Don,
As I recall you flew to Japan and had some input on the handling of the
RX7. I would love to publish an article about that.
What do you say ?
Paul
As far as me having any input into the handling of the RX-7, it's news to
me.
Here's what I can tell you:
Early in '79, it must have been, I took a job at the PR agency in LA that
had the Mazda account. Road Test magazine, where I had been working for
about three years, had gone belly-up, I had a wife and kids and a mortgage and
needed a job so there I was, trying (without success, as it turned out) to
fake being a PR guy. This was just before the first RX-7 was introduced to
the press or anyone.
Since I was the resident "car expert" in the agency they sent me to Japan
to set up and arrange for the upcoming press trip on the car. This was
sometime in January, as I remember, maybe February. I got there alone, didn't
speak a word of Japanese. Next day we went out to the proving grounds at
Miyoshi -- an hour or more in those days from Hiroshima -- and saw the car.
I was the first American ever to see and drive an RX-7, and the second
non-Japanese- the first being Paul Frere, whom Mazda had hired to come over
slightly before that and give them some feedback. I have no idea what that
feedback was.
Over the course of a couple days at the proving ground I sort of directed
the photography that eventually showed up on the cover and inside Car and
Driver, and also managed some of the art for some other magazines -- I think
for Motor Trend, as well. I drove the thing fairly extensively and
remember beating the factory guy's time for a standing quarter-mile. Then we had
a couple days in the offices at Hiroshima, where we worked out details of
the press trip -- like what the official press gift should be, what should
be on the dinner menu, and so forth. I was basically helping figure out
the itinerary, meals and take-home swag for Sherman, Dinkel and those guys.
I hope they liked it.
I remember being mightily impressed with the thing -- remember, for the
time frame, it was quite a piece of work.
But I had no input with anything on that car.
Sorry I can't help you, but I'm honored that you ask.
Over and out --
Don Fuller
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