Gearing Up for Adventure: The Genesis of GRAND TOUR Miata
How it all began
My love for driving has been a constant in my life, beginning with my first two seemingly practical vehicles-a 1986 GMC Safari, and a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. Though they were standard, everyday cars at first, I transformed them both into something you might expect for a young adult. With nitrous, custom wheels and paint in the Hyundai and a dual exhaust, candy apple red paint, aluminum wheels and 2 15” subwoofers in the Safari, among many other modifications. There has always been something about the theoretical freedom to go anywhere anytime in a car that was liberating and exciting to me.
However, my entire outlook on driving transformed in 2010 with the purchase of my first Miata, a 1994 Special Edition. Its tossability on the road, compact size, and encounters with fellow Miata enthusiasts—who exchange waves or flash their pop-up headlights—awakened a sense of camaraderie in me. I realized we shared a simple, unadulterated love for driving.
I’ll say it like a broken record, the Miata stands out, not for its speed or flashy looks, but for its humble design dedicated solely to the joy of driving. Yes, there are faster, more visually striking cars with superior handling, but often they are out of reach of everyday people. Miatas, in contrast, represent the pure joy and privilege of driving, accessible to everyone. It's a spirit similar to Porsche's, yet without the high price tag.
Fast forward to 2024, I've owned six Miatas and currently enjoy driving three of them.
My interest led me to a Top Gear magazine article in December 2023, where they chronicled a journey of a 2016 MX-5 to Alaska's northern slope, along with a separate article from Road and Track documenting a 1980s Ferrari 308. This made me wonder: "Has anyone taken a first-generation Miata on such a trip?" So far, only a handful have completed the journey, I decided to be one of them!
The name Grand Tour Miata has been floating around for a while in my head, and I loved watching all the Top Gear Specials and the Grand Tour, so the name seemed fitting.
Why I'm Doing It
My motivation took root from a longing to explore Alaska coupled with reading the 2 previously mentioned articles. Yet, instead of taking a flight, I prefer a richer experience – to drive. Having visited nearly all the states, the untamed wilderness and expansive beauty of Alaska have always captivated me.
Additionally, I'm eager to test the reliability of the Miata on an extended journey. With 365,000 miles clocked on its original engine and drive-train (though with a new clutch), it has been remarkably reliable, thanks in part to regular maintenance & excellent engineering from Mazda.
However, the most compelling reason emerged amidst increasing discussions about the future prevalence of self-driving technology.
I believe that as long as I am physically capable, I would prefer to drive to my favorite national parks, top down, with a 5-speed in hand and the wind in my hair, rather than surrender control to big tech.
My worry is that as time progresses, younger generations might lose their interest in driving, placing undue trust in AI (which may very well be safer than any human driver in the future, but still). These are the same youngsters who will mature into lawmakers and potentially view traditional drivers like me as hazards, possibly imposing laws that either tax us or ban us from roads altogether, relegating our driving experiences to crowded tracks on weekends just like Niel DeGrass Tyson predicts.
Thus, this page is also a celebration of human-operated driving that will hopefully be something we can always enjoy.
After all, a car has no soul without a human behind the wheel!
Where It's Headed
Having resolved to journey to Alaska in late June, I'm hopeful that, with sufficient support and a successful trip, I can embark on more epic adventures in the future.
If this evolves into something more I am ready for it!
