Tag: Cool Stuff

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Mazda Goes With the Batteries

There were some rumors and news flying around in March of last year that Mazda was in talks with Toyota to get their hands on the hybrid technology they had developed. The system people had mentioned was the Toyota Synergy Hybrid Tech and was to be combined with the Mazda Sky engines. The vehicles were slated to be available in 2013.

Mazda SKY Engine

This week Mazda announced that they will be offering electric vehicles starting on 2012. The vehicle will be the Mazda 2/Demio and will be offered to fleet accounts, like government and larger corporations, instead of individuals.

Mazda makes no mention of the hybrid technology that they were working on getting from Toyota. This leads me to speculate that with the news of the all-electric car and the gasoline technology advances that Mazda has been working on we might not see a hybrid from Mazda. I personally don’t think it would be worth it for Mazda to continue pursuing 3 different paths for better fuel economy. Given the size of Mazda it doesn’t make much sense from a cost standpoint. The Sky drivetrains will make Mazda competitive with most of the hybrids on the market without having to run heavy batteries and hybrid drivetrain systems. The all-electric vehicles are going to be strictly fleet vehicles, which means there is no need for the infrastructure of charging stations.

Mazda did have one hybrid vehicle in the past, the Tribute, but it was based on the Ford Escape. With Ford only owning about 3% in Mazda these days, the technology sharing looks to have changed between the two companies to a minimal amount.

I do look forward to seeing what Mazda can innovate for the electric vehicle. Mazda has always been willing to go a different direction from other car manufacturers to solve problems. I think we will see an example of that in 2012, much like what we have seen with the Sky engine systems.

What do you guys think?

– Derrick

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Aftermarket Parts and your Warranty

Now that our CorkSport Power Series Short Ram Intakes for the 2.3L DISI turbo-charged engines are 50-state legal (Press Release), I would like to revisit a past blog post as I think it is important for every car owner to understand.

A little over a year ago, we put a blog post on our webpage that outlined some of the laws and tips regarding your vehicle’s factory warranty and aftermarket parts you put on your vehicle. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (US code – Title 15, Chapter 50, Section 2301-2312) was put in place to make it illegal for your dealer to void your warranty just because you put a non-OEM part on your vehicle (see SEMA Article). However, if you bring in your vehicle for a warranty claim, and it was obvious that the aftermarket part caused the issue, then you are out of luck.

The best way to avoid an issue is to have a good relationship with your dealer and to know in advance how accepting they are of vehicle modifications. Even though you have the law on your side, if they are not accepting of your vehicle modifications, you may want to find another dealer. No one wants to spend time dealing with a lawsuit or fighting over something that you can just as easily avoid in the first place. However, if you do run in to the unfortunate event where you believe that your dealer has wrongfully voided your warranty, you can contact the BBB Auto Line at 1-800-955-5100.

Please note that improper installation of any factory or non-factory parts that cause damage to your vehicle, are not covered under your warranty. Also, driving through water deep enough to cause water to be ingested into the engine will not be covered even with the factory intake installed.

If you have a specific question or concern about a CorkSport product, feel free to call us at 360-260-2675 or email and we will be happy to answer your questions.

– Jake

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Dealership Friends of CorkSport

Back in June Chris wrote a blog post about how we have been actively looking for dealerships who are “Mod Friendly”. We are happy to announce that our list of dealers who carry our products and are more accepting of performance products on your Mazda is growing! We have 6 Mazda dealerships in various parts of the US who have access to all of the CorkSport brand product line. Here they are in no particular order:

Continental Mazda in Anchorage, AK

Continental Mazda
Located in Anchorage, AK

Continental Mazda in Anchorage AK. Continental Mazda is the best source of Mazda parts for the enthusiasts in the Anchorage area. AJ in parts is the go to guy for our CorkSport brand products.

Roger Beasley Mazda in Austin, TX

Roger Beasley Mazda
Located in Austin, TX

Beasley Mazda keeps an active calendar of local events for Mazda enthusiast on their dealer webpage. There are enough things there to keep most people busy all month long. If you need to contact them you can email Danny in parts or stop by their location and talk to Adam at the parts counter.

The Autobarn Mazda of Countryside in Countryside, IL

The Autobarn Mazda of Countryside
Located in Countryside, IL

Autobarn Mazda has been racing and modifying Mazdas for quite some time. The more recent events Autobarn has been involved with are MX-5 Playboy Cup series and the One Lap of America. The One Lap event was done in a Mazdaspeed 5 which was built by Autobarn. Contact either Dan or Julio in the parts department.

Ralph Thayer Mazda of Livonia, MI

Ralph Thayer Mazda
Located in Livonia, MI

Thayer Mazda has been supporting local rally cross events and now has moved up to supporting the Sno-Attack event at the Snodrift rally in Atlanta, MI the weekend of Jan 28-29th (the Sno-Attack event is on the 29th). I will be at the Sno-Attack event so if you are in Atlanta, Michigan stop by the Thayer Mazda tent and say hello! Talk with Kyle in parts for your CorkSport parts needs.

