Author: Derrick Ambrose

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Featured Car of the Month: Kritz’s Speed3

When Steve first approached me about being sponsored by CorkSport, he smartly sent along some swag from a recent surf competition near his home on the south shore of Long Island NY. Being an ex-surfer myself, it certainly didn’t hurt his chances, but buttering me up with free stuff wasn’t what convinced me that Steve would be excellent at representing CorkSport in the community. It was his passion for Mazda performance and for CorkSport, his unrelenting positive attitude, and his enthusiasm for being a part of the Mazda community that made him an ideal candidate to wear the CorkSport badge.

Steve Kritzberg (Kritz on the forums) is a true Mazda enthusiast if you’ve ever met one. This may be a more recent obsession for him, but he has immersed himself in the forums and become an active member in his local Nator New York group and the surrounding chapters in NJ and PA, hosting install days, BBQ’s, and helping to plan events for the local chapter.

His 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 is his first Mazda, but he has always had a love for cars. Modding took a backseat to raising kids and his work as a local 1 plumber for a while, but his wife of 18 years has been very understanding about his recent affliction of the “mod-syndrome” and all things car related. Now a weekend autocrosser and recent winner of Best Mazdaspeed at the annual Torontomazda3 Forum Meeting of the Mazdas, Steve’s work is really starting to pay-off.

Mazdas handle really well right off the lot, but Steve has spared no expense on perfecting the handling and suspension on his speed 3 adding a CorkSport Coilover Suspension Kit with Camber Plates, CorkSport Front Sway Bar with CorkSport End Links, CorkSport Rear Sway Bar, CorkSport Rear Chassis Brace Set, CorkSport Mid-Chassis Brace, Volk TE37 wheels with Dunlop Star Specs 245/45/17’s, and a CorkSport Short Shift Plate and Shifter Bushings.

But just because he has spent a lot of time perfecting the suspension doesn’t mean he forgot the go-fast parts with the addition of a CorkSport Downpipe, CorkSport Racepipe, CorkSport Large Core FMIC, Turbosmart BPV, and a custom tune by none other than Rob Finkle (da man) 50% E85.

If you’ve ever been to Storm’s OCC All Mazda Meet, you may have met Steve there and if you went last year, you may remember a little prank dreamed up by the local Nator crew with the help of CorkSport as Steve was given the CorkSport Senior Citizen award which he now proudly displays on his fireplace. He may be a little older than some of the crew he hangs with on the weekends, but “old man” Kritzberg is still young at heart!

What’s next on the list for Steve’s build? Well, big turbo of course!

Gwynne-

Full List of Mods:
CorkSport Coilover Suspension Kit w Camber Plates
CorkSport Front Sway Bar
CorkSport Front End Links
CorkSport Rear Sway Bar
CorkSport Short shift Plate
CorkSport Shifter Bushings
CorkSport Rear Chassis Brace Set
CorkSport Mid Chassis Brace
CorkSport Large Core FMIC
Turbosmart BPV
CorkSport Downpipe
CorkSport Racepipe
Resonator delete
James Barone Trilogy MM
Spherical shift knobage
CorkSport Interior LED Light Kit
Next Mod Front Grille Insert
Volk TE37 wheels with Dunlop Star Specs 245/45/17’s
Custom tuned by Rob Finkle (da Man) 50% E85

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Give Something Back

There are a lot of things in this world that are more fun than giving blood like being a sperm donor or picking up trash on the side of the freeway, but last week a few of us from the CorkSport decided that we would do our part and donate blood to the American Red Cross.

Sure, it’s not the most comfortable thing to do, takes some time out of your day, and can make you feel pretty light headed, but they say donating just once has the ability to save up to three lives, a pretty strong motivation if you ask me. I think 60-90 minutes of my day to save three lives is pretty great return on my time investment!

While I was there getting my blood drawn, I thought about an accident I witnessed last Sunday while I drove to church. A motorcyclist crashed his bike going 45+ miles an hour right in front of us. He flipped his bike end-over-end, flying 40 feet, only to be stopped by a metal street sign. If blood was needed for him (and it probably was) someone’s donation could have made the difference between life and death and let’s face it, driving like an idiot, while annoying and dangerous for everyone else on the road shouldn’t necessarily be a death sentence.

