This past weekend was a lot of fun! I got to drive one of Mazda’s iconic heritage race cars, the Mazda RX-7 GTO, for The Mitty at Road Atlanta. I had never attended this Historic Sportscar Racing event before, but I had heard so many wonderful things about it. The Mitty certainly did not disappoint, with over 300 race cars entered and absolutely gorgeous weather.
Plus, this year’s event was extra special for Mazda because the featured marque was “Cars of Japan.” There was a special tribute for Japanese entries, including a fan walk and a dedicated race for these cars. I’m a huge fan of Mazda’s historic race cars, but I was just as much of a fan seeing some of the other famed GTP and GTO cars of the same era, like the Nissan GTPs.
It was incredible to see the outpouring of fan appreciation at The Mitty. So many people came, both to watch the racing and to walk through the paddock to see and hear the cars up close. We got to interact with a lot of young fans, as well, and Mazda had lots of great giveaways for the next generation of spectators.
The event wrapped up with a final feature race that saw the RX-7 GTO competing against several other cars of its era, including some of the famous Trans-Am cars of the day. It was fun to run with these prized cars and to appreciate where the strengths were different for each type of car. I was able to come away with the win for the group, and HSR had a very nice ceremony for the top finishers, which put a great cap on the event for our team.
Overall, it was a perfect weekend from all aspects. I am so appreciative for the opportunity to drive these cars, and I’m thankful Flis Performance did such an immaculate job prepping and maintaining the cars to truly show Mazda’s racing heritage.
