ISSUE 6

VOL. 6
NOV.-DEC. 2007

Grille to Grille
With the 2008 MAZDA5

PAGE 8

MNAO's "New" The Midwest Region's Mazda's Winter Gear Celebrity MX-5 Racers
Cosmo Sport Honorary Pit Crews Page 12 Page 6
Page 2 Page 5
The Fastest Police
Car in the U.S.
California officer chases speed records
and spreads the word on safety.

L
et’s face it, police officers are allowed to exceed the speed limit.
But Royce Branch, a 60-year-old background investigator with
the Redondo Beach Police Department, definitely pushes the
envelope. In fact, when he’s not running background checks on
new hires, this police officer is often found trying to break speed
records of his own.
His secret weapon is his personally owned, land-speed racecar—
a 1988 Mazda RX-7 with Lamborghini-style doors and a painted ex-
terior that looks just like a standard, city-issued police vehicle.
In August, Branch had his car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah,
where he was focused on a very specific mission.
“I was trying to hit 200 miles per hour to set the land-speed
record for the fastest police car in the world,” explains Branch. “The
current record is 191 mph, and that is held by a $435,000 Lam-
borghini police car in Italy. Last year, I hit 189 mph in third gear, right
before I blew out one of the slave cylinders, so I had to try again in
2007. Unfortunately, I only hit 147 mph this year because of poor
track conditions following rain; but I’ll definitely be back next year
to try again.”
In addition to his RX-7 racecar, Branch also has a 1982 Mazda
RX-7, which he turned into a convertible, a 1932 Ford Victoria with
a rotary engine that is painted magenta on the front and blends to a
candy purple in the back, a 1922 T-bucket Harley, and a speedboat.
“I’ve been interested in racing for a long time,” says Branch. “I
love cars, and going fast has always been a great thing.”
His love for speed, however, is only part of what drives him.
When Branch isn’t working or racing, he volunteers his personal
time and money, driving the car around Southern California and
showing it off to kids in elementary schools, Boy Scout troops, and
other civic events to promote the merits of safe driving. For 11 years,
Branch was also the original editor and contributing writer to the
Rotary Rocket, the official publication of the RX-7 Club of America.
Writing since 1983, he’s also contributed articles to Mazda Sport
and Turbo magazine, Car and Driver, and Road & Track.
He also shares his passion for cars and racing with troubled indi-
viduals he’s met over the years. He often brings ex-convicts and dis-
advantaged teens to his racing events—making them honorary rac-
ing crew members, teaching them how to fix and adjust the car, and
treating them to a fun outing in the process.
“I get a lot of gratification doing what I do,” he adds. “My dad
always helped me work on cars as a kid, and I enjoy returning the
favor with people who wouldn’t normally have the chance.”
Apparently, the spectators at the races have just as good a time.
“Just before we get up to the racetrack start line, I affix the po-
lice-light bar, turn on the siren and lights, and blast the song ‘Bad
Boys,’” says Branch. “We take it all off for the actual race, but we
always get a lot of comments—and compliments—from what we
do. I just love it.” I

At top and below, Royce Branch's 1988 Mazda RX-7 "patrol car." Above,
Branch (second from right) with his crew chief, Dennis Lightle (kneeling),
and other crew members Carlos Valenzuela (right) and Steve Coleman, at
the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
8-9
2 First Lap
MNAO’s New Cosmo Sport; FUEL Feedback

3 Spotlight
CX-7s by the Dozen

4-5 Pit Row

MNAO Technical Training Receives Two Awards;
Top 25 Dealers – Parts and Service; Midwest Region Takes Its

7 6-7
Top Performance Champions to the Races

Fast Track

CONTENTS
Mazda Wins SPEED World Challenge Drivers’
and Manufacturers’ Championships; Celebrity MX-5 Cup
Racers; SpeedSource RX-8 Grand-Am Team of Tremblay
and Ham

8-9 Grille to Grille

The 2008 MAZDA5 vs. Kia Rondo, Honda Odyssey,
and Toyota RAV4

10-11 Front Line

Mazda Retail Training in 2007; Top 25 Dealers – Sales;
Top 25 Dealers – MEPP; CX-9 Named SEAMO "Family Car
of the Year"; Top 10 Dealers – CPO; Mazda Retail Training
for 2008

12-13 Feature
Mazda Features and Technology for Winter Driving

14 Gear Glitz
Port Tacoma Illustrates Quality Genuine Mazda Accessories In-
stallations

15-16 Final Stretch

Chris Hill – Mazda’s Iron Man; CX-9 Named Motor Trend “2008
Sport/Utility of the Year”; Mazda MX-5 Donation Benefits
Juvenile Diabetes Research; Rescuing Mazda Canada’s Cosmo

12
Sport; SevenStock X

Mazda FUEL® magazine is published by Mazda North American Operations and is an internal
publication intended for employees of Mazda dealerships and Mazda North American Operations.
Please address all correspondence to mazdafuel@mazdausa.com or fax to (949) 727-6813.
The content of Mazda FUEL magazine is prepared in accordance with the highest
standards of journalistic accuracy and was deemed accurate when written.
© 2007 Mazda North American Operations
 FIRSTLAP FUELFEEDBACK

A Cosmo to Call Its Own

ISSUE 5
VOL. 6
After years of searching, MNAO finally

2007
SEPT.-OCT.
acquires a rare Mazda Cosmo 110S.

s
8 Mazda
iew page 8
Fall Prev
The 200

s
The Benefit er
for MNAO of Pedal
Pow
Road Trip
Santos
kie San tos Engineers
Rookie Accessories Page 16
Page 16
ing Roo
Racing
Rac
es His Markk
His Mar Page 14
Motorsports hines Makes
Mak
Mac
Marketing Page 77
Page

Page 33
Page

I
t looks like Mazda FUEL has touched off another
competition among Mazda dealerships. Our

M
azda Canada isn’t the only Mazda company with a Cosmo Sport. After
years of searching and negotiating, Jeremy Barnes, MNAO’s Director of
Product & Corporate Affairs, finally hit pay dirt, acquiring a 1967
Cosmo Sport 110S-A just in time for the unveiling of the Mazda RX-8 Rotary
Engine 40th Anniversary Edition at the Monterey Historics, held at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca in August.
Barnes purchased the rare Cosmo Sport for MNAO from Glenn Roberts, the
Phoenix, AZ–based collector/restorer who handled the repairs to Mazda Cana-
da’s Cosmo. Along with the car, MNAO came into possession of the vehicle’s
original registration documents, which were issued in New Jersey.
As best as Barnes can tell, the car was originally imported to the United
States in November 1967 by Curtiss-Wright Corporation, the U.S. rights hold-
er for the rotary engine in non-automotive applications. At the time, General
Motors held the automotive rights. The car was sold in 1984 to a now-defunct
Mazda dealer in New Jersey, and in 2000, it was sold to a dentist in Danville,
CA, and later to Roberts.
When it came time for Barnes to pick up the company’s newest
asset, he arranged for an editor from Car and Driver magazine to accompany
him on the drive from Arizona to California, who then featured the car in the
magazine’s August issue.
“She runs like a champ, even in 108 degrees on the freeway,” said Barnes.
“With less than 13,000 kilometers on her, we drove her further that day than
in the last two years combined.”
With the Cosmo safe and sound in Mazda’s care, MNAO has lots of plans
for the little white beauty. So far, it has been on display at a number of me-
dia events, including the Historics. Mazda also plans to exhibit the car in a
number of auto shows to help launch the 40th Anniversary RX-8. I
feature on the seven CX-7 owners who work at
Phillips Mazda in Laguna Hills, CA, (May/June 2007)
has already been topped by the staff at Mazda
Knoxville in Knoxville, TN. Our thanks and a $100
American Express Gift Cheque go out to Steve
Mackey, Mazda Knoxville’s Internet Public Relations
Manager, who tipped us off to the dozen CX-7s and
31 other Mazdas owned by their staff (see page 3).
That’s a lot of Mazdas!
Tell us about the unique things going on at your
Mazda operation, or send us your comments on this
issue using the enclosed reply card. Whether you’re
offering up story ideas or sharing your thoughts, we
appreciate hearing from you!
“Excellent. The ‘Toys of Summer’ feature (July/Au-
gust 2007) gave me some great sales tools to use
with buyers cross-shopping the Pontiac and Saturn
products. Dealer rankings have been a great motiva-
tion for our budding franchise.”
J-Ryan Stewart
Sales Consultant
Lynchburg Mazda, Lynchburg, VA
“Great, super, very informative. Touches on a range
of topics, from sales to service, etc. A great magazine
to tell about a great product—Mazda.”
Steve Boren
Sales Consultant
Dennis Eakin Mazda, Killeen, TX

