More than 500 Miatas Gather at Lime Rock Park for MiataCon 2024

Over the weekend, Lime Rock Park transformed into the ultimate destination for Mazda Miata enthusiasts as MiataCon 2024 attracted over 500 Miatas from all generations and fans from across the country, some traveling from as far as California. Against the vibrant autumn backdrop of Northwest  Connecticut’s hills, the event celebrated the legacy and lifestyle of Mazda’s iconic sports car.

In its second year, Lime Rock Park, in partnership with Sports Car Driver Association (SCDA), MiataCon success was unmistakable, with attendance and participation skyrocketing. Race entries surged by 55 percent, while MiataX, the FCP Euro Proving Grounds Autocross experience, saw an 80 percent increase, as more fans than ever stepped behind the wheel to test their Miatas with professional guidance.

The Car Corrals saw 25 percent more participants, all rallying around the passion for Miatas and adding to the atmosphere that is turning MiataCon into a hallmark event for Mazda enthusiasts.

“MiataCon has evolved into an annual celebration of the global passion for the MX-5 community,” said Lime Rock Park President Dicky Riegel, who raced in the Spec Miata class, showcasing his enthusiasm for the event. “The outpouring of dedication from Miata owners, fans, Mazda North America and Mazda Motorsports, along with Mazda of Milford, Whaling City Mazda and Moss Miata makes this event special and highlights the incredible sense of unity within this community.”

Adding a spark of royalty to the weekend, the youngest-ever SCCA National Spec Miata Champion, 15-year-old Ethan Goulart, was crowned King Grand Marshal of MiataCon. In an enthusiastic show of support, Lime Rock Park Track President Dicky Riegel, presented Goulart with a crown, scepter and cape, celebrating his accomplishments and infusing the event with a sense of pride and community spirit.

“We are excited that MiataCon has become a must-attend event for Mazda Miata racers and car enthusiasts!” said SCDA President Elivan Goulart. “We had a remarkable increase in entries this year between three Sprint Race Groups, our HPDE Group and our Endurance Race. But what truly sets this event apart is the unique blend of competitive racing and deep camaraderie among the Miata community. With such an impressive turnout in year two, we can’t wait to see what next year holds!  We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Lime Rock Park on this fun event.”

Event Highlights:
The excitement began on Friday with two scenic drives through Connecticut’s autumn countryside, led by the Nutmeg Miata Club, immersing drivers in breathtaking fall colors and creating a very unique collective experience for the Miata drivers and their passengers.  MiataX also welcomed new participants to Lime Rock’s FCP Euro Proving Grounds, where beginners took on “Intro to MiataX” sessions that offered an accessible, exhilarating track experience, setting a record for event participation.

On Saturday, the paddock was alive with car corrals and displays organized by Miata generation—NA, NB, NC, and ND—alongside a display of JDM sports cars and charming Kei cars. Mazda of Milford returned with an impressive eight-car showcase, featuring models from the CX-30 to the CX-90 and the Mazda 3 Hatchback, plus two additional Miatas for fans to explore. The Moss Miata Car Show made its debut, awarding the Best Overall In Show to Allision Contursi’s 1991 NA. The Best in Style went to Jason Testa’s 2006 NC and Joe Wall’s 2019 ND snagged the award for Most Personality. His bright orange Miata, which he decked out as a pumpkin, (even donning a pumpkin costume himself) added to the festive spirit of the event.

In the Mazda USA Lounge, attendees explored Mazda USA’s Heritage Collection, showcasing rare and cherished Miatas that highlighted the car’s evolution across generations. Fans admired seven models, from the earliest Miata to the current 2024 version, including unique designs like the “Halfie” model—half stock ND Miata and half MX-5 Cup Car—and a SEMA concept car, all underscoring the timeless appeal and innovation behind the Miata.

The night ended with a lively MiataCon Mixer where attendees enjoyed music and campfire hangs.

Exciting Saturday Racing:

While the paddock buzzed with the spirit of the Miata lifestyle, the main circuit roared with thrilling MX-5 competition. The racing lineup included nine Lime Rock Park Drivers Club members, two SCCA National Champions- Evilan Goulart and Jonathan Goring- and the current SCCA National Spec Miata Ethan Goulart, who participated in the Enduro on Saturday, missing Friday due to school.

The largest class of the weekend, Spec Miata, boasted a near 40-car grid and also saw the closest finish of the weekend with Matt Carr edging out Sean Noonan by .167-seconds to claim the checkered flag.

Ric Hosley clinched the MiataCon Ultimate Lap Record in the NB Open X class, setting a time of 59.141 seconds during Group 3 Qualifying Race 2, a testament to the competitive spirit and skill of MiataCon racers.

Exciting prize packages added extra incentive for the drivers, with Hoosier Tire East sponsoring contingency prizes for top finishers. Each class winner received a pair of high-performance Hoosier racing tires, while the rest of the podium finishers were awarded a single Hoosier Tire each. Additionally, class winners earned the title of “Miata Master” and the chance to return to defend their title at MiataCon 2025, with Lime Rock Park underwriting the entry fees. Winners also received complimentary entry to an Advanced Lapping Day with the Lime Rock Drivers Club, and second and third-place finishers were awarded two weekend passes to any 2025 Lime Rock Park event. SCDA contributed gift certificates for podium finishers, rounding out a generous prize pool for MiataCon competitors.

Race Results (Full Results):
Spec Miata: Mathew Carr (No. 90), Sean Noonan (No. 0), Dean Lambros (No. 757)
MX-5 Cup: Massimo Risi (No. 18), Colin Duffy (No. 72), Justin Tracy (No. 33)
NC Open Exhibition: Jaden Lander (No. 04), Alex Rubenstein (No. 600), Brad Childs (No. 87)
NB Open Exhibition: Ric Hosley (No. 553), Shakir Wilson (No. 3), Michal Stach (No. 681)
NA Open Exhibition: David Gran (No. 13), Terrence Smith (No. 00), Ed Zemeck (No. 38)
Endurance Race: Massimo Risi & Josh Green (MX-5 Cup No. 18), Aleks Radovic-Moreno (NB Open X No. 129), Dicky Riegel & Don Drislane (Spec Miata No. 34)

The weekend closed on Sunday with 1,100 cars participating in the final FCP Euro Sunday Motoring Meet of the season, which included a special Trunk or Treat, celebrating a diverse array of cars and a shared passion for motoring.

MiataCon concluded the Lime Rock Park 2024 season. The full 2025 season schedule will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Fans who missed MiataCon, can watch the Glimpse of MiataCon powered by Mazda of Milford live stream replay here: https://www.youtube.com/@LimeRockPark/