A Turbocharger, Under Glow Lights and a Christmas Tree? Matt Lamphier Combines Them All for Holiday Racing in His Mazda Miata

From daily driver to show car duties, and now clicking off 8-second time slips, Matt Lamphier’s Mazda Miata has covered pretty much all the bases. A former Sick the Magazine feature car, Lamphier has molded the LS-swapped 1992 Mazda into a winner, all starting with a class victory at Hot Rod Drag Week in 2021. “I did the event as a one-and-done pass every day,” said Lamphier, but his 8.576 average would prove good enough to top the Super Street Small Block Power Adder class. Less than six months later, Lamphier rolled into a hotly-contested 235 Outlaw Street Race class at Sick Week, battling drag-and-drive vets Doug Cook, Andy Cook and Jason Doisher on the small 235-millimeter width tires. Lamphier opened Sick Week with an 8.509 pass, quicker than any of his Drag Week runs, but only good enough for third-best after one day of work. But he stayed sharp, closed the week out with an 8.502, and averaged an 8.529 and earn the class crown over Keith Fenstad in second and Doug Cook in third.

Matt Lamphier on a run during the FL2K event at Gainesville Raceway in October 2022.

After a quiet middle of the season, Lamphier would wheel “The Turtle” north to compete in two events during the month of October, FL2K and the 352 Shootout events at Gainesville Raceway. Lamphier was heading for home before round two at both events, but oddly enough, the early exits would prove a good thing for Lamphier. One month later, on the very next pass, a test run at Bradenton Motorsports Park, Lamphier bent the rear subframe. “I’m glad my last two track outings ended early,” said Lamphier. “Otherwise, I would’ve been driving an injured car home.”

A tweaked factory subframe after a recent test session resulted in a crooked right tire for Lamphier.

The Mazda still employs the factory IRS, although with a Ford 8.8” center section. And although Lamphier considered going to a solid axle, he’s decided to stay the independent route. He upgraded to a beefier subframe, starting with a factory base and giving Jace at Miatas & More the green light to add additional bracing and a new differential mount. “When you stick 1300 horsepower in a chassis designed to handle 80 horsepower, bad things can happen,” said Lamphier. “The car was originally slated for show car duty, but obviously things have changed.” Lamphier hopes the upgraded subframe is temporary, as a new tubular one is on order, with even more bracing and better tie-in points to the frame rails. “That should be the final fix.”

Lamphier got everything buttoned up in time for the recent Cleetus McFarland Christmas Tree Race at Bradenton Motorsports Park, and added a six-foot-tall white Christmas Tree just behind the front seat area. Hoping to improving on his 8.27 best pass from the 2021 event, Lamphier pushed the 5.3-liter LS with a single Bullseye 92-millimeter turbocharger to an 8.22 at 163.67 mph pass to win round one, but exited round two when a boost-limited 8.73 time slip didn’t get him to the finish line first.

“The Turtle” got some Christmas touches for the annual Christmas Tree Race at Bradenton Motorsports Park.

Lamphier’s plans for the 2023 season include a return to Sick Week, as well as the final TX2K event at Houston Raceway Park. But biggest on his plate is wedding plans with his new fiancé Meg Garcia, who he recently popped the question to on December 3rd. “She will be my co-pilot at the 2023 Sick Week event,” said Lamphier. “We’re looking forward to defending the title together.”

 Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of KWS Images