Marlon,

That would be great! As you saw, it's a beautiful place. I always look forward to going there.

By the way, Lime Rock looks fairly definite for me this year. Haven't been in that area for 32 years when we lived 10 minutes away when we were first married! It's a good chance to see my brother & sister-in-law.

 

The Mazda Corral tickets are up and running on the Mid-Ohio site (just ordered mine). But still nothing for Belle Isle - will there be one or not? Corvette, Porsche corrals are up there; the tickets are pricey: http://www.detroitgp.com/tickets/index.cfm?cid=17697

 

I haven't found anything yet for Road America either.

 

Yeah, I'm getting nervous about Belle Isle. This is the one I was planning to do this year. It may already be too late to get my standard room for Mid-Ohio if I need to switch. I was considering Indy, but I thin someone mentioned there were going to be NASCAR races that weekend, too, and I don't know that I want to be flooded with NASCAR goings-on.

 

They didnt list Mazda under Corral tickets for Detroit...I smell discrimination!!

 

i should be attending the 12th on saturday at NJMP.

getting my sprint springs the 7th, expect to see some sunken in wheels cuz im too poor for spacers!

NJMP is not englishtown fyi.

 

Tomorrow is the last day to purchase Mazda corral tickets for Mid-Ohio at the advance price. It would be nice to know whether I need to buy the Mid-Ohio ticket, or if I should wait for Mazda to get the Belle Isle corral. At this point I suspect that there will be no Mazda Belle Isle corral, but it would be nice to have an update.

 

Count me in for Laguna Seca. I went last year and there were only 3 8's in attendance. I think I sparked a caravan from the bay area to head to the track on the bay area forums.

Gotta wait til September!!!!!!NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

do i have to pre order my tickets for the corral at njmp this saturday the 12th?

or can i just show up and pay my $45 at the ticket booth and proceed to the mazda corral?

 

^bump for my question

 

I would call the track and see what they say

 

Mid-Ohio noticed that I hadn't ordered my tickets yet. They phoned me and offered me the ticket at the early purchase price.

 

god damnit.

ticket sales for the mazda corral ended yesterday. They refused to sell me a ticket when i called up the track.

anybody have any connections? last year the gen admission had to park in the mud and cars got stuck. No way im parking in mud. im out for this year.

 

EricB-Were you parked next to us Sun. at NJMP. The Velocity Red 8 is ours. Couldn't stay for the parade laps- Had to pick up our dog from the kennel by 7. Just made it. Kind of a bummer weekend for Mazda fans Should have been on the podium Sunday for sure. I guess that's racing.

 

^yup that was me, i waved to you as you were leaving but i guess you didnt see me.

it was a pretty shitty day, one of the sahlens cars gets put off track, one of the dempsey cars went off track, the other dempsey car was slow, the speedsource car gets random car trouble and pits and goes from 1st to 9th, then at the last 40 seconds the sahlens in 2nd place dissapears to 7th or something.

i was surprised at the turnout, last year there was a huge amount of mazdas, i guess it was mothers day and the ladies put the handcuffs on.

 

My wife and I were there with the 8 (the white one), but we ended up driving it to outside of turn 8-9 into the shade and watching from the 8 there. So tired that we headed home with a few minutes to go.

 

EricB sorry I didn't see ya wave on the way out. Glad I was able to point you in the right direction when you were looking for the corral area. I I had the black hat and shirt with Mazdatrix on it. I DVRed the whole race and watched it yesterday. The guys on SPEED said that Mazda will be making a MAJOR anouncement about their Grand Am plans for the future at the next race in MI. Kinda of funny, right in GM's backyard. SPEED guys did say that it will NOT include any rotary engine. Been a hellva run for that little 1.9 . Watching it go against those V8's, six's, V10's, never ceases to amaze me. We've got tickets for the final race this year at Lime Rock, and if that's it for the RX8's, I'm glad we'll be there to cheer them on . Don't know if we will go to any more Grand Am races live if that's the case. I'll just catch em on SPEED. Hey RIWWP was that you who pointed me in direction of the corral Sun. If so, thanks.

 

Yup, that was me!

 

Quick story. Well maybe not so quick. Wife and I were on vacation all week, got 3-day passes for NJMP early, not wanting to miss the autograph session like we did last year at Mid-Ohio. We hadn't been to the South Jersey shore in 16 years, so I found a nice little condo in North Wildwood on VRBO . Got down there Wed. Around 3 weeks earlier I saw on a couple of tuner and sports car forums a car show on the Wildwood Boardwalk Fri. and Sat. being promoted. They have 2 shows a Spring show for ALL types of cars and a fall show for just street rods and muscle cars. So, I signed up, thought it would be fun, and we had the RX8 down there anyway. MISTAKE. On Thurs. night they held a small show down in the Crest, kinda a meet and greet- pick up your packet event. Well, don't get me wrong, the people running the show seemed very happy to see us ( and our $ I guess ). But when your the only Asian car in a sea of American muscle (aprox 90 cars total ), not good . We had chairs with us and were only 10 feet away from the 8, with our RX8 sweatshirts on. Understand most everyone there Thurs. night were the other owners. People OUR age. I thought our car looked nice, I sprayed it after the trip down from PA. But to sit there all night hearing comments of people talking to each other- "What's this thing doing here" , "Jap junk", "These Rotaries are s---" well, my wife's getting pissed but we were parked in and couldn't move untill it was over. This ties in very well with the thread I started about certain other drivers giving me dirty looks. Fri. AM I drove over in our Vibe (we took 2 cars down,wanted to do some sightseeing and keep the 8 clean) and took a look at the ramps up to the boardwalk- kinda steep- didn't really want to take the chance of tearing up my carbon lip up front-NOT worth it. Ended up going to AC for the day- 6 hrs. later and $300 richer we headed back to our condo. Kinda happy ending. Sat. we walked up on the boardwalk , a lot of cars, only imports were a couple MG's. Then an EVO goes by and parks .Went over and talked to him nice young guy, he said he barely made it on , more worried about how he was gettin off it. Told him our story- he said the whole time drivin down the boardwalk people were yellin at him- get that Get that ricer s--- of here. Next time I'll KNOW BETTER. Can't wait for this weekend though, my fav show every year-the Import and Kit car show at Carlisle. Cars from all around the World. No issues. We'll be on the showfield- stop and say hi.

