Race Engineering Bob Thorton Custom Built Spec Miata Engines

Race Engineering Testimonials
What our customers are saying...

Justin Hille - SM #175 7/16/2010

A few months back I decided to make the jump from HPDE to racing in the most competitive club racing class today. We wanted to find a well built car with all the right parts. With my first race under my belt, I knew I had a good motor. Now with 4 podiums and a win halfway through the rookie year, and the car still not giving up, I was sure that Race Engineering really is the gold standard in Spec Miata motors.

I met the builder of my motor, and I was treated like I knew him my whole life. Any questions or concerns I had he was sure to help me out and help expand my knowledge of the class. I can call him and know for sure my questions would be answered. He even offered for me to hang around his shop for a couple weeks during the summer to learn even more and be more competitive. Now that is service!

Thank you Bob Thornton for all of your support and the wonderful motor you built.

Alex Gaines - CCR Division
Race Engineering is without question the best choice I've made
in my racing career. Not only does Bob build the best engines
but his customer service is what really separates him from all
the other engine builders. After hearing great things about
Race Engineering, I decided to purchase a car that already
had a Race Engineering motor in it.

The next day I called Bob with some questions and even though
I didn't purchase the engine straight from Bob, he treated me
as if I was a customer of his for 10 years. Being new to the
Spec Miata class it was priceless to have someone like Bob
give me advice and personal mentoring. He took me under
his wing and helped guide me to my first win in only four races.
Without his engine and his personal help, I believe I would not
have been able to win in such a short time.

My Race Engineering motor gives me a mechanical piece
of mind, and having Bob Thornton as a friend and mentor
gives me the confidence I need on the track.

Justin Morrow - DC Division

Hey Bob,

Just e-mailing you with some updates.

Last event with nasa mid atlantic held at summit point, I finished
in my highest positions ever. Received my first top ten at eighth
position on sat and sunday finished in the top five at fourth position.

I can't begin to explain how satisfied I am with the engine you built.

Again, I know how most people are these days, only contacting
people to complain, so I just wanted to send a quick e-mail to
thank you for the continuing support you provide to me.

Thanks,
Justin Morrow

Howard Mellman #50 NEOhio Division

Bob,

I want to thank you for building a great motor for my Spec Miata.
The horsepower and torque are second to none.

You have been a valuable asset to my racing in 2006 and will
be going forward into 2007.

I appreciate you taking my calls even while busy to help in any
way you can. I have gone from mid pack to the pointy end of
the field with the help of your Race Engineering motor and advise.

Thanks

Howard Mellman
#50

Danny Puskar
Carbotech Performance Brakes

Puskar Motorsports couldn't be happier with our engine choice
in 2006! We had been with an engine builder we thought
(and most others) was the top engine builder around.

We kept hearing about these RE motors, and then at the 2005
Pro-Miata Cup Championship shootout we witnessed the RE
power first hand. Unfortunately, we were not running an RE
motor (the winner of that race was running an RE motor) and
we left Road Atlanta extremely impressed. So we did some
investigating ourselves. After some serious consideration and
discussion amongst our team we decided to go with Race Engineering.

The result? 1st place finish in driver championship;
1st & 3rd place finish in team championship (two car effort all season);
track records set at every track but two; a Nelson Ledges 12 Hour
class win and an overall win; and a 2nd place finish at the VIR 13 Hour!!!

For 2006 we raced in USERA, a pro series for spec miata
endurance racing. We won every round of the USERA series but one,
and in that race we finished in second and third place.

Not one RE engine failure, and to top it all off

The RE engines kept getting stronger and stronger all season!
Every race we entered in 2006 was no less than 3 hours long.
That's a lot of hours on these motors, and for them to keep
getting stronger and stronger speaks volumes about the level of
professional quality that Race Engineering offers.

The results speak for themselves, and you can't argue with that.
Thank you from the entire team at Puskar Motorsports! We couldn't
be happier with our engine choice, and look forward to working
with Race Engineering for the entire 2007 season and beyond.

Sincerely,

Danny Puskar
Carbotech Performance Brakes
www.ctbrakes.com

Scott Malbon
SM #52 SEDiv

Like many mid-pack drivers on a budget I was getting by with
a tired high mileage motor. But a few years ago the time had
come for the motor to be rebuilt. I asked Bob to build a strong
but durable motor. And that he did!!

GOBS of HP (I'll show you the dyno sheets) and rock-solid.

Two years later the motor is as strong as ever. And even though
I'm not winning championships … like so many of his customers,
Bob and Tracy treat me as if I was. They have been generous
with info, setup tips and contacts. I've moved up on the grid and
set PB times almost every weekend. Hey Bob, about my driving

Second only to the decision to enter Spec Miata, this is the best
racing decision I've made. You will not be disappointed.

Mark Bennett
2006 Spec Miata CENDiv Champion

Dear Bob,

I would like to thank you and the rest of the RE team for
providing the engine program needed to raise my game for
the 2006 season. Our effort yielded five SCCA National wins,
the Central Division title, and an overall win at the 12 Hour
of Nelson Ledges. Having passed the Runoffs technical checks
with flying colors, the RE package has proven to be powerful,
reliable, durable, and legal. In short, Race Engineering has
been everything I would ask of an engine supplier and more.

I wish you continued success and look forward to a
great 2007 season!

Regards,

Mark Bennett
2006 Spec Miata CENDiv Champion

Gary D. Jenkins
Spec Miata 2006 ECR Champion

What do you do when you see a championship that you have
worked hard for starting to drive away into the distance?
That was a question I had to answer as I accepted my 2nd
place trophy for the ECR at Carolina Motorsports Park.
Once again I had finished second to my chief rival for the ECR
championship. I thought I had all the bases covered. I had
the best race team (OPM Autosports), I was using the best
brake pads (Carbotech) and I thought I had the right engine
package under the hood, yet I was still standing there with
another 2nd place finish. The points lead I had built earlier in
the year was gone. It was my luck that the answer to my
question was paddocked right next to me. Bob Thornton.

Bob convinced me that there was more to be had with my
engine program and I made what I consider the pivotal decision
of my championship season. Pull out a proven motor from a
proven engine builder and replace it with something better.
My first call with Tom Fowler after the initial dyno session
proved that Bob knew what he was doing. I gained a significant
increase in both horsepower and torque.

First race out with my new Race Engineering motor, we had
the field covered with a runaway win at Road Atlanta!

Before the season was over the car set the SM track record at
VIR-North. The result of the engine change was a championship
that I am sure wouldn't be mine if I had stayed with the status
quo and my old engine package. Bob Thornton and the guys at
Race Engineering put a beast of an engine under my hood.

Thanks Bob!

Gary D Jenkins
www.specmiatavideos.com