Bimmerfest 2011 promises to be bigger and better than the previous year as it targets a record breaking 100 BMW automobiles on display in one big venue. And for the first time ever, the BMW Car Club of the Philippines hosts this event to include the BMW Owners Society of Saferiders (BOSS) the official BMW Motorrad Club in the Philippines and other BMW clubs/enthusiasts of the brand.

The Club is proud and honored to have the following major partners for the year 2011: Caltex–Chevron Philippines, Bridgestone Tires, Bosch, Bilstein, Concept One Wheels, United Insurance and Smart Infinity. They contribute in a large part to the success of this year’s Bimmerfest and will do so for succeeding events in the course of the year.

The Club is also much privileged and recognizes the support of Asian Carmakers Corporation – the exclusive distributor of BMW in the country, as well as San Miguel Beer for yet again participating in this year’s Bimmerfest just as they have last year to great success.

The highlights of this whole day event will feature a car show and shine competition, a free car service check up by Bosch, fashion shows of the BMW Lifestyle Apparel by Asian Car Makers Corporation and The Amazing Playground, a renowned international DJ spinning cool tracks and live band performances.

Experience the fun and excitement with us as we celebrate the ultimate “JOY” of Bimmerfest 2011.

Philippine Star Online

Tsikot.com Philippines

Vios Club Meets Dubshop

March 26, 2011
Dubshop Main Shop
91 Timog Avenue Quezon City

Tsikot.com Philippines

Vios Club Meets Dubshop

March 26, 2011
Dubshop Main Shop
91 Timog Avenue Quezon City

Vios Club Philippines meets Dubshop
By Tsikoteer Community Wordlwide  |  View on Facebook

Tsikot.com Philippines

The Miata Club Philippines was established in August 1997, not long after the Mazda MX-5 better known as the Miata was introduced to the Philippine market in 1996. The objective of the club is to give its members the opportunity to enjoy their cars together with other Miata enthusiasts.

The Miata was launched in 1989 and was already hugely successful by the time it was made available locally. In the US, Miata enthusiast have been racing their Miatas in a one make series sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America called Spec Miata.

The lead foots of MCP staged the first Miata Cup race in 2000. That makes 2009 Dunlop Miata Cup Championship (sponsored by Bosch and Dolan) the 10th edition of the clubs racing tradition. The Miata Cup has been blessed to have as its most distinguished competitor, the legend, Pocholo Ramirez. The first race for the 2009 will be called the Pocholo Ramirez Memorial Race in honor of our beloved friend and mentor.
The Miata Cup is a one make series where only Miatas are allowed to compete. The rules have changed over the years, but in general, there have been two classes. For the highly skilled racers, we have the open class in which race prepared Miatas with full race suspensions and heavily modified engines compete. This class has occasionally been divided into FI class (for turbo charged or supercharged race cars) and the NA class (for race cars with naturally aspirated engines). For racing enthusiasts on a budget, there is the Street Class. Street class cars may carry some modifications provided that these cars are driven to and from the race track. Thus, street class cars are equipped with A/Cs , stereos and other creature comforts. This is a club race that is not sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines. But in the interest of safety, all competitors are required to take high performance driving lessons from either of the two recognized driving schools run by the Ramirez brothers and JP Tuazon. Competitors must also wear helmets and are encouraged to install roll bars.

Past champions of the Miata Cup include Juny Binamira, brothers Bubi and John Camus, Joey Pery, the legend Pocholo Ramirez, Ramon Bichara and Joey Almeda. Over the years, competitors included racers like Mike Aguilar, Chris Guevara, Lito Ignacio, Romy David, Romy Mercado, Joselu Romero-Salas, Dan Ho and Louie Camus. Enthusiast drivers included Alfie Rufino, Jojo Ozaeta, Rene Mapua, Chito Santiago, Jerry Jiao, Greg Germar, Allan Lavarro, Keith Sundiang, Jenny Tan, Lambert Ablaza, Lowell Tortona, Stanley Gobing, Chito Frondoso, Norman Castillo, and JR Tanpingco.

