MAZDASPEED - Setting the record straight

[AGR]

I know most of you simply hate it when I mention that the MAZDASPEED is not about 1/4 mile drag racing. And; I also know few of you have any idea where the name MAZDASPEED actually came from. So; here are the facts.

https://www.racingbeat.com/pdf/history.pdf

http://www.poweraxel.com/mazdaspeed/trail/racecar.html

http://www.aash.net/rx7/rx7lemans.htm

http://www.webbracing.com/racing_resume.htm

People will do what they want. Younger people especially love the idea of drag racing - nothing wrong with that. Like many say; at least going to the drag strip; they can race legally. Sure; the MAZDASPEED Protege can be made to be a very quick 1/4 miler; but still, that isn't what the car is really about.

From the name MAZDASPEED to the name Racing Beat - it all goes back to Road racing. Plain and simple. The Racing Beat brand name was made famous by the incredible RX-7 road racers that used the Racing Beat components.

Some of you will go on not liking me. Oh well. Some of you say; I contribute nothing to this forum.

I guess you might want to do a few searches. I have added 'much' in the area of car care, my knowledge of racing history, radar detection systems, and I think; my overall views from a senior member on this forum.

Sure; I like having fun, and enjoy tomfoolary - more than most. But; that's the way it is. I love life, and really love this forum. Don't think I hate drag racing. I don't. I grew up in Indy; home of the U.S. Nationals, and (of course) the Indy 500. I love all Motorsports (except Nascar).

[traitorhound]

and you love the tediline water pik shower massage

[twiztedjeckel]

crazy old man! i still don't really like my car all that much. but thanks for the links

[Dr.Sound]

Craig, we love u man!

just the way u burned Spicy that one time........ahh........that was priceless :D

and u were the one to teach me how to take care of my car back when i was a noob :)

[Tinkerbelle]

Thanks for all the great info. As an Initial D, WRC, and drifting fan, I love this car for its cornering and only WISH I could take it to Akina.

Indianapolis!! I'm from Bloomington. :) Many good times were had at the Indianapolis Speedway.

[funnylittlman]

I still like you AGR

[yashooa]

Hi there Doctor Depends :p
I likes ya, ya HO!
Even Jecky expresses his affection towards you.(spank)

[EVILSRT]

Thanks for the links:).

[Black Majik MSP]

Originally posted by AGR
I grew up in Indy; home of the U.S. Nationals, and (of course) the Indy 500. I love all Motorsports.

I hope you mean all EXCEPT Nascar. (piss)

[pluto316]

Originally posted by traitorhound
and you love the tediline water pik shower massage


Oh man! HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

[AGR]

Originally posted by Black Majik MSP
I hope you mean all EXCEPT Nascar. (piss)

(yes-that has been corrected)

[YuYuRena]

just my 2 cents here, why they call it quarter mile? why is it in english unit? I never heard of .4 km or 402m? Why cuz American loves the quarter miles. Look at what's hip over the ocean? Turning and twisting fast, and drifting is the king. Look at all the asian motor scene and all you see is about handling and speed, not just pure speed. That's why I say if you want 1/4 mile go with domestic( SRT-4 just reinforce that notion). If you want handling with grace go with non-domestic. Hey it's the old notion of american muscle. No matter how much you put in a supra with nos and what not go fast gadgets. American v8 with a blower and equal amount of tuning is gonna kill it (Provided the human factor is the same).

[AGR]

:cool:

[WndrWmn]

I went to a "chicks only" autocross school a while back and a girl there had a MSP (spicy orange of course) and it was the first time I saw these. I liked it then, but even better when I saw how well it did. It was quite surprising. But she was the first one to introduce to me how well the MSP's were geared for the road/track.

Anyhow, I liked the autox but I liked the 1/4 mile more, maybe because there was less damage to the car per event :) . However, I think I might would like road racing the best. That's next in line on the "gotta try" list.

Ok, now Im rambling....My point being, I agree with AGR that the MSP from what I have seen has been geared or "created" (lack of the right word) to do well at the Rally/Road events more than the track (drag), like the original "MazdaSpeed" (not protege) But that doesn't mean that your MSP cannot do all of it. If your that serious into a certain event, say drag racing, I am sure your going to be towing your non-street legal car to the track instead of taking a Saturday to go play in your street car.

Maybe there was a point somewhere in there. Its been a long day.

[SpicyMchaggis]

i think your cool as hell AGR

[Tex]

AG Who?

