On April 27 and 28, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, outside of Salinas, California was alive with Mazda MX 5 Miatas.

The first “Miatas at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca” was held in 2009 to commemorate the Mazda MX-5s 20th anniversary, and has been held every year since then, this being the fifth running. This event is entirely for MX-5 Miata owners only, who were able to enjoy Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and its distinctive “Corkscrew” corner through circuit runs and parade laps for each level. Visitors were also able to ride along with pro drivers. There were serious racers competing in the 25 Hours of Thunder Hill, people who came in their own custom modified cars, and those who brought their cars from far away on car carriers. In the paddock, drivers were showing off their beloved cars with personally modified color schemes, and quickly making friends.

This year, former Mazda USA designer and leader of the design group for the first and second generation MX-5s Tom Matano was invited as a special guest. For MX-5 owners, Mr. Matano, the "Father of the Miata", is a very special figure. He responded to requests to sign the hoods and dashboards of their cars. Mr. Matano currently resides in San Francisco, and is Executive Director of the School of Industrial Design faculty at the Academy of Art University. Mr. Matano's successor, current Director of Design at Mazda USA Derek Jenkins also participated in the event. You may remember the MX-5 SUPER 25 and MX-5 Spider Concept revealed at last year's SEMA show. Mr. Jenkins gave a commentary on the design concepts for these works of his. For Mazda MX-5 owners and Miata fanatics, this event was like a dream come true.