(October 25, 2023) GREENWICH, Conn. — A 1999 Mazda Miata MX-5, which set a Bonneville Salt Flats G/GT class land speed record of 165.296 mph in 2011, and was also raced in the SCCA Spec Miata class, is the latest car donated to The Piston Foundation to go up for a charity auction on Bring a Trailer, a digital auction platform. The auction began on Oct. 23, and ends on Oct. 30 at bringatrailer.com, with 100 percent of the proceeds, including the buyer’s fee, going to The Piston Foundation scholarship program.



The two previously auctioned vehicles — a 1973 Datsun 240Z and a 1960 Willys Wagon — sold for a total of $154,240, creating scholarships for 27 aspiring technicians. The sale of the Miata will create several more scholarships for 2023.





Car owner and Piston Foundation Founders Club member Harvey Siegel, of Long Valley, N. J., donated his prized race car for this cause. “I am a big believer in chasing one’s dreams and, as such, I hope this contribution will help these kids pursue their car-fueled dreams the way I once did on the Bonneville Salt Flats,” he said.



An accomplished racer, Siegel is known for resurrecting VIRginia International Raceway and developing New Jersey Motorsports Park. 



“We are thrilled to have received this donation from Harvey Siegel,” said Jeff Mason, President of The Piston Foundation. “The provenance of this car can’t be duplicated. It’s a piece of land speed history.” 



Built by Ryan Pilla of Car Doctor Garage in Water Mill, N.Y., a successful Miata racer himself, “the car is top-notch and ready to keep racing,” added Mason.





Aptly named the 2160 (as in, “Going to-160-mph”), the Miata racer’s drivetrain, chassis and suspension had been modified to reach high speeds on the Salt Flats, with the naturally-aspirated Bonneville engine producing upwards of 290 horsepower, more than double the output of traditional Miata engines. The highly modified inline-four Bonneville engine was later replaced with a 1.8-liter powerplant as part of the the car’s conversion for Spec Miata competition.



Together with his son Luke, Siegel’s goal was to set a land speed record on their rookie attempt, with Luke in the driver’s seat. After an immense amount of engineering and preparation, the mission was accomplished. (Read the full story at https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/the-rookie-record/).




The buyer will also receive the Bonneville engine, the aerodynamic wheel covers and other components used to set the “rookie” record. The Bonneville engine received fresh bearings, rings and gaskets in preparation for sale.



The Miata will be featured at MiataCon at Lime Rock Park this coming weekend, on Oct. 27-28, just as the auction ends. More information may be found at https://limerock.com/events/miatacon/.