I've always been into cars, ever since I grew up in my dad's Foxbody, then later his '03 Cobra. Though, given the first Fast and Furious movie I saw in theaters was Tokyo Drift, it was always going to be a given that I had a heavy lean towards the JDM scene - and by consequence, drifting, too. Before I knew it, Tokyo Xtreme Racer Drift 2 had joined my stable of PS2 games, and from then on my fate was really sealed. Though, it wasn't until high school that my on and off affairs with Miatas began. After seeing the prices of S13s and AE86s in 2014 (I know, I know), I wound up with a red NA8:
It was cool, but not cool enough - with my attention then drifting over (pun intended) to time attack, I soon found myself purchasing what is to this day still my favorite car I've owned - a Splash Green NB2.
It was while I had this car that I started doing media for several events, Pro-Am and grassroots alike in Southern California, and it was then the fire of drift was relightened. My dumbass however sold that car, and got an IS300 Sportcross with the guise of needing a more responsible car for my budding photography career (which later turned into some journalism features, thanks to MotoIQ). Said Sportcross was a piece of shit, so I wound up with a DC2 Integra trying to get myself to go to VtecClub. Never happened. Sold that, and got an LS400. Left Southern California for the real-life purgatory known as "Fresno" for A&P school. Then covid hit. And life hit next. Three moves, two of them to new states, two jobs that require I travel for most of the year, in the span of three years. Finally finding a moment to breathe last October, I found myself bored, and with a fire season's pay in my pocket, I said "Screw it." Enter my third Miata:
This post is already getting to be a mile long, so I'll cap it off here: The car's a 99 with damn near every option, including the ones I don't like - the Bose audio, for starters. I'm not entirely a fan of the 5 speed and 4.3 set up either, since being spoiled with the 6 speed and 3.9 of my NB2. Additionally, it's mechanically clean enough, but the previous owner did quite a few old-manisms. Door panels were ratty and had velcro stuck to them for various things, the passenger side floor mat was cut in half and stuck underneath the pedals, the deadpedal was extended with a rag and duct tape, the works. Did I mention the interior is tan? Because it's tan. 🤢
But hey, for a running, driving, clean title NB Miata with full Roadstersport exhaust and a matching hard top in today's market? I couldn't complain.
Been a while. Did I ever mount up the rest of that big tupperware kit? No. Did I ever fix or paint the scuffed front bumper or its lip? No. Did I grab a harness, and a pair of Kei Office KS-05s, and finally hit the track? Yes.
Car did great, so great that I can't even finger anything I'd want changed on the car. Albeit, this is also my first time drifting outside of Assetto, so, who knows? I'd have some outside pictures of the car here, but I'm still trying to wrangle the socials of the media that were there, so, who knows?
Anyone want to tell me why the fitment on my spares is better than the fitment on my more normal wheels?
It-Sabelt alright. Next event isn't until April, so I've got plenty of time to do the stuff that I won't actually do before then, such as the Garage Vary mirrors that I got to replace the Bomex ones.