whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

Since we had a very successful event this past weekend at Racers Edge Motorsports I have put a call into Mazda Corporate to see if they have any interest in doing or planned for the event. It is an important race to them as the Speedsource RX8 will be defending it's crown.

I also think that it will be a great experience to meet some of the other competitors that frequent our site. It will also provide an opportunity for us to cheer on our very gracious hosts from this past weekend.

I will see if it will be possible with Polak graphics to see if we can throw a design together to represent both the club and Racers Edge.

Before I look into that I would like to know how many people are interested in attending this event. The event happens on January 23-25...

nett3

iTrader: (2)

I'm a few blocks from the track, but haven't attended an event like this. Care to explain some details before I ask stupid questions?

dshiznit1489

I'm in.

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

Well that weekend you have two class of cars that have rx8's in them... 1. the koni challenge which are teams that run a modified rx8 using the same power plant, 2. the rolex series which have rx8's that run a 3 rotor motor, seq gear box, tube frame, etc. The rolex series is an endurance race of 24 hours which is pretty exciting. There are obviously more differences but this is the very brief jist. You will have the opportunity to see teams like Speedsource, Racers Edge Motorsports, Meyer Motorsports, Sobe Race team, etc compete.

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

???????????????

dbright007

Many of us in the Ga area won't be traveling down this year sadly. Or that is the current read on it. I really wanted to go this year too.

EricMeyer

I am working on a deal with the track and Mazda to get some "special" considerations for Mazda fans. More details later.

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

I bought my tickets in Sept....
I gotta check to see if they started printing them yet...
I'll be there, flying in from Baltimore...

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

Ok I have not made contact with Mazda yet but I have spoke with some of the race teams and I am trying to work something out with them. We have also been invited to attend this by HadaGSL-SE:

Something that I thought was pretty cool that HadaGSL-SE offered “If you all are interested in coming when get your tickets from 1-800-Pit-Shop ask for the Grassroots Motorsports Experience. It gets you infield parking and access to all the stuff we are doing that weekend. I believe it is only $10 more than the regular ticket.”

Even if you don't have the pass everyone is still welcome to the tent for and has access most things besides the dinner.

Info here:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/eve...na-experience/

Here is the ticket information… http://secure.racetickets.com//Dayto...&GatewayPass=y

Role Call:

1. spoolinmazda
2. RXtreme8
3. EHT+1
4. Cinnamon+1
5. Bumble_Bee+1
6. dshiznit1489
7. Rotr8
8. BigIslandSevens
9. Turbo_Timmy
10. Mike Troll
11. Pretty Boy
12. jojorx8
13. Khronus79
14. RotorHead87
15. HadaGSL-SE
16. G’s 3rd Gen
17. hondawagonk!d
18. MufflerBearings69
19. jqturbo
20. vanrider
21. nikohlc.photography
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

What is this Grassroots experience about,,, the link is 404,,,
And the dinner? more info please...

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/eve...na-experience/

Here is the description:
GRM Experience at the Rolex 24 At Daytona Presented by Pirelli Tire and Mazda
Jan. 22 - Jan. 25 – Daytona Beach, FL

The Rolex 24 At Daytona is one of the biggest motorsports events in the entire free universe. We’re talking about the stars from Indy, Formula 1, endurance racing, NASCAR and more. It’s an automotive battle royale of biblical proportions.

And since the Rolex is held within a stone’s throw of GRM World HQ, it’s the perfect place to hold our annual season kickoff party. Tickets to the GRM Experience cost $99 each and include infield, grandstand and garage access as well as a Saturday night barbecue and garage tours.

And as if that wasn’t enough, our tent will host iRacing computer racing, a live event feed, and 24-hour slot car racing courtesy of The Race Place and 132slotcar.us.

To get your tickets, call the Speedway at 1-800-PIT-SHOP (1-800-748-7467). Only 400 tickets are available, so it’s first come, first served.

