So what kind of Mazda?

[Willow]

What kind of Mazda would someone think could run with a Valkyrie?

This evening I rolled up on a stop light in relatively light traffic.  My direction had five lanes, two of which were left turn and the left two of the remaining were occupied.  I positioned myself to the rightmost slot.  When the light turned green I left under moderate acceleration.  I had already shifted once at mid intersection when I heard someone's engine wind up and saw a fender coming past me on the left.  I didn't bother to down shift, but just rolled on the throttle.  He stayed with me until the Valkyrie reached a reasonable RPM and then I showed him the tail lights. 

Since we were on a suburban thoroughfare with a PRV of 45 and we were catching traffic, I showed him brake lights somewhere into fourth gear.  I was thinking, this guy must really have something special and I wanted to see what it was.  I'm not really much of a car guy, but I was expecting to see something like a sexy European high dollar item.  I slowed to let him pass, but he seemed to just be staying with me.  I glanced over and this guy was leaning across the cabin and showing me a finger.  I honestly couldn't tell which one.

I braked pretty strongly to get a look at the back of his vehicle and it was sporting the encircled bird.   I was surprised.

The driver of the Mazda squeaked his tires a few times and zipped in and out of a few lanes managing to get to the starting blocks for the next red light.  I arrived slightly after him, but at the head of my own lane.

He made a lot of noise leaving the line.  I didn't.  I'm not really big on rematches.

So what do you think the Mazda salesman said to that young man?        

[Brad]

Most likely one of their rotary engines, those things have some get up and go

[R J]

Carl, did it look like any one of these?

http://www.ramseyauto.com/site/mazda_new_car_showcase

If not it was a Mazda Speed3, it is a 4 banger with a turbo, and the will pull the Valkyrie in the gears.     My son-in-law has one.   We have bumped heads a couple of times......   For what they are built out of, they will move.....

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/sem.action?term=mazdaspeed3&providertag=MazdaSEM&servicetag=T1MS30312012&sem=1&s_kwcid=TC|21354|mazdaspeed||S|e|6129643912

[Momz]

Probably an RX7 or maybe an 8?

[9Ball]

My son has a supercharged rx7 convertible that does high 9's and low 10's consistently at the 1/4 mile.  They can be pretty fast.

His rollcage is the only outward indication that it's a faster than stock car.

[Robert]

Maybe you couldn't hear but if it didn't sound like a 2 cycle engine it more than likely was not a rx7. Mine could probably beat my Valk not just off the line but with just a bit of room. The rotary dont really launch well unless you rev them up pretty good and I dont think he did that. The Mazdas like the Mazda speed 3 or 6  are pretty peppy but no match for the Valk.

RX-7 catching on fire	powered by Aeva

CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3 Turbo Back Exhaust System	powered by Aeva

[Kaiser]

Are you sure it wasn't solo1 in his Miata just givin' you a hard time? 

There is quite a nice aftermarket for the Miatas.  A lot of people use them for racing.

Sounds like you ran into one of those types that are so prevalent in this college town where I live.  Just cause their car is loud, they think they can out-race anything on the road (hmm...that sounds familiar with another brand I know of as well  ).  They've got one of those "fart cans" hanging off the end of their car and sound like a weed-eater when they take off.

[solo1]

Nope, it wasn't me.  .  I wouldn't give a finger to Valk riders. My Miata wouldn't stand a chance against a Valk even with the four into one header and some other work.

Yeah, I sure know the "fart can'  group.  They think that they have something with their big and loud exhaust.  Remind me of a certain brand of motorcycles out there.

[Hef]

Had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago. Headed out of town and stopped to gas up. A youngster in a new Mustang came over and was looking at my Valk. He asked if it really was a 6 cyclinder engine ???? I said yeah and then his next question was if I wanted to run him in his Mustang. I thanked him for the offer but said no and finished my fill up. He left ahead of me but when I got back on the road I saw him parked on the side of the road. I passed by and he pulled out behind me. Okay, I'll let him have some fun. I figured he would take me but what the heck. I put it through the gears and left him pretty far back. I slowed and here he came and pulled out in the passing lane and beside me yelling "let's go top end." I smiled, shook my head no, gave him a salute, and stayed at speed limit. Ego buster for him...He flipped me the bird and took off.

[shortleg]

  There is a Meata around here with a small block
Ford in it that reminds me of the old Sunbeam Tigers.
  It will go like the old Tigers.
          Shortleg[Dave]

[Razkal]

The wife's CX7 has a 244 horse turbo 4 banger in it. Runs pretty hard for a 3600+ lbs crossover. Handles better than some "sporty" cars.

[Chillerman]

So what do you think the Mazda salesman said to that young man?     

Zoom, zoom, zoom? 

[NITRO]

Sounds like a Speed3 to me. Was it a hatchback? I don't know if this holds, but a couple of years ago when they came out they were the fastest front-wheel-drive car made. 260ish hp I believe.