If you’re a fan of the Mazda Miata’s amazing balance and handling characteristics, then Tonight’s Break/Fix guest is to blame. He is best known as the Concept Engineer for the original Miata and he developed the original suspension as well as the packaging layout, achieving the group’s goal of the ultimate “Lightweight Sports car.”
Norman H. Garrett III is an accomplished Automotive Engineer having worked for major companies such as Mazda, Subaru and Volvo. His corporate experiences span the global automotive development arena, with notable success in specific markets related to energy, emissions, and materials. He has supported Georgia Tech and Oak Ridge National Lab, and if that wasn’t enough, you might recognize him from some of his most recent articles on Hagerty like “A few things you should know before you steal my 914” and “Right seat confessions of an on track driving instructor” - and with that, we’d like to welcome Norman to break/fix to share some of his stories.
===== (Oo---x---oO) =====
00:00:00 Meet Norman H. Garrett III
00:01:33 Norman's Early Passion for Cars
00:05:25 First Cars and Early Experiences
00:12:35 Journey into Automotive Engineering
00:20:04 The Birth of the Mazda Miata
00:30:18 The Evolution of the Mazda RX-7 and Miata
00:31:33 The Decision Behind Miata's Engine Choice
00:33:44 Driving Experience and Design Philosophy
00:36:38 Miata's Popularity and Customization
00:42:25 The Future of Miata and Its Legacy
00:44:27 Comparing Miata with Other Sports Cars
00:54:52 Restoring and Modifying Classic Cars
00:57:59 Carburetors vs. Fuel Injected Engines
00:58:24 The Decline of Aftermarket Performance
00:59:45 The Rise of Superchargers
01:00:35 Miata's Insurance Strategy
01:03:11 Porsche 959 vs. Ferrari F40
01:06:26 The Future of Autonomous Driving and EVs
01:09:23 The Evolution of Internal Combustion Engines
01:21:07 Closing Thoughts and Shout Outs
====================
The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net
This episode is brought to you by SRO Motorsports America and their partners at AWS, Crowdstrike, Fanatec, Pirelli, and the Skip Barber Racing School.
