Feature - Slick Auto’s Widebody Mazda Miata Turbo Track Car

Long ago, before the dawn of dual-clutch gearboxes, electronic stability controls and factory 20-inch wheels, the Mazda Miata began its domination by combining the essence of a classic English sports car with Japanese reliability. The little Mazda roadster was cheap, fun to drive, light and reliable. The Miata was easy on gas, tires, brakes and, unlike any true English car on Earth, if you turned the key it started rather than just strangely confusing you. The Miata was an instant success and became a favorite among autocrossers, road racers and other enthusiasts.

But, over the years, the Mazda Miata began to garner another reputation. It was a girl’s car. A pansy mobile. A limp wristed, half done effort that was packing very little steel and about 120hp. Big block drag racers and sky-high lifted monster truck owners couldn’t be forced behind the wheel of one and stat-obsessed bench racers couldn’t get over its 0-60mph time. We admit, on paper the original Mazda Miata doesn’t seem to be packing the hottest spec list. But take one out for a spin and you’ll be hard pressed to find another car, even to this day, that will be more fun to drive.

And that whole “girl’s car” thing? May we present Exhibit A, Slick Auto’s 1990 Mazda Miata track car. Given the Miata’s massive following, it was only a matter of time before tuning companies began to offer turbochargers, superchargers, suspension kits, brakes and even V8 engine swap kits for it. This Mazda has them all beat. With a turbocharged engine under the hood, a full cage, bodywork that can fit 275-width Hoosiers and a sinister flat black paint scheme, Slick Auto’s Miata is about as girly as bull fighting and peeing standing up.

There’s a Mazda Miata hiding somewhere under there

Under the hood is a custom built OEM 1.6-liter four; turbocharged and making 263whp

Driven and built by Jeff S. Lee, proprietor of Slick Auto, this Mazda began life as a daily driver, complete with such luxuries as air conditioning, power steering and power windows. After 2.5-years of street use, the downward spiral of the racetrack called upon Lee and the “Baby Monster” project was born.

Lee’s build is fairly straightforward, focusing on optimization and efficiency rather than huge power or 5-liter V8 engine builds. Lee put a significant amount of effort into revising the aerodynamics (flat bottom! – Ed.), braking and suspension setup on his Miata. The mixture of OEM calipers, bigger aftermarket rotors and Carbotech racing pads has stood up to track abuse and fits under 15x9-inch 949Racing 6UL wheels, which allow the use of normally unheard-of 275/35/15 Hoosier A6 tires.

Slick Auto’s turbo setup is based around Flyin Miata parts and a Garrett GT2560R turbocharger

We hear that Hello Kitty adds 15whp, guaranteed

Covering those tires and transforming the Miata’s bodylines is the very striking and flared Autokonexion widebody kit. Combined with the Autokonexion fastback lid, hood, APR Performance honeycomb front splitter, rear diffuser and massive GTC-300 pre-preg carbon fiber wing, this Mazda is almost unrecognizable as a Miata. Its bulging muscled flanks and flat black paint job (actually a very tough primer coat) scream racecar more than any Miata we’ve ever seen.

Backing up the looks is the powerplant. The engine is a newly rebuilt 1.6-liter B6P, as originally found in the first-generation Miata, although this unit has been bored 1mm over. The OEM crankshaft was given a WPC treatment before being fitted with R&R billet steel connecting rods and Wiseco 8.5:1 compression ratio forged pistons.

The turbocharger setup is by Flyin’ Miata, consisting of their turbo kit, front-mount intercooler, 2.5-inch adjustable downpipe, 2.5-inch exhaust and cold air intake. The turbo itself is a responsive Garrett GT2560R ball-bearing unit. Using a GReddy Profec B Spec II electronic boost controller (set to 17.3psi), 550cc/min RC Engineering fuel injectors and an AEM EMS standalone ECU, Slick Auto’s Mazda Miata made 263whp and 232 lb/ft of torque. Those runs were made with an ETD Racing high-flow catalytic converter installed; a cat-less test pipe has now been installed to increase exhaust flow.

As can been seen from our test lap data, acceleration is not a problem for the Slick Auto Miata. With more than 250whp on tap and less than 2400lbs (with driver) to carry around, this Miata can easily hit 112mph on the front straight and 113mph on the back straight at The Streets of Willow Springs. The low weight also helps with the car’s grip levels. 1.34 lateral-g is easily achieved through the banked “Bowl” turn (Segment 4, yellow) on Toyo RA1 tires.

A Koyo aluminum radiator, Setrab oil cooler and Flyin Miata front-mount intercooler are all installed but heat has still proven to be a problem

Riding over the bumpy and cracked surface of The Streets proved to be no problem for the suspension setup. The roll cage and chassis bracing helped stiffen the frame against the shock of the bumps but it was the compliancy and travel of the suspension that made the car so quick. Relatively light 450 lb/inch front and 337 lb/inch rear Eibach race springs, teamed with Ohlins monotube coilover dampers, work with Flyin’ Miata swaybars to keep body roll to a minimum. The suspension kept all four wheels on the ground over the track undulations and still had enough roll resistance to keep 275 Hoosiers in check.

Adjustable Ohlins coilovers combine with Eibach springs and Flyin Miata swaybars to make a compliant and capable suspension

The APR front honeycomb splitter is strong enough to stand on

The only downside plaguing the Baby Monster so far has been the cooling system. The Baby Monster Miata has been fitted with a Setrab oil cooler and aluminum radiator but Mazda never designed their roadster to push out more than 250whp on boost. The Miata has proven its pace in time trial and Redline Time Attack competition (1:25 best at The Streets of Willow and 1:29 at Willow Springs) but needs good cool down laps mixed in with its hot laps. Endurance racing is not yet on the menu for this car. But don’t count it out just yet. Remember, this isn’t your mom’s Mazda.

Sources
APR Performance
(909) 594-3796
www.aprperformance.com

Autokonexion
(909) 201-6085
www.autokonexion.com

Church Automotive Testing
(310) 518-4966
home.earthlink.net/~spchurch

Hiro’s Auto Repair
(714) 545-5090
www.hiros-auto.com

Slick Auto
www.slickauto.net

West End Alignment
(310) 808-9233

The Autokonexion widebody kit provides enough clearance to run big 275-wide Hoosiers

A big carbon fiber APR rear wing provides downforce on track

Notice the aero channeling running down the Autokonexion fastback?

APR Performance rear diffuser

This is an all-out track car. Inside you’ll only find a Bride bucket seat, full cage and gutted doors

Slick Auto Mazda Miata Turbo Track Car from The Octane Report on Vimeo.