[rockfan4]

So I tried a Miata.

I've been out of a race car since 2012, I haven't even driven a car with a clutch since 2020 when I sold the street car, since I'm now working from home.

It took me most of the day to get back up to speed, and I'm no where close to the times of a mid pack Spec Miata, but what do you want after 1 day? Blackhawk Farms, I broke 1:30, I'm not sure what my fast time of the day was, as they didn't want us to focus on times, but rather the line and smoothness, but I got a peek at a Mylaps output of our 3rd session: 1:29.7. Fast guys are 1:22 - 1:23.

I ran a driver school with Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs, 35 years after my first school with them. Rented the Miata from Advanced Autosports, as Chris said, they're a 1st class operation.

I'm not a tall guy, 5'9", maybe 5'10" on a good day, but I had a heck of a time fitting in the car. Aluminum seat all the way back against the cage, but I don't think this car had the lowered floor. I had to scrunch really hard to get in with the helmet and HANS on, so later I tried getting in without the helmet and that worked better. It wouldn't have worked if this car had a center net, but MCSCC doesn't require them. The only other issue was turn 4 at Blackhawk, if you do it right, your right wheels are up on the curb coming out of the corner. When the car comes off the curb, the cage slams me hard in the left side of the helmet. I ended up pinching the exit to avoid the slam in the head.

Didn't break the car, didn't throw up in the car (another guy did, it was hot), and I was faster than the guy in the Boxster. Hopefully I'll get the 944 ready to go again, and get out a few more times this year.