“This is a great magazine. I am leasing a 2007

MX-5 and CX-7. Great article in this issue (July/Au-
gust 2007) on the MX-5.”
John R. White
Customer
Twin City Mazda, Alcoa, TN

At top, MNAO's Jeremy Barnes seals the deal on the company's newly
acquired 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S-A. Above, Barnes and the Cosmo
Sport cruising through the Arizona desert. We want to hear from you, too. Send us your com-
ments and suggestions on the enclosed reply card. I

2 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007

 SPOTLIGHT

CX-7s by the Dozen

oughnuts. Roses. Cookies. Employees at a Tennessee Mazda

D
jumping on the bandwagon buy-
Ever noticed how good dealership can’t get enough ing CX-7s—and it’s really no sur-
things seem to come in prise,” said Mackey. “For the
dozens? Apparently, the same of the crossover SUV. amount of vehicle you get for the
holds true for cars—especially price—and the excellent ratings
when the car in question is the the car’s been getting—you just
Mazda CX-7 crossover SUV. can’t beat it.”
At least that’s how the employ- In fact, some employees didn’t
ees at the Mazda Knoxville dealer- stop with just one.
ship in Knoxville, TN, feel—where “We drove that first CX-7 for
employees have made collecting about seven months, and the
CX-7s practically an art form. more we did, the more we realized
It all started last November, it would be a vehicle we would
when the dealership announced keep for quite a while,” said John.
a new lease and low-interest fi- “So we traded it in and got a
nancing program that coincided Grand Touring package. So I’m al-
with its model year-end closeout. ready on my second one—this
The exceptional sales incentive time a Copper Red model with
caused not just one but 12 em- beige leather interior.”
ployees to make the move to the Plenty of other Knoxville Mazda
new Mazda CX-7. employees were equally impressed
The first taker was Sales Consultant Nate John, who gladly with the CX-7’s reputation for handling, safety, and performance.
closed the deal on a Galaxy Grey CX-7. To date, there have been 12 employee-purchased CX-7s, spanning
“I had a Mazda Tribute, and the more I test-drove the CX-7 across both the sales and service departments. Clearly, the Knoxville
with customers, the more I fell in love with the way it drove and Mazda employees know a good thing when they see one.
handled,” he said. “My wife and I had a baby on the way, and Employee loyalty to the Mazda brand doesn’t end with the
with the 5-Star Crash Test Rating and the fact that it came stan- CX-7, though.
dard with side airbags, it was kind of a no-brainer for me.” Thirty-one of the dealership’s employees are proud to call
Steve Mackey, Internet Public Relations Manager, followed suit themselves Mazda owners—and their personal vehicles account
in December by trading in his Jeep Grand Cherokee on an equal- for a whopping 45 Mazdas between them. This diverse Mazda
ly stylish black CX-7. Not long after owning it, he further upped lineup includes trucks, RX-7s, a CX-9, Mazda Protegés,
his “cool factor” by adding 20-inch black rims, a cool-air intake MAZDA3s, MAZDA6s, Mazda 626s—and even a B2200.
system, and tinted windows. Today, that list also includes a dozen CX-7s—and many satis-
“After that, it was like a snowball effect, with everybody fied owners. I

Eight of the 12 Mazda Knoxville CX-7 owners include (from left)

Jason Breland, Nate John, Mike Cosby, Richard Davis, John Whitsel,
Steve Mackey, Gene McKinney, and Andy Comer.

NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 3

 PITROW TOP 25
RANKING DEALERS
PARTS SALES (YTD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007)
RANK DEALER NAME CITY STATE

1 JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF MARIETTA MARIETTA GA

2 ROGER BEASLEY MAZDA CENTRAL AUSTIN TX

Training Awards…Times Two 3

4
5
ROSENTHAL MAZDA - ARLINGTON
FREEMAN MAZDA
NUCAR MAZDA
ARLINGTON
IRVING
NEW CASTLE
VA
TX
DE
MNAO’s CX-9 Web-based course wins 6 CORY FAIRBANKS MAZDA LONGWOOD FL
7 GALPIN MAZDA VAN NUYS CA
double honors. 8 TRUSSVILLE MAZDA TRUSSVILLE AL
9 MARTY SUSSMAN MAZDA WILLOW GROVE PA
10 WAYNE MAZDA WAYNE NJ
11 RON TONKIN MAZDA PORTLAND OR
12 OCEAN MAZDA MIAMI FL
13 BERGE MAZDA GILBERT AZ
14 GUNTHER MAZDA FT. LAUDERDALE FL
15 MORRIES MAZDA MINNETONKA MN
16 LEHMAN MAZDA MIAMI GARDENS FL
17 OAK TREE MAZDA SAN JOSE CA
18 WANTAGH MAZDA WANTAGH NY
19 FAULKNER MAZDA PHILADELPHIA PA
20 JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF CHAMBLEE ATLANTA GA
21 JOHN HINE MAZDA SAN DIEGO CA
22 BOUNTIFUL MAZDA BOUNTIFUL UT
23 NELSON MAZDA TULSA OK
24 BROWNING MAZDA CERRITOS CA
25 MONTGOMERY MAZDA CHARLOTTE NC

LABOR SALES (YTD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007)

RANK DEALER NAME CITY STATE

1 WALSER BURNSVILLE MAZDA BURNSVILLE MN

2 ROSENTHAL MAZDA - ARLINGTON ARLINGTON VA
Members of MNAO's award-winning Technical Training department include
3 ROGER BEASLEY MAZDA CENTRAL AUSTIN TX
(from left) Matthew Manke, Instructional Designer; Keith Johnson, Instructional 4 JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF MARIETTA MARIETTA GA
Designer; Dave Pace, Technical Training Manager; RoseMary Price, Manager, 5
6
MORRIES MAZDA
GUNTHER MAZDA
FPO MINNETONKA
FT. LAUDERDALE
MN
FL
Instructional Design; and James Uhl, Instructional Designer.
7 BROWN'S FAIRFAX MAZDA FAIRFAX VA
8 JOHN HINE MAZDA SAN DIEGO CA

