Skip Cannon, a true Miata legend

[The Driver]

Hello folks, though not all the material covered in this thread will be Miata related, a good chunk of it will, so please, bear with me.


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I met Skip back in September 2010. I was unemployed and flat broke, when a job interview for a job in Denver arose. I got to hang out with Skip after the interview and got to meet face to face a true Miata legend.

For you see, Skip has owned close to forty (40) Miatas, including the Sunburst Miata and still currently owns what is arguably the most famous Sunburst Miata, the "Outhouse" Miata.


The Sunburst Miata has a 1.9 engine, with forged pistons and an NB1 head. It also has a Flyin Miata turbo kit with the 3071 turbo, with a dynoed 300+ bhp at the flywheel. It also currently has a '3 inch FM exhaust. All that is sent to an essentially Mazda factory 5 speed, with an FM clutch.

I'm proud to call and consider Skip Cannon a friend. I'll be adding more pics of Skip's other Miata and not so Miata related toys. Though not a member of this forum (yet) I hope that the members feedback in this thread, will convince Skip to join us.

[Agent☣Orange]

Hasn't he written an article or two?

[The Driver]

Hasn't he written an article or two?

YY, I really don't know the answer to that. He is a retired aerospace engineer, who worked with the shuttle program.

[Dandy]

I don't think I met Skip but I think I met the yellow car once. We could use some more Colorado peeps on here. There are a few fellas there that could teach us all a thing or two about cars . . . and anything they can share on passing marijuana legalization legislation would be helpful to some of us as well (for the economic benefits of course).

[The Driver]

The outhouse Miata, was originally from New Mexico, and has not been west of TX, yet... :wink:

[Dandy]

Other than New Mexico?:whistle: . . . I'm going to assume you meant east. Anyway, I have been west of Texas and have been at an event that Skip was at so I've probably seen a car of his and I'm pretty sure it was yellow.

[Rogue]

Only Skip could fit trumpets under the hood! ;)
Keep it coming.

[atank]

YY, I really don't know the answer to that. He is a retired aerospace engineer, who worked with the shuttle program.

Yes he has written a couple of articles..........

[wannafbody]

I think he has at least one Miata part that bears his name.

[The Driver]

I think he has at least one Miata part that bears his name.

The Cannon lower brace, sold by FM. It was designed by him.

[Dandy]

https://www.flyinmiata.com/Store/images/13-69000.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/600/2541/1498770064_large.jpg

The early NA's (90-91) had no rear subframe brace at all and thus this puppy was born.

[scannon]

First off, I am not a legend, Miata or otherwise. Not even in my own mind.:mrgreen:

Its true I have been around Miatas since almost the beginning. My first Miata was Sunkist, the only orange Miata from the factory, one of the six so called "color cars". I have owned 32 Miatas so far, about 1/3 of which were fix and flip or stripped out for parts. My current '92 SBY has been with me for 16 years and is the car pictured in the first post. That is far longer than I have owned any other car, my Caterham at 8 years being in second place. I have owned 352 5/8 cars and 16 motorcycles in a lifetime of being a gearhead which started at age 8 when I figured out how to drive my father's '51 Nash Ambassador up and down the driveway on the starter motor.

Here's a link to my latest addition which explains the 5/8ths in my total car count, a 5/8ths scale Lotus 7 powered by a 100cc 4 stroke engine. It will soon be painted to match my Caterham. That's The Driver tooling along on the wrong (English) side of the street. There are also pictures of it with the Miata pedal car I converted to an electric powered RC car.

http://s1261.photobucket.com/user/scannon929/library/Baby%207

Skip

[The Driver]

Welcome Skip, glad you joined us!

I'll be adding pics of the Caterham, and baby Caterham, later. In the meantime, feel free to post your own pics, if you so desire.

Welcome home, my friend!

[tsingson]

Welcome! It is an honor to have such a presence included in our community.

[Dandy]

Great first post Skip. Welcome to our clubhouse.

Great job of recruiting Driver! I'm sure Phat already has some extra stickers in the mail to you as your bonus. Well done!

[atank]

Good to have you here..............scannon!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Driver]

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And this is Skip's Caterham 7. I thought I had more pics of this brute beauty. It is a few inches longer and wider than a regular Lotus 7 (as if there is such a thing). Don't matter, when you ride in this thing it's more like you are wearing it! It is powered by a Miata engine (NA block, NB1 head) and a Flyin Miata turbo kit with a Hydra (as opposed to the Sunburst, that uses the Link system). It too makes 300+ hp to the flywheel and it weights less than 1,600 with a full tank of fuel. When you ride in it, you feel like you are on a two seater F-16 with open afterburners! :eek:


PS: I thought I had more pics of this car, looks like I'll have to go and bug Skip some more! :wink:

[theothersawyer]

My god! You sir have some awesome cars!

[scannon]

My god! You sir have some awesome cars!

Thanks, I think they are pretty awesome too.

On Wednesday I fly to Phoenix to pick up a 2014 Subaru WRX 5 door to replace the 2011 Suzuki SX-4 Crossover that is going off lease in November. It will be my daily driver when the weather is too bad for the Caterham or Miata or I need to haul more than one passenger.

[Sharpie]

Another place to follow Skip's threads. Cool.

Btw, my dad is on his 3rd day of his drive home.

[The Driver]

Another place to follow Skip's threads. Cool.

Btw, my dad is on his 3rd day of his drive home.

Ha, look what the cat dragged in! I found yer ugly pic, guess I need to post it soon!

[SM16RMSM]

Skip, you have my respect. I like the Mini Lotus 7 you have. Very neat.

