Rolex 24hrs of Daytona........

by Aaron Tachibana - aaron@miata.net 

Feb. 5, 2001 - A week ago I got a call from my good friend and fellow racer Rick Weldon. he said, "Ya wanna go do Daytona in a Miata?" No need to ask me twice ..so off we went to help the lone Miata entry do battle at the Rolex 24hrs of Daytona!!!

Rick Weldon has been a notable Mazda racer for all of his life it seems, and through his connections the owner of the the Miata, Ron Tambourine enlisted his help in getting the Miata to race at Daytona. Two weeks before a race is really cutting things close so when I was offered a chance to go help.. I threw caution to the wind, packed my well worn motorsports bag and caught a flight out to Daytona to meet the team on Weds. January 31rst...just 2 days before qualifying for the event was to begin.

Arriving at the team motel at 2AM in Daytona (right on the beach), Rick Weldon, Hector Luiz, Mark Wiley and myself were met by Ron Tambourine (team & Miata owner) and the rest of his crew. After a brief discussion of what tomorrow would bring we settled in for the short sleep till morning (7AM track call). We were all hoping for warm sunshine, but it was raining and the weather report showed sunshine throughout the other 49 states...why not in Florida..or more specifically Daytona Beach, it was going to be under rain for most of the week.

With anticipation and excitement running high we got our credentials and went to the paddock to the the Team Tambourine garage # 60...right into the midst of Porsche land...the lone Miata surrounded by Porsche GT-1's, RS, Paul Newman, Vipers, BMWs and the odd but kewl looking Marco's...yup we certainly were surrounded by the best of the best...We all smiled cause we knew we belonged there too!!!! This is the Grand Daddy of all Endurance Racing in the United States..and we were there to do battle with the only Miata entered!!!

We finally got our first sighting in person of the fabled #58 Miata. It is a complete tube framed 91 inch wheel base Miata powered by a 13B rotary...it was sooo trick!!! The brakes were awesome and everything about the car was very purposeful built, Imagine 16" x 10" three piece Panasport wheels with Good Year slicks ;-) Initially the Miata was built with sprint racing in mind, and since the Rolex 24hrs is an endurance race, we had a lot of sorting out to do to make the transition from sprint attitude to endurance. The team all worked hard on prepping and making the proper technical adjustments necessary. While the Miata looks exactly like a Miata on steroids...with the "skin" on...we were working with all the body panels off and that reveal nothing short of pure race car...everything about the Miata was purpose built for racing..if it were not for the form fitting body panels..you would not have been able to recognize our familiar little Miata lurking underneath. Each time we assembled the panels over the frame I swear I could see a snarl develop in the front nose piece as if to say..."Porsche..smorsche...we're gonna kick some butt..!!!" Prep time was at premium and we were all adjusting to the different parts installed to make the transition from sprint car to endurance racer. One can't imagine the intense pressure everyone was under to make the starting grid in so little time. The installation of the sequential 6 speed went straight forward and I can't tell you how much I wish I could have taken that tranny home and put it in my beloved Christine...LOL..!!! Damn, should have brought a bigger suit case...which was already full with the extra set of 16" x 10" Panasports...LOL.!!! At last we were were ready for the track...open practice started and we pushed her out to the grid. Things were going ok... making adjustments and dialing in drivers, 150 mph front straight speed in the rain..hmmm..not too shabby. At the close of the session we knew we had a bit of work to do to qualify...so back to the garage we went.

As with all things associated with racing..nothing ever really comes easy..it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of luck..we were a bit short on both counts at times but we diligently worked hard to utilize the time as best we could. It was decided to skip Friday morning's practice and just prepare for Friday's night practice under the lights. Racing is an interesting test of man and machine, patience, strategy and good deal of luck, there were 80 spots open on the grid and more than 85 cars trying for those 80 spots. This meant that we had to qualify at 110% of the fasted qualifier..and that was a very fast target to hit. When we first arrived at the track...visions of winning and grandeur floated in our minds, but by now we'd settle for making the grid, and hopefully being able to finish the race. By the end of our qualifying session we clocked a 2:04 or so..and were hoping we would be able to squeeze by the bubble, but fate had other ideas that day and we were bumped from the grid. Not making the show was disappointing to all. We gave everything we had in a gallant effort to make the race...but this time it wasn't in the cards. All was not lost however, along with Team Tambourine, there were 4 other very fast Porsche teams that were bumped as well. You wouldn't believe how much support there was for the little Miata there. Every race team always gave us a thumbs up knowing we were facing an uphill battle and they gave us their encouragement. Camaraderie like that went a long way to soothe the distress that we all felt. So, unfortunately, the lone Miata had to watch the race from the paddock garage. I looked at her intake grill opening and swear it was frowning...was that rain on the headlight cover or was that a genuine tear.... All I could say to her was...we'll get em' next time..May at Watkins Glen!!!!!! She seemed to crack a smile at those words....

No race team ever makes it without much needed support. That support comes in many different ways, some come in the form of monetary assistance, other in volunteer help and yet more from the vocalized fan base that cheer the team on through thick and thin..!!!! Thankfully the Miata community has done all of this and that makes us all very proud indeed!!! I'd like to give special thanks to all of the list members that contributed to the cause...it was not lost as we carry the flag to Watkins Glen in May!!! Special thanks to Gary and Keith for the Miata.net stuff and funds, Cat for her awesome support, Hector, Mark for the "Sticky Buns".... and Rick for letting us all share in the fun, and you all..the Miata.net list!!!!!

Aaron 
aaron@miata.net