Now that the warm weather is upon us, event season is in full swing and CorkSport has plans for some big events in the coming months that we would like share with you.
It will be taking place from 9am-3pm on August 11, 2012 at the CorkSport Mazda Performance headquarters located in Vancouver, WA and will include a dyno day, show & shine and raffle and will also feature an appearance and dyno run from arguably the highest horsepower Mazdaspeed 3 to be dyno’d to date.
Over one hundred Mazda owners from as far north as British Columbia to as far south as California attended last year’s event making it the largest all Mazda event held in the Northwest and we expect this year’s event to be even bigger and better than last year!
The cost to attend will be just $5.00 per vehicle which includes one entry in the show & shine and a swag bag. Additional entries into show & shine categories will go for $5.00 per entry. Food and drink will be available for purchase and raffle tickets can be purchased for $1.00. For attendees interested in dynoing their vehicle, three pulls will be just $35.00 in advance and $50.00 the day of the event.
Please pre-register today and let us know if you will be participating in the show and shine, plan to dyno, or are just coming to hang out with the crew. Anyone who pre-registers will also recieve a CorkSport swag bag and it will help us plan for parking for the event. We are currently accepting registions at CorkSport’s website at https://corksport.com/corksport-sizzlin-summer-event.html.
CorkSport Invades Texas
The next event we are excited to announce will be held at Harris Hill Raceway in San Marcos, TX. In collaboration with CorkSport customer and sponsored drivers, Matt Kellogg and his new Mazda club, the Texas Speed Demons, CorkSport will be hosting a track day and car show on November 3, 2012 from 9am-6pm.
Details on this event are being finalized and more information will be made available in the coming months, but mark this date on your calendar if you are in Texas, around Texas or can make it to Texas, because this one is going to be a biggie!
If you want updates on our Texas event, please click here to get added to our info list and details will be emailed to you as they become available.
Gwynne-
CorkSport Upcoming Events! September 13th, 2018Derrick Ambrose
The latest addition in a comprehensive line of suspension products designed by CorkSport to strengthen the weak points in the Mazdaspeed 3 OEM underbody design, the CorkSport Front Lower Arm Brace strengthens chassis rigidity and minimizes flex by tying the lower control arms together.
Designed to fit seamlessly with the OEM control arms, this easy to install suspension component will provide improved steering control and help to maintain the alignment of the vehicle.
The CorkSport Lower Arm Brace has a stainless steel tubular design and CNC machined ends that will help to maintain a lightweight frame while adding structural rigidity. It has been powder coated for added durability and a long-lasting finish, even in extreme weather conditions.
This latest release comes on the heels of another product release by CorkSport also designed to reduce undesirable chassis flex, the CorkSport Mazda 3 and Mazdaspeed 3 Underbody 4-Bar Brace Set. This suspension enhancement links the frame to the sub-frame locking the sub-frame in place for increased control under hard cornering and acceleration.
Immediately after I installed the CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3 Underbody Four Bar Set, I felt a difference in handling and responsiveness, said CorkSport customer, Matt Kellogg, I saw an improvement in cornering and lap times on the track as a result of adding this product to the undercarriage of my Mazdaspeed 3. This is a great addition whether you use your Mazdaspeed 3 as your daily driver or for the track
As Ray put it, “It is easy to buy a fast car, but it’s much more fun and rewarding to make a car fast!” and Ray has done just that with his 2009 Mazdaspeed 3. This Albuquerque NM native has a laundry list of performance parts on his car and based on the number of votes for his ride to be CorkSport’s June feature, a lot of friends within the Mazda community!
This occasional (drag) racer has a COBB SRI and Access Port with custom tune, CorkSport TMIC, CorkSport Downpipe, CorkSport Racepipe, and CorkSport Cat Back Exhaust, JBR Thermal Insulated Gasket and JBR Throttle Body Gasket, but the go fast parts don’t stop there, he went big turbo with an ATP GTX 3076 26 PSI, added a big turbo inlet pipe and Devils Own Progressive Methanol Injection Kit 80/20 with D07 Nozzle. To support the many aftermarket parts, Ray has also upgraded his internals with KMD HPFP Internals.
To enhance the handling, Ray had added a Short Shift Plate, H&R Springs, 18×8 Drag DR38 +47, Eibach 5mm Spacers, and 235/40 18 Nitto NT05 tires.
Next on the list for Ray is a fully built block, full suspension, and braces. He also has his eye on the upcoming CorkSport Mazdaspeed 3 Coilovers. Looks like July is going to be a good month for modifying your Mazdaspeed 3 Ray!
