100 Years Of Mazda, How It Connects With Us, Zoom-Zoom, Jinba Itai, Kodo & SKYACTIV

My association with Mazda started some 50 years ago when I was ‘challenged’ by a Mazda 1300 on the old Bentong road.
The driver was young and was quite skilful too; after that escapade, we became friends until this very day.

What impressed me was the excellent power that the little Mazda delivered, and how well that young man handled the car.

From then on, I began to be more interested in the brand. The little Mazda I raced against was one of the earliest production cars with an OHC engine, and it handled very well.

Through the years, I began to know that Mazda cars are designed and built by driving enthusiasts for driving enthusiasts. As a motoring journalist, and now as a content creator, I have met with and talked to several of Mazda’s engineers and designers and thay all have this shine in their eyes when they talk about their work in Mazda

That is why it is only from Mazda that we hear words like Zoom-Zoom, Jinba Ittai, and Kodo design.

Everything is about the next level of driving, and I now realize that the many wins and podiums I got from my Mazda RX2 all those decades ago were not acts of coincidence, but rather a result of the dedication of enthusiastic designers and engineers with the sole purpose of providing driving pleasure. My wins are especially memorable because they were against the reigning champions on the race track at that time.

Now Mazda celebrates its 100th year anniversary, and I am glad to have had a 50 year association with it.

Here’s to another 100 more years of Mazda.