Okay here is the scene - with details for those familiar with the O'Hare area:

Yesterday morning driving North on Mannheim around Grand I notice a Mazda Protegé with the license MAZDASPD. He sees me in the left lane and he starts jumping around doing the Wisconsin Weave in all three lanes to get near. As we get near Irving Park he is about to cut in front of a semi and gets cut off. Mannheim narrows to two lanes so he falls back. I get over to the right to exit onto 190 East - my second favorite S curve - and he is on my ass. Okay, I get the message. With the nice wide lanes in the S I notice he is hopping trying to stay tight. Too easy. Get to the bottom of the ramp and there is no traffic for about 1/4 mile. YES! I timed the curve perfectly - I practice every day - and just dump it. Look in the rearview and he is at least 3-4 car lengths back. Look down and I'm at 90+. By the time I get to the River Road North exit, he is stuck behind a car and looking pissed! Great way to start your day!

Hope I see him again!

 

Nice kill, man!

I hate it when stupid people like that tailgates me. Good way to show him.

 

Nice kill. A friend of mine has a Protoge MP3. They claim to have the "euro suspension" and things like that. Yea, they have a sway bar and undertie bars, but its not the quality of the CL. I can't wait to race him. That's really funny that the Mazdaspeed would even challenge you, that wouldn't even be close. haha..

 

I wasn't sure when I saw the special badging. I checked the website today. He should have given me a run with the intercooled turbo, no? I'm sure I got a much better jump coming out of the curve.

 

:mag race:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...zda/index.html

14.9 stock?

:mag race off:

Turbo and LSD for $20,500.

 

Just keep in mind:

1) The Mazdaspeed Protege (assuming that's what it was) runs on very low boost (6.9psi less than .5 bar)
2) They can handle as good as an Integra Type R
3) A good driver in the Turbo Protege can definitely run the auto CLS (or auto 2K2 Max, just to be fair )

Sidenote: I'm eager to see what chipped/boost controlled turbo Proteges run at the track.

 

I guess you can brag about that if you want, its like racing a civic. Those things do handle pretty well though.

 

Nice kill! Those are cool little cars.

 

Maybe a little brag. . . but mostly questioning what it was. I've never seen one. According to what I read on the web only 2000 are made a year. Seems like it would be a fun little ride.