The name Mike Whiddett may not be so well known when you say it like that, but say it in terms everyone speaks like Mad Mike and FURSTY and suddenly everyone finds the same page. Mad Mike’s been involved in the import scene for quite some time now, but not in the way he is today. However one thing has always remained true for Mike, and that’s been his love for rotaries, hell he has owned 25 of them in his time!
Jump back a couple of years and there stood Mad Mike, King of Skidfests, ripping up tyres all over the show in his 13B-powered FURSTY 808 wagon. Though once sold, there was no prize for guessing that he’d get back, bearing something completely unique and characteristic of the Mad Mike everyone had come to know. With the NZPC 4&Rotary Nationals fast approaching, and a promise of the cars debut in tow, there was an air of anticipation surrounding his return. And there was really no better way for Mad Mike to come back than his urban snow camo covered Mazda RX-7 Series 6, to which crowds of people were greeted by as they rolled through the show doors.
This time round though, Mike had come back to campaign the 20B-powered Series 6 as a drifter. With a drift-spec package beneath him and numerous Skidfest titles behind him in the 808, FURSTY once again shredded tyres in anger. With a natural talent for doing skids, it wasn’t too long before Mad Mike picked up the art of drifting and showed his worth to the sport. It was in fact only three months after his first official event that he earned a spot in the Best 8 at Pukekohe D1GP event. More recently his skills behind the wheel have been acknowledged with a Top 16 place at the fourth round of D1NZ, only to have the gear box break before final battles started; and finally with a second place finish at the Taupo D1NZ round. And you can be sure there’s more still to come. With these accolades behind him, and one of the crazier sounding and performing cars we’ve featured in these very pages, there’s none too many more fitting of the title than Mad Mike.
The team at NZPC wish to congratulate Mad Mike on walking away with the inaugural Castrol Edge NZPC Performance Car of the Year title, and the booty that’s on its way with it!

Mike receives; A trip for him and a mate to the 2007 Winter Nationals in Queensland, where they will burn out with Ben or Victor Bray – six time Australian Top Doorslammer Champion. The package includes flights for two to the 2007 Winter Nationals in Queensland, accommodation and $500 spending money.”