I have been competing in the local SCCA autocross season in our Mazda 2 which I have previously written about here. There is no set class that the Mazda 2 fits in listed with the SCCA. I looked to see where the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, etc were classed but there was no information available. So this left me to classify the car myself.
I ended up choosing the STS category based on several factors. The STS classification is for small cars with engines under 1.9 liters, like the Honda CRX, Honda Del-Sol, Miata, Porsche 914, etc. The 2 fit into the class wonderfully as all the cars in this class handle very well and would provide a perfect challenge for the 2. After the second event I received an email from the local solo chairman that someone had brought up a question about the Mazda 2 competing in the class and he recommended I take it the national technical person. I sent over an email to the technical service specialist, running down the information about the Mazda 2 and what was going on. My reply back from the SCCA was we needed to be in ST instead of STS. The reason being that the Mazda 2 has back seats. Never mind anything technical about the car with power levels, weight, or any factors that actually make a difference. Heck, I could pull the back seats out if they really want it to be a 2 seat car.
The real icing on the cake was in the email I received back I was told there will be a change next year for the classifications for the Mazda 2. The SCCA acknowledges that there is a problem but they are not going to do anything about it this year. I politely replied back to the SCCA asking if there is anything I can do about it and I was told I should go out there and have fun. I hate to be spoil sport but my goal when I go out and compete is to win.
There is an upcoming autocross event soon which we will find out how well the Mazda 2 stacks up against the ST class. This should be interesting as we will be down around 60 wheel hp against several of the Honda Civics which inhabit in the class. I will post up the results after the next event.
The basis behind this part is rather simple. A rotary engine relies on the external oil coolers to keep engine temperatures down. The CorkSport Banjo Bolt is made with an 1/8″ NPT fitting on the end to enable you to install a sensor for either an oil pressure or oil temperature gauge. The idea for this part originated from a customer who didn’t like the look for function of current oil filter adapter plates. Many aftermarket oil gauge adapter plates cause interference with intercooler piping and are an unattractive mess.
Features:
We start with a solid steel 23mm hex bar stock. The ends are turned, tapped, and threaded using a CNC lathe, and the middle is finished with offset oil passages to improve oil flow. Finally, the banjo bolt is run through a deburring process, cleaned in an acid bath, and yellow zinc coated for years of hassle-free use. From us, the end is fitted with an 1/8″ NPT fitting (with plug in case you ever need to remove the gauge sender, or are waiting to buy one) that utilizes a straight-through design to ensure accurate oil readings. The banjo bolt also comes with two (2) copper crush washers to ensure a leakproof seal.
Testing:
The CorkSport Banjo Bolt was designed specifically for the Mazda Rotary engine. We have tested this part to work perfectly with the OEM oil cooler lines as well as our CorkSport brand Stainless Steel Braided Oil Cooler Lines. The bolt installs in minutes with simple hand tools (23mm wrench, socket, & torque wrench) in minutes.
Available Now:
The CorkSport Banjo Bolt is available today at a price that pales in comparison to the level of quality and time invested in the design and precision manufacturing of the product. As with all our CorkSport brand products the Banjo Bolt ships with all the hardware you need for installation, and also includes full color instructions and telephone technical support.
CorkSport Power Series Air Box for the 2010+ Mazda 3 with the CorkSport SRI
After the release of our popular Mazdaspeed 3 Air Box, there has been an increased demand for a 2010+ Mazda 3 Cold Air Box. As a result, Corksport is proud to announce the release of our thermally isolating air box for use with the CorkSport Short Ram Intake. The air box mounts to factory locations and limits the ingress of hot underhood air into the intake system of your Mazda 3.
Features:
The CorkSport Power Series Air Box is made from high temperature resistant fiber reinforced plastic (FRP)
that has a full gelcoat on the outside as well as an automotive grade finish on the inside. It is ready for paint
to compliment your engine compartment and styling of your vehicle (or may be left unfinished). The air box features a fully sealed lid with 4 socket head cap screws attaching the lid to the box. The box features a small slit for the MAF sensor wiring to keep it hidden from view. It also includes a mounting hole with bolt to keep your vacuum line up and out of the way for a nice, clean look.
Testing:
Our 2010+ Mazda 3 air box has gone through several design iterations to ensure that it will be an effective and cost efficient way to help decrease intake temperatures and also give your engine bay a stock look. We have observed that our CAB design will decrease temps roughly 30 degrees during highway driving and up to 60 degrees in stop-and-go traffic (decreases heat soak).
Power Series Exhaust for the 2011+ Mazda 2
This system was specifically designed for the North American version of the 2 (or Demio). The exhaust will improve vehicle throttle response as well as give your 2 a slightly louder, and deeper tone.
The exhaust installs in about an hour and includes all the necessary hardware to complete the installation. It fits with all existing and future CorkSport brand parts and offers a design and sound that will set your 2 apart from the crowd.
Features:
Our CorkSport Power Series Exhaust is made from 58mm diameter fully TIG welded T304 Stainless Steel, that gives a quality and look that will outlast coated or plated mild steel systems. The kit includes a midpipe with resonator and a muffler which features a 90mm double wall tip. The system also includes a racepipe (cat delete, which is for off-road use only), which can be installed or left off the vehicle. The midpipe slip fit design utilizes a two bolt clamp that allows you to switch between the racepipe and factory catalyst pipe (does require one cut in the factory midpipe).
Testing:
Being the first purchased Mazda 2 in the US, our 2 has been through several design changes and versions of our prototype exhaust. The final product is a result of many months of testing, which delivers a non-overbearing low tone. The 58mm exhaust has been paired with one small resonator up front and a larger muffler in the rear to give it it’s unique sound.
