ZumSpeedRX-7

iTrader: (12)

i had a lot of fun over the summer with my FD. here's what we were up to:


Removed my airpump (it used to be above the turbo and next to the lower intake):





Had to buy a new pulley set up in order to delete the airpump (Pettit Pullies along with the old Unorthodox SS kit.) Also polished (somewhat) my pullies; there's some residue on the belt and pulley.





Replaced my high flow catalytic converter (RX-7Store) with a resonated mid pipe (Pettit)



For this (awful picture, but you get the idea)





Bought a grounding kit (HKS Circle Earth,) had it installed at KDR. Made some actual power (12rwhp) with it; most likely due to the condition of the stock grounds i replaced





I finally made it out to Dave Baringer at KDRotary in Pennsylvania for a much needed tune. Great guy. Put down some good numbers for a conservative stock set up (conservative as far as tune goes; we could have gone risky, but I am more then happy with the numbers.) Best $195 i've spent in a while.





(Blue line- 11psi before grounding kit; Red line- 13psi w/ grounding kit; Green line- 11psi w/ grounding kit)




Went to the UMass car show and surprisingly took home 1st in the Mazda Category (lost horribly in the loudest exhaust competition; up against a Harley and a Subie with anti lag among others)

(Photo by Lev Benkin)


(Photo by Lev Benkin)

ZumSpeedRX-7

iTrader: (12)

Photoshoot 1 (me and a point and click)









I organized the first annual Kancamagus Rotary Run. Sadly the FD couldnt make it, but a gentleman from Rhode Island with an RX-8 let me tag along with him. (Kancamagus Highway, Bear Knotch Run, and Hurricane Mountain Run. Such great roads!) Ended up being more of a Mazda cruise then Rotary. Can't wait til the next one!

Designed a t-shirt for the event:


(Photo by Mike OtakuRX)


(Photo by Dennis DMC27)

ZumSpeedRX-7

iTrader: (12)

Here we are in Pennsylvania at Gordon Monsen's for a FD Memorial Meet in Chris Carlisi's honor. Great cause and a lot of great people:

(Leave Massachusetts at 3:00 am, arrive in PA at 7:30)


(Picture by Luigi Oriol)


(Picture by Tom Frascone)


(Me taking pictures)


Complete photo book of the event Here



Photoshoot No 2 (again, me and a point and shoot and photoshop)

ZumSpeedRX-7

iTrader: (12)

I learned how to use photoshop (read: adjust things here and there in the program) some old pictures that i think look better:











Mini photoshoot with my friend Sean Briggs before i put the car away for the season

(Photo by Sean Briggs)


(Photo by Sean Briggs)


(Photo by Sean Briggs)


(Photo by Sean Briggs)



Sadly to say, no racing for me this year. One more semester of school and hopefully i can really jump into this project, get it going, and get it on the track where it belongs.

2009 was a great year. Sounds cheesy, but i had a lot of fun, made a lot of great memories, and met a lot of really great people. Its crazy the times that a use of transportation can create and the differences it can make in a life. If 2010 is half as good as 2009, it should be another great year with the FD!

My family just recently bought a new house, and my mom was kind enough to let my FD stay in the garage. I gave her a bath, changed the coolant, filled the tank and added some fuel stabilizer, and she will be hibernating until the spring while I am off at my last semester at school.

To my family, friends, and loved ones, everyone I met and everyone who helped me out, thanks a lot for making 2009 a good year. Here's to 2010!

cpnneeda

iTrader: (1)

i'll be fapping till the end of time, with all these photos. Damn I hate I missed the meet.

ZumSpeedRX-7

iTrader: (12)

thanks.

yea the meet was a really great time. The pictures really don't do it justice. Everyone should make it a point to be there; even if you can't bring your car, fly in, and arrange to be there.

i am offering to make arrangements with someone flying in for the event to put them up for the night and to ride shotgun with me to the event from Massachusetts for the 2010 event. spread the love, right?

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

looks good! Polish that UIM and you'll be set

mrb63083

iTrader: (4)

Did you install the hks fmic?

ZumSpeedRX-7

iTrader: (12)

catch-22: very good point. there are a lot of things i want to polish in the engine bay (mainly due to Rich's and Crispy's clean engine bays making me jealous.) thats not the final twin turbo set up I am going to go with, but once everything is finalized i'll have a lot of parts shipped out and polished. i agree, it would look a lot better.


mrb63083: i didn't personally install the front mount (i had a shop do it), but it wasn't on the car when i bought it. i have some installation pictures on my computer if you need them. if you are looking to buy a used HKS front mount, let me know, and mine should be available in the spring. feel free to PM me if you need anymore information on the set up.

Gordon: thanks. i ran into a lot of great photographers this year that took some great shots of my car. I tried my hand with some shots with the point and click and got somewhat lucky. I need better equipment and more time to learn the ins and outs of automotive photography. Its been a side hobby i've been into for almost a decade, but could never fully progress in due to the equipment. Spending $1,000+ on proper camera equipment is a tough sell when the RX-7 'needs' so much