The 2009 Dunlop Miata Cup Championship will be featured as a support race for the AAP sanctioned Philitppine Touring Car Championship . The Miata Cup races will be held on July 26, August 30, September 20, October 25 and November 29. This year,the Miata Cup is happy to welcome Dunlop, Bosch and Dolan as the principal sponsors. Past sponsors have included Yokohama, and Petron Treats.

For more on the Miata Cup, please visit our website miataclubphilippines.com and click the racing link.

If you want your car club to be featured in tsikot.com, please send a short write-up of your club, the web address (URL link) with at most two photos attached to tsikot@gmail with the subject “Consider as Car Club Feature”.

Tsikot.com Philippines

It was in 1989 when Mazda MX-5 was launched at the Chicago Auto Show. Known as Mazda Miata in North America and Roadster in Japan, the two-seater roadster sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima in Japan became the fastest-selling sports car in its generation. It was hailed as the most popular open-top sports car in the world. The second generation Mazda MX-5 was launched in 1998 featuring a more powerful engine and external styling cues. In 2005, Mazda unveiled its third generation and in the following year, Mazda MX-5 Retractable Hard Top (RHT) was launched featuring a button that would enable the driver to enjoy the comfort and convenience of a hard top and the exhilaration of a convertible in just 12 seconds.

Fast forward to 2009, Mazda Philippines recently gave the Miata Club Philippines a peek at the New Mazda MX-5 during the club’s monthly meeting at the Manila Polo Club. Miata club members were in awe at the sight of the New Mazda MX-5. Mazda Philippines Brand Manager Prudz Castillo summed it best about the Mazda MX-5 facelift, “The New Mazda MX-5 RHT is the epitome of Mazda’s stylish, innovative brand essence and the realization of Zoom-Zoom spirit Mazda is known for.” Built with the principle Jinnba-Ittai or “the car and the driver as one”, the Mazda MX-5 is indeed a car that proves to be the most fun to use, to drive and to own. The New Mazda MX-5 proves that genuine roadster thrill still exists. The latest Mazda MX-5 enhancements indeed cement its reputation as the most enjoyable lightweight two-seat sports car.

Classic look with a twist

A newly evolved look that is functional and instantly recognizable design and craftsmanship, which are encompassed, respectively, by “styling” and “touching” cues, are particularly crucial to a sports car since they are the main source of the car’s “fun to own” and “fun to use” characteristics. The updated exterior styling reflects an evolution toward greater dynamism and athleticism, incorporating elements of Mazda’s new design themes while carefully carrying forward the simple and instantly recognizable personality that Mazda established with the first-generation MX-5. It has a new front fascia sporting a larger five-point grille with a bigger Mazda badge giving a more aggressive expression befitting a sports car. To give it a sharper and edgier look, the Mazda design team gave the new roadster sharper headlamps and a more dynamic fog lamps and side marker lamps.

Seen from the side, newly designed side sills form a character line that lows to a more refined rear bumper in a way that emphasizes speed and stability. The reshaped side sills deflect air away from the rear wheels, thereby contributing to superior aerodynamic performance. The New Mazda MX-5 also has new U-shaped reflectors, red surrounding lens and red brake lamp lens replacing the metallic bezel and clear lens giving the rear end a wider and sportier look. There are even a few touches of refinements like the chrome plating on the headlamp inner bezels, clear high mount stop lamp lens and chrome door handles to give it a more contemporary appeal while retaining MX-5′s classic and sleek look. To improve its aerodynamics, the New Mazda MX-5 has air guides that protrude downward from the left and right corners of the front bumper, protruding rear combination lamps and wider front tire deflectors. It also has a new 17-inch alloy wheels which have 10 twisted spokes for a more agile impression.

