Back in Oct 2024, almost exactly two years ago, Ocean Machinery’s president, Danny Steyn, suffered a life-threatening accident, hitting a fellow racer that had spun out at the kink, the notorious blind turn that is taken flat out in many classes. Steyn was unable to avoid him, resulting in a head on collision at 116mph, and both drivers sustained 45 G’s of impact, resulting in massive injuries. Steyn was hospitalized for a month with multiple fractures and surgeries, then spent the next 7 months in wheelchair, before graduating to crutches and eventually learning to walk all over again.
Danny Steyn watches the 2024 STL Runoffs Race from his ICU bed in hospital
Steyn missed the entire 2025 racing season, and only recently returned to the track. He participated in sufficient events to qualify to race both the Spec Miata and Super Touring Lite classes at this year’s Runoffs at Road America.
This legendary 2007 Ocean Machinery Mazda MX-5 race car propelled Steyn to 3 National STL Titles
The SCCA has year long National Points Championship, the Hoosier Super Tour, and while the Runoffs is the final event in the points championship, it is so much more. The Runoffs is the winner-take-all finale to the season. Drivers who win the Runoffs win nationwide acclaim as being the best-of-the-best on that one vital day.
Notable Motorsports legends who have won the SCCA Runoffs include Paul Newman, Bobby Rahal, Jimmy Vassar, Skip Barber, Graham Rahal, Mark Donohue, Boris Said, Peter Cunningham, Roger Penske, Bob Sharp, Jim Fitzgerald.
Steyn has won three Runoffs titles, racing his Ocean Machinery Mazda MX-5 in the Super Touring Lite class, and despite his almost 2-year hiatus from racing, was chosen by SportsCar Magazine to finish on the podium for this year’s race. Steyn’s last Runoffs win was at Indy in 2021.
Danny Steyn clinches his 3rd SCCA Runoffs STL Title at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2021
While Steyn has podiumed in the Spec Miata class, he has never won a Runoffs title in this prestigious class. Spec Miata has always attracted the young karting legends chasing their pro racing careers, and it most recently launched the career of 18 year old NASCAR superstar Connor Zilisch.
Steyn, who is 68 years old, just loves competing with the teenagers, and hopes his wisdom and experience can make up for his lack of youth!
This is what the start of a Spec Miata Race looks like – 75 racers bearing down on Turn 1, 5-wide!
The qualifying and races will be streamed live on www.scca.com/live.
The Full Qualifying and Race Schedule is below:
