aims to put a more upscale spin on ol' faithful. The package includes with BBS alloys (17"); two exclusive colors, Radiant Ebony Mica or Highland Green Mica (consult your local paint guy for a substitute); additional chrome parts and a two-tone leather interior cast in beige and black. It'll be available for both cloth-top and retractable hardtop models. The price? Millions and millions of yen. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hardtop, Part 1 [internal]

It's been a while since we came across a Camino quite this fascinating. Note the added length, the optional hardtop and the downforce-inducing rear wing. Without that wing, we'd imagine this bugger would spin right off the globe.

More at Paul Davis's Miata Page

Related:
More El Caminos

Why You Should Buy This Car: You are passionate about driving. You like embarrassing Solstice drivers. Power slides are your thing. You drift in your sleep. You understand that for the money, this is the best car on the road.

Why You Shouldn't Buy This Car: You absolutely need to lug around surfboards and half-stacks. I can't really think of another reason. Oh yeah — it's kind of slow.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Mazda
· Model tested: MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hardtop (pre-production)
· Model year: 2007
· Price as Tested: (estimated) $23,995
· Engine type: 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cyl with variable valve timing
· Horsepower: 170 hp @ 6700 rpm
· Torque: 140 ft.-lbs. @ 5000 rpm
· Redline: 7000 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 205/45 R17 tires on 10-spoke alloy wheels/Michelin Pilots
· Drive type: Rear-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: n/a
· 1/4 mile: n/a
· Top speed: n/a (at least 115 mph)
· Fuel economy city/highway: n/a
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: n/a

[by Jonny Lieberman]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hardtop, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Exterior Design: ****
She's a beaut. First of all, massive kudos to Mazda's design team for having the balls to let a Japanese car look like a Japanese car. No one is aping Germany here. The front end is the best Schnoz to spring from the land of Tentacle-Rape Anime since Commander Bond was driving Toyota's 2000GT in grease paint. Equal parts cichlid and pissed off samurai, the front of the new MX-5 is one of the very best in the business. The Solstice and the Quattroporte are its only competition head on. The side's good, too, what with the coiled arches, long, gorgeous fenders and appropriately sporty wheels. The brake calipers, however, look cheap and I would love a crease or two across the trunk. The rear is a reverse mullet — all business out back. Mine was even covered in Mazda Mille and faux-Ferrari stickers. Shame about the embarrassing "Zoom Zoom" ones. The roof rocks in the up position, too.

Interior Design: ****
The interior has been nice-i-fied for the Power Hardtop's inflated price. Most nice is the dark strip of heavily lacquered stuff that holds the vents in place. Second most nice is the push-button manner in which the vents close. The leather seats are sharp and firm, though a bit too narrow for the average American lard-ass. The wheel, shifter and pedals should all be placed in the Smithsonian, for no better can be done. Even the cruise control buttons are positioned exactly right. Why not five stars then? I dare you to find the gas tank release.

Acceleration: ***
Straight-line or lateral? Straight-line is not very good, as 2,500 lbs. trumps 140 lbs.-ft. every time. When it arrives, the MazdaSpeed version will set hearts, and Michelin Pilots, on fire. As it is now, not so much. Don't get me wrong, the MX-5 is by no means a slow car. And it isn't a fast car, either.

Braking: ****
Good to the point where I didn't notice the brakes, despite considerable sideways-getting hoonantics. Fifth star because the calipers are too chincy and ugly to be that good.

Ride: ***
If you like sports cars, the MX-5 is a five. However, sports cars are driven on tracks with good gravel, not on the pot-hole infested shitfields that pass for roads around my not-quite-yet gentrified LA neighborhood. The MX-5 doesn't like these streets either, as it bucks and kicks over uneven pavement. Ironically, the steering is so responsive that the wheel likes to jerk away from your grasp when the going gets rough. Which leads us to...

Handling: *****
Off the top of my head, the Mitsubishi Evo, Lotus Elise and Porsche Boxster are the only cars on earth that handle better. And they all cost more. Visions of "I'm a stunt driver" will dance through your head. I took this puppy up on Angeles Crest Highway, one of the absolute most challenging roads found anywhere in the world, and easily kept up with motorcycles (until that one damned straightaway). The DSC-off, snap-on oversteer is something all serious pistonheads must experience before life crushes them, and they become minvan owners. (Spin, you sure we can't do six stars?)

Gearbox: *****
I don't care how many nanoseconds the F1 paddle system in a zillion-dollar Ferrari takes to shift. The under-$25,000 Miata's six-speed manual is more satisfying. Best. Shifter. Ever.

Audio/Video: **
Sirius means Howard Stern and strippers riding the Sybian. A convertible means you've got to turn the volume way up to hear, which barely works. And when you are lowering or raising the top, the moving deck-lid momentarily blocks the satellite antenna.

Toys: (no stars)
I suppose the buttons to open and close the vents could count... nah.

Trunk: **
Props to the boffins for keeping the trunk the same size rain or shine. However, five cubic feet is just that. Beer kegs ride shotgun and wreck the leather.

Value: *****
As this is a pre-production model, pricing is yet to be set. However, word on the street is $23,995 and that would be the bargain of the decade. $30,000 would seem reasonable.

Overall: *****
The rare five-star vehicle. Yes, yes, imperfections abound (4,000 rpm at 80mph on 91 octane equals suckage), but factor in the low-low estimated price and suck it up.