Gwynne-
Full List of Modifications:
Cobb Access Port (Custom Tune)
ATP GTX3076 26PSi
Cobb SRI
CorkSport TMIC
CorkSport Down Pipe
CorkSport Test Pipe
CorkSport Cat Back Exhaust
Oil Catch Can
JBR Thermal Insulated Gasket
JBR Throttle Body Gasket
JBE EGR Delete
JBR Throttle Body Coolant Bypass
CP-E Big Turbo Turbo Inlet Pipe
KMD HPFP Internals
Street Unit TurboSmart Dual Port BOV
CP-E Single Guage Pod
DashHawk
Prosport Boost Gauge
Devils Own Progressive Methanol Injection Kit 80/20 with D07 Nozzle
E85 Tune 50/50
Street Unit Rear Motor Mount
TRZ Tranny Mount
Short Shift Plate
H&R Springs
18×8 Drag DR38 +47
Eibach 5mm Spacers
235/40 18 Nitto NT05.
Featured Car of the Month – Ray’s Speed3 September 13th, 2018Derrick Ambrose
After releasing the CorkSport Mazda 3 SkyActiv Power Series Intake, we received several questions about the differences between the SkyActiv and traditional motors. We are writing this technical post to provide some insights into the differences we have seen while testing and developing new parts for the SkyActiv engine.
SkyActiv engine is a phrase from Mazda that denotes their direct injected, high-compression motors. This is a technology similar to how diesel engines run, in that it is direct injected and one of the many reasons the SkyActiv engine is able to get such high gas mileage.
Your average fuel injected motor runs 10.0:1 compression and fuel pressures of around 45psi whereas the SkyActiv engine runs a very high-compression of 14.0:1 and extremely high fuel pressure of up to 3000psi. Most people will think 3000psi is a typo, but I assure you it is not.
The piston pictured to the right shows how different SkyActiv pistons are compared to a conventional motor. It is a much more complex piston shape that includes a cavity in the center where the spark plug fires to provide a heat-loss reduction. Fuel is sprayed at the piston in order to prevent detonation or “knock”, allowing the engine to run leaner while making more power.
Another big difference is that the fuel is dispersed into the air inside the cylinder. A conventional fuel injected motor will mix the fuel and air in the intake manifold or in the intake manifold runners. Because fuel normally acts as a cleaning agent for the valves, this could be seen as a negative for the SkyActiv engine design.
We have all seen the commercials about how the gas cleans your engine. This is true, but when we move the fuel out of the intake manifold and into the cylinders, this benefit no longer exists making it more critical to maintain the engine. Adding a CorkSport SkyActiv intake will help with this by keeping the engine clean of dust and pollutants and the filter can be reused time and time again.
There are many great benefits to both the design and functionality of Mazda’s new SkyActiv engines. In initial testing our CX-5 saw increased torque and almost 40mpg.
We are looking forward to developing many more aftermarket performance parts to support this new technology!
I was surprised to learn that there is track racing in Alaska, but when long time friend Chris invited me to spend Memorial Day weekend co-driving an IT Rx7 at a place called Tanacross, I hit the internet to see what I could find out. It turns out the track was actually used during World War II to supply Russia with planes to fight the Germans. It was one of the airports that planes would stop at for fuel during the long flight to Russia.
The airstrip is currently used by the department of natural resources and maintained for firefighting. They land the C130 tankers and fill them up with water from the river at the end of the main runway. The airfield has also been used for racing in all forms for many years.
The Anchorage Alaska Sports Car Lions Club hosts two events each year at Tanacross, one on Memorial Day weekend and the other on Labor Day weekend. The events consist of wheel to wheel racing for part of the day, than street car time trails for the other part of the day.
After a flight into Anchorage and a 6 hour drive, I arrived at the track for the weekend. You can’t ask for more spectacular mountain views and scenery than Tanacross has to offer.
I did find a few drawbacks to the Alaska wilderness though. The mosquitos are big enough to shoot them with a gun and take them home for a trophy and the track is literally just a track in the middle of nowhere so you have to campout at the track or bring an RV.
On the first day of racing, I got suited up with my gear and rode in the passenger seat of the IT Rx7 I was co-driving for the weekend. This allowed me to get a run through of the track, see how it was laid out, and get some practice.