T
he 600-plus Service Technicians who have already taken the 2007 9 GALPIN MAZDA VAN NUYS CA
Mazda CX-9 Technical Highlights Web-based technical training 10 ROSENTHAL MAZDA VIENNA VA
program know it’s good. And now, so do others outside of Mazda. 11 OAK TREE MAZDA SAN JOSE CA
This multimedia marvel—launched in February—has captured the at- 12 UNIVERSITY MAZDA SEATTLE WA
13 JEFF HAAS MAZDA HOUSTON TX
tention of the communications industry, recently winning recognition in
14 MAZDA SOUTH AUSTIN TX
two prestigious competitions. 15 MAZDA GALLERY NORWOOD MA
One honor was the Award of Excellence and Best of Show Finalist in 16 DELRAY MAZDA DELRAY BEACH FL
the 2007 Pegasus Awards, a video competition that recognizes exemplary 17 LOU FUSZ MAZDA ST. LOUIS MO
work produced by non–broadcast video professionals and companies 18 WAYNE MAZDA WAYNE NJ
19 FAULKNER MAZDA PHILADELPHIA PA
from all across the country. 20 CAPITOL MAZDA SAN JOSE CA
The 30-minute training course also won the Gold Award in the Educa- 21 JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF CHAMBLEE ATLANTA GA
tion/Training category at the Horizon Interactive Awards, an international 22 CORY FAIRBANKS MAZDA LONGWOOD FL
competition that recognizes outstanding work for interactive communi- 23 KINGS MAZDA CINCINNATI OH
24 NORTH PENN MAZDA COLMAR PA
cations programs.
25 MCCULLOUGH METRO MAZDA MARLOW HEIGHTS MD
“Mazda’s goal with every technical training program is to increase cus-
tomer satisfaction by providing Technicians with the knowledge they need CARE SERVICE INDEX (ROLLING 3 MONTHS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007)
to fix it right the first time,” said Dave Pace, Technical Training Manager. RANK DEALER NAME CITY ST. SCORE
“We’re glad our tools are giving Technicians the chance to learn more about 1T FREMA MAZDA GOLDSBORO NC 100
our newest vehicle models and service procedures. It all works together to 1T FLOYD TRAYLOR MAZDA FORT SMITH AR 100
1T PREMIER MAZDA NORTH PLATTE NE 100
help them advance their levels of knowledge and fine-tune their success.”
1T EVERHART - O'LEARY MAZDA JANESVILLE WI 100
If your staff hasn’t yet discovered the value of this award-winning train- 1T ERICH HENKEL MAZDA BATTLE CREEK MI 100
ing, there’s no better time to check it out. To review the entire line up of 1T DALE SPRADLEY MAZDA PUEBLO CO 100
current courses, visit www.MazdaState.com. The 2007 Mazda CX-9 Web- 1T RALPH THAYER MAZDA MONROE MI 100
based training is course number 1056. Once at the site, check out these 1T QUALITY MAZDA TUSCALOOSA AL 100
1T THOMPSON MAZDA WATERVILLE ME 100
other new additions: 1T PRINCE MAZDA VALDOSTA GA 100
The New Pre-Delivery Inspection Process (course 1067) program is ide- 1T EAGLE MAZDA RIVERHEAD NY 100
al for all dealership personnel and explains the new inspection process for 1T CENTRAL MAZDA PLAINFIELD CT 100
2008 vehicles (also available in Spanish). 1T COTHERN-VARNADORE MAZDA BAXLEY GA 100
2T FLOOD MAZDA WAKEFIELD RI 99.6
The 2008 Tribute Hybrid Technology and Safety program (course 1060)
2T QUALITY MAZDA PETERSBURG VA 99.6
is recommended for California and Oregon dealerships that sell the new, 2T JEFF WYLER MAZDA BATAVIA OH 99.6
environmentally friendly SUV. 3 LAWRENCE HALL MAZDA ABILENE TX 99.4
Next year, watch for even more Web-based training courses from 4 PREBUL MAZDA DALTON GA 99.3
MNAO’s Technical Training department. I 5 ROB SIGHT MAZDA KANSAS CITY MO 99.1
6 TWIN CITY MAZDA ALCOA TN 99.0
7T THELEN MAZDA BAY CITY MI 98.9
7T I-79 MAZDA MOUNT MORRIS PA 98.9
8T CREST MAZDA OF ESSEX IVORYTON CT 98.8
8T IMAGINE MAZDA DALLAS TX 98.8
9 CROWN MAZDA HOLLAND MI 98.6
4 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007
T = Tie
Results based on financial statement data submitted to MNAO as of October 15, 2007.

Performance Bonus
Midwest Region honors its Platinum
Master Tech Performance Champions
with a day at the races.
W
hen it comes to on-the-job performance and customer
satisfaction, Master Technician Performance
Champions are truly the best of the best. After all, their
lofty program requirements include not only time on the job,
tenure, and certifications, but also high CARE scores that
demonstrate their personal commitment to customer
satisfaction.
This summer, a group of these Platinum achievers in the Mid-
west Region got the recognition and VIP treatment they de-
serve—a weekend at a local Mazda motorsports event, serving
as honorary crew members to the Mazda-sponsored teams.
“We wanted to devise a program that would reward these
professionals for a job well done, while also appealing to their
technical automotive side,” explained Marsha Knowles, Mid-
west Region Customer Satisfaction Manager, who worked
closely with John Doonan, Mazda Motorsports Development
Manager, to create an event that could meet both goals.
As part of the program, 13 Service Technicians and their
guests were invited to an American Le Mans Series racing event
in one of three Midwest Region areas—the Mid-Ohio Sports Car
Course in Lexington, OH; the Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI;
and the Belle Isle Grand Prix in Detroit, MI.
PITROW
Mazda Platinum Master Tech Performance Cham-
pions (from left) Mike Capizzi (Borgman Mazda),
Bruce Fraser (Morries Mazda), Steve Gillen (Lib-
erty Mazda), Brian Harwood (Community Mazda),
Steve Durec (Biggers Mazda), Scott Geiger
(Boucher Mazda), and Richard Sass (The Auto-
barn Mazda) "work the pit" at the Generac
500/American Le Mans Series on August 11.
But that was only the beginning.
“These participants were not only treated as honored guests,
they were also invited to participate as honorary pit crew mem-
bers during the event,” said Knowles. “As such, they were liter-
ally given carte blanche to everything. They had access to the pit
lane, the paddocks, and virtually every area of the track at any
given time. They also got in before all the crowds and got to en-
joy fantastic catered food throughout the entire event.”
In addition, each Technician was presented a special reward—
a Snap-On Tools screwdriver kit personalized with the Mazda
Performance Champions logo. They also received special recog-
nition at the track and a mounted poster that was signed by the
event drivers.
“The event I attended—Road America—was very enjoyable
and first-class all the way,” said Steve Gillen, Master Technician
for Liberty Mazda in Libertyville, IL. “Between the hotel and the
race itself, everything was first-rate. I was also surprised to learn
about Mazda’s involvement at the motorsports event. Mazda’s
name was all over the place.”
“Mazda has always been founded on our grass-roots racing
efforts, and events like these help keep the Technicians excited
about the whole Zoom-Zoom aspect of the company,” added
Knowles. “We really wanted to recognize our Master Techni-
cians and those who have gone above and beyond the call of
duty for us. We think we’ve done that with this event. Techni-
cians don’t often get a chance to go to these types of events,
and this time they got to go as VIPs.” I
NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 5
 FASTTRACK
MAZDA6 Wins SPEED World
Challenge Championship
With the help of its friends at Tri-Point
Motorsports, Mazda takes the coveted
drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles
for the first time.
From left are Randy Pobst, Craig Nagler (SpeedSource), Steve
Sanders (MAZDASPEED), and Jeff Altenburg with their respective
SPEED World Challenge championship trophies.
J
eff Altenburg and Tri-Point Motorsports won a historic first
SPEED World Challenge Touring Car title for Mazda on
Sunday, October 21, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in
California. Making the championship even better, Randy
Pobst finished the series in second aboard another Tri-Point
MAZDA6, while Mazda also won the coveted manufacturers’
championship for the first time. In fact, by winning four of the
Stars in Mazda’s Cars
From left, actors-racers Ian Ziering, Frankie Muniz,
and Patrick Dempsey are big fans of the Mazda MX-5.
6 | MAZDA FUEL | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
NOV/DEC 2007 2006
10 races in the series over the likes of Acura, Audi, and BMW,
the entire Tri-Point crew proved that the front-wheel drive
MAZDA6 was more than a match for front-, rear-, and all-
wheel-drive luxury sports imports.
The 2007 season began in Sebring, FL, back in March, where
Altenburg collected his first pole and win of the year. He then
added victories at Utah’s Miller Motorsports Park and at Mid-
Ohio as the series swept into summer. By the Mosport,
Ontario, round in late August, Altenburg and Pobst, the latter
with two wins of his own, had built up a commanding lead over
the next closest competitor. Tindol Motorsports driver Michael
Galati won from the pole at the Road Atlanta event in early
October, sealing up the manufacturers' championship for
Mazda. Entering the final round at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca, Altenburg led Pobst by 19 points.
As it was, the championship came down to the wire, with Al-
tenburg needing a fourth-place finish or better to seal the deal.
A flat tire for Altenburg and a valiant run by Pobst, including a
pole win in qualifying, nearly reversed the outcome. However,
Altenburg's luck changed on the penultimate lap when Pobst
was knocked off track by Pierre Kleinubing, allowing Altenburg
to finish in fourth and clinch the drivers' championship. Not to
be overlooked, Charles Espenlaub and Galati also completed
the series in eighth and ninth, respectively, with a pair of Tindol
Motorsports MAZDA6s. In fact, so popular has Mazda’s mid-
size sedan become in World Challenge’s Touring Car division
that 25 percent of the top 20 finishers were in MAZDA6s.
“Capturing the SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Manu-
facturers’ Championship is a great achievement because of the
competitiveness of the series, said Steve Sanders, Manager,
MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development. “Our Mazda
teams—Tri-Point Motorsports and Tindol Motorsports—knew
that their mission for the 2007 season was to bring Mazda a
manufacturers’ championship, and they certainly produced." I
Three celebrity racers make the final MX-5
Cup race for 2007 a star-studded event.
A
s if watching Mazda racers carve up turns at top speeds isn’t
thrilling enough, the final race of the 2007 SCCA Pro Racing
SIRIUS Satellite Radio MX-5 Cup Series, held mid-September
at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, had an extra dose of
excitement when three well-known celebrities showed up to prove
their racing prowess.
Patrick Dempsey—aka Derek “Dr. McDreamy” Sheperd on ABC’s
“Grey’s Anatomy”—hit the track in his No. 29 MX-5, entered by
Team MER. He also competed in the final race of the eight-race week-
end—the Grand-Am GT class at the Sunchaser 1000K—debuting his
brand new SoBe Beverage–sponsored Hyper Sport Mazda RX-8.
Dempsey started his professional racing career in 2005 and is now
the co-owner of Vision Racing, which competes in the IndyCar series.
In 2006, he raced in the KONI Challenge series, and he occasionally
competes in the Mazda MX-5 Cup.
Also piloting MX-5s in guest driving appearances were actors-racers
Frankie Muniz of TV’s “Malcolm in the Middle” and Ian Ziering of
“Beverly Hills, 90210” fame. Muniz has given up acting to pursue
a racing career full-time. He spent the 2007 season racing in the Cooper
Tires Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. I

