Mazda Rev It Up in Dallas, May 3rd & 4th
 

Hey is anyone planing on going? I spoke with my Mazda dealer (Freeman) today and they were kind enough to promise and get me a free special invitationthat will be mailed from Mazda.

I believe that regular admission is free to walk around and look at the cars, but everything else cost money.

Is it possible that no one in the DFW area is even thinking of goining?

... then, I might not be going either ... (that is because I havent got my invitation from Mazda in the mail yet - I'll blame it on our poor mail service)

:confused:

I got a letter from Mazda for free attendance on Friday. Apparently it's a freebie for preorders. I called the dealer and RSVPed as they asked. Will I be the only one there?

When did your letter arrive? ... As of yesterday, there was nothing in my mail box.

But hey, if it's for Friday - day, I won't be able to make it - I have to be at work (downtown Dallas) all day .... usualy till 6:30 or so ...

:(

The letter was dated April 18 and I got it last Friday. Friday is the VIP day and it runs from 8AM to 6PM. I think it was a form letter sent by the dealer because their name was on the bottom. Apparently, Sat and Sun are for the general public.

I just got back the Mazda Rev It Up event in Dallas with some general observations about the event and the RX-8. As for the event itself, I thought it was well done with my only real complaint being the hot and humid weather! The parking lot area set aside for the timed competition was torn up by the time I got my turn at the wheel. Several chunks of asphalt were missing in the last turn of the course. Not enough to make any difference for me as I was racing in the just-for-fun category. The Skill and practice courses along with the Chalk talk session were pretty much what I expected and over all I was satisfied with event. As for the RX-8, I finally got to sit in one and take my time checking it out up close and personal. From a curb side appeal, I felt good about the car and gave it a quick walk around taking time to check out the trunk area. I'm glad I don't have two sets of golf bags :) but then again I don't really pack that much for any road trips. Trunk space was adequate for my needs. I managed to bump my head twice: once getting in and on the way out too. I'm 6'2" and so I'm seriously considering canceling the moon roof. My head clearance while fully seated was just south of an inch. I'm sure I can figure out how to bend my neck to get in and out but the clearance once seated scared me just a little. My right knee and leg were slightly cramped against the side of the mid interior of the car. Now bear in mind that I have been driving a Chevy truck for over 13 years and so I expected some changes...but still a little disappointing for us lanky types. The outside mirrors are a little small but then again that relative to my truck. I tried to adjust them using the switch on the door but got nothing perhaps due to a low battery. The instrument panel was great and I was very pleased with the internal looks of the vehicle. As for the rear seats, I'll just say that it is what I expected and I'm glad I'm the driver :). After my turn in the car, the Mazda rep tried to start it up but required a "jump" due to a nearly dead battery. I got to watch (and video tape) the rep going into the engine compartment to jump the battery long enough for the driver to start and rev the car to charge the battery. He said he needed to be able to do a quick start in case of approaching weather. The engine was quiet, smooth, and sounded almost electric as apposed to gas. Over all, I have to say that the car looks great and I can't wait to test drive one. I'm a little disappointed in the head room, and lack of width in driver's leg cavity area. If the car is delayed longer than June/July (my pre-order was Feb 2002) then I'm afraid that little things that bugged me about the car will grow into bigger things. If the car arrives in May/June, then I'm sure the excitement of owning and driving the 8 will make the little things simply disappear. Regards, DeBug...

Having done auto events in the summer in Dallas and College Park, I empathize on the heat part. But... the little things will still be little things when your car arrives in July. They aren't being built until May12th, so a May delivery is out. June is quite unlikely. Given my driving time with RX-7s and my Miata, any cramped feeling in the footwell has by comparison be generous in the RX-8. Just don't give up if it comes in July!

Hey, welcome to to forum (glad you've joined the RX-8 over 40 fan club)

:D

Thanks for your observations ... I didn't drive anything, just hung around the Red & Blue RX-8's!

Yeah, I went last Sat. around 4:35 - just to see and (finally) sit in the RX-8 ...

Mixed feeling about the back seat for grow-ups (I had a hard time getting out of the back seat, my feet kept on getting caught under the bottom of the front seats [and un-doing the plastic molding] ... and I'm only 5' 8") - but my 5 year old daughter loves it and can't wait for me to bring one home. She loves all of the (hid-a-way cup holders, map/book and pass-through) storage compartments in the back!

My wife looked at me and said " I know you want this, but this is not the spacious 4-door family car that you've been telling me all about." She's right, I was expecting alittle more room in the cabin area - it's a little snug, and has more headroom than the G35 coupe, but I believe that the G35 offers more legroom ...

All in all, I can't wait to drive one!

It was well worth my time, plus I picked up the "Road & Track - Mazda RX-8" Special Supplement they had there - great reading!

:)

I was at the "Dallas" Rev It Up on Sunday -- definitely the better of the weekend days temperature-wise. It was windy and overcast, not sweltering like Saturday was.

Enough about the weather. The RX-8 is absolutely unreal. It's been said before, pictures don't do it justice.

It felt like it was my car. I am so glad I waited for it.

I got to sit in the RX-8, behind the wheel, while it was running. VERY cool. It didn't really sound like my 2nd gen RX7, maybe a little higher pitched, more electric, hard to describe. It was good tho. I got strict instructions to not touch the gas or shifter. I did get to shut it off and grudgingly hand the keys over.

The Rev It Up event is a lot of fun. I never got a freebie pass offer from my dealer -- didn't ask for one, and have absolutely no regrets about paying my way in.

Imho, this event is a must-do for any car enthusiast. Even if you don't want to spend the money, go anyway. You can see the RX-8, drive all the new Mazdas, ride go-karts, play free video games.

Welcome and hello to you too! It must have been a long drive for you ... We live in Flower Mound, north of DFW, and it took about a half an hour ... nice drive though ... with the air on!

;)

Yes I agree, when I was there Sat. I was looking a round at all of the people and wondering how many were also members of this forum? (I was the guy wearing a black Batman baseball cap - with the bat symbol on the front and a "pow!" on the back walking around with my wife and a little girl and boy)

There were some RX-7 guys there Sunday, don't know if they are on this forum or not. A couple of them used to street race their 7s in Dallas a few years ago.

I talked to a guy who drove down from Colorado for the event. He made the drive to try to "make some racing contacts".

I was impressed with the qualifications of the staff. Big race experience. One of the instructors was from the Andretti racing family.

I called my RX-8 salesman yesterday, he said he heard they might get their allocation late May. The guy working the event, at the blue RX-8, said he thought TX would get their allocations in June.

I guess we'll know when we know...or know better when we get our next email from Mazda.