[by Jonny Lieberman]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hardtop, Part 1, Part 3 [internal]

Despite being a megaseller and perennial favorite of pen-toting pistonheads, the Mazda Miata is still considered a chick car. Make that was. The new MX-5 resembles a lightweight power lifter — tiny but bulgy, with flared wheel arches rising out of the hood and the trunk, aggressive swells around the headlights and dual pipes poking out of a chiseled, muscular derriere. Even with all that metallic beef, a strategically placed Honda Civic can easily obscure the MX-5. Despite 77 extra pounds of hardtop, this welterweight, in pre-production trim, is just 2,575 lbs. And what a fabulous hardtop it is.

Remember this number: Twelve. That's how many seconds it takes to raise or lower the roof. Unlike other, far more expensive hardtop droptops — whose Transformer-like machinations are typically described in terms of a "mechanical symphony of precision" (or whatever) — the MX-5's top performs a slamdance. The tiny rear-deck lid raises up, the top drops and the lid seals it. Boom. No fuss, no hassle, no triple-gainers; just push the button, count twelve Mississippis and do some donuts. It really is remarkably quick, efficient and nifty to watch. Coolest of all, the trunk volume is equal top up or down.

Forget such practicalities though, because the MX-5 is anything but practical. While the trunk can hold a few cases of beer, I had to revert to the WRX Wagon (shut up, Davey) to pick up my mom from the airport. I just couldn't chance it (and I guessed right as Mom had gone shopping). The two cup holders in the center armrest are useless unless the car's stationary; any beverage stowed there blocks the driver's shifting arm. There's a center storage bin between the seats, but it's oddly shaped, awkwardly placed and barely large enough for a tube of suntan lotion. Unlike the soft-top Miata, there's no room behind the seats; the bulkhead's been scootched forward to make way for the machinery.

Nonetheless, five minutes alone with this MX-5 and you'll be dreaming up lease-breaking schemes. In hardtop mode, the MX-5 is about 90 percent as livable as a fixed-roof vehicle. Wind noise doesn't intrude until 75mph. And, of course, short of the Porsche Boxster, it's still the best handling roadster around. Even if you stuff it and turn with the brakes on, the MX-5 fails to understeer. Oversteer can be tricky to induce, but at speeds above sane, it's not that pressing an issue. But then, off goes the traction control (DSC) and on come the power slides. Simply glorious, my friends. I've never had more fun in a car. The only question left is, do I really need a sport wagon? [by Jonny Lieberman]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata Power Retractable Hardtop, Part 2, Part 3 [internal]

Got a rust-bucket Mazda MX-5, but you really want a Caterham? If you're in the UK, check out Westfield's MX5. The company took the running gear from a used last-gen Mazda and added its own kit body and components to create a kind of, well, Mazderham. But there's a twist to the story. Considering the UK's new "End of Life Vehicle regulations" (an environmental law that requires manufactures to pitch in to recycle old, valueless cars) the company is actually promoting environmental sensitivity. Kit-car building on old platforms, they say, is a form of recycling. We're not sure it'll wash over at Greenpeace, but it sounds like a good enough idea to us.

The Mazda Powered Westfield [Westfield Sports Cars]

Related:
Yes, It's a Kit: Colvin 911 for Sale on eBay [internal]

This wee missive just came down from the Mazda press office:

Mazda Motor Corporation will use the 2006 British International Motor Show for its global reveal of the new Mazda MX-5, now equipped with a power retractable hard top roof.

Related:
Mazda to Build Folding Hardtop MX-5 [internal]

UK car mag Autocar says tongues are wagging about a new Mazdaspeed (MPS in Europe) MX-5 roadster that could have more than 250 horsepower. It's not known whether Maz will shoehorn in the 2.3-liter turbo mill that gives the Mazdaspeed3 its motivation, or whether it'll work from its existing 2.0-liter template. It'd be good news for Miataphiles, who'd likely be quite willing to put down their hair dryers long enough to test out that newly stiffened chassis, as propelled by a serious powerplant. (Oh, c'mon, we kid because we love.)

Mazda to Beef Up the MX-5? [Pistonheads]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Mazda MX-5, Part 1 [internal]

Reader Peter hipped us to these MX-5 ads that supposedly didn't make it past somebody's Standards & Practices board. The first one's our favorite, but both made us giggle out loud. For anyone who grew up on Herbie flicks, this'll rank as good stuff.

Related:
Mazda Turns the Pump Into the Pusherman [Internal]

Mazda's recalling 2001 and 2002 Miatas due to a cold-start emissions problem that could put the cars above federally-mandated smog standards. About 32,000 vehicles in the US are affected by the recall, the fix for which requires a new CPU program that should lower non-methane organic gas emissions by 26%.

Mazda Recalls 2001-2002 Miatas for Emissions Fix [EPA New England]

Related:
Mazda Recalls Mazda5 Wagon [Internal]

Our buddy Richard tipped us off that Mazda is using the Miata name in an ad for the 2006 MX-5 in Vanity Fair (Ladies, is that the music issue?) We'll have to keep an eye out for Miata ads. Anyone else seen any?

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Mazda MX-5, Part 1 [internal]

Dan, Dan. You've got the Pulitzer, now put down the Scrabble dictionary and step away from the word processor before some poor bastard loses an i. Frankly, Dan — and you know what devoted readers we are — it's just that when you get giddy, the sylababble alights from your lead paras like bees scrambled to intercept a Big Gulp. It's as if you'd become inhabited by a twee Flemish scribe who's spent most of the 13th century chained to a dungeon wall. Well, ok, that Kate Moss line is brilliant. Oh, what the hell, carry on.

Thrill-seekers wanted [The Los Angeles Times]

Related:
Dan Neil Declares Ford Fusion Remarkably Adaquate [internal]