BAMA Member Steve Wilson

Member since 2002

2002 Blazing Yellow Mica SE. MODIFICATIONS:
 
1) Da'lan Hidden (vertical) hitch to accommodate a Swagman Standard 2-bike rack. You can’t see the hitch when the bike rack isn’t installed. It’s the perfect solution for a Miata purist who cycles!
 
2) 2-meter HAM radio for volunteer emergency communications work. I installed a short antenna on the right rear to minimize detracting from the lines of the car.
 
The radio and bike rack also allow me to support organized bike rides as a one-man SAG unit. I also swear by my Valentine One radar detector! DRIVING STYLE: Spirited
 
FAVORITE MIATA ACTIVITY(S):
Fun runs, show and shine, tech talks, etc.
 
BAMA EVENTS ATTENDED:
Various runs when time away from my business travel allows.
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I was first introduced to Miatas in April of 2001. My manager, at Remedy Corporation (who races ITC class cars), decided to treat our department to a team building exercise at Thunder Hill Raceway hosted by Robert Cornish and Barry Hartzel. Both Robert and Barry are professional drivers and personal coaches. Day 1 was comprised of various team building exercises and games that really worked. They were successful in bringing our team closer together. Day 2 was out at the track. We were paired up by height so that we could share a spec Miata (rented from Larry Oka) without having to make adjustments between runs. The concept was that one person was the driver while the other was the coach for an exercise. The two of you discussed the exercise beforehand and afterward. You then switched roles. We started with a quarter mile straight, to get used to the acceleration and braking behavior of the car. We then did laps on the oval portion of the track. Then we rode as passengers for a few laps, with Barry or Robert, around most of the full track. Talk about an E-ticket experience (a reference for those of you old enough to remember those tickets at Disneyland). We then broke into two groups with each group racing against each other. The goal of the day was for each pair to communicate with each other as well as have fun. We had a blast! It was the first team building exercise that I have ever participated in that actually achieved its goal! To this day…my team partner, Wayne, and I refer to each other as coach! I had caught the Miata bug in a huge way from that experience. I tormented my colleagues for over a year…mentioning here and there that I was going to buy one…really…I’m going to buy one. My colleagues didn’t think I would ever shut up and just buy one. In October of 2002, my father’s van died, so I decided it was time. I gave my 1991 Mazda Protégé to my father and went over to Fremont Ford in Newark and immediately fell in love with the ’02 Blazing Yellow Mica SE! Unfortunately, that put me at a disadvantage with the salesman, but it didn’t matter. It helped that I got a 0% loan. I have loved that car since day 1! It makes me smile to look at it and it makes me smile even more to drive it! It is my daily driver and I love it! It’s cool that there are only 1000 of them. My 2007 Christmas gift was finally receiving the pink slip.
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