T
he dictionary defines “symbiosis” as “a cooperative, mutually
beneficial relationship between two people or groups.” It
should really cite SpeedSource Race Engineering Mazda
drivers Sylvain Tremblay and Nick Ham as living examples of
symbiosis. Working together with uncommon passion and
precision, Tremblay, the Canadian-American founder of
SpeedSource, and Ham, a naturalized Englishman, have put their
RX-8 onto the podium—and into the winner’s circle—in the Grand-
Am Rolex Series on a regular basis. Since they started driving the
SpeedSource RX-8 together in 2006, they have won three events
and have a full season mapped out for 2008.
While the pair have distinctly different driving styles and person-
alities, what makes them work is an unbending commitment to
winning—and supporting each other along the way. Endurance rac-
ing is uniquely demanding in that you have to go very fast while sav-
ing the car from wear and damage. It takes a mature driver to do it
At top, SpeedSource owner Sylvain Tremblay (left) and co-driver Nick
Ham discuss their racing strategy at a recent Grand-Am GT Rolex
Series race. Above, the No. 70 RX-8, as piloted by Tremblay and Ham.
FASTTRACK
Symbiosis in Action
The two men piloting the SpeedSource
RX-8 in the Grand-Am Series come from
different backgrounds, but their missions
are the same—winning for Mazda.
well, and according to Tremblay, this ability contributed to him
choosing Ham for a partner when team engineer and co-driver
David Haskell decided to step out of the driver’s seat (except for the
longest races) to put more focus on developing the RX-8 racecars.
“That was the big attraction when David and I sat down to discuss
who could help us,” Tremblay explains. “We needed someone who
was good technically, could see what the objectives were, and
would put those ahead of his own.”
Tremblay and Ham met in the early 1990s as competitors, then
first teamed together later in the decade. Ham remembers being
fascinated by Tremblay's driving skill and passion for racing, and
Tremblay recalls being struck by Ham’s ferocious speed on the track
and relaxed attitude out of the car.
“When we were driving as competitors, I was impressed with
Nick’s aggressive driving style and his on-track behavior,” Tremblay
reveals. “Now as teammates I think we complement each other.
He’s laid back out of the car and I’m hyped up all the time.”
With Tremblay in Florida guiding SpeedSource and Ham living in
Colorado, the two see each other mainly on race weekends, but
their shared appetite for achievement keeps them in lockstep. Win-
ning their first Grand-Am race together for Mazda—the Grand-Am
GT class in Mexico in 2007—proved that the combination was a for-
midable one. For his part, Ham adds an unwavering commitment to
support Tremblay, SpeedSource, and Mazda.
“One thing that is important to me is that I want to see Sylvain
succeed,” he explains. “He and David are just so focused on win-
ning and being successful. They are on a real mission and I want to
be a part of it.” I
NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 7
 GRILLETOGRILLE
MAZDA5 Stands Out…and Above
When it comes to competitive
advantages, the 2008 MAZDA5
has what it takes to out-sell
a trio of attractive competitors.
T
he stylish 2008 MAZDA5 defies easy categorization. It’s not
an SUV, sports sedan, or minivan, but it has the positive
attributes of each—including great cargo-hauling capability, a
Zoom-Zoom driving spirit, and comfortable three-row seating. With
its contemporary styling, fun-to-drive character, and terrific value for
the money, it naturally attracts a distinct group of customers.
MAZDA5 customers tend to be younger than those of its key
competitors, the Kia Rondo, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota RAV4, av-
eraging 45 years of age compared to 49 for Odyssey and RAV4
customers, and 53 for Rondo customers. In addition, MAZDA5
customers have a significantly higher average household income
compared to most key competitors’ customers, surpassed only by
Odyssey customers. MAZDA5 buyers are also among the most like-
ly to be college graduates and married with young children.
In short, MAZDA5 buyers tend to be young, smart, and more af-
fluent, yet very pragmatic. They desire a practical vehicle that offers
great flexibility to accommodate different passenger and cargo-
carrying needs. A sporty vehicle that is enjoyable to drive is the
“icing on the cake.” But when it comes down to writing out the
check, the most important purchase reasons for MAZDA5 buyers
are value for the money, third-row seating flexibility, and the 6-pas-
senger seating capacity.
For 2008, the MAZDA5 gets even better with a host of im-
provements that will help strengthen its value proposition. Key en-
hancements include:
• A 5-speed automatic transmission replaces the 4-speed
automatic transmission for improved drivability and fuel economy.
• Automatic climate control comes standard on all models.
• Second-row cool-air vents with fan-speed controls are
now equipped on all models.
• An auxiliary input jack for iPod/MP3 players is standard.
With these elements in mind, let’s take a look at how the 2008
MAZDA5 excels over its key competition. I
8 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007
2008 MAZDA5 vs. 2007 Kia Rondo
Among the most cross-shopped vehicles by MAZDA5 cus-
tomers, the Kia Rondo offers conventional crossover styling, but
neither its design nor driving characteristics approaches the
Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom appeal. Besides offering many more stan-
dard and available features than the Rondo, the 2008 MAZDA5
is also projected to deliver better fuel mileage.
MAZDA5 Standard Feature Advantages vs. Rondo
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Sliding rear doors for easy ingress and egress
• Third-row seating
• Second-row fold-out tray table with dual cup holders
and storage
• Automatic climate control system
• Auxiliary audio input jack
MAZDA5 Available Feature Advantages vs. Rondo
• HID (Xenon) headlights
• Automatic on/off headlights
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Heated door mirrors
• LED taillights
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
MAZDA5 Optional Feature Advantages vs. Rondo
• DVD navigation system with touch screen
• 5-speed automatic transmission vs. 4-speed automatic
transmission (Rondo I4)
• 5-speed manual transmission (not available on Rondo)
 GRILLETOGRILLE