CorkSport Front Swaybar for the 2010-2011+ MazdaSpeed3
Due to the popularity of our adjustable rear sway bar, CorkSport is proud to announce the release of our Front Sway Bar for the 2010-2011+ MazdaSpeed 3. This part was specifically designed and tested for the Mazdaspeed 3. The Corksport front sway bar improves handling by stiffening the link between the front wheels. This allows the vehicle to maintain ride height and comfort, while minimizing body roll during cornering.
Features:
To start with, we engineered our bar using a 3 peice design, which allows for greater torsional strength, and smoother travel over one peice designs. The 3 peice design also allows a hollow 1 & 1/8” bar design, which helps maximize stiffness, while minimizing weight. The bar ships fully powdercoated to protect it from the elements, enabling it to maintain it’s torsional rigidity. It also includes Energy Suspension brand polyurethane bushings and zinc plated brackets with grease fittings so there is no need to remove the bar for re-greasing like the stock bar.
Testing:
The bar was designed with the CorkSport rear sway bar in mind. The front sway bar is not position adjustable by design. The increased bar diameter has been engineered to match the middle setting on our rear sway bar. If you prefer more under or over-steer, simply set the rear bar firmer or softer to match your driving style. The front sway bar is 45% stiffer than stock and does not require you to modify your end-links.
PRESS RELEASE MADNESS: FOUR PRODUCTS; ONE POST! April 29th, 2011CorkSport
One thing I have noticed over the years how much the little things can make a big difference in the appearance of a car. Take our Mazda 2 for example, as we got it ready for the Portland Auto Show.
Before the AutoShow
Our Mazda 2 has H&R lowering springs, a CorkSport license plate relocation kit, H&R wheel spacers, J-Spec tail lights, and a CorkSport LED light kit installed for the visual/exterior mods but it still looked like a Mazda 2 you would find on the street. To spice up the car we added the CorkSport graphics, 5 Zigen wheels with Kumho tires, and replaced the hood which had some minor damage from a re-tread incident. Those items really transformed the look of the 2 into something that really gets attention while driving. I can see people giving the car double takes while I am driving past which makes driving the 2 even more fun.
Auto Show Prepped
To get a whole list of what we have done with the Mazda 2 be sure to check out our Mazda 2 Project Page for a step by step modification list of what we have done.
Oh how I love an auto show, a whole building filled with new cars and the and new car smell. Multiple manufacturers gathered in one building to show me the best of their new line up. Concept cars, eco cars, Italian cars, it’s the best. This years Portland Auto show was even better than years past. Mazda’s booth is built for fun, and to make it memorable they incorporated an alternative gaming station, STAR Mazda racecars, a spec Miata, and us, CorkSport.
Mazda North America first contacted us several weeks before the show about joining them at the Portland Auto Show with our Mazda 2. A few days later the MazdaSpeed 3 was added to the lineup. Then the fun began: prep-work.
Anyone who has ever entered their car in a show of any kind will totally understand that the prep-work is really hours of cleaning and scrubbing followed by tons of polishing and buffing. It’s standing outside in the cold January weather washing cars, scrubbing tires and trying to dry the car while you still have a little feeling left in your fingers. It’s cursing whoever drove the car last and didn’t clean-up right, but in the end its just so worth it because the cars end up looking beautiful.
All the cleaning and prep aside, there is always a little disaster that drops in at the last minute. We like to refer to these disasters as “team builders”, because it takes the team to fix the disaster before it turns into a gulf spill that spews for months on end with no resolution. Our little disaster was the hood on the 2. About a month before the show the 2 took a direct hit from a piece of tire that was kicked-up by an SUV in front of us on our way to a MazdasNW meet. No one was injured but the 2’s window and hood were done. Fast forward to the auto show, window was fixed weeks ago, but we weren’t able to get a hood that wasn’t damaged in transit until just before the show. After much debate and several vinyl peel-offs we finally struck gold with simplicity. We cleaned the hood, polished it up and dropped a CorkSport logo across the top of the hood at an angle. It turned out great and the disaster was capped.
After all was said and done, the cars got dropped off on time and look great in the Mazda booth. Thanks again to Mazda North America for the invite, we really enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the show.
– Kelly
CorkSport at the Portland Auto Show September 13th, 2018CorkSport
CorkSport’s blue anodized Aluminum Crank Pulley features a printed CS CorkSport logo with a fully anodized Aluminum pulley and black steel trigger wheel. The fully balanced pulley comes with a precision machines keyway to line up with the crankshaft for a perfect fit and easy installation. Simply remove your old pulley and install this one with no need to re-time your engine.
The best way to free up existing power is to lighten your vehicles rotating mass. The Lightweight Crank Pulley shaves 1.55 pounds off of the stock pulley’s 3.55 pounds of rotating mass for a total weight savings of 44%.
Features:
The CorkSport Lightweight Crank Pulley’s fully anodized aluminum body has very similar dampening characteristics to the stock cast steel/rubber pulley, while eliminating all of the unneeded extra mass. The precision machined trigger wheel is an exact replica of the stock trigger wheel, so you can rest assured that you will not have any issues with this pulley once installed. The pulley is machined to perfectly match the Mazda 2’s keyed crankshaft for a reliable, lighter, better looking crank pulley.
Testing:
The CorkSport Lightweight Crank Pulley has been tested on our own vehicle to ensure fit, form and function. The pulley does not add power, but simply frees up existing horsespower and torque by allowing the engine to spin quicker and more efficiently.* This is very important for lower horsepower cars such as the Mazda 2.
Available Now:
As with all our CorkSport Brand Mazda Products, the Lightweight Crank Pulley ships with all the hardware you need for installation. Full color step by step installation instructions and telephone technical support are also included with your purchase.
* Wheel horsepower and torque gains will vary widely depending on your vehicles specific setup, modifications, and tune.
