About the Mazda Miata
Also known as the MX-5, the Miata is one of the most iconic sports cars of all time. It’s affordable, it has ready access to high-quality parts, and also has an extensive online community. The Miata has attracted a huge following of loyal fans since its original model released in 1990. Over one million Miatas have rolled off the assembly line, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
I proudly owned and drove a 1996 black Miata with a tan leather interior for many years. I was also fortunate enough to have the chance of a lifetime to attend an event hosted by Mazda itself.
The 25th anniversary of the car
In 2014, the Mazda Miata celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Laguna Seca Raceway. This included an official Mazda-sponsored car reunion at the Raceway that September. During this event, Mazda unveiled the fourth-generation Miata, known as the ND.
Miata owners, Miata businesses, and enthusiasts flocked to the Raceway for a multi-day bonanza of a car meet. The schedule included time slots on the racetrack, several events, and a few giveaways. Mazda also sponsored a showroom where some of the most important Miatas were proudly displayed to the public.
Nearly two thousand Miatas (1,934 to be exact) showed up, and the event organizers got everyone parked in such a way that the cars spelled out “MX-5 25” visible from the air. Even more people showed up than Miatas; most cars came with a driver and a passenger. I remember reading that there were nearly 2,500 total attendees over the three-day event but I haven’t been able to find an exact figure anywhere.
Miata.net badge design contest
Miata.net is one of the largest online forums for Miata owners, enthusiasts, and hobbyists. Leading up to the 25th anniversary event, they ran a design contest for event participant badges to identify attendees. I entered the contest with a set of three badges, one for each generation of Miata; my design was selected and quickly exploded in popularity.
I initially created versions with the three most popular colors of the cars, as well as grayscale versions for people without color printers. The badges were intended to be printed on card stock if possible for better durability. The attendee would write their name and details on the badge, then place it in a plastic badge holder and attach to a lanyard to wear during the event.
Adding more options
Miata owners are notorious in the car community for modifying their cars to suit their needs and tastes; every single one is unique. As a result, I quickly found myself inundated with requests for more badge options. By the time the event rolled around, I’d made 62 variants with various colors, body kit configurations, headlights up or down, etc. I’d also made a handful of completely custom badges with non-standard colors or aftermarket body panels.
Close to two thirds of the attendees I met at the event were wearing my badges.