 

Wow, that sucks. I've never experienced that here in Lansing, MI. I'm sure there are rednecks who would maybe say something, but I've never heard any.

Anyway, I gave up on Belle Isle and bought my (late, $50) ticket for Mid-Ohio. I had to get a hotel room over 30 minutes away. My standard bed and breakfast was filled up months ago. I would have had this stuff done months ago if I had known that there would be no Mazda corral at Belle Isle. Hopefully the RX-8s will do better at Mid-Ohio than they did at NJ!

 

A few years back I happened to drive past a "all car's" every-sunday show in walmart parking lot in up in MA. I couldn't help but noticing a sign that they had up: "American only."


And the sign was leaning up against a Mazda 626.

 

Well weeks upon weeks of e mailing, phone calls bitching and moaning we have a corral package! It is not what I wanted and or discussed with us @ Daytona and I am a bit disappointed and I made my feeling known about how this played out. Here is the e mail I received and the response I sent today as well. So here we go guys and gals!

Hello Mr. Sumlin,
Steve Focazio has passed along your inquiry regarding a Mazda Car Corral at our upcoming event, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle
Grand Prix on June 1-3. Unfortunately due to on island exclusivity due to our main sponsor, we are unable to provide an on island
Mazda Car Corral. However, we can put together an affordable and unique package for the Mazda group.

What we can offer is:
A dedicated corral in our West Jefferson parking lot, where your group can convene and tailgate.
Parking pass & shuttle wristbands (shuttle transportation to the island)
Reserved grandstand ticket & paddock pass
Cost: $75 for either Saturday, June 2 or Sunday, June 3
($25 Savings off retail price)

If you are interested in promoting this package, I can create a ticket offer and put it on our website for ordering convenience.
I will provide you a link to share and provide a graphic to promote it. Just let me know if you are interested.

Cory Davala
Ticket Sales Director
Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

(313)748-1821 direct
(248)561-0529 cell


my response:

Cory, thanks for getting back to me as my group of folks were really looking forward to this event. First off we’ll take the offer, as my folks are very interested in this event. Can you also add a 3 day package as well? We may have folks interested in that one as well. I appreciate you getting back to me. Please advise once you have the link up.

One question for you, why was the PCA club allowed on the Island? We typically have more cars than they do at our events? Also, just so you can see how good we are at promoting events if we have the pricing for the events well in advance, this is an e-mail from Mid-Ohio:

“Marlon, I forgot to give you an update this past Monday but here you go. You guys had a massive push just before the advance deadline and are up to 112 in advance. Another 6 have purchased since May 4th. Awesome job so far!”Stephen

If you need anything from me or my team, please let us know.

Marlon
Mazda Owners Corral Operations


P.S. Here are a couple of video links for last year’s Mid-Ohio event as well, see attachment.








Again, I did not understand them allowing PCA club to have access to the "Island" and not Mazda, as we always oput draw them at our events. We'll make a positve out this and have one hell of a tailgate part. We'll show the "wine and cheese" crowd how a "real corral" is run! Beer, wings, music, etc. As soon as the link is posted, I willput it up or you can call Belle Isle and order tickets, here is the number 866-464-PRIX (7749).

I hope to see as may of you as possible that can make it. We'll make the most of it, as Saturdaywill be our day, we are going to represent Mazda to the fullest and again make the most of this event. Sorry guys, we got the ol bait and switch from the people in Detroit!


This is a e mail I got yesterday!

I was told that Porsche is not viewed as a direct competitor to Chevrolet, where Mazda is. I will get the link up and online offer to you on Wednesday, asap.

Well, I am all up for having a corral to show up Government Motors, after my tax dollars help bail their asses out! I would love to have a 100+ Mazda cars in "our corral" flying the big *** Mazda Flag so they all can see and have the damn thing in the grandstands as well. I sent this information to my Mazdaspeed and grand-Am Marketing Folks!

 

We are waiting to hear from Road America about Corral pricing, as soon as we have it, We'll post it up. Detroit screwed us over, see earlier post. We have sold 118 tickets for Mid-Ohio, Mazda is leading the way again,.

I will have updates for you as soon as I receive them!

 

As ar as Mazda raceway the event is going to be big, MLB/FOX is going to do a story on the corral and C J Wilson racing and his charity. the corral will be close to vendors row, so we'll have a prime location. So stay tuned for more updates!

 

Really hoping to make it out for Laguna Seca's Corral

Doubt I'd be driving, but I've got my eye on a company that will rent me a Miata...