Perfect balance and greater performance

Combining acceleration, braking and handling, New Mazda MX-5 offers the same 2.0L MZR engine with 6-speed manual transmission that will surely give you a refreshed playful and exhilarating drive. Expect a livelier and more linear performance for this engine boasts of a 166 hp and 190 Nm of torque that can rev up to 7,500 rpm (up 500 rpm from the previous model). This engine features a new forged crankshaft to ensure the required rigidity at high engine speeds, newly designed valve springs, and fully floating pistons.

The New Mazda MX-5 gives you the perfect balance with its 50:50 weight distribution and low yaw-inertia moment. Much of the car’s weight including the fuel tank, powertrain and battery have been positioned as close to the center as possible, aiding in balance, thereby enabling it to have an ultra-responsive sports car handling. In the New Mazda MX-5′s development, Mazda engineers used cutting-edge technologies to make the body light and rigid, and adopted materials that were stronger and lighter than those used in the second-generation MX-5. As a result, they were able to limit the overall weight increase to just 10 kg (22 lb) and enhance performance at the same time.

Jinnba Ittai: being one with the car

Looking at the interior of the New Mazda MX-5, it gives one the feeling of a superbly satisfying cabin. It has large leather seats that have double-stitches and have improved cushion shapes. The door and center-console armrests have each been given a soft pad for a better feel. To create more leg space, a protrusion has been eliminated from the outer surface of the mesh pockets on each door. And the door and center-console armrests have each been given a soft pad for a better feel. The divider that forms cupholders in the center-console can be removed to create a handy box for small items.

Reminiscent of classic sports cars, the sporty meter cluster incorporates five meters with individual lenses. The meter graphics show a new look between gradations for better legibility and sportier feel, and the red-backlit LCD odometer also indicates average fuel consumption and outside temperature. The dashboard has a new silver decorative panel equipped with the latest audio system functions. New Mazda MX-5 offers an auxiliary jack wherein you can hook up your digital audio player to the car’s premium Bose® sound system. You can listen to your playlist with an assurance of a high-quality sound system for New Mazda MX-5 is equipped with seven speakers and 6-channel digital amplifiers.

The New Mazda MX-5 boasts of a sportier engine sound that responds more crisply to accelerator inputs, with its Induction Sound Enhancer, increased surge tank rigidity and forged steel crankshaft. The optimized surge tank combines with the new forged crankshaft to realize a clearer engine sound throughout the rev range. Mazda engineers also adopted a newly developed device called an Induction Sound Enhancer (ISE). This amplifies the pulses that occur when an accelerator input opens the throttle valve to increase air low into the engine, thereby delivering a more exciting sound to the cockpit. The intake sound created by the ISE feels synchronized with the driver’s accelerator inputs, so the driver enjoys a crisp, thrilling engine sound even when using the accelerator pedal gently to adjust the revs for a downshift.

New stylish external looks, more powerful engine, fully satisfying cabin, enhanced sporty sound – all of these in a lightweight sports car. It’s Jinnba Ittai at its finest: you feel one with the car whether you’re driving this roadster in town, on twisty roads, or on an open highway.

The sporty roadster definitely just got better. Indeed, the New Mazda MX-5 is the original roadster that will give you the fun, playful, and sporty driving experience that you want. The New Mazda MX-5 is four different color tones: Sunflower Yellow, True Red, Brilliant Black and Aluminum Metallic.

Get a glimpse of this sporty roadster at the MAZDA ZOOMFEST AT THE DEALERS on June 20 to 21 to be held simultaneously at the different dealerships of Mazda Alabang, Mazda Makati, Mazda Greenhills, Mazda Quezon Avenue, Mazda Batangas and Mazda Pampanga.

For more information, please visit www.mazda.com.ph.

Photo: Mazda Philippines celebrates launch of the New MX-5 with the MIATA Club on 14 June 2009 at the Manila Polo Club.

