Mazda Zoom Zoom Event
Discussion
Sunday morning, and me and the Mrs have a bairn-free morning (left with Mother-In-Law on Sat night).
Normally this would result in a long lie, but not today, today we are up at 7am, crazy! Not for the Boness Hill Climb tho, today we have a date with Mazda and their Zoom Zoom Weekend event up at Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond.
A quick look out the window is met with blue skies - happy days! Cuppa, then it's out onto the M8 to work our way towards Loch Lomond.
The motorway part of the journey remained roof up so as to save Mrs H a severe buffeting, but once across the Erskine Bridge, we dropped the roof for the remainder of the journey.
Pulling into the car park, we met a couple with a nice red Mk1 and the 4 of us were then chauffered up to the hotel by a nice man from Mazda in a CX7.
We then registered, and being one of the first to arrive, meant we had our pick of the cars. I settled on a 2.0 Sport-Tech in metallic red.
Some tea whilst we wait for everyone to arrive and then the safety talk, then it's out to the cars - they looked lovely, parked in a crescent around a central fountain outside the main entrance to the hotel.
One by one we all exited the hotel, out onto the A82 and our route took us along the A82, onto the A83 and a stop in the car park at the Rest & Be Thankful. The weather had clouded over by this point, but average speed over 40mph meant any raindrops went straight over our heads. Mrs H was nice and cosy, having her heated seat up at full power!
The car itself was a nice drive, obviously I couldn't push it too hard (speed camera vans about, and reps from Mazda following here and there for support) but it certainly felt quite surefooted. One gripe was that every time I changed gear, as I depressed the clutch, the left edge of my trainer would hit the footrest.
The car was well specced with leather, climate, cruise and more importantly came with 2 free bottles of water and 2 packets of sweeties
After 10 mins stop we returned to the Cameron House retracing our route from the first half. I did have 2 guys from Mazda following me in a Mazda3 MPS and did consider heading off-route to give them a scare but thought better of it
Returning to the Cameron House, we were shown through to the restaurant for lunch which was lovely! I had the St Brides Chicken, Mrs H had Organic Shetland Salmon and we both followed this with a Pear Tatin - nom nom.
We thanked all the guys for their great hospitality and headed off. I got some sneaky photos of my Montana next to some of the new models before we departed.
The home journey diverted thru Carluke, Carnwath and Dolphinton as it is more scenic, and suited to the 5 - the sun came out again for the drive which sealed the day.
We left with a lovely brochure celebrating 20 years of the MX5.
So a nice driving experience, lovely food and all courtesy of Mazda - no hard sell (no sales people at the event!) which was a pleasant surprise and it has only reinforced my opinion of the marque.
Anyway, that's enough words, here are some photos:
Cheers,
Steven
Our drive for the day:
Up at the Rest & Be Thankful:
Me posing:
My Montana with some younger relatives:
Normally this would result in a long lie, but not today, today we are up at 7am, crazy! Not for the Boness Hill Climb tho, today we have a date with Mazda and their Zoom Zoom Weekend event up at Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond.
A quick look out the window is met with blue skies - happy days! Cuppa, then it's out onto the M8 to work our way towards Loch Lomond.
The motorway part of the journey remained roof up so as to save Mrs H a severe buffeting, but once across the Erskine Bridge, we dropped the roof for the remainder of the journey.
Pulling into the car park, we met a couple with a nice red Mk1 and the 4 of us were then chauffered up to the hotel by a nice man from Mazda in a CX7.
We then registered, and being one of the first to arrive, meant we had our pick of the cars. I settled on a 2.0 Sport-Tech in metallic red.
Some tea whilst we wait for everyone to arrive and then the safety talk, then it's out to the cars - they looked lovely, parked in a crescent around a central fountain outside the main entrance to the hotel.
One by one we all exited the hotel, out onto the A82 and our route took us along the A82, onto the A83 and a stop in the car park at the Rest & Be Thankful. The weather had clouded over by this point, but average speed over 40mph meant any raindrops went straight over our heads. Mrs H was nice and cosy, having her heated seat up at full power!
The car itself was a nice drive, obviously I couldn't push it too hard (speed camera vans about, and reps from Mazda following here and there for support) but it certainly felt quite surefooted. One gripe was that every time I changed gear, as I depressed the clutch, the left edge of my trainer would hit the footrest.
The car was well specced with leather, climate, cruise and more importantly came with 2 free bottles of water and 2 packets of sweeties
After 10 mins stop we returned to the Cameron House retracing our route from the first half. I did have 2 guys from Mazda following me in a Mazda3 MPS and did consider heading off-route to give them a scare but thought better of it
Returning to the Cameron House, we were shown through to the restaurant for lunch which was lovely! I had the St Brides Chicken, Mrs H had Organic Shetland Salmon and we both followed this with a Pear Tatin - nom nom.
We thanked all the guys for their great hospitality and headed off. I got some sneaky photos of my Montana next to some of the new models before we departed.
The home journey diverted thru Carluke, Carnwath and Dolphinton as it is more scenic, and suited to the 5 - the sun came out again for the drive which sealed the day.
We left with a lovely brochure celebrating 20 years of the MX5.
So a nice driving experience, lovely food and all courtesy of Mazda - no hard sell (no sales people at the event!) which was a pleasant surprise and it has only reinforced my opinion of the marque.
Anyway, that's enough words, here are some photos:
Cheers,
Steven
Our drive for the day:
Up at the Rest & Be Thankful:
Me posing:
My Montana with some younger relatives:
Ahhh many many happy, memories. I'm a scouser living in Manchester and got married at Luss Church, just up the road from Cameron House. Would love to head back there in the MX5, unfortunately whenever we're north of the border we're in the family bus. A nice pint of Guinness in the Drovers Inn is always welcome.
Cars look very nice by the way.
Cars look very nice by the way.
I've driven those roads myself! I love driving the Scottish roads - if I lived up there I'd be out every weekend regardless of the weather just having fun. Probably kill myself doing it too 
I did take a look at the comp but the only local events were on date I wouldn't be able to make
Planet Claire said:
I don't go onto the Mazda website all that often, perhaps I need to in future!
Too late - it was a 20th Anniversary promotion. Maybe there'll be another in 5 years I did take a look at the comp but the only local events were on date I wouldn't be able to make
Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Monday 13th September 22:39
I thought the high point of your day would have been meeting me!!
I did the afternoon stint and there were no camera vans, but there were loads of Sunday drivers. This resulted in me getting, ahem, lost and turning right at Arrocher and coming down the side of Loch Long. Nipped across the Glen Fruin road and back to the A82.
Another good event from Mazda (prefered Knockhill though) but my route was much better than theirs!!
I did the afternoon stint and there were no camera vans, but there were loads of Sunday drivers. This resulted in me getting, ahem, lost and turning right at Arrocher and coming down the side of Loch Long. Nipped across the Glen Fruin road and back to the A82.
Another good event from Mazda (prefered Knockhill though) but my route was much better than theirs!!
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