I'd love to be a part of this too. Renting out Road Atlanta would be amazing. The next NASA event is at AMS. You have to go, it's a hell of an experience.

 

I'm in too

 

Well, i guess i could join but only because Mazcare has such a great dog.
Hey Boo, how ya doing boy!
olddragger

Seriously all, I don't think anyone could ask for a better place than Mazcare and the guys. Check all of our groups threads.

 

Rent Road Atlanta with just 8's on the track---- now THAT is a good idea!
OD

 

I heard that you can get Roebling Road for a grand a day. 10 cars + $100 each = great/cheap fun.

 

I'm also interested.

 

Folks-

This is terrific ... lots of enthusiasm I can tell. We'll definitely have to get this cranking ... and soon. I'm scheduled to meet with Chuck Wallace (GM of Jim Ellis MAZDA) any day (as soon as we can fit schedules) and start discussing how to bring this about. I'm sure we'd all be interested in any other legitimate sponsorships as well ... so feel free to bring them forward.

The notion of a web site is a great idea ... great suggestion Splan8 ... and indeed, we'll need some volunteers to carry some of the water ... as soon as we know where we want the water to go .

I can imagine putting together a first meeting of sorts at Jim Ellis for all interested parties, just to get our feet wet and bring some reality to the idea. Be thinking about some ideas of activities and events you'd like to see. Think about what you would want the club to offer ... what value are you seeking and what are you willing to do to make it a success? I think with just a a little effort speard across many members we can make something fun, educational and rewarding for all of us to get even more from our beloved RX-8.

Please talk up the idea with any other 8'rs you may run across out there on the Georgia roads. And please keep the ideas and enthusiasm flowing into this thread.

Thanks to all for your initial responses and enthusiasm.

John (derwankel)

 

Also, I would like to throw out the idea of supporting the Wings and Wheels Car show here at Robins AFB Museum of Aviation. Usually in Oct... That is where I first saw the 8! Anyway, This sounds like it will be picking up some steam and I look forward to meeting all of you.

Mike

 

Ditto :D
I am also very excited to see that GA 8er's do appreciate the car they have. There are 2 other 8s here in m-ville and they're both driven by old women. (WTF?!) So getting together with other 8 drivers would be splendid. :p

Can't wait to meet you guys,

9G (Kevin)

 

Just my .02 on getting buddy buddy with Jim Ellis or any other dealership...

There are a dozen guys on here that will chime forth in favor of working with Mazcare. I would rather see us meet up there. They have been host to the RX8's from rx8club.com at least three differnet times, done training sessions at Road Atlanta and are dealers of aftermarket parts. They also have a constantly close working relationship with Jim Ellis and other Mazda dealers as they source some parts from there as needed for their business.

I'm sure Jim Ellis is great, but Charlie and the team at Mazcare has been INVOLVED since we first started getting together and I would like to see us meet there...

Also, I don't really want to talk autocross or track days around a Mazda dealership I may want to get warranty service from.

Again, just my .02

 

And I would be one of those dozen. If the folks at Mazcare are so inclined and the RX-8 owners are receptive, there's no reason not to meet at Mazcare. I for one would welcome their participation and the opportunity to meet there.

At the same time, Jim Ellis has a history as a very enthusiastic sponsor of the local Miata club and has expressed a serious interest in supporting an RX-8 club. I see no reason to presume they will have issues with Auto-X and track days. Remember, this is one part of a large organization that caters to many high performance automobile owners like Porsche and Audi in addition to MAZDA. I'm sure a few of them are Auto-Xing and tracking their cars as well. They've not given me or anyone I know cause for pause when it comes to these types of activities. My impression is they want owner's of their sports cars to be enthusiasts and they want to support that enthusiasm.


At the same time, I personally (speaking only for myself) wouldn't have the hutzpah to suggest that the dealer is responsible for fixing everything that breaks on my car due to the way I use it. I would venture that MAZDA is not covering warranty issues related to the SpeedSource RX-8s that are racing these days. In racing those cars they (SpeedSource) assume responsibility for maintaining and fixing their own cars. At the same time, the RX-8 is a sports car with the engine of a race car (their words). It is meant to be driven enthusiastically and it is designed for such. I personally feel Auto-X and track days are within that expected range of use for this car. Clearly there is a difference and there is a line there somewhere. There is a need to understand where the line exists. But I don't think it is fair to suggest a dealer would withold warranty work just because you participate in Auto-X without some definitive statement to that effect from the dealer.


