Hello! I just found this forum while reading up on the Bauer Catfish and ended up linking here to a build thread. I'm not new to forums, as I've been a member of other miata/mazda/car/motorcycle forums for about 15 years. Although I've had my MazdaSpeed since 2006, I've been out of the miata community for about 5 years.

A short(ish) history (ok fine, it turned out to be kind of long)
I bought a 2004 MS miata back in March 2006 with only 9000 miles on it. The original owner had installed 15x7 kosei k1-ts wheels, which I love so I kept them, as well as a hard dog hard core and lower side panel trim pieces. I started installing FM intake stuff, FM and magnaflow exhaust, all quality fluids, replacing known problem parts, installed ground control threaded spring perches, TDR splitter, speedhut boost gauge made to match the factory gauges, manual boost controller, o2 signal modifier, Japan market Roadster badge from the NC (because it looks so good), removed front and rear factory emblems (except the MS badge), lots and lots of stuff.

During this time I ended my job working for the NC DOC and went back to school for automotive systems technology. Earned my degree with a 3.98 gpa (one damn B ruined my perfect 4.0), began working as an ASE certified tech at a Mazda/Jeep/GMC/Buick/Cadillac dealership, continued going to school full time, taking some engineering classes while still working full time. During this time I got into motorcycles, first with an SV650, then a moto guzzi griso 1100 (which I still ride daily), then I designed and built two motorcycles, first one based on a 2010 triumph bonneville, second based on a 1977 yamaha XS750 triple (still have both), and also managed to build a 350hp 9-2x aero (WRX in Scandinavian guise) for my wife.. in my down time. I eventually switched from engineering to geology and earned my degree last spring, graduating magna *** laude. I still haven't been able to find a job (even though I've put my CV out all over the country and in other countries), which sucks after performing so well in school, but that's a different story/rant.

I'm sad to say, I neglected the miata during this time. It sat, barely ever driven, needing life support to keep the battery from dying. Every day, year-round I would jump on that guzzi or triumph and ride off, killing my poor miata's soul just a little bit every time. I think I put no more than 5000 miles on the car in over 5 years (as it sits right now, the car has barely over 50,000 miles). Recently in anticipation of the ND release (which I've been watching closely for almost 2 years), I started getting back into my miata.. massaging her soul back to health, then letting her out of the cage to run, remembering how fun it is to push this car to the limits. Reminiscing with her over all the smiles and tears we've had together.. blasting around the mountains at the 13th annual miatas at the gap, the $8000+ damage that was done to her when we were t-boned by a careless driver (I got away with just a concussion and a bloody head), racing her at small and large gymkhana and road-race events, all the (too many) times she's been rear-ended by drivers too busy staring at their phones to be bothered with braking, The 1st-place trophy we brought home from the first and only SpeedFed Nationals at Rockingham.

I've been getting the itch to build something again, and although I don't have the money to do so, I've still been perusing the options for cars based on the miata and stumbled upon the Bauer Catfish and the Exocet. I've known about the Westfield for many years, but these two new entries are just so damn beautiful, and I want one of each. First step: get hired already.

 

The catfish is a work of art when I saw it in person. Beautiful car.

 

Oh yea, I figured some of you might want some pics of said vehicles, so here they are:

This is a picture I took that won me a moss miata photo contest, which has been used by them in various forms, including the cover of their catalog.


The guzzi (my daily driver)


The Chimera (first bike I built based on a triumph). This bike had been wrecked so badly, it was split in half. I bought it without a title, as parts only, then gave it new life. In the process, I designed and constructed a new front end to accommodate everything I wanted: spoke wheels (sealed to run without tubes), dual front disc brakes and adjustable upside-down forks.



The Luxe 77 (second bike I built based on a 1977 XS750 triple). The seat is not upholstered here, which I still yet need to have done. The material I bought for the seat is a marine-grade fake leather that looks like a horse saddle, so just imagine that.

 

Welcome, TheMadHatta. Check out the Miata Gallery and post up some pics!

 

Never mind Braineack- he's a robot.

Welcome.

 

lol, he sounds like a robot.

 

No, I mean the Braineack account it literally a robot. It was initially created just to post automatic new-user greetings, and over time it's started doing all sorts of weird ****.

We've tried everything to shut it down, but it keeps re-spawning. Even the database backups are infected, to the point where some people are starting to refer to it as a virus.

 

It's not a virus?

Welcome Madhatta. I love the bikes, they look fantastic. Miata looks pretty good too.

How many times have drivers hit the back of your Miata? (I'm trying to avoid the rear-ended jokes here...) How can you miss a bright red sports car like that?

 

Welcome to the forum. I like what you have done with the bikes and look forward to another Catfish or Exocet build being chronicled here at some point.

 

I know, I figured you were being serious by what Braineack posted. So you're saying you've actually created skynet? I knew it would start on the forums!

I've been rear-ended 3 times, all in the college town where I live, all by college kids staring at their phones. I didn't bother replacing the rear bumper cover last time because I know it's going to happen again and again until I get out of this town, so I now have a big crack across the rear (no pun intended). That's ok though, it matches the places where my mountain bike rack has worn through the paint on the spoiler.

 

Welcome, your bikes are gorgeous. I love the cafe racer-esque style. I would love to build one myself but traffic around here is too heavy to be able to enjoy them.