I opened up my latest issue of Sportscar and low and behold I saw this full page ad.

Evidently Miata is going the NOPI route to get males interesting in racing their cars
http://www.mx-5cup.com

Playboy has been a huge motorsports sponsor for years. Grand Am, IMSA... I mean, it's a male dominated sport, why not hit your demographic?

Guys drive Miatas?

racing guys.

Have you ever driven one? They handle like a dream... just woefully underpowered.

Yes, and a Spec Miata as a matter of fact, and on a race track to boot.

It was a nice little car.

Another use for one is the suspension on my electric car in college.

[IMG]http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff87/swiftwood/auto/untitled.jpg[/IMG]

an exgf had a miata. I have never tracked one, but the street was a good indicator. They seem to like momentum a lot, because they lack power...

The have been the primary sponsor for MX5 cup for three years if I remember correctly.

Playboy sponsored the SCCA showroom stock series back in the early 80s.

Seems like good product placement considering the demographic.

They show up for the GrandAm races



EDIT
BTW there's a supercharged Miata that shows up at our autox's. Now THAT one's fast!

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No they don't.
You must be dreaming.

I've only ridden in one, at an autoX with slicks, and the driver was sure getting the most out of it. I don't think it would be much fun on a road course though, at least not without about 100 more hp.

The R/C ones do.

I hear...




More chic pics, this thread is turning gheyer by the minute. Thank you.

I thought they already were radio controlled.

You mean people can fit in there?

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Yea, at least 100. They're really boring on a big track. And usually don't have the benifit of slicks because of the Spec Miata thing.
They really don't handle any better than any of the "sporty" imports out there.

handling is such a nebulous statement.

let me define why I said they handled well. If nothing else, the car is balanced and communicates very well. FWD cars just don't communicate as well.

My last car was a Honda Prelude VTEC. It was a pig until I put Eibach springs, Koni shocks and Engram (or was that Engalls?) Adjustable Upper Control Arm bushings. Before that, car was a relentless understeerer, the front and rear suspension did not speak to each other one damned bit.

The Miata, on the other hand, has sharp steering that tells the driver what is up. The front/rear communicate well and the balance seems good for a street car.

I do agree the car is woefully under powered, my Lude would eat one for lunch in a straight line.

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Ok, I know I'm a hardass on Miatas. I guess they'd be alright on the street. I've driven 4 different ones but never on the street.

On the track, I'm not impressed. In the corners, they feel like the other imports. And yea, a FWD takes a totally different driving style, you have to throw them into corners very hard to go fast.

The last Miata I drove was 4 hour and a half sessions in a 25 hour race. The first lap was exciting after being pumped up by the driver change. The next 88 minutes were pretty dull.