So, the moral of the story is to get out there and donate. Even one time is enough to save a life or three.

For more information about donating blood, check out the American Red Cross at https://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood

Derrick-

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CorkSport Texas Mazda Showdown!

If you have been keeping up with our newsletter or blog posts, you probably already know that we will be hosting a track day in Texas this November, but you didn’t know all the details. Well, today the suspense ends! CorkSport, with the help of Texas Mazda Speed Demons and Roger Beasley Mazda, will be hosting a track day on November 3, 2012 at Harris Hill Raceway from 9am-6pm.

Harris Hill Raceway (H2R) is located in the hills of northeastern San Marcos, Texas, just 26 miles from downtown Austin and about 55 miles from downtown San Antonio. The track is a 1.82-mile, 11-turn asphalt road course. The course is 36-feet wide with over 150 feet of elevation changes and within the 11 turns there are increasing radius turns, decreasing radius turns, positive camber, negative camber (and one turn that has both within the same turn!), one long sweeper, several blind corners, and an 80-foot rise-and-fall in one turn.

CorkSport will be offering lead/follow track time between 9am-6pm that includes 5 laps on the track for just $25.00 pre-paid and $35.00 the day of the event. In addition, our co-sponsor, Roger Beasley Mazda will have some expert drifters attending to provide a drift demonstration and EMS Powered will be on hand with their dyno chassis to provide dyno runs (three pulls for $50).

If your not that interested in all that stuff (are you crazy?!) then you can always just come park your car, enjoy the show, and hang with other like minded Mazda enthusiasts!

For more information about the event or to pre-register today, please visit our event page online at https://www.corksport.com/corksport-harris-hill-event.html

Gwynne-

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Product Release! CorkSport Mazda RX-8 2004-2008 Single Exit Exhaust

After many months of development and testing, CorkSport is pleased to introduce you to the CorkSport Single Exit Exhaust for the 2004-2008 Mazda RX-8!

CorkSport’s single exit exhaust design includes one 3.4” exhaust tip located on the driver’s side of the Rx8. Weighing only 14.2 lbs., a whopping 25.8 lbs. less than the factory exhaust, the CorkSport single exit exhaust design will provide significant weight savings on your RX-8

The CorkSport Mazda RX-8 single exit exhaust provides a deep, bold tone that is aggressive at idle and provides a powerful impression throughout the throttle range.

Our RX-8 exhaust is built using quality material and construction methods. It is constructed using polished 2.4” mandrel bent stainless steel piping to improve exhaust flow and provide more power and finished with TIG welds for a strong connection and good looks.

As with all our CorkSport parts, the Mazda RX8 Single Exit Exhaust comes with a two year limited warranty, superior installation instructions, and reliable technical assistance should you need it during your install.

To find out more today please visit us online at corksport.com or give us a call at 360-260-CORK

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Wipe That Smile off Your Face CX-9!

The CX-9 is not exactly the model you think of when it comes to a mod car. As a matter of fact, CorkSport doesn’t even list the CX-9 in our catalog, but for those of you thinking about starting a family or carting your brood to soccer games on Saturday, this may be just the vehicle for you!

The new 2014 Mazda CX-9 was unveiled this week ahead of its Australian debut and I figured it was worth a mention, even if it is just to see how the KODO design is being incorporated into the product line.

Replacing the Nagare design language with the new sportier KODO design has done the front of the vehicle some good. The grille is much improved with more aerodynamic headlights and fog light housings, along with some sportier LED daytime running lights, but the front overhang detracts from the sportiness and likely the handling of the vehicle. They have not given us a view of the back or interior yet so some of the design elements in the new version remain a mystery.

The word is that the SUV will be carrying over the same Ford-based CD3 platform and keeping the 3.7 liter V-6, 273 horsepower engine and six-speed automatic transmission. It will be interesting to see how Mazda intends to incorporate SkyActiv technology into CX-5’s older and bigger brother in the coming years, but for now, the family-friendly seven seater will continue to get just 19 mpg in combined EPA fuel economy.

Now Mazda, what we really want is any details on a new Mazdaspeed!

Gwynne –