umm… what did I just watch? I'm very familiar with the hip-hop genre and understand there are many different styles but huh? What kind of a 'delivery' is this and who does this type of speech appeal to? It's like we're watching the fusion of video game music with hip-hop now. Do you think this new shift (to me at least) is being driven by millennial (or younger) motivations? Just trying to wrap my head around what I just witnessed; I swear society is just spiraling out of control right now.

Imo, it's also too bad there's this type of enthusiasm around the rotary engine. Which literally couldn't be further from Japanese values and culture. As a Bay Area CA native born and raised, I wholeheartedly wish that there were a revolution in tuner culture that moved towards achieving a Euro level of class as opposed to the CA urban culture do burnouts and say 'brap brap' thing.

 

 

I lost it when it transitioned from brap to the beat. One of the funniest things I have seen lately. A+

 

I think you're taking the song too seriously. It doesn't seem to be a serious song IMHO. If you want 'Euro class' auto enthusiasts who value function over flashiness, you should be able to find that road course events like time attack or HPDE track days or autocross events.

 

not sure how this lady is the center of the rotary universe

 

If you haven't watched this little documentary, as I previously wrote, it is highly worth your time. I'm not the biggest fan of Ken Block but he was an incredible talent and I bet this is one of his last films. For anyone with an interest in racing films, this one is a don't miss.

But I'm also here to share Chris Harris driving a new Tuthill creation (that's registered in CA btw) and it's nothing short of exceptional in concept and execution. Specs are insane. As I've grown older, I've found that my passions are not as easily aroused as they once were and in general, only appreciate vehicles which have an essence of special-ness to them (whether it be production or modded / fabrication) and imo, other than Japan and Australia, I don't see JDM cars being build with such balance, taste and attention to detail like these German vehicles. So my auto sensibilities have really been going through a re-wire these past few years. I wish there were more of a demand from the US community to warrant the existence of a shop like Tuthill who produced full-out ground up builds like this as opposed to imitation parts and the oem+ trend that dominants the usdm scene (imo). Which is cool but nothing new imo, whereas German enthusiast shops continue to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Now that I think of it, it's kinda crazy to recall how the rotary (which has historically been the equivalent of a 6 cylinder engine twice it's size, displacement, etc) has now become so antiquated that n/a Honda 4 cylinders produce more power with far greater fuel efficiency and longevity. It's like the whole advantage of a little Japanese sports car with a small, light, low CoG engine has been reduced to a love of revs and aural experience because piston tech left the rotary back in the dark ages. Anybody else have these sentiments?

 

I’m still waiting for someone to build their own rotary engine from sheetmetal

when they built and got it running a year or two ago


set a new Lakester land speed record several months ago



the thing is, they’re claiming it was 660 whp and if I’m reading the SCTA rules correctly, a 2-rotor turbo engine on alcohol fuel qualifies for the same class (FRMR-F) 🤔

and then I saw this: https://www.racingjunk.com/land-spee...wheelbase.html


.

 

do you speaka the Japanese? Just wondering, wish I did

 

my lady is teaching me, but its me, so its slow and there is a lot of yelling...
also she is picking the words, so i know cat = Neko, Black = Kuro, and poo = unchichi!

also there are words like turbo, intercooler, and chocolate, where they just say the English word with a Japanese accent

 

yep! us rotary people are a bit like the LBC (little British car) enthusiasts were 20 years ago

 

Rob Dahm machines:

 

it appears that you forgot about the discernment part

.

 

factory vid of the MX-30 R-EV rotary engine build process


.

 

i really want that rotor holding jig thing that lets it slide in the housing.

 

It sure beats rubber bands on the bench then installing the apex seal springs on the stand.

 

I meant to mention that as well

 

the what ?

 

the what we were talking about, what else could it be?

 

And then I remembered this…

A lot of talented people in the industry think this dude personally ruined a lot of the landscape. TP is literally the catalyst. What a fate. So imo, it's not particularly flattering to be associated with TP or that he produced 'hoonigan style' RX related content.

 

Spirit-R - The Last of the Mazda RX-7



Legendary Car, Crazy Price

 

Not the biggest fan of Magnus but this Euro build is nothing short of incredible imo. Well worth your time.

10+ year project. 10,000+ hours of fabrication. Adapted from LeMans P-car schematics, etc. Literally spec'd down to the wiring. I personally appreciate that it doesn't have some ridiculous power plant or p/w ratio.

I seriously wish there was a mazda enthusiast this dedicated who would take it upon themselves to build a road-legal replica 787 or 792. For someone with these skill sets and determination, it should't pose to be too difficult. It's no secret that back in the day there were many privateers who competed professionally (or with hired team), so not a stretch imo that someone with passion would attempt building or funding this. Unfortunately it seems we Americans prefer to champion internet Uboob'ers who 'hoon' around dangerously on public streets for clicks online with mostly unfinished or questionable quality projects.

Seriously love to see a 'go fund me' started for a shop/fabricator! #letsbuildaroadlegal787replica

 

the 917 kind of hits this sweet spot where it would be a huge job, but possible to make something like it. its a tube frame, fiberglass body. everything is analog.
basically every generic race car suspension and brake part now, is what this thing pioneered

so yeah i'm on board, although maybe you want a 13B turbo and use the K bodywork? the car is quite light, and very small, so you don't need a lot of power

the 787 is carbon fiber monocoque, so that would be way more challenging to home brew

i was kind of looking at like a 30's grand prix car, its even simpler to make. basically in California the whole goal would be to have something i didn't need to smog, which means 1975 or older...

 

I feel like with how accessible modern manufacturing tech has become in recent years, finding a composite (or aerospace) company to work with in reproducing the shell wouldn't be very difficult. There's no shortage of highly motivated and educated tech people in CA with professional aspirations. I'm not in the industry but I'd bet you could have one made for less than $25k usd. And while not exactly free, it's not too bad imo and building a vehicle of this caliber will without a doubt require a fair amount of money. I'm not sure why more 'successful influencer / enthusiasts' haven't approached this idea.

I'd personally love to see someone commit to building an incredible testament to rotary engineering and their involvement in motorsports history. I'm not trying to be mean spirited here, but every 'viral American owned FD online' uses the same basic formula which lacks imagination and inspiration. Imo, whoever the major players are in the US RX community have left so little to be excited about today that it makes me question the direction its' headed. I just don't get how people love watching mediocre vehicle after vehicle.

 

I'd love to see a left hand drive Spirit R Type A build , but I haven't heard of anyone doing that on a YouTube channel so far.

 

20 years ago I spent an absorbent amount of money purchasing and importing nearly an entire RZ interior with RZ wheels as well as a full genuine '99 kit from Mazda Japan plus a bunch of MazdaSpeed parts for my cw '94 base attempting to build a RZ inspired tribute. I think it was around $20k+ usd or so just for parts and import; I vividly remember handing my Japanese friends an envelope with filled with cash. Sadly I lost the file that held the photoshoot a long time ago. Fun car, lots of memories. Funny enough, some years after I sold it, I came across it parked in back of some independent car sales lot completely beat. Literally wearing the same tires I sold to dude with (now completely bald), interior RZ bits were horribly worn and the un-obtanium genuine Mazdaspeed '99 carbon fiber wing insert was oxidized and cracked. I couldn't believe that was its destiny. If it ever reappears, it will be interesting to see what condition it's survived in.

Imo, that was cool 20 years ago but not really today. The oem + trend thing is incredibly boring to my tastes. I will say that the Mazdaspeed kits do elevate the car but only if the owner actually drives the car and doesn't treat it as a museum piece.