Spirit of Mazda: Dave Wheeler

Longtime Supporter of Spec Miata and owner of a successful prep shop treats everyone like family.

You could say that Dave Wheeler wrote the book on Spec Miata. He at least wrote one of the most trusted tomes on how to build one, The Spec Miata Constructors Manual. Now on its second version, the book has sold more than 3000 copies, helping veterans and rookies alike slog through the regulations and particulars of building a car for the most popular class in amateur road racing.

The owner of Advanced Autosports, one of the largest Spec Miata prep shops in the country, loves to help people get started and improve their motorsports results, explains his wife, Ann O'Malley. That spirit of teaching others for the mutual benefit of Mazda competitors, or Tomoiku, is a primary reason that Dave Wheeler is the recipient of the June Spirit of Mazda award.