Mazda and Pirelli—two companies who definitely support our scene—have gotten involved in the event and will have people on hand to answer questions and generally entertain the crew. We hear that Pirelli has a new R-compound tire in the works, while Mazda boasts more participation in American sports car racing than any other manufacturer.

Need a place to stay? The Emerald Shores Hotel is providing a special rate. Just call them at 386-872-4500 and tell them Grassroots Motorsports sent you or enter GRM as the special rate code online.

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

Ok guys I have received official word from Grand Am about the 24 hours of Daytona. For those of you who still need to buy tickets make sure you buy the 2 day admission with the garage/ Fanzone. This will then get you into the infield where we will have a meet spot. We are still trying to work out a meeting location which I will inform you about in the next day or two.

Now here is the important thing... we are making a separate pass and posting up here that will allow you to be apart of the "Grand Am Experience for Mazda Owners". Everyone who wants to attend, whether you are going to buy the tickets or already have them, will then have to print this ticket out and show it to the crew leader at the location to become apart of our group.

Now what is the "Grand Am Experience". Well it's an opportunity that will allow you to see/talk/experience things that no one else on the track will get too. We are still developing the schedule aand adding to it as we get other things confirmed... here it is as it stands:

11:00 am to 11:30 am Grand-Am Tech Talk – Jeff Smallwood, KONI Series Manager

11:30 am to Noon Paddock Tour and Garage Tour – Eric Meyer, Meyer Motorsports

Noon Mazda Car Club group photo – Grand-Am photographer

12:15 pm to 1:00 pm Driver Autograph Session/Lunch – Your own time

2:15 pm to 3:00 pm Grid Opens – Your own time

3:30 pm Race Start

5:30 pm to 6:00 pm Pirelli Tire Compound Tour – Steve Focazio, Grand-Am

6:00 pm to 6:30 pm G-A Transporter tours – Steve Focazio, Grand-Am


So if I were you guys and girls I would try to be on site at 10 to meet up with our group. So who is in???????

Role Call:

1. spoolinmazda
2. RXtreme8
3. EHT+1
4. Cinnamon+1
5. Bumble_Bee+1
6. dshiznit1489
7. Rotr8
8. BigIslandSevens
9. Turbo_Timmy
10. Mike Troll
11. Pretty Boy
12. jojorx8
13. Khronus79
14. RotorHead87
15. HadaGSL-SE
16. G’s 3rd Gen
17. hondawagonk!d
18. MufflerBearings69
19. jqturbo
20. vanrider
21. nikohlc.photography


So if you have bought tickets or buying tickets please keep an eye out for Grand Am Experience ticket that will be posted on here in the next few days.

For those of you who can't attend this race event watch out because we will be building this program so that it happens at every Grand Am event stop all season.
____________

msumlin

Eric and I will have some additional information about this event! Also, wanted to put this out there for right now. Eric and I , along with a few other are working with Grand Am to have Mazda Corrals across the country!

We are looking to finalize things on Saturday, with Mazdaspeed Motorsports, Grand Am and all of the teams. I will let Eric elaborate on a few more of the details of this event and the others.

EricMeyer

It's totally cool and you must check it out. One big difference than the Stock Car guys---you can walk right up to the drivers and cars in the garages. GAm is VERY fan friendly. There is an aura of "that guy is a regular guy like me". The outside of T1 is killer at the race start.

Several street based RX8's (the kind I race) will run Friday afternoon.

Here is the schedule: http://www.grand-am.com/assets/2009R...cialSched2.pdf

One of the cool things for fans to do (I didn't say this on a public forum) sneak into the driver's meetings and here what happens behind the scenes. Very cool.

