Driving Sports

Dunlop Takes the Win in SCCA Tire Rack National Tour Autocross

It should be obvious that Dunlop's new Direzza Sport Z1 "Star Spec" tire would do well in the Lone Star State. Consider three Shreveport, La., racers who won big on the new ultra-performance tires at SCCA's Tire Rack Solo National Tour at Fort Worth, Texas.

Barry Booker and wife Connie won the Street Touring Xtreme (STX) classes for men and women with the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs on a 2004 Volkswagen R32 sports car. Car owner Paul Carrig took third in the class. Each took home coveted Sports Car Club of America hardware.

Booker, who has competed for more than 10 years in club racing and auto cross, notched the Texas win with a 2.85-second lead after two days of competition. In the past, the Bookers have won National Tour events in STX and D Stock classes. Barry Booker works for a specialty propeller manufacturer in Shreveport.

V6-Powered Miata is Awesome

Yesterday we did a photoshoot for our Miata Magazine, Forever MX-5, of this unique and very awesome V6-powered Miata.

Sure, there are V8 conversions out there, but they're simply ridiculous. Keeping "reasonable" with a Mazda-sourced V6 creates a car that is true to the essence of the Miata, but kicks performance to a new realm: 180whp in a featherweight car with fat tires. And yes, this car can handle. I may even go so far to call it brilliant.

Click the jump to see the video, and go subscribe to Forever MX-5 Magazine to read all the details in the Summer 2008 issue.

Dunlop Introduces New Autocross Tire

Fresh off the starting line, Dunlop's Direzza Sport Z1 ultra-performance tire already has a star next to its name in 2008.

A star has always implied something special, and on the new Direzza Sport Z1 "Star Spec" summer tire, the star designation carries prestigious cachet. For example, "Star Spec" helps provide faster lap times from the start and "consistent grip on ensuing laps" in sanctioned events, according to Matt Neidert, performance tire brand manager for Dunlop in North America.

The new tire features the "Star Spec" tread compound, which helps a performance car's initial dry grip during sanctioned amateur driving events, such as autocross and high-performance track-events hosted by regional car clubs.

The new Direzza Sport Z1 "Star Spec" is available now, qualifying it for use in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) national events. According to section 13.3 of the 2008 SCCA SOLO rules, tires must be readily available by April 30 to qualify.

The "Star Spec" predecessor won SCCA's hotly contested Street Touring Ultra class at the San Diego National Tour on Sunday. Drivers Thomas Kenna and Richard Jung set the fastest overall times for street tires with a first and fourth place. The Southern California duo raced on full treads, while competitors used shaved tires.

USA Today Discovers Amateur Racing

National newspaper USA today has a great story about amateur racers in Mazdas, and chose to feature MazdaSport and Forever MX-5 Autocross columnist Jason Isley, saying:  "Like any other working stiff, Jason Isley commutes to the office in his sporty coupe during the week.

But come Friday, he wrestles the baby carrier out of the back seat of the Mazda RX-8, wrenches on a set of extra-grippy tires and slaps some magnetic racing numbers on the sides. Plop on a helmet, and the transformation is complete: family man to top-performing race car driver."

[Read the whole story in USA Today]