Wow, what a weekend at Daytona. Thanks to everyone who came and hung out with us. I hope to get my voice back by mid-week.
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Jan. 30, 2012 10:37 a.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
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Jan. 30, 2012 10:46 a.m. Matt B Dork
The wife and watched it both days on the boob-tube. She is now convinced we must go next year.
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Jan. 30, 2012 11:05 a.m. dean1484 SuperDork
Great Racing!!!! I have to get down there some time. Having participated in a 24 hour race of a much smaller stature I can only imagine what it must be like in the infield there.
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Jan. 30, 2012 1:29 p.m. racerfink Dork
Wish I could have stayed the whole weekend, but had to pick up a motor and trans for the racecar Sunday morning. But I had a great time on Saturday, and even got to meet the president of Mazda, N.A.! BTW, if you talk to him, tell him thanks again for the SWEET Mazdaspeed shirt!
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Jan. 30, 2012 1:59 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
Yep, we had two top-level Mazda execs in our tent for Saturday's dinner, and both fully realize what our world means to their companies. Here are their bios from the Mazda USA media site:
EXECUTIVE BIOGRAPHY: JAMES O'SULLIVAN
Title: President and CEO, Mazda North American Operations; Managing Executive Officer, Mazda Motor Corporation
As president and CEO for Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) and managing executive officer, Mazda Motor Corporation (MMC), James O'Sullivan is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company's U.S., Canadian and Mexican operations, including sales, marketing, parts and service, logistics, communications, customer support and regional operations. O'Sullivan has been in this role since April 2003 and reports directly to Yuji Nakamine, senior managing executive officer.
O'Sullivan brings to Mazda a wealth of automotive experience from more than 30 years in the business. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1976 and held a number of senior sales and marketing positions during his tenure with Ford. He was appointed to his Mazda assignment in April 2003, and formally became an employee of Mazda North American Operations in November 2008. In May of 2009 he was named Automotive Executive of the Year.
Born in Detroit in 1953, O'Sullivan graduated with a bachelor's of business administration from the University of Detroit in 1976 and received an MBA with an emphasis on marketing in 1984, also from the University of Detroit.
O'Sullivan has been married for more than 30 years to his wife Anne. They have four children.
Executive Bios Executive Biography:ROBERT T. DAVIS
Title: Senior Vice President U.S. Operations Group
Robert T. Davis
Robert T. Davis is senior vice president U.S. operations for the newly created U.S. Operations Group at Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). Davis oversees all U.S. sales operations and training, marketing, customer service and parts, owner loyalty, dealer development, public relations, and dealer affairs.
Prior to this appointment, Davis most recently served as senior vice president of research and development, responsible for vehicle research and development, manufacturing, product quality and future product plans for North America.
In his more than 20 years with MNAO, Davis has held various key management positions in sales, marketing and dealer development. As well as managing the company's Southeast regional office, he opened Mazda's Midwest regional office, when the company purchased the last of the private distributorships operating in North America, to create a national sales company.
Additionally, Davis has held the positions of senior vice president, marketing and product development; and vice president, product strategy and development.
Under Davis' direction, Mazda became-and still is - a leader in North American motorsports, participating in the sport at all levels from karting to the highest levels of sportscar racing. He also oversaw the creation of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Ladder, which was the first time a manufacturer had ever charted and supported young drivers as they climb the ladder from amateur to professional road-racing.
Prior to joining Mazda, Davis worked for Chrysler Motor Corporation in Atlanta, Ga., as district sales manager for the Atlanta zone.
Davis earned his bachelor's degree in finance from Clemson University and his MBA from Georgia State University.
He lives in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. with his wife.
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Jan. 30, 2012 2:37 p.m. kabel Dork
^ yeah, that right there was pretty cool
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Jan. 30, 2012 8:25 p.m. wbjones SuperDork
had a great time... MANY THANKS to Debi, Nancy, Gary, and all the others that make this possible each yr
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Jan. 31, 2012 9:59 a.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
And Grand-Am has a nice release summing up the event: http://www.grand-am.com/news/index.cfm?series=r&cid=51080