EricMeyer

Holy cow, this sounds cooler than driving. I'm selling the team and hangin' with you guys

Seriously, A few of us have talked with GAm corporate (you'll meet Steve) and shared that the Mazda guys fall into more of a "race fan" category than other marks. Based on this we suggested that a dedicated Mazda experience would draw much interest and was worth investing in. Daytona is our beta test so we really need a good showing to HELP DESIGN AN OFFERING THAT IS OF INTEREST TO JOHN.Q.PULIC MAZDA OWNER. You can expect me to ask you guys lots of questions about what you liked and didn't like. For those of you attending the big Koni Challenge race Friday afternoon---stop by. The Koni cars (including the street based Koni ST class of Mazda RX8's) are required to pull out of the garage area by 7 pm Friday night. Therefore you won't see them. Steve and I are working to have us stick around (along with the fast guys from Freedom Autosport out of Tallahassee with our friend Tom Long in an MX5). Tom was fastest at the Daytona test days two weeks ago and probably end up somewhere near the front. Tom is an avid Mazda guy and is also in the big push of the GAm Mazda Experience. He's a good guy that you'll want to meet because he is going places. He is driving in the 24 in the Stevenson Corvette. Stevenson finished 2nd in points last year in their Pontiac GXPR I think the call it. Wicked car. Wicked fast in the corners.

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Call your fellow Mazda bretheren and share the excitement. If you're bored I promise to buy the first round.

Eric

Rhawb

Hey guys, I'll be there +1-4, most likely 4. I'm just not sure how easily I'll be to attend the events since I'll be trying to keep up with my group. I'll definitely try and stop by at some point, I just don't know when. Good luck to the teams, and I hope to see everyone there!

swoope

iTrader: (5)

wow,

this deal is wack..

beers

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

Rhawb bring your group they are more then welcome to the Mazda family...

Rhawb

I'm just not sure how many will be interested (got some BMW guys in the group, ewwwwwww! ) or how many will have garage passes. I'll have a pass, but I know some of my buddies can be cheap, hah!

Group buy on discount garage passes?

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

I'll be there,,, + my dad he owns a 335i but he likes my RX8 more,,,lol
Ive got my Sprint Fanzone garage upgrade bracelets so I'll be looking for the tent/area....

Rhawb

Note- there was some confusion since I didn't specify. You can always get in on foot, but automotive traffic WILL get cut off once the infield is deemed full.

-------------------------------

For all who don't know - THE INFIELD CLOSES VERY EARLY the morning of the race!!!!! I saw someone is flying in from Baltimore, and I don't want anyone to have the same experience as we did our first year.

We arrived around 7am and asked a volunteer where to pick up tickets. For some reason, the guy sent across the street (They're actually kept at the visitor center on-site) and we had ended up in the line for press passes. Took us almost 2 hours - with no signage - just to be told we needed only to spend about 30 seconds waiting for them to find our tickets right back where we had talked to the volunteer. Upon receiving our tickets, we were told the infield was closed until enough people leave and the gates were re-opened, which was around 4pm.

If you want your car present inside the infield at the start of the race, be prepared to show up at the crack of dawn, tickets in hand. Showing up even at 9am can get you locked out until nearly dinner time. We don't even fight it anymore, we just take our time and show up whenever we get there. We like to hang out in the parking lot off Williamson (SW of the track) for a few hours. Crank up the tunes, have a couple beers/burgers, maybe nap for a while, then make our way to the track for the start of the race or some practice sessions.

Also, the directions on their website are terrible, at least if you're coming from the West via I-4. Take I-4 Eastbound. When you see signs pointing you toward 95, take the split (left exit) to 92 - AKA International Speedway Blvd. No turns necessary, it just takes you right to the track. Can't miss it.

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

So rxtreme8 has come up with the final design for the pass and as you can see it looks great



So if you are coming to the 24 hours of Daytona print this out and bring it with you so you can join us for all the festivities. This is going to be a great event and I hope to see a lot of you out there

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

could you please make a PDF or attatched file so we can print by itself,,,
Thanks
And who do we give/show this to and where will your setup be located at?

AirlockRX

Hey, this is great!
Looking forward to doing it!
Thanks guys,
Mike

whoneedspistons

iTrader: (2)

If you guys right click it and save it, it should be the right size and everything. Let me know if its an issue after this and I will take care of it for you.