2008 MAZDA5 vs. 2008 Honda Odyssey
At first glance, the MAZDA5 has much more emotional styling
than the Honda Odyssey, a direct reflection of Mazda’s commitment
to building sporty vehicles. But the MAZDA5 delivers well beyond
the looks department with its fun and nimble driving character,
thanks to its low curb weight, tidy wheelbase, and tight turning cir-
cle. Priced at approximately $7,000 below the Odyssey, the MAZDA5
also offers much better value for the money.
MAZDA5 Standard Feature Advantages vs. Odyssey
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic climate control
MAZDA5 Available Feature Advantages vs. Odyssey
• HID (Xenon) headlights
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• LED taillights
Other MAZDA5 Advantages vs. Odyssey
• Navigation system available at a much lower price point
than Odyssey ($25,000 vs. $35,810)
• Superior EPA Estimated City/Highway fuel economy (5AT)—21/27
vs. 16/23 mpg.
2008 MAZDA5 vs. 2008 Toyota RAV4
Although the Toyota RAV4 has distinctive SUV styling, it doesn’t
offer the same contemporary crossover styling or appeal as the
MAZDA5. Likewise, in driving character, the MAZDA5 has the soul
of a sports car, giving drivers a much more nimble and exhilarating
driving experience than the RAV4.
MAZDA5 Standard Feature Advantages vs. RAV4
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Sliding side rear doors for easy ingress and egress
• Third-row seating
• Second-row fold-out tray table with dual cup holders and storage
• Automatic climate control
MAZDA5 Available Feature Advantages vs. RAV4
• HID (Xenon) headlights
• Automatic on/off headlights
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
MAZDA5 Optional Feature Advantages vs. RAV4
• DVD navigation system with touch screen (not available on RAV4)
• 5-speed automatic transmission vs. 4-speed automatic
transmission (RAV4 I4)
• 5-speed manual transmission (not available on RAV4)

MAZDA5 vs. Key Competitor Summary

2008 MAZDA5 2007 Kia Rondo 2008 Honda 2008 Toyota
Sport (5MT) LX-I4 Odyssey LX RAV4 Base
MSRP* $17,995 $17,895 $25,860 $21,100
17-in. alloy wheels S O O O
Sliding rear doors S NA S NA
Third-row seat S O S O
Second-row fold-out S NA O NA
tray table & storage
Automatic climate control S NA O O
Auxiliary input jack S O S S
Engine 2.3L I4 2.4L I4 3.5L V6 2.4L I4
New EPA Estimated Fuel 22/28 (MT) 21/29** 16/23 21/27
Economy, City/Hwy (mpg) 21/27 (5AT)
Automatic transmission 5-speed 4-speed 5-speed 4-speed
Turning diameter, ft. 34.8 36.1 36.7 34.8
Curb weight, lbs. 3,417 3,443 4,385 3,300

S = standard O = optional NA = not available

* Excludes destination charge
**Old EPA fuel economy figures for 2007 model

The MAZDA5 's dynamic performance, coupled with its

six-passenger seating capacity, definitely put the fun in function.

NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 9

 FRONTLINE
Mazda Retail Training in 2007
It was a very good year. TOP 25
RANKING DEALERS
SALES VOLUME (YTD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007)
RANK DEALER NAME CITY STATE

1 WAYNE MAZDA WAYNE NJ

2 MAZDA SOUTH AUSTIN TX
3 ROGER BEASLEY MAZDA CENTRAL AUSTIN TX
4 DELRAY MAZDA DELRAY BEACH FL
5 CORY FAIRBANKS MAZDA LONGWOOD FL
6 GALPIN MAZDA VAN NUYS CA
7 CLASSIC MAZDA EAST ORLANDO FL
8 WALSER BURNSVILLE MAZDA BURNSVILLE MN
9 GUNTHER MAZDA FT. LAUDERDALE FL
10 MAZDA OF LODI LODI NJ
11 PALM BEACH MAZDA W PALM BEACH FL
12 KINGS MAZDA CINCINNATI OH
13 JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF MARIETTA MARIETTA GA
14 MORRIES MAZDA MINNETONKA MN
15 PREMIER MAZDA GEORGETOWN TX
16 INGRAM PARK MAZDA SAN ANTONIO TX
17 EL DORADO MAZDA MCKINNEY TX
18 NORCO MAZDA NORCO CA
19 BROWN'S FAIRFAX MAZDA FAIRFAX VA

T
his past year has offered great opportunities for Mazda Sales and Service 20 SUBURBAN MAZDA OF TROY TROY MI
Consultants to improve their professional skills. That’s because MNAO’s Retail 21 BROWNING MAZDA CERRITOS CA
Training group launched several new learning opportunities that were all 22 MAZDA OF WESLEY CHAPEL WESLEY CHAPEL FL
designed to help Mazda’s retail professionals increase sales and service profitability 23 HILEY MAZDA OF HURST HURST TX
through customer loyalty at their dealerships. These opportunities included: 24 MAZDA KNOXVILLE KNOXVILLE TN
25 TUSTIN MAZDA TUSTIN CA

Mazda Core Product Roadshow – These in-dealership and in-market training

T = Tie
events covered Mazda’s core lineup—the MAZDA3, MAZDA6, Mazda CX-7, and Results based on financial statement data submitted to MNAO
as of October 9, 2007.
all-new Mazda CX-9—reaching a total of 190 dealerships and 42 markets nation-
wide and training more than 6,000 dealership personnel.

Two New Web-Based Training Courses – The new Fundamentals of Leasing

TOP 25
course for Sales Consultants covers how leasing leads to higher sales, plus cus-
tomer-friendly sales tips. A second course for Sales and Service Consultants ad-
dresses the Tribute Hybrid, including an overview of its hybrid technology, bene-
fits, and potential customers. MEPP/MEC SALES
SALES VOLUME (YTD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007)
Redesigned Mazda State Web Site – Launched in May, the enhanced site of-
RANK DEALER NAME CITY STATE
fers new graphics, improved navigation, advanced search capabilities, a national
training calendar, and a library of downloadable reference materials, including 1 NELSON MAZDA TULSA OK
product walkaround videos. To access the library, click the "Library" link on the 2 FRANK BOMMARITO MAZDA ELLISVILLE MO
3 BOMMARITO MAZDA SOUTH ST. LOUIS MO
left-hand menu.
4 WAYNE MAZDA WAYNE NJ
5 BIDDULPH MAZDA PEORIA AZ
Streamlined Instructor-Led Training Courses – Mazda revised two courses 6 NORTH PARK MAZDA SAN ANTONIO TX
this year: the new “Service Profit and Performance” workshop—now condensed 7 BOMMARITO MAZDA SAINT PETERS MO
into a power-packed, one-day course—and the updated “Customer Satisfaction: 8 WALSER BURNSVILLE MAZDA BURNSVILLE MN
The Mazda Way” course. 9 TUSTIN MAZDA TUSTIN CA
10 HILLARD AUTO PARK MAZDA FORT WORTH TX
Service Consultant Fundamentals – This new instructor-led course gives Ser- 11 JOHN HINE MAZDA SAN DIEGO CA
vice Consultants what they need to consistently deliver an excellent customer ex- 12 NELSON MAZDA ANTIOCH TN
perience during the service process. This course was optional in 2007 and will be 13 MORRIES MAZDA MINNETONKA MN
14 BERT OGDEN MISSION MAZDA MISSION TX
part of Service Consultant Certification in 2008.
15 FAULKNER MAZDA PHILADELPHIA PA
16 LEE JOHNSON MAZDA KIRKLAND WA
“Our 2007 training activities were just the beginning of a number of enhance- 17 WILKINS MAZDA VILLA PARK IL
ments we’re making to our overall training program,” explains Julie Ireland, 18 NORTH PENN MAZDA COLMAR PA
MNAO National Retail Training Manager. “We received excellent feedback about 19 MAZDA OF CLEAR LAKE WEBSTER TX
our 2007 efforts, and we’re already working to deliver even more interesting and 20 TOWN NORTH MAZDA RICHARDSON TX
informative training opportunities in the new calendar year.” 21 GALPIN MAZDA VAN NUYS CA
For more information, visit www.MazdaState.com. I 22 MALLOY MAZDA WOODBRIDGE VA
23 BOUNTIFUL MAZDA BOUNTIFUL UT
24 EARNHARDT'S CHANDLER MAZDA CHANDLER AZ
25 OAK TREE MAZDA SAN JOSE CA
10 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007

Results based on financial statement data submitted to MNAO as of October 15, 2007.
 FRONTLINE

Retail Training
Enhancements
There’s more in store for 2008.