After the warm-up laps, which included a surprise caribou running across the track, the racing got underway. We drew lug-nuts with numbers etched into them to determine the starting order. There were nine cars in the heat and Chris (who took the first heat) was towards the back of the field.
During the first race, Chris battled it out with an IT class Rabbit that led to a victory in the IT class and second overall to a GT class 280z (with a swapped V8 power plant). Unfortunately for a Subaru STI in the first round, a turbo failure two laps into the race ended his weekend.
After a brief break in the racing, I got belted into the Rx7 to take my turn. Since Chris had gotten the Rx7 up to 2nd place overall, I got a good starting order for the next round.
Since the track is an airstrip, the course was setup with cones making it feel like a really fast and wide autocross track until you hit the straight section. That is when I jammed it into fourth gear flat-out and approached the 100mph mark before hitting the corner end.
I chased the 280z that won the first heat for a few laps until he started pulling away. Each time I hit the straight section of the track, I found myself fighting it out for second place with a Rabbit. The Rabbit was faster in certain sections of the track and I made an error that allowed him to overtake me. With just a few laps left, we caught up with lapped traffic which made the battle really interesting. An IT Neon in front of us made a really fast line correction. To avoid getting hit, The Rabbit and my RX7 had to dodge the Neon and I was able to get in front of the two cars to finish with the IT win in that round. Lap times for the course were around the 1:20’s for the wheel to wheel IT cars.
After the race, I reflected a bit. The surface reminded me of what Sebring looks like and I thought, “this is how the racing surface must feel like there”. I could feel the joints in the concrete sections under hard cornering and in order to keep my foot planted on the throttle, I had to put my faith in the tires and suspension that the car would stick and not send me spinning off the track.
After the second race, the wheel to wheel racing took a break and the time trail cars got out on the track for their turn. Later that afternoon the wheel to wheel racing picked up again and I was able to fight it out with an IT class Golf, made more exciting by some light rain. The throttle inputs and cornering was even more exciting when being chased down by another car. In the end, a spin by the Golf got me in front for the rest of the race and I finished first.
After the racing wrapped up for the day, the track became a campground and social gathering for the evening. Walking from campfire to campfire talking about the days racing, I lost track of time. By looking at the sky, I was thinking was around 9pm or so when it was really 1am. Take a look at the picture below to get an idea of how light it is in the middle of the “night”.
The next day you could tell the “socializing” had caught up to some people. The racing started a little bit later than the previous day. I raced in the first heat and managed to pull away from the field a bit and landed in first place in front of the GT class Z which had started at the back of the field.
I would have to say, my last race of the day was the best and most exciting. There was a GT class mustang that had been running mid-pack all day and had been down on power. After trouble shooting on Saturday and part of Sunday, it was discovered the timing had been retarded leaving the car way down on power. With the timing fixed, the mustang was putting out around 400 wheel hp. Starting from the back of the pack, the mustang had to catch up with me at the front of the field. From the drop of the green, I knew I was going to have to drive at the top of my game to be at the front at the end of the race.
The green flag went down and I let it rip hoping the field behind me could slow down the mustang enough to let me get some distance. On the 6th lap I saw the mustang at the start of the straight when I was hitting the end. By the 8th lap he really began catching up in the straights and by the last lap, the mustang had caught up with me. I managed to get a gap between us in the tight sections of the track and hit the exit of the corner leading to the straight perfectly.
The track narrowed up so I put myself right in the middle keeping the Mustang from passing me to take the lead. I made it through the corner and hit the finish with the mustang right behind me, finishing the race in first place. I had a grin ear-to-ear going around the track during the cool down lap and afterward, went over and thanked the mustang driver for the great race.
After the final race there was some free time to take hot laps with the time trail people and took some laps in a borrowed Honda S2000. The track had gotten some light rain so the S2000 was a bit twitchy in certain sections when the Vtac kicked in (Yo!). The Rx7 I had been driving in the races seemed to be more stable on the track.
I want to give a huge thanks to Chris for letting me drive his Rx7 at the races and to all the great people I raced with during the weekend. Also a big thanks for the pictures I “borrowed” from the Alaska Motorsports Forum.
-Derrick
Alaska. Land of Opportunity and Racing September 13th, 2018Derrick Ambrose
After releasing the 
Another big difference is that the fuel is dispersed into the air inside the cylinder. A conventional fuel injected motor will mix the fuel and air in the intake manifold or in the intake manifold runners. Because fuel normally acts as a cleaning agent for the valves, this could be seen as a negative for the SkyActiv engine design.
Adding a 
