Almost as frequently as we’re asked about Cavalier
engine swaps and Tempo fender fl ares, we’re opening
letters from readers wanting to get started in competitive
racing, but unsure how to begin. For those of you who have
to fund yourselves (us), the easiest way is through club
racing in an organization like SCCA or NASA, or competitive
driving schools like Skip Barber’s. And while clubs exist
for nearly every popular platform (sorry, Cavy and Tempo
owners), many would agree the most convenient car to
begin in is a Mazda; specifi cally, an MX-5 Miata. Recently,
2NR was invited to stand in on MAZDASPEED’s annual MX-5
Cup Shootout, an invite-only battle among eight of the
aforementioned sanctioning bodies’ winningest amateur
racers, for full-ride corporate Mazda backing in the 2009
SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup—a roughly
$50,000 value, not to mention, an event that feeds directly
into professional ranks.
The event was simple: contestants were invited to CA’s
