Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Moderators: Mike Simanyi, Leonard Cachola
Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Hi guys,
I was wondering if there's any shops I could take my Miata to to get teched before an event takes place? Was at the Dubfest autocross this past weekend and tech felt some of my wheels had a bit too much play. I took the car to just a local auto shop downtown, but the mechanics said they didn't find excessive play in the bearings after inspection. Was wondering if there was an auto shop with SCCA guys who could take a look at my car this week. Wanted to take the Miata down to the SD novice school this weekend and didn't want to fail tech down there.
Thanks in advance!
-Min
I was wondering if there's any shops I could take my Miata to to get teched before an event takes place? Was at the Dubfest autocross this past weekend and tech felt some of my wheels had a bit too much play. I took the car to just a local auto shop downtown, but the mechanics said they didn't find excessive play in the bearings after inspection. Was wondering if there was an auto shop with SCCA guys who could take a look at my car this week. Wanted to take the Miata down to the SD novice school this weekend and didn't want to fail tech down there.
Thanks in advance!
-Min
- Steve Ekstrand
- Solo Safety Steward
- Posts: 7482
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
- Club: CASOC
- Car#: 15
- Location: This space left intentionally blank
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
No guarantees in life.
Who at Dubfest teched your car? If it was part of Doug's crew then they are experienced autocrossers. If it was the speedways safety people they are buffoons.
Who at Dubfest teched your car? If it was part of Doug's crew then they are experienced autocrossers. If it was the speedways safety people they are buffoons.
Dr. Conemangler
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Doug's crew, the good guys =)
- Robert Puertas
- Posts: 1093
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
- Club: PSCC
- Car#: 44
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
For a Miata I'd go to Hiro's in Costa Mesa.
Koji, the owner, is a great mechanic, and often autocrosses with us in his Miata. He also works on alot of the other Miatas that run with us.
Hiro's Auto Repair
http://www.hiros-auto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
3042 Enterprise St # D
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-5090
Koji, the owner, is a great mechanic, and often autocrosses with us in his Miata. He also works on alot of the other Miatas that run with us.
Hiro's Auto Repair
http://www.hiros-auto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
3042 Enterprise St # D
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-5090
-
- Former CSCC Overall Champion
- Posts: 1681
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 14
- Location: Corona del Mar
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Ditto. Koji & his staff are the only mechanics that I will let touch my precious Christine. They are great and know Miatas inside and out.Robert Puertas wrote:For a Miata I'd go to Hiro's in Costa Mesa.
Koji, the owner, is a great mechanic, and often autocrosses with us in his Miata. He also works on alot of the other Miatas that run with us.
Hiro's Auto Repair
http://www.hiros-auto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
3042 Enterprise St # D
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-5090
MiataRoadster/OS Giken/ChaseCam/
2001 Mazda Miata
#14 DP
2001 Mazda Miata
#14 DP
-
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:27 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 46
- Location: Moorpark
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Or, you could go the other direction... here to Tri-Point Engineering. We are in Canoga Park.
- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Yeah ... you didn't tell us where you're located. I've got a "regular" Mazda (non-authorized) place in Alhambra that I like.
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm actually located in Koreatown, pretty close to downtown LA, so somewhere closer like Alhambra works better during the week, thanks!
-Min
-Min
- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
see ...
HAINES (Mazda Specialist)
2233 West Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
Tell Haine that Mako sent you ...
HAINES (Mazda Specialist)
2233 West Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
Tell Haine that Mako sent you ...

- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
btw. on some cars (rear STI bearings) it's just a matter of tightening up the big hub nut ...
- Jason Flores
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 886
- Location: Riverside CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Or...set up a time to meet mako and "give him beer" and he can re-tech your car to make sure that its something that you need to even worry about...Mako Koiwai wrote:see ...
HAINES (Mazda Specialist)
2233 West Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
Tell Haine that Mako sent you ...
- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
sending you a PM
- George Schilling
- Club Representative
- Posts: 5136
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
- Club: CASOC
- Car#: 66
- Location: Lakewood, CA
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Enough about Christine...........what about your car?Bill Schenker wrote:Koji & his staff are the only mechanics that I will let touch my precious Christine.

Yimin, If you ever get to the Long Beach area, I'm right off the freeway @ the 405 and Lakewood. I'd be happy to check it out for you.
CASOC Autocross Club, 1984 Van Diemen RF-84, 1600cc Kent, Hewland Mk9, Centerline 2 pc. wheels, Hoosier R25B, SuperTrapp, Zimmer Alloclassic titanium left hip w/Metasul LDH chromium-cobalt lg dia head
- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Weird, Christine ... Karen's is named Charlene, and she has her own facebook page!
-
- Former CSCC Overall Champion
- Posts: 1681
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 14
- Location: Corona del Mar
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Talya named her, after the S. King title character - after Robert Puertas pointed out that after the Vail Tour, where my brake rotors catastrophically failed, my car was actively trying to kill me.Mako Koiwai wrote:Weird, Christine ... Karen's is named Charlene, and she has her own facebook page!
And the irony? After breaking @ EVERY national event, and nearly all local (the few I did) races & practices, this year, the car worked flawlessly for both the Pro & Nats. not a hiccup - just the driver s*cked!
MiataRoadster/OS Giken/ChaseCam/
2001 Mazda Miata
#14 DP
2001 Mazda Miata
#14 DP
-
- Posts: 2761
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: PSCC
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
What else is new!Bill Schenker wrote:just the driver s*cked!
:gpower: :gpower: :gpower:
Hi Bill !


Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Thank you all! Autocross people are the best! Mako's helping me re-tech it tomorrow night (I'll make sure to bring beer =P) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's an easy fix.
Best,
Min
Best,
Min
-
- Posts: 2663
- Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 4:22 pm
- Club: CASOC
- Car#: 32
- Location: HB, CA
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Robert Puertas wrote:For a Miata I'd go to Hiro's in Costa Mesa.
Koji, the owner, is a great mechanic, and often autocrosses with us in his Miata. He also works on alot of the other Miatas that run with us.
Hiro's Auto Repair
http://www.hiros-auto.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
3042 Enterprise St # D
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 545-5090
I'll be there this evening picking up the Supra for it's freshening up.

- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Putting in new FRONT bearings on the Miata was one of the easiest things I've ever done on a car.
- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Bill - Christine has been upset with you for a long time. Now that you're treating her properly and not anonymously she's treating you better
- Jason Flores
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 886
- Location: Riverside CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Yimin Lai wrote:Thank you all! Autocross people are the best! Mako's helping me re-tech it tomorrow night (I'll make sure to bring beer =P) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's an easy fix.
Best,
Min
Hey Min...so how did it go? is all good?
- Mako Koiwai
- Posts: 6490
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:25 am
- Club: SCNAX
- Car#: 34
- Location: South Pasadena, CA
- Contact:
Re: Shops with knowledgable autocross staff?
Good to go ...