Mazda Zoom-Zoom Live

[steveox]

For a true racing experience like they claim I would assume they would have manual's for people ... I would sure be upset if they didn't! Signed up for the 5th at Englishtown...

 

[beyonddc]

Originally posted by: steveox
For a true racing experience like they claim I would assume they would have manual's for people ... I would sure be upset if they didn't! Signed up for the 5th at Englishtown...

Last year when Mazda held the Rev-it-Up! event, all cars were automatic.

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: beyonddc

Originally posted by: steveox
For a true racing experience like they claim I would assume they would have manual's for people ... I would sure be upset if they didn't! Signed up for the 5th at Englishtown...

Last year when Mazda held the Rev-it-Up! event, all cars were automatic.

I don't think there'll be manual. Driving a manual in the street is one thing, racing in manual in a small twisting course is another. They don't have time for you to practice your manual skills and they don't wanna take the risks. Like the Subaru event I went to, I don't think they'll even let you use the "auto-manual". Regardless it's still going to be fun.

I'll be at Alameda on the Saturday!

 

[AmdEmAll]

You would think they would show up in the 'Motor City' :disgust:

 

[woodyz]

I'm signed up for Orlando, hope to have some fun. What kind of turnout do these get? Am I going to have to wait forever for a chance to drive?

 

[vtohthree]

If they have the RX-8, then there's one manual transmission for you, I don't think they come in auto. I'm not even sure about the MX-5's, I believe those only come in a 5speed or a 6speed manual only(both, but your choice of). That's if they even feature those cars though.

 

[Ensign]

The RX-8 is available with an auto, but it has slightly less horsepower. The MX-5 has been available in auto, as well.

Originally posted by: vtohthree
If they have the RX-8, then there's one manual transmission for you, I don't think they come in auto. I'm not even sure about the MX-5's, I believe those only come in a 5speed or a 6speed manual only(both, but your choice of). That's if they even feature those cars though.

 

[Kremlar]

The RX-8 comes in an automatic.

This definitely seems different, but if it's at all like the Mazda Rev-It-Up events they ran (I attended one last year), it's great fun and you have the opportunity to learn a lot.

They did not have manual transmissions, just autos with manual shifting if you liked. The courses were low-speed - lots of bends, so you don't have time to pickup an incredible amount of speed. The course, however, still feels very fast.

I'm a 'spirited' driver, but pretty unexperienced on a course and in actual competition. I've driven manuals all my life and would hate an automatic for a daily driver. That being said, as a beginner it's nice to compete in an automatic and be able to fully concentrate on where you are in the lane, when your slowing, when your accelerating, when you're taking the turn, etc. Unless you're very experienced, a manual won't decrease your time - it would probably increase it.

At the Rev-It-Up event, they started off with a general safety course, lasted 10-15 minutes.

They then had I believe 4 mini-tracks. Lines were about 10-20 minutes each, and you ran a car through a small (under 1 minute) course. The purpose was to teach you one specific thing (how to take an s-turn for example). There was a TV playing a recorded video while you waited, talking about the course. There was also a single instructor who would announce some tips while you wait.

The big event was the main competition track. You needed a helmet for this, and you could compete on this track twice. Course was probably 1.5 - 2 minutes long, line was probably 5-10 minutes long.

There was also a small area where you could test-drive their new cars. The lines there were longer, because there was only 1 track dedicated to all the cars. I didn't bother.

I was incredibly impressed - it was a load of fun, and it was heavily geared towards competition and learning how to drive on a track. A lot less emphasis on selling cars than I expected. However, I believe it was $35 to attend - this one seems to be free, so maybe it will be different.

 

[finbarqs]

I think you do need to know how to drive manual... Damn it.. if not, then it'll just be a bunch of noobs!

 

[randomlinh]

can we drive our own cars, especially if we have a mazda I just started auto-xing and this course looks like a nice track course to try out.

 

[saltedeggman]

signed up thx

 

[generalnewbie]

i did one of these before.. it was so much fun!!! loved it EVERY BIT!

thanks for this one.. cant wait mate!

 

[FleshLight]

Do you get any free food or t-shirts?

 

[czech09]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
Do you get any free food or t-shirts?

There's free food which was good enough for me to sign up, plus I want to drive the new MX-5. I want to know if it's still has the handling that made the original legendary.

 

[mioxre]

If anyone went to the event out in San Francisco this weekend, could they please let us know how it was? I'm thinking about going to the one in LA next weekend, but I would love to hear more about the format and how it was before I take the drive out there. I went to a similar GM event close to home a few months ago, and had a great time. I'm hoping this is like that.

 

[hube235]

I went there. If you plan to go around noon and later, expect long lines. I'm talking 40 min to an hr. Should be less ppl if you arrive early. They gave away free hotdogs and the drive was definetely fun. Wish they let us go for more than one round. Only had enough time to drive twice. 40 min wait --> 45 second drive = ;frown:

 

[greyaro]

I attended the Oakland event today. I arrived @ 9:00 and left at 1:00.
If you drive the Performance Challenge first ,as you are leaving you can get an express check in sticker with a time on it to drive again at a later time without standing in a long line. I did three of the events twice. There were manual and auto tranmission Miatas at the Performance Challenge and Jinba Experience, RX8s manual and auto at the School of Zoom to drive, the Matched Time Gymkhana had Mazda 3, 5, and 6 to drive Had a great time!