LADY MAZDA

MAZDA MX5

LADY M

Lady Mazda, Lady M to my friends. I am retiring, after 21 years. Not that I have come to be run on rope, hope, and charity as Leela’s cars have known to be run before me.

Her vintage cars, a 1964 Datsun Fairlady, a 70’s MGB, and Vintage Triumph, were mostly run on those three until she met Don. She opted for a newer and more reliable classic, and a more lady like life style too.

She first spotted my cousins generation Mazda MX 5, at the Macau grand prix in 1991. But before she acquired me she waited for a white model to be imported into Hong Kong. She is a little particular about colours; white would better match her outfits. But in 1992 she and Don walked past Causeway Bay Mazda show room where I was quietly enjoying the admiration and praise of passers-by. One look at me and they fell in love, with me that is. Don convinced her racing green was more her style. The couple popped in; went for a test drive, and bought me outright. I became the LeelaDon Lady Mazda.

We, the Mazda Sports cars are the best-selling two-seat convertible sports car in history. Our Mazda family of sports cars are Jinba ittai – translated person horse rider. This sums me up. Me one with the driver, a team. My response to her driving is a perfect, I know her intentions. The two of us effortlessly united and forge ahead.

I have had few unusual adventures. There was a time when a cyclist beside me lost his balance tipped his large bucket of hotel-pigs-swill on me. I had the brunt of the smelly stuff, Leela had the windows up. And there was another time when the couple decided to spend New Year’s day in a cemetery up in the mountains and got lost. That was a bit scary. Mechanical I may be but wandering with ghosts is not my scene.

The Cemetery Stint

Then one very late night having arrived from Tokyo that day Leela drove around Hong Kong completely lost and on the wrong side of the road too. Somewhere in Wanchai a police man was blocking her side of the road. She tooted him, beckoned him to get out of the way. He came over, not too menacing, and she asked him to move aside and let her pass. He told her very politely she was going the wrong way on a one-way street.

Well it has been a fun 21 years.

My cousin, a 2006 model, is joining the family.

Zoom Zoom Ra Ra

She is no a lady like me. I am a classic soft-top. My smooth flowing silhouette is unmistakable, recognizable by my pop-up headlights. I emit quiet powerful roar, low-noise assurances. She too is a mean machine like me but a ‘zoom zoom, ra ra’ type. She lacks certain finesse but makes up for it with her silver sleek, airbags, and increased engine power.

Leela is a little cautious with my cousin, she likes being in control, manual control. She is not used to an automatic drive, does not know what to do with her left foot. She had better have that rock music going loud, to keep the foot tapping while driving.

Mazda Sports and LeelaDon the perfect Jinba Ittai.