[scannon]

Another place to follow Skip's threads. Cool.

Btw, my dad is on his 3rd day of his drive home.

I'm very happy to hear that! Did the treatments go well?

[Sharpie]

Everything went as expected. He is on the upswing. Thanks for asking.

Sorry for the thread drift.

Back to our hail to Skip's coolness thread.

[The Driver]

Everything went as expected. He is on the upswing. Thanks for asking.

Sorry for the thread drift.

Back to our hail to Skip's coolness thread.
No thread drift at all, bud. This is a thread about Skip and that includes his friends also.

[scannon]

Sharpies parents have been friends of mine for many years. I met them though Bill and Teri Cardell when Flyin Miata was known as The Dealer Alternative (West) and had just moved to Colorado.

Until this year, they and I were the only people other than Bill and Teri who had attended all of the FM Open Houses/Summer Camps, 15 years worth. This year they could not make it because he was in hospital in Seattle for treatments. They were sorely missed and Bill, Teri and I decided to give them a pass. We talked to them on the phone during the closing banquet and that qualified them for keeping their perfect attendance record.

I am very happy to hear he is well again and on his way home.

Skip

[Sharpie]

They had lunch with Bill and Terri in Moab, and got home about 9:00 last night.

[The Driver]

They had lunch with Bill and Terri in Moab, and got home about 9:00 last night.

I remember meeting you and your Dad, a year ago in Tulsa.


I had no idea, that they guy we were yelling and hollering for over the phone, during the FM Summer Camp, was your Dad. Small world!

[scannon]

They had lunch with Bill and Terri in Moab, and got home about 9:00 last night.

I was in Moab at that time but didn't know any of them were. Wish I could have hooked up with them. I was on my way back from Scottsdale, AZ where I leased a new WRX 5 door. Most of the trip back was done on 2 lane roads and the car and I had a great time.

[Sharpie]

Small world. When Bill and my dad finally got cell signal, they were within a mile of each other.

Glad you had a safe trip back from AZ. How do you like the new Subi?

[scannon]

Small world. When Bill and my dad finally got cell signal, they were within a mile of each other.

Glad you had a safe trip back from AZ. How do you like the new Subi?

The Subie is a great car, I like it a lot. It replaces a 2011 Suzuki SX4 Crossover as my DD.

[Phatmiata]

Skip, which of your fleet is your all time favorite?

[scannon]

Skip, which of your fleet is your all time favorite?

Of the current cars, the Caterham. Overall, my first (of 9) Porsche, a 1965 911.

[The Driver]

I need to meet the new addition to the family.

[scannon]

I need to meet the new addition to the family.
Here's a few pictures to carry you over until you meet her in person.

http://s1261.photobucket.com/user/scannon929/library/Subaru%20WRX

[scannon]

Its been 6 years since the last post. I thought I would update my fleet. I now own my 36th and 38th Miatas, a '16 Club with the BBR turbo, suspension and brake upgrades and a whole lot more. The 38th Miata is a 30AE which has about all the mods I would like except for the turbo. Just waiting for BBR to get the ND2 turbo kit for sale.

My current count of cars owned is now at 371.

The SBY was sold a couple of years ago after 19 years of ownership. Chocked up a bit as I typed that.

The Caterham 7 was also sold that summer.

The '14 WRX was traded in on a '14 Ram 1500. Since then I have owned a '16 Ram 1500 and now own a '19 Ram 1500. My needs and desires seem to change a lot as far as trucks are concerned.

I still have the Baby 7 and the Crazy Cart.

Besides the two ND Miatas I have a '17 Shelby GT350 (Yellow of course) and a beater '97 Nissan pickup that I paid too much for on BaT. I also bought an Exocet stalled project on BaT but quickly figured out it wasn't a good car for me so I sold it.

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[Agent☣Orange]

A true and true car guy. My hat is off to you and I don’t even wear hats! I’m so looking forward to checking out this thread in 2029! I have a thing for yellow Miatas so please treat her right.

[HarryB]

Wow. I do not think I have even sat in 371 cars in my life, let alone own them. Love the 30AE, as well as the GT350, but the mini 7 really stands off!

[Phatmiata]

371 cars? Do you own a dealership? :shocked:

[scannon]

371 cars? Do you own a dealership? :shocked:

Nope, just 60 years of being a gearhead.

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[scannon]

Its been quite awhile since I visited this forum and I thought it was time to at least update my fleet.

On August 13, 2021 I took delivery of a new C8 Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. That date happened to be a Friday the 13th and my 77th birthday. A friend flew out with me and helped drive it home. The day after I got home when I started it for the first time since the trip I noticed the odometer read 1313 miles. Good thing I don't suffer from triskaidekaphobia.

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It now has nearly 7,000 miles, the car is not a garage queen. I just used it to fill up two 2.5 gallon gas cans for my mower. They fit nicely in the frunk with a doggie pad under them and a towel to fill the space beside them. It also does weekly grocery runs.

When my latest Ram 1500 went off lease I bought it from the lease company then sold it to CarMax and cleared $11,300. One benefit of the crazy rise in prices.

I still have the 30AE.

I needed something that could carry more than two people and had a decent trunk. I decided on a 2021 Honda Accord Sport. Its a rather bland 4 door until you press the Sport button on the center console. Then it comes alive, the turbo response is all but instantaneous, all 232 HP takes the car to a 14.0 second 1/4 mile according to several magazine tests. The steering and brakes also firm up. It has 19" wheels and larger brakes and a 10 speed torque convertor transmission.