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:D

[charles]

Originally posted by Dr.Sound
Craig, we love u man!

just the way u burned Spicy that one time........ahh........that was priceless :D

and u were the one to teach me how to take care of my car back when i was a noob :)
Craig?

[AGR]

Greg :D

[supman]

i totally agree AGR!! but i didn't have the guts to say it out loud becuz the majority of ppl in north america like the drag racing, i also occsionally like to watch but my heart is set on road racing and touge!

[MSP Pro]

So, gee Greg, what happened when you went out to try that autocross? I think I missed that post.

(Yea, I know, USE THE SEARCH!) :D

[Captain KRM P5]

Greg; I think you contribute plenty to the forums. I just thought the day the water massage thread came up must have been a hell of a slow day for you at the office :) Plus its nice to have someone old as dirt having fun with his car :D you know i tease!

I'm going to be a little pissy here though, and I know its really just a shortened way to name the car, but I hate it when people call it a "mazdaspeed" for the very reasons Greg listed above. Even the sales sticker calls it a "2003 Mazdaspeed". doesn't even list the title "protege" on the sticker. I was hoping it was a dealer thing, but its the way I've seen it at every dealer. Mazdaspeed was a seperate entity and its own company until very recently, and not many people in the general public know that.

I was impressed my brother knew that, but then again, he grew up on Gran Turismo.

[Dr.Sound]

man........

i always mess those two names up, ALWAYS!

sorry greg

[ELEmental59437]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/partridge/wallpaper/alan_lap_640.jpg

[Zray]

^ now that's a thread-killer =p (thumbsdown)

AGR - cool. Now we just gotta teach those pesky little kids to keep the racing off the streets and take it to the track.

[BinaryRotary]

Originally posted by YuYuRena
just my 2 cents here, why they call it quarter mile? why is it in english unit? I never heard of .4 km or 402m? Why cuz American loves the quarter miles. Look at what's hip over the ocean? Turning and twisting fast, and drifting is the king. Look at all the asian motor scene and all you see is about handling and speed, not just pure speed. That's why I say if you want 1/4 mile go with domestic( SRT-4 just reinforce that notion). If you want handling with grace go with non-domestic. Hey it's the old notion of american muscle. No matter how much you put in a supra with nos and what not go fast gadgets. American v8 with a blower and equal amount of tuning is gonna kill it (Provided the human factor is the same).

Tell that to Ari Yallon.

[CatchMe]

I want balance in my car - i want all the ass behind her I can get but I want smooth sailing on the road (especially on the long and winding one....(wink) ) so greg - you are the subject matter expert in radar detectors??? what's your suggestion I've got three at thirty over since September 1st.........(help)

[yashooa]

Originally posted by ELEmental59437
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/partridge/wallpaper/alan_lap_640.jpg

OMG! AGR it's your soul mate....(lol)
Obligatory on topic post: MSP's handle well. I love all that is MSP blah blah MSP MSP MSP...

[BlackMSP]

i love my msp

[StarvingRussian]

Nice post and good info AGR (thumb)

[Turn & Burn]

Hey all, this is my first post and I just wanted to say you've got a great site with a lot of good info. Didn't know the site existed till "dakidd" left a note on our spicy orange car while we were in the theater, thanks kidd. Anyway I just wanted to chime in on the roadracing topic. Any of you who have never been on track with your cars should try it first chance you get, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on. For about 300 bucks you could be on a racetrack somewhere just about any weekend at one of many drivers schools held around the country. This is NOT wheel to wheel competition but you will get a chance to see just how fast you and your car can go with a qualified instructor on board. If you want to race wheel to wheel there are plenty of schools for that too. It's a shame most Protege drivers will never get a chance to find out just how good these little cars are. I've had many a disbelieving Porsche owner ask me "what the hell is that thing?". Nothing like beating up on the finest german machinery with a four door econobox.

WndrWmn, that was my wife at that chicks only autocross school, she said you were fun to hang out with.

Thanks for the great site!.

Dave

[StarvingRussian]

Welcome to the site!! (hi)

[Dr.Sound]

yeah, welcome dude
u should have started a new thread to introduce yourself

[charles]

Sweet first gen!

[Turn & Burn]

Thanks for the warm welcome folks!

Charles, I like your first gen too. They lack the finesse of the newer ones but they're just good honest cars. I'm on my 4th one, 5th if you count my 91 Escort GT.