I don't think this needs to be a them or us decision. I'm not advocating single or exclusive sponsorship. I see no reason why it can't be both and more. Personally I'd like to see (and I've already seen others here suggest this as well) this Club not be Atlanta only. Clearly we have a "large" RX-8 population by comparison here, but there are many Georgia RX-8 enthusiasts and we need to be open to and inclusive of those in other Gerogia cities who might also want to participate and sponsor such a club ... don't ya think?

Just to re-iterate, I would suggest we have several sponsors who offer all of us different benefits and address different interests. And, I see no reason to make Auto-X and track days a dealer warranty issue until they in fact state it to be an issue. I suggest we seek a direct statement of clarification of this with the dealer.

I think you offer up some good suggestions and points for discussion.

 

ok, derwankel-- man great idea and kudo's to ya for following through on it. Our already "informal club" (road atlanta guys) are probaly all very interested in this concept.
We are going to be very partial toward Mazcare however, because:
1- Extremely personized service- sharing a large wealth of knowledge, tracking with us, getting us the best prices, staying open late to prep ALL our cars, test driving the aftermarket parts on his personnel car to tell us whether or not it's worth it, and letting us drive his car to see the differance, 1st name basis, lots of previous actual on track racing experience(therefore introducing us to his contacts), we dont feel like customers, we feel like brothers, and the list goes on and on.
It would be hard for us to go elsewhere.
Nothing agaisnt Jim Ellis, it's great to have a big dealership like that so involved. I do have to say when I was in the market to buy, his dealership could not give me the best buy so I bought from Rick Chase instead. But thats just business.
I just like the fast and furious enviroment at Mazcare and Oh yea it is almost exclusively rx-8's.
lets make this work!
Please do not misunderstand me, I'm all for this and I am sure open to discussion.
olddragger
ps I want a lip spoiler! lol

 

Derwankel,
I recently checked into the Miata clubs and they held a meeting at Logans Road house in a big back room. They were meeting to discuss things and show off some aftermarket parts, etc... as well as eat.

Maybe we could set our first meeting at a place like that, have Jim Ellis come out and Charlie from Mazcare show off the RB intake...

Then discuss what's next? I'm always hungry...

 

Sounds terrific ... I 'm looking forward to getting over to Mazcare myself.

As for the spoiler ... coming soon ...

derwankel

 

Sounds good to me ... food and cars ... two of my favorites. Surely they have a beer or two around as well.

 

Hey, Olddragger...
I think you stopped counting after "1". :D

 

^--Lol! Well I keep checking the thread for some dates. I just hope that whenever you guys choose to meet I'm free and have the gas money to come. Keep in touch.

9G

 

Sounds good...I'll just keep checking back to see when the first meet is. :D

 

You guys realize of course that you can have all the space you need on the MazdaNow.com website. However you want it....


http://www.mazdanow.com/clubs/

:D

 

Cool, thanks for the offer. Checked the site out and sent you a PM to see what the specifics are. Could work nicely.

 

Just wanted to say I had a really nice visit with you today Charlie. It was a pleasure meeting you ... and your dog. I appreciated you taking time out to talk shop, particularly when I dropped by un-announced. You've got some great ideas of fun activities and I'm looking forward to participating in as many as I can.

By the way folks ... while I was there Charlie recv'd 4 RB Rev-i intakes. It is a pretty nice looking piece. Very light and I'm assured one will be on "someone's" car tonight. Anyway, I guess a couple are spoken for ... and a couple are available. Call Charlie and see if they are still around.

Definitely be seeing ya around Charlie. Thanks again!

 

This group/brotherhood is continuing to come together! Ideas anyone?
Splan I really have to learn to count better but this mania does get in the way. I wonder if we could get enough interest up to rent a track for a day. Hey Nabil what do you have in mind!
Olddragger

 

I would definately be interested. I have wanted to go to the events at RA, but was not able to make it to either. I did however enjoy the long threads about them, and the great videos. Thanks to NAbil and Legocken, It would be nice to meet with guys that have done some of the mods that I am lusting after. My REVi will be here Monday, can not wait on that one. It would aslo be nice to meet up with folks that share the same passion and enthusiasm for our cars. Group drives are always fun.

As for the Auto-X stuff, I think some MFGR's are ok with it. I know Mitsubishi was not, C&D had an article last year sometime, about Mitsu looking up the registered entrants at auto-x events, ones that drove evo's, and then sending them a notice in the mail that their warranty was now null and void. Pretty lame on their part really. Not sure how MAZDA looks at it, they give people a lot of crap about hard driving when it comes to the clutch, I have seen numerous threads about that, and voided warranty issues.

But I am very interested in the Georgia Club idea. I think it would be great, and if we rented a track for a couple hours, a couple bills is not bad, especially if we had it all to ourselves.

-travis