Mike Bryant

This hobby, sport, obsession…whatever it is, creates so many core memories and deepens so many friendships. I can’t wait to get started again in 2023. Bring it on! Thanks to @nycska @digitaldisplacement and @photo_joe64 for capturing so many of these #thecrew #becauseracecar #trackablemiatas #ncmiatagang #mazda #mazdamiata #mazdamotorsports #gridlife #gridlifemidwest #trackcar

To be honest, making this kind of recap makes me think of that 3rd place meme at the end of the photos. But I'm all in on the feeling! There's a saying, "comparison is the thief of joy". While I can agree, I think context is key. Comparison can also be a powerful motivator. Recognizing my lap times were within range of the mid-pack of Gridlife ClubTR in 2022, I decided to dip my toes into Time Attack. I did two events with Gridlife in 2023 with the second being the unforgettable Laguna Seca Festival. I ended up in the Podium Sprint in a 170hp car that was essentially a concept of what "could be". Kpower announced their engine swap kit development that year and the decision was made. When it was ready, I'd make the move to a K24 and see what we could do in this class. The summer and fall of 2024 served as testing and showed great promise for the platform combination. And here we are, less than a year after KPower dropped an engine into their first turn-key customer car, standing on a podium at the biggest Gridlife event of the year. A goal that was born, probably prematurely, in 2023 has come to fruition. It's never just the car though. In 2025 I am working with @robertsonracing to improve myself behind the wheel. The car is clearly plenty capable. Now it's time to focus on getting the most out of it. I've got a lot of room for improvement, a chasm of skill gap if you will, and Scott did an incredible job over the Midwest Fest weekend helping me scratch the surface. He analyzes incredibly well but more importantly, he finds a way to communicate his ideas in a simple and clear style. Concepts that I can comprehend and apply. Results were good this weekend and we have something to build on for the rest of the season. Thanks to the @gridlifeofficial livestream, my friends and family were cheering me on in real time, texting and joking. The support in person from BJ, Trina, Ian, Nathan, Stan, Joshua, Chong, Phil, Dana, and Mario. And most of all, my wife, Rachel, who has supported me to no end watching from the hot-pits and being there to show me what we accomplished. All of this makes third place feel like first. I can't help it. 📸 @alexswankmedia

@minnoxide took these phenomenal photos. I couldn’t even bring myself to add transitions or anything fancy. The work speaks for itself…enjoy @kpower.industries @ck_garage_llc @racebredcomponents @kazespecengineering @awrracing @apexwheels #gridlife #ncmiatagang #becauseracecar #kswap #kswapmiata

Better late than never. On the way to Blackhawk for the ASM test day! @charlie.moua.doryoku @rsevoix @racebredcomponents @apexwheels @asmotorsports.us

When you’re driving home from Road Atlanta and @corvettemuseum is right off the highway, @just_another_brz_ and I couldn’t resist stopping by. #corvette #museum #roadtrip

If you had told me that a 1:35.5 at Road Atlanta would only be good enough for P5 in @gridlife ClubTR I would have slapped you in the face. If you also told me it would be 1.5 seconds off P1 I would have violently and deliberately kicked you square in the dick. But, here we are. Enjoy the lap from my POV @phasedapproach @apexwheels @racebredcomponents @rsevoix #ncmiatagang #clubtr #pov #roadatlanta #gridlife

Don’t really feel like any of us got a fair shot at learning this track in 2025. So, here’s to hoping this weekend provides a better opportunity. This year though, we have rain tires just in case. We’ll be off track by 1pm each day so check in early if you can. Time Attack kicks off at 8:15, 10:35, and 12:10 EST on Friday. 8:55, 11:25, 12:45 EST on Saturday. Livestream here: /live/spCx9mVkqXE?si=P_OCX_kYF3pHA7vm

Last chance for a good experience at Road Atlanta. Last year was not my favorite by any means. But, it is a LEGENDARY venue so we are gonna try again. Unfortunately, CMP highlighted that we’re still behind the 8-ball for straight line speed and Road Atlanta isn’t exactly a technical track - it rewards big cojones and horsepower. But, we are gonna go have fun and revel in what’s basically an arrive-and-drive experience. Plus, it looks like good racing weather! Don’t forget to follow along on the YouTube stream @racebredcomponents @charlie.moua.doryoku @apexwheels @rs_motors_inc @wolfbox_official @phasedapproach @alexswankmedia

This shot from the kink at @carolinamotorsportspark is so badass. Thanks @speedscape_photo for this. That is all. #automotivephotography📸 #ncmiata #gridlife #clubtr #kswap

Because learning a new track on the other side of the country isn’t hard enough…sometimes you rip off your shifter while heading into a braking zone at 100mph… The IRP retaining screw had vibrated itself out leaving the car in neutral with now way to easily get it back in which cut our second session short. My first thought was to get the car behind a flag station well off the track to not ruin every one else’s track time. I was worried about the brake lines I had just made, the adjustable tie rods I had just put on, and the new pads…never considered my shifter would be an issue. Easy fix but definitely a code brown moment. #codebrown #ncmiatagang #gridlife #becauseracecar #fail

All weekend long at @carolinamotorsportspark the car just begged me to eat more and more curb. I kept thinking the curbs would unsettle the car. But the @phasedapproach custom built Coilovers never found something they couldn’t handle. I was able to go four wheels over the kink without any distress. High speed, low speed, any corner, any exit, it didn’t matter - it was all smooth. Road Atlanta will be another great test, but I’m ecstatic to say I have full confidence now. @alexswankmedia captured the moment! #ncmiatagang #miata #suspension #racecar

It was an insane idea to travel 21 hours to a track we’ve never been to and use a national Gridlife competition event for our shakedown…but that’s exactly what @just_another_brz_ and I did. It turned out pretty damn well considering! We’ve partnered with @alexswankmedia to capture the chaos and memories from our events this season and I’m loving the results. @racebredcomponents @apexwheels @phasedapproach @charlie.moua.doryoku @wolfbox_official @rs_motors_inc #gridlife #clubtr #mazda #hondapower #k24swap