Jim spent his childhood growing up in New Orleans.  Back then Jim could be found terrorizing the neighborhood on a go-kart.  At one point, Jim received 35 tickets and was told he was going to lose his license. The only problem, he was 9 years old. In those days the phrase “speed freak” had a totally different meaning than we know today.  Let’s just say Jim was a traditional “motor head” 

The antics did not stop there.  At age 13 when most teens were starting to think about girls and rebellion against their parents, Jim moved to structured karting, building motors and trading paint.  The last mischief involving the teen “motor head” came when he was 14.  Jim acquired a fake drivers license but not for the reasons most would expect.  He needed the license to be allowed to drive open wheeled knock offs at Malibu Grand Prix.  A part time employee and full time police officer, jealous over Jim’s lap times is the rumor, caught Jim and handed him over to his unsurprised parents.  For Jim, this was a turning point as he held the national track record for 7 years, one that stood until the company closed.  Jim still says “the big head I got from that has caused me many thousands of dollars”. 

Unfortunately, at that time, you had to be 18 to get your SCCA license so karting had to do.  In 1989 he joined SCCA and begun his “official” love of road racing. Almost immediately Jim forged a relationship with Mazda and although he has raced several different types of race vehicles, that relationship has continued to this day. 

In addition to the SCCA, and while waiting to be of age to race, Jim got involved with simulation racing.  He acted as test driver for many of the popular simulator software companies and raced professionally online.  His involvement and 10 year tenure in that movement was highlighted at the 1999 Runoffs with a TV piece by Tommy Kendal.  Tommy and Jim spent the better part of each night racing with Jim picking Tommy’s brain on tips to progress. The spot landed Jim a segment on ESPN 2 that also mentioned the late Greg Moore, Jacques Villeneuve and a new comer Dale Earnhardt Jr. all crediting simulation racing as a realistic training tool. To this day Jim uses simulators to train. 

In 2000 Jim would embark on a quest called Spec Miata.  What started as a great idea would thrust Jim into national notoriety.  Jim effectively took 4 years out of his own racing aspirations to assist in building the Spec Miata class.  He flew across the country, pitched the class to the establishment, built the official web-site www.specmiata.com, founded and operated the first Pro Spec Miata series which brought Spec Miata racing to the mainstream and wrote the most popular setup guide in the Spec Miata world.  Most of the SM community would agree that if they had to pick one person to credit for the overall growth of the class, it would be Jim outside the folks at Mazda.   Today, the web site enjoys more than 15,000 unique impressions a month from 7 countries and Jim's setup guide is in the tool box of most Spec Miata racers, nationally and internationally.   The class is 2000 strong in the U.S.A., races with 7 different sanctioning bodies in 3 countries……. AND GROWING!

One thing remains true about Jim, even with the distractions of off track projects and regardless of the car, class or level of competition, Jim Daniels will be at the front!!

“Talent and diversity are certainly needed but the results are what counts”
-Author unknown

Jim Daniels’ victories and podiums by road race class, MAZDA Only;

Denotes:  *Champion, +June Sprints Win 

Jim Daniels’ victories and podiums by road race class, NONE Mazda;

(see the news link for period updates)

2009 iRacing training, coaching and personal development

2008 Factory Grand-Am and World-Challenge driver, Mazda MX5 and Mazda 6.

2008 Robert Davis Racing NASA Touring regular, Mazda RX8.

2007 Spec Miata American Road Race of Champions (Sprint and Enduro), winner

2007 Mid West Division SCCA SSB national Champion

2006 Pro MX5 Cup Champion with 5 wins & 5 poles, Jim dominated! mx-5cup.com.

2005 Pro Miata event winner at Mazda's Laguna Seca, 4th place in Pro Miata championship with the most laps led, National winner in SSC and regional winner in SM. 

2004 ARRC SM Champion, first two time champion in SM history (2002 and 2004).

2004 SCCA SSC National Champion on TV, delegated to second place after controversial penalty.

2004 June Sprints SSC win, pole and qualifying track record

Winningest Pro and Club Spec Miata driver in victories, laps led, poles and track records

2002 ARRC SM Champion

Top 10 finisher in World Challenge and GAC

National champion in SCCA club, Legends and hill climb

Over 60 national victories in 7 different classes, open and closed wheel.

100cc stock karting junior champion

Simulation racing grand master champion

Malibu world track record holder :)

35 tickets on a go-kart, age 9 :)