A
fter making several enhancements to Sales, Service, and Parts
Training in 2007, the MNAO Retail Training department is kicking it
up a notch to offer Mazda dealership employees even more
exciting and informative training opportunities in 2008. Here’s what’s in
store:

Two New Web-Based Courses on Internet Sales – One course will

enable Sales Consultants to get up to speed on Internet sales—complete
with an overview of the technology, the trends, and the value of Internet
More Kudos leads for dealerships. A second course will share best practices for handling
Internet sales leads and converting them into sales.
for the CX-9 Service Consultant Web-Based Course – This course will communi-
cate the basics of the Service Consultant role, helping dealerships bring new
Mazda’s luxury crossover Service Consultants up to speed quickly, and serve as a complementary
vehicle tops nearly two dozen prerequisite to the Service Consultant Fundamentals instructor-led course.
competitors in a high-profile
journalist ranking. All-New MAZDA6 Training Roadshow – Mazda’s taking the show on
the road to get dealerships across the country pumped up and ready for

B
esides personal recommendations from
satisfied customers, the greatest honor for any
car is a third-party endorsement by the media.
And that’s exactly what the 2008 Mazda CX-9 luxury
crossover vehicle achieved last fall as the Southeast
Automotive Media Organization (SEAMO) named it
“Family Car of the Year.” The CX-9 bested a field of
32 other vehicles and won the highest average score
from 97 journalists attending a ride-and-drive in Pine
Mountain, GA. Among the vehicle skills considered
were accessibility, amenities, capacity, ergonomics,
NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), safety, styling,
and value. The CX-9 averaged 91 points out of a
possible 100 points to take the win. I
success with Mazda’s all-new MAZDA6.
New 2008 Product Web-Based Courses – The 2008 product courses
will be completely transformed, offering training that is streamlined, more
engaging, and targeted to specific job functions. The courses will also be
shorter—about 30 minutes each—covering Mazda’s entire lineup. In addi-
tion to the product courses, Mazda is offering Vehicle Technology Courses
that cover the Safety and Performance Systems technology common in
Mazda vehicles.
Redesigned Product and Comparison Guide – As a complement to
the new Web-based courses, Mazda’s new Product and Comparison Guide
will be transformed to serve a dual purpose as a customer-facing sales tool,
while continuing to function as an in-depth, quick-reference manual.

According to Julie Ireland, MNAO National Retail Training Manager,

“Going forward in 2008, we’re taking many of our training pieces to the

TOP 10
CPO SALES
next level, making them more creative and more fun to use. All training is
being designed with the end user in mind, so people will not only remember
the information that’s most important, but they’ll have fun in the process.” I

SALES VOLUME (YTD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2007)

RANK DEALER NAME CITY STATE

1 MED CENTER MAZDA PELHAM AL

2 JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF MARIETTA MARIETTA GA
3 MAPLE SHADE MAZDA MAPLE SHADE NJ
4 MAPLE SHADE MAZDA, TURNERSVILLE SICKLERVILLE NJ
5T HANCOCK MAZDA MESQUITE TX
5T OAK LAWN MAZDA OAK LAWN IL
6 PREMIER MAZDA GEORGETOWN TX
7 BROWNING MAZDA CERRITOS CA
8 AUTO WEST MAZDA ROSEVILLE CA
9 TOM BUSH MAZDA JACKSONVILLE FL

T = Tie
Results based on financial statement data submitted to MNAO
as of October 15, 2007.

NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 11

 Bundle Up in a Mazda
A number of advanced Mazda
A
features and technologies help
drivers tame the road during
winter weather.
12 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007
ll the signs are here…autumn’s leaves are falling, the days are shorter, and
there’s a definite chill in the air. No doubt about it, winter is on its way.
As the cool, sunny days of fall give way to brisk winds, rain, sleet, and snow,
now is a good time to review the various features and technologies Mazda offers
to help people drive with more confidence and security during winter weather.
Shoppers who visit Mazda dealerships over the next five months will appreciate
knowing about the various ways Mazda designs and engineers its vehicles to make
driving in bad weather…well…not so bad. Take a look:
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) – This advanced technology aids vehicle sta-
bility when cornering on slippery roads or during emergency avoidance maneu-
vers. DSC works by reducing driveline torque and automatically applying one or
more brakes to minimize understeer or oversteer. Think of it as having an invisible
professional driver who knows just how much and when to accelerate or brake to
keep all four of the vehicle’s wheels on the road.
Traction Control System (TCS) - When excessive wheel slippage is detected,
TCS automatically kicks in to reduce driveline torque, which helps restore traction.
Roll Stability Control (RSC) – Working in tandem with Mazda’s Traction Con-
trol System (TCS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) technology, Roll Stability
Control (RSC) works to reduce the likelihood of a rollover event. The system uses
two gyroscopic sensors to detect when a driver corners too fast or swerves sharply
to avoid an obstacle, and then applies pressure to the brake(s) on the wheel(s) on
the outside of the turn. This induces understeer and helps bring the inside wheels
firmly to the ground—thus helping to avoid a rollover.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
(EBD) and Brake Assist – A standard feature on every Mazda model, ABS mod-
ulates hydraulic pressure automatically when braking, which reduces the chance
of wheel lockup and gives drivers better steering control in hard-braking situations.
EBD proportions braking force electronically for dependable stopping power un-
der various driving and load conditions. Finally, brake-assist technology recognizes
hard braking and helps drivers apply maximum braking force more quickly in
emergency situations.
Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers – These ultra-smart windshield wipers sense
rain on the windshield and automatically adjust the wiper speed according to the
amount of moisture. This leaves drivers free to concentrate on the road—not the
speed of their wipers.
Xenon High-Intensity-Discharge (HID) Low-Beam Headlights – These pre-
mium headlights provide one of the brightest and most uniform light patterns
on the road, helping drivers see and be seen better when driving in conditions
with poor visibility.
 Heated Front Seats – For the ultimate in driving comfort during cold weather,
several Mazda models offer heated driver and front passenger seats.

Heated Remote Power Mirrors – Maximize visibility on cold mornings with

outside mirrors that heat up to prevent them from fogging up with condensation
from the cold air.

Fog Lights – Mazda’s clear lens halogen fog lights help drivers successfully nav-
igate through foggy road conditions. What’s more, these specialized lights make
it easier to be seen by other drivers.

While not directly developed to assist drivers during bad weather, Mazda offers
a number of other convenience features that come in handy when the elements
turn nasty. These include the CX-9’s Remote Power Liftgate, Bluetooth Hands-Free
Phone Operation, Mazda’s Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System, and even the
Rearview Camera, also available on the CX-9. Details about these features are pro-
vided in the 2008 Mazda Product & Comparison Guide.
Mazda continually works to develop features that maximize driver control and
safety, however prospective buyers need to know that all the technology in the
world is no substitute for careful driving habits. Remind your customers to always
take extra caution when setting out to drive in bad weather.

