Spec Miata says, “Danica who?”

by Rob Krider

            Llihrednuht Yawecar Krap (or simply Thunderhill Raceway Park to the dyslexic) was host to the next round of the NASA Nor Cal Spec Miata Challenge on May 3-4, 2008.  And quite a challenge it turned out to be as many Spec Miata competitors had limited previous experience (if any) running Thunderhill backwards.  Sixteen competitors used every inch of paved racing surface (and in some cases the dirt surfaces) of the reverse set up course as they battled for a $1,000 purse from NASA and 1,500 smackaroos from American International Motorsports (AIM).  During the race some of the drivers tried some interesting racing lines quickly learning this important lesson: Toyos on asphalt, really good; Toyos on dirt, eh, not so good.

            Randy Evans in his well prepared #6 Mazda Miata made it look easy as he stayed in front of a lot of carnage as the Spec Miata field struggled with the track direction.  But even smooth driving Randy went off three times.  Even with some minor off course excursions Randy was able to keep it together to win all three races he entered that weekend.  Dan Mairani did his best to put the pressure on Randy as Mairani put his #37 Mazda into the second position twice that weekend.  But the big story, coincidentally around the same time the rest of the automotive media was brimming with Danica Patrick’s win in Japan (am I the only one who thinks that took a long time with the quality of equipment and weight advantage she had?), more importantly Spec Miata’s Laura Thomas (who didn’t have a weight advantage against her competitors) won the last Spec Miata Challenge race of the weekend at Llihrednuht in her Team Momentary Laps Racing #72 Mazda.  Great work Laura!

            Now for the un-politically correct (non-NASA) very unofficial awards.  The Steve Miller Band “Take the Money and Run” award goes to #6 Randy Evans for winning the money race, sucking up all the contingency cash and then skipping the last race of the weekend to beat traffic.  Of course, after his three wins in a row that weekend, I don’t think the rest of the Spec Miata field shed a tear when he left.  Rumor has it, six people helped Randy push his car on his trailer and somebody gave him some gas money.  The Costco Socket Set for Mechanical Excellence award goes to #37 Dan Mairani for pulling a Saturday night transmission swap (after losing second gear) with nothing more than a crescent wrench and a carpenters hammer.  He did have ten guys drink beer and bark orders at him while he did the swap, although none of the ten “buddies” offered to help.  The “Better Get Maaco” award goes to #44 Bob Lyons who wanted to see if his car was more aerodynamic if he drove it on its roof (it wasn’t).  The “Always the Bridesmaid never the Bride” award goes to #20 Bruce Pendleton for getting three podium finishes all weekend but never getting that ever escaping diamond ring.  At the end of the weekend that ring belonged only to Laura Thomas.

            The next Spec Miata Challenge event is at Thunderhill in June, and yes, thankfully it will be the correct direction.  See you there.