"ROADSTAR" BIOGRAPHY

In 1997, I got my Miata, a really clean used 1995 Brilliant Black with the PEP option package and only 6000 miles on the odometer. In the first weeks after I got it, I placed a huge order from Flyin' Miata and had local shops install: FM dual exhaust, FM springs, FM front strut brace, FM clutch and flywheel, Tokico Illumina struts, TSW Hockenheim 16" wheels, Toyo TS1 tires, Jackson Racing sway bars, Jackson Racing cold air intake, Robbins top with glass rear window, custom black leather seat covers, all new stereo equipment, and a Valentine radar detector. But something was missing...

Within a month, I was driving halfway across the U.S. from Santa Monica, CA to San Antonio, TX to have a custom turbo system installed by Corky Bell.

When we got back from Texas a week later (only got one speeding ticket--in Texas) my stock-looking 185HP car went straight into the body shop. They installed a Hard Dog roll bar, removed the pebbled-texture coating on the bottom halves of the doors, and mounted a Frankenstein-like combination of my favorite body kit parts from different manufacturers (Racing Beat Type 2 nose, Wings West rocker panels, Simpson flush rear bumper, BSP driver's side NACA duct headlight lid). All new black Glasurit German paint was applied with a pearl white Cobra stripe down the middle. Voila! "Phase 2."

About this point it hit me that my car needed a nickname. I thought, "Hm...black car with white stripe...PEP option package..."

Off I went to the DMV to order personalized plates saying "PP LE PU." It's always fun seeing people in my rear-view mirror smile as they "get" the concept.

Here's a shot of "Phase 2" Pepe le Pew with Mazda designer Tom Matano and me at local club event at Mazda's Design Center in Irvine, CA:

1999-2000 were a couple of bad years for Pepe. In four separate incidents (none due to this driver's error): the fiberglass rear bumper was smashed when we got rear ended by a hit-and-run driver in stop-and-go traffic; then, while walking towards my car parked on the street in front of a restaurant, I watched in horror (in what seemed like slow-motion) as a driver got into a mint 1968 Corvette parked right in front of Pepe, put the 'Vette in reverse, and proceeded to smash Pepe's fiberglass nose; then, in two separate hit-and-run parking lot incidents, the driver's door and left taillight area were smashed.

So, in late 2000 Pepe had a return trip to the body shop. We made the needed repairs plus some upgrades: Simpson "cowl induction" fiberglass hood, VW recessed oval side markers using actual welded-in salvaged fender sections cut from a recent VW, BSP passenger's side NACA duct headlight lid, filled in the waistline groove around the entire car, replaced the OEM side mirrors with ones from a C5 Corvette, a Wings West Supra replica rear spoiler, and a new custom color paint job: Honda #PB74P4 Dark Amethyst Metallic Pearl, with dual Viper stripes (white base coat with pearl and House of Kolor Abalone glitter).

Here's the award-winning 2001 "Phase 3" Pepe:

The Supra replica spoiler is not a universal piece, it was made specifically for the Miata by Wings West.

Here's the rear view with the spoiler:

I've never seen or heard about another Miata with one installed. In fact, Wings West asked me if they could use pictures of mine on their website!

In acknowledgement of the "Phase 4" that I've been working on since Spring 2001, I'm renaming my Miata "Roadstar."