Mazda Winter Gear

The following chart shows which Mazda model lines offer features and tech-
nology that enhance vehicle handling, safety, and comfort during winter driving
conditions—either as standard equipment, optional equipment, a package option,
or a port- or dealer-installed accessory. For information specific to each vehicle’s
trim level, refer to the 2008 Mazda Product & Comparison Guide. I

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
CX-7 CX-9 Tribute MAZDA3 MAZDA3 MAZDA- MAZDA5 MAZDA6 MAZDA6 MX-5 MX-5 RX-8 B-Series Truck
4-Door 5-Door SPEED3 Sedan 5-Door Soft Top PRHT Cab Plus 4

Dynamic • • • • • • • • •
Stability Control

Traction Control • • • • • • • • • • •
System

Roll Stability • •
Control

Anti-lock Braking • • • • • • • • • ** ** ** *
System w/
Electronic
Brakeforce
Distribution
& Brake Assist

Rain-Sensing • • • • • •
Windshield Wipers

Xenon High- • • • • • • • • • • •
Intensity-
Discharge
Low-Beam
Headlights

Heated Front • • • • • • • • • • •
Seats

Heated Remote • • • • • • •
Power Mirrors

Fog Lights • • • • • • • • • • • • •

* ABS only ** No Brake Assist feature

NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 13

 GEARGLITZ
Port Tacoma installer Curtis Wyers assembles a CD
changer for an RX-8.
Fiberglass templates help Bonnie Jorden install
a spoiler with exacting precision.
Daily port operations include managing inventory,
as performed here by Tracy McCarty (right)
and Carol Wilson.
14 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007
Port of
Excellence
Port Tacoma team illustrates
the standard for quality Genuine
Mazda Accessories installations.
A
fter a Mazda vehicle leaves its manufacturing site of origin and before
it arrives by truck at its destination dealership, it will pass through one
of MNAO’s nine port operations. Port Tacoma, WA, is a natural deep-
water port located at the foot of Mt. Rainier along the shores of Puget Sound,
and is the seventh-largest container port in the United States. It’s also home
to one of Mazda’s busiest port operations in terms of Genuine Mazda
Accessory installations.
Mazda’s Port Tacoma staff—composed of its Manager, Dan Merryfield,
along with Tracy McCarty (Port Foreign Trade Zone Coordinator) and John
Newell (Port Quality Assurance Coordinator)—works with a crew of approx-
imately 30 port contractor accessory installers. Together, they process more
than 50,000 Mazda vehicles a year, accessorize more than 25,000, all of
which are then loaded onto railcars or truck trailers for delivery to Mazda
dealerships across the northern swath of the United States.
Of all Mazda’s ports, Port Tacoma holds special distinction for its accesso-
ry installation operations for several reasons. First, because of its geograph-
ic proximity, Port Tacoma is often the first port to receive a brand-new
Mazda product and its respective Genuine Mazda Accessories. In fact, the
very first Mazdas ever shipped to the United States more than three decades
ago entered through Puget Sound. This makes Port Tacoma a key player in
the company’s efforts to develop and validate installation processes, and
they are often the site where MNAO Accessory Development Engineers and
suppliers conduct flash audits or work out last-minute accessory design and
installation details.
Second, Port Tacoma has a long standing reputation for quality accessory
installations. In addition to its prominent role in new installations, the facility
has a deep-rooted commitment to quality work. John Newell collaborates
with MNAO Accessory Development to ensure the port’s installation team is
well trained to perform their work to the highest standards of excellence. Port
Tacoma’s installers also use special tools and fiberglass templates (provided to
all ports by Accessory Development) that optimize the precision of their in-
stallations. In addition, Newell continually monitors warranty claims reports,
which help him quickly identify, address, and prevent installation problems.
One of the final key factors supporting Port Tacoma’s reputation for quality
is the expertise with which they handle their accessory parts inventory. Tracy
McCarty manages up to 350 different part numbers, making sure the port has
exactly the accessories its installers need to properly personalize the nearly con-
stant flow of new vehicles. It’s a tricky job that involves balancing dealer orders
with the number of parts on hand, but McCarty has mastered the task.
Between their well-trained workforce, their commitment to quality, and
their expert inventory management, its no wonder Port Tacoma, along with
its sister ports, has become an indispensable resource to Mazda.
“We have the volume, the experience, and the skill level that together add
up to quality installations,” confirms Dan Merryfield. “Essentially, we are a
pool of skilled workers who are available to Mazda and Mazda dealers to pro-
vide high-quality Genuine Mazda Accessory installations, as well as handle any
port campaigns quickly and efficiently. We see ourselves as another important
contributor to overall customer satisfaction.” I
 FINALSTRETCH
Mazda’s Iron Man Mazda MX-5
CX-9 Line Manager Donation
balances family, career, and
triathlon training.
D
uring the day, CX-9 Vehicle Line Manager
Chris Hill spends his time ensuring the CX-9
pricing and packaging is on target for North
American consumers. But after hours, this
hardworking employee is single-minded in another
pursuit—training for his next triathlon.
In fact, 37-year-old Hill was one of 1,800 accom-
plished triathletes to compete in the Ironman World
Championship competition in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii,
in October.
Although Hill has always been athletic, he wasn’t
serious until seven years ago.
“When my wife got pregnant with our first
daughter, she began watching what she ate,” he
recalled. “I told her it would be easier if we did it to-
gether, so we agreed that her nine months of preg-
nancy would be my nine months of marathon train-
ing. I ran my first marathon in San Francisco in
2000, right before our first daughter was born.”
After his wife’s second pregnancy—and Hill’s sec-
MNAO’s Chris Hill competes in the ond marathon—he decided to train for triathlons,
Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. eventually working his way up to the granddaddy of
athletic competitions, the Ironman. This race con-
sists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run.
In June, Hill’s efforts paid off when he placed tenth in his age group with a time of
10:11:50 during the qualifying competition in Ironman Coeur d’Alene, ID, thus earn-
ing him a coveted place in the Ironman World Championship.
Just how does he juggle the demands of his job and training schedule?
“I do all my swims early in the morning before work; I run three days a week dur-
ing lunch; and I bike one evening a week after work,” he said. “On the weekend, I
do longer blocks of running and biking to finish my weekly training.”
Apparently, Hill’s hard work has paid off—both athletically and professionally.
“I believe my training schedule actually makes me more efficient and effective on
my job,” he says. “Between working about 50 hours a week and training about 20
hours a week, I have to manage nearly every waking moment. It forces me to get
things done during work time because I have other things to do at lunch, as well as
before and after work. Today, I’m happier and healthier than ever. I’m a more orga-
nized employee, and I’m a better husband and father.” I
& and functionality. The CX-9’s styling also con-
A>=@BCB7:7BG =4 B63 G3/@
Motor Trend Names Mazda CX-9
Its “2008 Sport/Utility of the Year ”
Benefits Juvenile
Diabetes Research
A
s a long-time supporter of the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF),
MNAO and its President & CEO, Jim
O’Sullivan, awarded a two-year lease of a 2007
Mazda MX-5 to the most successful fundraising
group in the 2007 JDRF Orange County Walk to
Cure Diabetes event. Held November 11 on the
University of California, Irvine campus, the event
attracted more than 5,000 walkers supporting
JDRF and its work.
Mazda was a presenting sponsor of the 2007
walk, and O’Sullivan served as its chairman. In ad-
dition, O’Sullivan formed a Mazda team who
raised money for JDRF by participating as event
walkers.
JDRF is the leading charitable fundraiser and ad-
vocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research
worldwide. More than 80 percent of the organi-
zation’s expenditures directly support research and
research-related education. I
MNAO
President & CEO
Jim O'Sullivan
served as
Chairman of
the 2007 JDRF
Orange County
Walk to Cure
Diabetes.
M
otor Trend magazine has selected
the 2008 Mazda CX-9 as its
“Sport/Utility of the Year.”
According to Angus MacKenzie, Motor
Trend Editor-in-Chief, the magazine's editors
were unanimous in picking the CX-9, specif-
ically citing the vehicle’s driving characteristics
tributed to its selection. The vehicle they used
for the evaluation was a 2008 CX-9 Grand
Touring model with virtually every option.
Motor Trend’s “Sport/Utility of the Year”
coverage appeared in the December
TM
issue of the magazine. I
NOV/DEC 2007 | MAZDA FUEL | 15
 FINALSTRETCH
The Great Rotary Rescue
When a rare Mazda Cosmo Sport
was damaged, an international group
of volunteers stepped in to help.
T
he scene was eerily quiet inside the transport trailer when it
arrived in Mexico carrying a rare Cosmo Sport 110S-B,
Mazda’s first rotary-powered production vehicle, last March.
Too quiet. Riding from Canada to Mexico, the historic sports car,
belonging to Mazda Canada, had broken loose and dashed itself
against the trailer walls like a skiff washed up on the rocks in a
storm. Exceedingly rare and valuable, the little white coupe was also
exceedingly damaged. Fortunately an international group of
volunteers, led by Mazda R&D’s Kelvin Hiraishi and Mazda PR’s Jeremy
Barnes, stepped in to help restore it.
After locals made an unsuccessful effort to fix the car in Mexico,
Hiraishi had it shipped to Arizona. “Someone in Mexico
repaired it, and they repaired it wrong,” he explains. “It was a back-
yard job. The bumpers were cut and welded, and some of the dam-
aged parts were gone. We needed originals.”
Rotary Heaven–Again!
All things rotary converge on Mazda’s
North American headquarters for
SevenStock X.
I
t wasn’t just a car show. It was a happening. The 10th annual
SevenStock event at Mazda North American Operations in Irvine,
CA, proved once again that there’s no substitute for rotary-
engine enthusiasm. In the opening ceremony, MNAO President and
CEO Jim O’Sullivan greeted fans and focused on the 40th
anniversary of Mazda rotary power. The late September event
attracted upwards of 4,000 fans from across the United States, as
well as from Japan, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and Puerto Rico.
Befitting this important milestone for the rotary engine, Seven-
Stock also attracted some of the VIPs who helped put the Mazda
rotary on the map, namely Hiroshi Yamamoto,
Mazda’s first racing manager; “Koby”
Kobayakawa, the program manager for the win-
ning 1991 Le Mans racing effort; and Nobuhiro
Yamamoto, currently Mazda’s Deputy Program
Manager for the MX-5 and a member of the
four-rotor racing RE engine development team.
Unusual September rainstorms didn’t deter With the old and new on show,
rotary fans in the least. But it’s really no wonder, SevenStock X featured an
abundance of rotary-powered
vehicles, including a rare Cosmo
Sport 110S-A (left) and the
Mazda Kabura Concept (right).
16 | MAZDA FUEL | NOV/DEC 2007
With its damaged body
components repaired,
Mazda Canada's Cosmo
Sport 110S-A receives
a new paint job (left).
Right, the repaired Cosmo
makes a visit to MNAO
R&D in Irvine, CA.
Fortunately Hiraishi knew what to do. He explained the situation
to Koby Kobayakawa, a retired Mazda Program Manager and for-
mer Vice President of MNAO R&D, who in turn contacted the Japan
Cosmo Sports Car Club through its secretary, Nobuya Matsuda. Of
the 60 club members Matsuda emailed, eight provided crucial body
components—many at no cost and just for the love of restoring the
car. They even coined the project the “Cosmo Sports Car Club
International Rescue” after a popular British Sci-Fi TV show called
“Thunderbirds.”
Glenn Roberts, a well-regarded Arizona car collector and restor-
er—who also happens to have owned and restored other Cosmo
Sports—handled the repair process, and the Cosmo Sport emerged
weeks later with a properly refurbished nose and a shiny new coat
of paint—just in time for an August trip up the Pacific Coast High-
way to the Monterey Historic Automobile Races with Car and Driver
and Motor Trend editors, and then to SevenStock at Mazda head-
quarters in Southern California in September.
Only 1,519 Cosmo Sports were made (343 early 110S-A models
and 1,176 later 110S-B models), so it is entirely understandable how
determined Hiraishi and company were to make things right. And
they succeeded…spectacularly. But what else would you expect
from a group of real-life Mazda rescue heroes? I
considering the abundance of things to do and see at SevenStock.
Notable was a hoard of famous rotary-powered racecars—including
IMSA’s GTP RX 792P—in an exciting (and very loud) parade. Also
present was a rare Cosmo Sport 110S-A, recently restored with
assistance from a group of Japanese club members (see above)—15
of whom even made the trip to SevenStock to see the finished car.
No rotary festival would be complete without technical seminars,
and SevenStock X had two of them—along with a pair of raffles
benefiting the SoCal RX Club and the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation, the official charity of MNAO. There was also a fantastic
array of enthusiasts’ Mazda rotaries on display, from an original
Mazda rotary truck to RX-7s and current RX-8s.
“Every year we host SevenStock because, as a small enthusiast
company, we have the biggest hearts,” explained Kelvin Hiraishi,
Director of Research & Development Engineering, after the event.
“It’s important that we always do something special for our devoted
and loyal rotary fans. They deserve the very best that we can give.” I
 MAZDAMANIA

