Just wanted to provide an update to let you know what happened. Pulled the front cover off (in car, motor mounts still bolted, takes bow, thank you, thank you) and was wondering how I would be able to tell if the o-ring had blown. Found a thready, shredded c-shaped rubber thingy inside the front cover gasket at the oil passageway. Looks like a really blown oil ring to me.

Went to the Mazdatrix FAQ's, read the blurb on blown oil rings found that I had the same issues, same diagnostic. Going to clean it all up, wash it all down with alcohol/ oil cleaner, put it all back together and make the ALMS Support Touring GT Race next weekend.

Thanks a bunch for your help and thought you guys would like to see a shot from my last race at Mosport. Just finished passing the Vette, some weird motorcycle engined old-style pickup thing and Camaro on the outside of turn 8. Yes I did finish the race ahead of all of the cars in the shot.