Tsikot.com Philippines

On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Mazda Philippines celebrated its 5th Anniversary

Zoom Fest at The Fort open grounds on February 14 and 15.  It was a weekend to remember for Mazda club members, the motoring media, drifting enthusiasts and the general public.

Guests were given a special treat as Mazda car owners and modifiers showed off their prized automobiles. Three of the country’s largest groups of Mazda owners– Miata Club Philippines, Club Mazda3 and MazdaTech were present for two days of revelry and friendly competition.
Steven Tan, VP of Sales and Marketing of Mazda Philippines, presented special plaques of appreciation to the heads of the three clubs to thank the clubs and their members for their continued loyalty and support for the Mazda brand through the years.

In the club competition category that was held among the various Mazda clubs during the two-day event, the following were adjudged as the winners:

Chito Frondoso from the Miata Club Philippines won the Best In Stock (all-original) category with his sparkling mint condition 1997 Mazda Miata.  Jay Garcia from the Mazdatech Club with his 1997 Mazda Lantis brought home the Best In Show (modified) award. Gino Reyes of Miata Club Philippines was all smiles as he and his 1997 Mazda Miata snared the  5th Anniversary Odometer award, a special recognition given to a Mazda car owner whose vehicle mileage registered the highest number of 5′s.

Tan, along with Minnie Valencia, AVP for Sales, Mazda Philippines and Prudz Castillo, Brand Manager of Mazda, judged the competition and congratulated all the participants and winners of the competition.

Photo above shows members of Miata Club Philippines led by Mr. Chito Santiago, Club President together with Mr. Rick Baker, President of Ford Group Philippines at the Mazda Zoom Fest held last February 14-15 at the Fort.

Mazda Philippines Media Release

Tsikot.com Philippines

Twenty members from Club X, an organization of X-Trail enthusiasts, had their own day on October 25 at the SUV Safety School and graduated with honors. Their participation brings to a total of over 60 graduates of this off-road safety-driving course—the first of its kind in the country.

“We are thankful for the commitment and the opportunity for our club and for all X-Trail owners with the SUV Safety School,” says Ken Lim Uy, president of Club X. “No manufacturer we know has done something of this scope or magnitude for their customers. We thank Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. for providing this special day for Club X.”

For Raymond Tribdino, senior manager and group head of marketing and sales at Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI), the “immense” turnout of Club X members was “quite emotional for me.”

“Club X is a solid group of individuals, not only devoted to their X-Trail’s but also very much into camaraderie for community service. The members are from very diverse backgrounds, ranging from finance to restaurateurs brought together by their passion for the open road and for their X-Trails.”

It was a literal beauty pageant of X-Trails at the Nissan Sta. Rosa plant, as club members drove in ceremoniously from their meeting place along the South Luzon Expressway. Club X was organized in 2004, about a year after the X-Trail was introduced. The club boasts of nearly 100 active members and a forum size in the thousands.

Hermie Lim, services manager at GE Medical Division, lauded the SUV Safety School as a “touch point,” wherein “Nissan can keep in touch with its customers.” Lim believes that it is important to keep momentum efforts to enhance a connection to the customers.

Tribdino agreed with this conclusion but says that the big important difference is that the SUV Safety School adds another dimension. “The sensitivity training we provide to X-Trail owners goes beyond their vehicles. The lessons can be applied whatever car one is driving in relation to the terrain or condition one is driving in,” explained Tribdino.

“The track was easy because I had confidence in the X-Trail,” said Angie Go, whose husband, Garrick, is a restaurateur. “But, at first, I thought that the X-Trail could not survive the track, because it was so very extreme. I was pleasantly surprised it did and in comfort, too.”

Go and Sharlene Tansiongkun were the two ladies who bravely took the course and graduated with a certification.

The SUV Safety Driving School is inspired by similar motorsports parks found in Japan, the United States and Europe. “It was a totally insane idea and we love it,” agreed all members of Club X. Members had to traverse obstacles designed for bigger 4×4 vehicles, crossing treacherous log bridges, driving on a 45-degree camber and taking up to 28 inches of water on a compact sport-utility vehicle. “It was awesome how the X-Trail was taking the course with style and amazing comfort,” they said.