SCENICROUTE FUEL Word Search Challenge

Have you got the energy to take the FUEL Word Search Challenge?
Put your eyes to the test and go for it!

T H C N A R B E C Y O R Q L W E F G Z M
C Z E H A M U U G J W D M I S U X N I R
S O K C S E T E B A I D N O N Y R I N O
A P X D R U U C R G S T O D M E E S U A
C T S Z Y U I D S C E M A Y W S D N M D
Photo by roadsideamerica.com

J W I Z I E O A Y R C M R K W P O E U S
L V P S L P L S B G E N X G Z M N S E H
A W L O S T Y D D N D K X N C E D N B O
O N W C F E R B T E X Q E I S D O I M W
J P O L Y L V A L G E E C N N R B A O U
Sweet Destiny D
S
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A
E
Z
C
V
I
X
S
L
L
E
I
N
N
E
R
L
H
P
Z
B
S
I
A
A
P
V
X
E
A
R
O
T
O
D
Q

I
f you like chocolate (and who doesn’t?), you’ll
want to meet Lenny, the Chocolate Moose—a S B A D N R R Y J S Z Y C R O U C S R E
life-size and edible ambassador for a candy and
ice cream shop on the East Coast. This mute but L F Y X D E A U W I T G B T N Y H R T L
cheery mascot has sweetly welcomed visitors to B T O J I L V B Q O S O R R O P V B R D
Len Libby Candies since he was sculpted in 1997—
and seems to have held up remarkably well. M S G Z B E L Z B E Z B C U I M C E E Q
According to local reports, Lenny’s sculptor trav- N Q W M N E L L I V X O N K B D S P N N
eled to this town to study the stuffed moose on
display in the lobby of L.L. Bean. He then spent a E Y E I U C D R F U N C T I O N R O D G
month slathering, slapping, and dripping 1,700 O R L D I R O N M A N J O H P F E S C W
pounds of “superlative grade” milk chocolate over
a wire frame that stands eight feet tall and mea- T E K M M S A D A N A C N E I C C T C P
sures over nine feet from nose to tail. N N O A S P O R T T A C O M A R A E L R
To see this sweet sight, which town would you
visit? B A X E J K W X C H E G I D Y P D F F A
A. Seaford, DE I P C I U Z Q G C L R I Q L B O X R L X
B. Scarborough, ME E C M R O L J F J S N C A L P E C K O D
C. Silver Spring, MD
D. Shelburn, VT A H C T J V Y V G Z I I B Z I O C Y L W
See below for the answer.
Answer: B. Scarborough, ME ABS MOTOR TREND
ACCESSORIES MUNIZ
ALTENBURG PORT TACOMA
ARIZONA RAIN-SENSING
CANADA REDONDO BEACH
COSMO ROADSHOW
DEMPSEY ROYCE BRANCH
DIABETES RSC
PSHAW MOTORS

DSC SALT FLATS

EBD SEVENSTOCK
FUNCTION SNAP-ON
FUNDAMENTALS SPEEDSOURCE
HAM TCS
HYBRID THIRD-ROW
IRONMAN TRAINING
JUVENILE TREMBLAY
KNOXVILLE WINTER
MOOSE ZIERING
 Deck the Halls with
Genuine Mazda Accessories

Wishing you peace, joy, and zoom-zoom this holiday season