Mad Mike's Mazda rotary dream car doesn't even drift

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Mad Mike talks about this weekend's Summer Bash and the very special guest - a Mazda 767B.

Bringing a Mazda 767B to New Zealand for his third annual Summer Bash at Hampton Downs this weekend (December 8) is a dream come true for Kiwi drift icon 'Mad Mike' Whiddett.

The 767B is a sister car to the legendary 787B: the only rotary-powered car ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and for 27 years, the only Japanese car ever to claim overall victory (Toyota made it a club of two this year).

The 767B isn't just a priceless piece of Mazda motorsport history: it's also been a source of personal inspiration for Whiddett's motorsport career. Love for the sound of the four-rotor 767B/787B was the reason Whiddett built his own four-rotor machine, MADBUL.

The 767B is an earlier development and sister car of the iconic Le Mans-winning 787B of 1991.

MADBUL is based on Whiddett's first competitive drift car, an RX-7, although it's since been retro-upgraded to look like the classic Mazda RX-3 - his favourite roadgoing rotary model.

**READ MORE:

* Mad Mike and the massive Russian rally truck

* How to 'blind drift' a Mazda RX-8

Owner-driver Shenji Hoshino will pilot the 767B around Hampton Downs. He goes hard, says Whiddett.

* What's Mazda hiding in its basement?**

'The 787B is such an inspiring car,' says Whiddett. 'Ever since I heard it on YouTube, it's been my dream to build the heart of that car: a naturally aspirated four-rotor.

It's a priceless museum piece - but the 767B will be screaming around the circuit during the Bash on Saturday.

'For me, the 1980s and 1990s are the best era of motorsport: the craziest drivers and the most crazy technicians, with no limitations. This car [1989] is part of that.

'When you put the 767B and MADBUL together, it's the inspiration and the inspired.'

The 767B will be piloted around Hampton Downs during the Summer Bash by owner-driver Senji Hoshino, both on demonstration laps and heading a rotary only parade - meaning Kiwi rotorheads will have the chance to share the circuit with one of the most famous Mazda racing cars of all time.

'It's a private car and Hoshino-san drives it really, really hard,' says Whiddett. 'It's a prestigious museum piece… but he really puts his foot down and enjoys the sound and performance.'

Whiddett met Hoshino-san at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2015, when Mazda was the featured brand.

'He's a really nice guy and we got friendly with him,' says Whiddett. 'Last year we did a documentary and went up to his shop, Garage Star Field, where he builds old-school Cosmos.

'I told him about my event and he said he would love to come. It was an absolute dream of mine… and we made it happen.'

The Bash is also the only time of the year when all of Mad Mike's fleet is together in one location: MADBUL (RX-7/RX-3), BADBUL (RX-8), RADBUL (MX-5) and MADCAB (Luce sedan) drift cars, as well as the RUMBUL Superlite stadium racing truck.

Whiddett's personal cars include a classic RX-2 (aka FURSTY) and BRODZUR, a Mazda BT-50 ute.

The Bash combines professional events with grassroots motorsport. There's also opportunity for regular drivers to try their skills.

'This event is all about fun. We get really interactive with the fans.'

In the Mazda MX-5 Gymkhana, spectators can pay a small fee to get behind the wheel of a new MX-5 and attempt to set a course record on the skid pan.

There'll also be an opportunity for attendees to get out on Hampton Down's International Circuit in their road cars and complete a few laps at restricted speed.

'I'll be there in my BT-50 to pull a few people out of the sand trap,' says Whiddett.