Tribdino explained that the original concept began as an off-road track to be built for customers in its plant where they can test their X-Trails in a safe and controlled course—much like Nissan’s motorsports park in Japan. “Eventually, the concept of formalizing the off-road experience was encouraged by Nissan’s global safety program,” said Tribdino, who led this SUV School project.

“This is NMPI’s translation of the Safety Shield—not only by vehicle safety technologies but also by making better drivers. By teaching X-Trail owners to become better drivers, we contribute not only to improving the driving experience but also providing a totally different safety perspective,” he said. “This project is just the beginning of more safety-related activities for Nissan vehicle owners.”

For more information about the SUV Safety School, send an SMS to 0922-4483495 or ask your nearest Nissan dealer for details. You may also e-mail info@nissan.com.phThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Next class of the SUV Safety School is on November 8. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Business Mirror Online

Tsikot.com Philippines

AutoMujeresPinas, a car club composed of free-spirited and fun-loving Filipinas who share a common passion for the automobile, will be celebrating its 2nd year anniversary with a sound-off competition entitled “Battle for Resonance” on August 16, 2008 at Home Depot {BBQ Boy}, Pasig City.

The categories for the sound-off competition are as follows:

AMPed Category
Aftermarket auto sound systems. The equipment permitted in these classes is restricted to the stock components of the vehicle.

* Everything Inside the Trunk; with or without the backboard or the backseat

1. AMPed A:1 SUBWOOFER – 1 sub; 10 inches
2. AMPed B:2 SUBWOOFERS – 2 subs; one 12 inches or two 10 inches
3. AMPed C:UNLIMITED SUBWOOFERS

AMPed-UP Category
Are intended for more advanced contestants. The rules in this division are stricter than those found in the AMPed division.

* Third Row; Non- Wall

1. AMPed-Up A:1 SUBWOOFER – 1 sub; 10 inches
2. AMPed-Up B:2 SUBWOOFERS – 2 subs; one 12 inches or two 10 inches
3. AMPed-UP C:3 SUBWOOFERS – 3 subs; one 15 inch or three 10 inches
4. AMPed-Up D:UNLIMITED SUBWOOFERS

EXTREME AMPed Category
No rules… anything goes….

1. EXTREME AMPed A:1-3 SUBWOOFERS – one 10 inches – one 15 inches
2. EXTREME AMPed B:2 15 inches – 1 18 inch
3. EXTREME AMPed C:UNLIMITED SUBWOOFERS

MAXXED AMPed – Team with most wins.

* Competitors are allowed to climb up the category. NO LIMIT. (For half the price).
* Competitors can use their own musical track for the competition proper.
* Battle for Resonance Entry Fee : 1,000.00 pesos

Battle for Resonance winners will recieve throphies for their respective categories

Registration dates are on August 2 and 8, 8 PM onwards at Home Depot Chops. Please refer to events poster for the contact details.

Discuss the AutoMujeresPinas 2nd Anniversary – Sound Off Event at the Tsikot Forums.

Tsikot.com Philippines

On July 5, 2008, Vios Club Philippines will be celebrating its 4th year anniversary at the Hobbies, The Concept Mall, Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City.  To commemorate the event, the club will be staging an All-Vios Car Show, which will be open to the public. The show will feature around 50 cars, from the simplest to the most modified ride. Expected to join the celebrations are VCP’s friends and invited guests from the media, car clubs and automotive industry.

The Vios Club Philippines is a group comprised of Toyota Vios owners with a common objective of providing its members a setting for their unified interests. While our main offerings are maintenance, repairs, and modification tips for the Vios, the club also promotes fun and support to its member through activities and undertakings done in camaraderie and brotherhood.

Read more about this Vios Club Philippines Event at the tsikot Forums.

Tsikot.com Philippines