MAZDA ZOOM-ZOOM LIVE Driving Event 10/1 & 10/2-Dallas

I think I am signed up for this, I think I signed up for early on Saturday, I'll have to check.

Edit: Yep, 9am on Saturday. I had to search my emails, I signed up for it and got my confirmation back in July!

 

I will have to double-check with my friend Bob. I think he signed us up for Thursday?

 

My co-workers and I are signed up for Sat @ 9:30.

///Michael.

 

I'm going at 1 p.m. Sunday. I know, I know...the cars are going to be thrashed already...but it was the only time i could make it. Should be fun.

 

I signed up a month or two back for a Sunday morning slot..

But after reading feedback from participants at other events this year, I think I'm going to pass.

Todd

 

What was the main gripe?

 

Add to that the approximate 2.5 hour wait per course. I have seen wait times listed as low as 45 minutes as well.

So, I'm comparing it to the GM event held last spring at Lone Star park, and think I'll stay home and finally unpack the office in my new home.

 

Did the GM event a few weeks ago. Got there early in the morning and had no lines at all. Started with 6 speed GTO, then 6 speed Vette, then CTS-V 6 speed Cadillac, H3 Hummer to be able to drive H2 Hummer over high crest, BMW 5 series sport ute?, 325 BMW, and finished with Cobalt SS. GTO was nice and the vette very fun. Hated the top heavy and slow H3 but the H2 surprised me with it's good ride and feel. They should have left the BMW Sport ute at home as it kicked everything around it's ass. Cobalt SS was much quicker than we expected, and wanted to spin it's tires every time you floored it. Fun 1 1/2 hours of driving, and could have done 30 other models if we wanted.

 

Whats the earliest times ?

 

This could be Kia day and I'd still go. Flogging on a car without a guilty concience is good for the soul.

 

They don't suffer fools at these events..

You screw around once, they cut your wristbands and have cops take you off the property.

GM event was the same way, watched some asshats nearly loop the GTO and they tossed driver, and both passengers.

Rob, I went to the first one as well. Loved that event, very well put together. I'm just not enthralled about AX'ing a car that has a punchbowl mounted on the hood.

 

I better steer clear, if that's the case.

 

Signed up for Sunday 9. See ya Solipsist.

 

Actually, the Mazda event is a bit different. They time you. The GM event is more for the everyday driver and they definitely frown on squeeling tires, unless it's the special SS or Pontiac ones. BTW, the zoom-zoom live event is a bit different from the rev-it-up event they used to do. First of all it's free. Second of all, the lines were a lot longer. Jordan 747_400, nocturne1 and I did this in Pomona last month. My suggestion is to go straight to the MX-5 timed event, then try the others before going back for your second timed run. You can actually win prizes for earning points. The MX-5 is fastest time, the others are trying to get as close to the posted time, so faster isn't better.

 

Yep, I saw that happen too. The driver looked like he was in control so I figured he was an experienced cone dodger. But then they didn't look geeky enough to be cone dodgers. I guess he plays GT...?

When I testdrove the Cobalt SS, I thought the dude at the starting line said "keep it under 75." I was like, "sure, no problem." Later, I found out from my buddy that he was telling everybody to "keep it under 25."

///Michael.

 

I'll be there tomorrow around 8:30-9am, I'll wear my yellow Ricambi America polo. My sales tax money paved that parking lot, so look for the guy walking around like he owns the place. Stop me and say hi.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not able to make it. They need to do like GM and run Thurs-Sun. I have some good friends coming in from Washington State....and they take priority over a few Mazdas. Heck, I drive one daily...how different could they be?

 

I got back a couple of hours ago.

It seemed that all the open track guys and auto-x'ers came in the morning because there was a high rate of power oversteer and spins after lunch time.

My co-worker and I each got enough points (80) for a copy of GT4, MX-5 Miata Edition. I just need to buy a PS2 now. :-D

We hand timed each other in the Gymkana and Jinba Ittai. We were both able to get w/in a 1/2 second in the Gymkana and also beat the 33 second benchark in the Jinba Ittai. The Performance Driving event sucked because all the auto-x guys kept lowering the bar for us non-cone-dodgers. :-D

///Michael.

 

I scored a 31.2XX on the golf ball thingie but I punched it the last 50 feet and lost all three balls.
Oh well.

The RX8 course was the most fun.

EDIT: Lots of cone dodger cars in the parking lot. Some other cool cars, a porsche spyder replica and and orange elise, and a couple of vintage jags.

 

I went today too. It was fun. Lines weren't terrible but waited about 35 min for time attack one. I actually liked the match time one. Goal was to get as close to 29.000 seconds as possible. I got 29.041. I SUCKED at the fast lap one. I was doing ok then I somehow (I think I know what I did actually) understeered it bad into the cones.
I am probably going back Sun, just to get a good time on that fast lap course.

 

That happened to me too! I got a 33.xx, punched it after crossing the line, and lost all my balls. The guy was like "oh well."

I felt robbed so I tried again and got a 32.xx.

My passenger didn't say anything until afterwards, "Done this before?"

"Yeah, but it usually lasts 30 minutes."

I will say I am impressed by the Miata and RX-8. Both feel faster than they really are, but power never seemed anemic to me. The balance and overall driving experience really set them apart from the rest.

I'm sold -- too bad I just turned German.

///Michael.