Continental Mazda in Naperville, IL

Continental Mazda
Located in Naperville, IL

Continental Mazda has been offering CorkSport products for the last 9 months. They are active in support of motorsports including spec Miata racing. They approached us about offering our products to their customers. Ed in parts is the best person to contact to get our products there.

Hayes Mazda in Kalamazoo, MI

Hayes Mazda
Located in Kalamazoo, MI

Hayes Mazda is active in the local Mazda scene in Kalamazoo and supports other automotive events. Last year Hayes Mazda supported the Kalamazoo Miata Club 2010 Sports Car Show Extravaganza at the US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI. Shoot Bob an email if you are near Kalamazoo to get our parts.

If you have any dealerships in mind that you think will be good candidates for CorkSport brand parts feel free to email me with the name and I will be in contact with them.

– Derrick

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I Need a New Ride (Part 2)

Back in June I wrote a blog post that expressed my need for a new vehicle. Given that I have had about six months now to ponder various suggestions and my own personal wants in a vehicle, I have come to a conclusion.

A month or so after that blog post I did end up purchasing a vehicle. It was a 2006 Yamaha R6 in perfect condition. I have had several other bikes in the past, but none in as good of shape as this one:

After less than two months of owning my new vehicle (and on my birthday weekend none the less), it was stolen out of my apartment complex (I blame myself for not locking it up better).

I still have my Jeep Grand Cherokee that gets me a whapping 10.2 miles per gallon (I only drive it 5 miles round trip to work and back on 35mph streets). My better half gets a company vehicle and free fuel, so I have no desire to drive my SUV for anything besides work (bad gas mileage and not fun to drive).

After looking into it further, an AWD MS3 is too cost prohibitive for me to take on. I want to stick with a Mazda (not either gen MS3 or Mazda 3). I have had Subaru’s in the past and can’t say anything bad about them (well, maybe that isn’t entirely true), but I would love to add something to our vehicle line-up for product development purposes (i.e. I think I would get fired if I pulled up to work in an STI).

I have decided to wait until Mazda releases the CX-5. If they are able to offer AWD and an option for the 2.3L DISI turbo engine, I will definitely be on board for purchasing one of these fuel efficient cross-over utility vehicles. Until then, I will patiently wait in hopes that I can one day have a Mazda to call my own.

– Jake

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Traveling the Northwest, For Show

Today we’ve got a guest blog from good friend of CorkSport and owner of a gorgeous (CorkSport sponsored) MazdaSpeed 3, CJ!

Before the show season started, I was doubtful that there would be shows left that would keep the import car show scene in the Northwest alive. Two major show events canceled out due to economic reasons and show websites were not being updated. Fortunately for people like me, the scene did not die and the Northwest managed to put together a list of fun car events.

Import Face Off was the first show of the season and featured both a car show and drag racing. I learned a few things that day like what car owners do before the show begins (clean, shine and clean their cars some more). What they do during the show to pass the time better (bring chairs, camera, snacks, water,
canopy, and sunblock <– very important).

The next show was the Fatlace One of One Showcase at Formula D in Monroe, WA at Evergreen Speedway. This was the first big event of the year with tons of booth vendors giving away a lot of free swag, an open to the public pit area, and tons of drift action from both amateurs and pros.

On July 18, NOS Forum Fest was held at PGP Motorsports Park in Kent, WA. This was a popular event that gathered a large number of enthusiasts through the power of the internet and forums. It featured both drag racing and drifting so there was plenty of stuff to keep you entertained. With the help of Derrick and
Chris from CorkSport making the trek north and bringing 2 cars, MazdasNW managed to win the Best Forum Representation award. My 2008 Mazdaspeed 3 managed to win Best Mazda, which was my first award ever.

The farthest event I went to this year is the Excelerator Car Meet at Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho. Registered attendees were treated with admission for 2 into both the theme park and water park, which made for one of the funnest events I’ve attended.

On August 29, I decided to go north of the border into Richmond, B.C. Canada to check out the import scene there at Revscene.net’s Sausage Fest Summer Car Meet. This was the biggest event I went to this year – it had the most Hondas, the most Evos, the most Mazda 3s, and the most BMWs out of any other show or meet.

Battle of the Imports in Woodburn, Oregon was originally scheduled for September 19th but was postponed to October 2nd due to unpredictable weather conditions in the Northwest , which had clear sunny skies in the afternoon. Just like Import Face Off, this event featured a show and drag racing. 2 CorkSport Sponsored vehicles won awards that day. Best of Class Mazda for the skull themed RX8 and 2nd place Best Mazda for my MS3.

– CJ