Insane? Yes. Dangerous? Perhaps. Worth it? Absolutely.

My name is TJ and it's time to settle a burning question:

"Can a Miata conquer the Arctic Circle?"

Forget the tried-and-true Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep, or Bronco. It's time for the ultimate underdog, the Mazda Miata, to shine in a rugged adventure to the Northern Slope of Alaska. Imagine if this little car makes it there and back!

You might wonder, "Has anyone ever attempted this with a Miata or similar car?" Well, Top Gear piloted a 2016 model to Deadhorse, AK, in 2015. And Road & Track took a 1982 Ferrari 308 in 2019. Sure, Miatas have ventured to Northern Canada. But a first-generation Miata tackling the Northern Slope? That's uncharted territory, and I'm eager to blaze the trail!

So, why a Miata, and why Alaska? Firstly, I'm just curious: can a Miata, a car seemingly ill-suited for such a journey, survive this challenge? Secondly, in an age where self-driving cars are on the rise and manual driving is becoming a lost art, I want to celebrate the joy of hands-on "analog" driving. The Miata represents this perfectly - a light, affordable, and mechanic-friendly "people's sports car." Its open-faced smile and iconic pop-up headlights can brighten anyone's day ( this is the actual car I'm taking).

The journey itself? A round trip of about 9,000 miles from Kentucky to Deadhorse, Alaska, in late June/early July of 2024. Most of the route is paved, but the final 415 miles along the infamous Dalton Highway is about 60% packed dirt and gravel. It promises a true test of endurance and skill. And this is on all season tires!

This 18-day expedition will average 8-10 hours of driving daily. To some, that sounds grueling, but for a car enthusiast like me, it's a dream. The specific car for this adventure is a battle-hardened 1991 Mazda Miata with 365,000 miles on its well-maintained original engine & transmission.

The essentials for this trip? Spare tires (2), extra fuel, a solid toolkit, CB radio, camping gear, and of course, camera equipment to document every mile. I'm fitting the bill for most of the trip, but the extra money you can contribute with help greatly!

I'll be sharing this journey on Facebook, Instagram, and ultimately, a YouTube video compilation post-trip. And yes, to fit all this gear, the passenger seat is coming out!

How can you contribute? If you're passionate about driving, or just curious about how a small sports car fares on such an intense journey, I welcome any donations but am happy with 5 dollars as a suggestion - a small but meaningful amount. Let's prove together that even the most unassuming car can conquer the toughest roads with the right preparation!

Join me in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and let's make automotive history with a first-gen Miata on Alaska's Dalton Highway!

P.S. if you end up being along my journey I'll swing by and say hello & thank you!

Checklist

1. New upper control arms (a suspension part)

I'm replacing this because if the existing 32 year old part on my car fails, I would need to be towed on a flat bed truck!

2. New catalytic converter ( this is an emissions device and should also help quiet the exhaust)

3. Set of 6 tires

4. New Water Pump & timing belt & accessory belts

this is also something that is due on my car and if it failed it would take hours to repair.

5. New Alternator- this charges the battery and my current one has 160k miles on it and the bearings are worn out, also very important, but would be easy tio replace, jsut

New transmission tail shaft oil seal

That's really all I need!

Misc supplies ( some I have already)

Extra fuel canister

CB radio

First Aid Kit

Wrench and socket set

Floor Jack

Oil drain pan & 10qts of oil $ 2 filters

Flashlight

Mosquito repellant

Tent & sleeping bag

Cloths

Water bottles

Camera equipment

3 Go pros

Possibly some kind of drone?

I can make do with GoPros and have 1 already.

Go Pro mounts

Some external microphones.

Other expenses:

$1500 for lodging for 18 days

$1500-1700 for fuel

$1000 for food

All the rest is for supplies and car upgrades/repairs.

That's the start, thanks in advance!