David Perry celebrated his 20th anniversary with Midsummer’s Music in 2019. He has several hobbies: working in his workshop, fixing things around the house, reading, watching Inspector Clouseau with his son Malcolm, biking and more. David is also a food and wine connoisseur. But, ask him about his very special car — a perfect condition, midnight blue 1991 Mazda RX-7 — that he’s owned since 1991, and watch him light up!

In 1988 he won the D’Angelo International Young Artist Competition. With those winnings, he envisioned buying some needed equipment … and this beautiful car. When he moved to Kansas in 1991 to teach at Wichita State, the timing was right. At Wichita he was Violin Faculty, first violin of the faculty quartet, and concertmaster with the Wichita symphony.

David has the specs down. It’s a rotary engine in a timeless design. The RX-7 can go from 60-150 mph with no change in feel. Currently, his car has 70k miles as he drove many times to Colorado where he was concertmaster of the Aspen Chamber Symphony and a founding member of the Aspen Ensemble.

David reflected on the years with this sleek automobile:
– “I was never once late for a meeting or rehearsal the entire time I lived in Kansas.”
– “I learned how to steer with my knees while eating fast food on the way to rehearsal.”
– “The worst day in my RX-7 was when I got three speeding tickets in one day in three different states. I was on my way from a gig in Virginia to Madison. Turns out Radar Detectors are also a no-no. My insurance dumped me even though I never had a claim previously.”
– “Random strangers had to hold me back during a hail storm as I attempted to cover the body of the car with my body.”

David leaned how to drive on his dad’s Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser. Maybe that started his need for speed? Look out for him on Highway 57 as he plans to have his car visit Door County this fall. To continue the legacy, Malcolm (age 11) desires a DeLorean for his next birthday.