Every community has standout members, and the Grassroots Motorsports forum is no different. Mike Smith, better known as "Curmudgeon" online, passed away unexpectedly after battling cancer.
Mike left behind a radical, unfinished project: A turbocharged, rotary-powered Mazda Miata, originally intended to take on hillclimbs. He also left behind an only daughter, Carly, who plans to attend Clemson University.
With the …
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Great job team, Good job helping out Mike and Carly.
Agreed. Very nice thing to do.
i hope that the new owner gets to enjoy it at hillclimbs as intended and gets it to the Mitty each year as well. Best of luck to Carly at Spartansburg, they have a great automotive engineering doctorate program and the region Greenville/Spartansburg is full of Automotive tech companies if she follows in her father's interest.
Great idea helping out a guy who helped a bunch of other guys. Look forward to reading the article(s).
I really appreciate the GRM crew doing this. I look forward to working with them, and a outstanding group of local racers to make this happen. Mike was one of the truly good people in this world.
Carly is a really great young lady. She truly has her head on straight and will make the best out of whatever assistance she we can give her.
This little corner of the internet leaves me speechless at times, with their generosity and companionship. It is truly remarkable. Thank You.
I never got to meet him, but he was a regular here and this saddens me.
I'm glad to see you guys are helping to complete his project and my condolences to his family.
Cancer sucks.
This magazine and this board is awesome. Keep up this fantasticness of awesomeness.
Rufledt
UltraDork
12/8/15 10:29 p.m.
That is awesome in many, many ways. Rotary powered miata hill climb car? awesome. helping someone's education? awesome. Remembering someone who was full of awesome? awesome.
I wish I was close enough to help, post up for any needs parts.
Mike was one of the good ones
wbjones
MegaDork
12/9/15 11:33 a.m.
Rufledt wrote:
That is awesome in many, many ways. Rotary powered miata hill climb car? awesome. helping someone's education? awesome. Remembering someone who was full of awesome? awesome.
it was already awesome ... prior to his crash at the Tail of the Dragon Hill Climb this yr. it was a rotary powered Jenson
Awesome job guys. Can't wait to see it finished.
Amazing! What a wonderful thing to do.
This type of e36m3 is why I love this community, and this magazine. Subscriber for life.
I met Mike at the 2006 Challenge when we had matching white Spitfires with completely different designs. Great guy who would do anything to help you out. Sorry to hear about his sudden passing, great cause GRM to help fund his daughter's education.
gamby
UltimaDork
1/6/16 10:49 p.m.
In reply to Tom Suddard:
Bump because this is so awesome.
Just saw the Hong Norr tibute in the current issue.