Hi fellow rotor heads-
As some of you may know, I've been writing a "How To Modify Your Mazda Rotary Engine" book for HPBooks Publishing Co. It has taken the better part of a year, but the book is now finished and is just about ready to be shipped off to the publisher. (It turned about really well, if I do say so myself. 85,000 words, 430+ images, and it's been vetted by a number of rotary experts from these forums, including Fred "Rotary God" Swain, Paul Yaw, Tom Walling, Glen Weaver, Pat Wildfire, et al.)

Anyway, the last little problem the publisher and I now face is sourcing a really powerful and exciting cover image to use. My publisher likes the type of thing we used in my last book ("Street Turbocharging" http://tinyurl.com/yx4kbc). I on the other hand, am thinking along the lines of something that shows the inner workings of a rotary engine, such as Mazda's cutaway of the RX-8 or a top-down view of a really cool single turbo FD engine bay with the hood removed. In other words, we want something flashy, but we don't know what it is that we're actually looking for.

With that in mind, I'm asking for suggestions of what to use on the cover of the book. Even better would be high-quality photos that one of you already owns and would be willing to let us use.

So, what do you guys and gals think? I'm open to all suggestions, but the time frame is pretty short. I will be watching this thread for input, but you can also contact me off-list via email at markhwarner@gmail.com
Cheers,
Mark
PS. The book goes off to the publisher this week, but due to their glacially slow editing/printing/shipping process, it won't be on the shelves of your local book store until early next year. I'm hoping you guys will like it!

 

Maybe a picture of a nicely built, blinging rotary engine either in an engine compartment taken from above or on a stand.

Why not ask for some submissions from the people here?

Look forward to the release. Post up again when its published so we don't miss it.

 

You should PM Scrub as he has one of the cleanest bay, barely any wires since he re-located his fuse boxes and relays inside the cabin....

 

I would like to see scrubs pics as well.

 

if you are interested in a car on the front you are welcome to google mine its nvmyre you should see alot of pics if you are interested i can send you some hi res ones ok
take care and all the best for what im sure is a great book

 

I can wait for the book to come out. My FD was in the AZRR shop when you can and took pics for the book. I guess that my cars motor will be in the book? Hope you find a good pic for the cover. Maybe you can find some good ones and let the RX7club people vote to pick the cover shot?

 

you already have a cover nvmyre dont you? haha. anyway i love your fd dude

 

rx3 doing a wheelie. it will sell out in PR

 

Use a OEM vehicle for the front cover. Not something with some outrageous looking body kit and huge bling bling rims.

 

This book..right? This cover shot?

 

 

lol yeah i had a cover .....and a feature in rx7 magazine japan and dsport and a few others also a tv series about performance cars ...lol
well all the best with finding a cover car i look forward to seeing the book available

 

Do something like the original....an array of vehicles, both stock and full race.

 

Well you could use boob's, ***** sell things. Or you could figure the demographic your targeting, if the demographic is more twords a young just getting into cars type, then (I hate to say it) rice sell's to them. If your book is aimed twords someone who know's somthing about our cars (the rotary car's) I would use somthing legendary like the 3 rotor http://images.turbomagazine.com/feat...ngine_view.jpg

Or a RE FD http://www.re-amemiya.co.jp/race/pic/gt_05/rd_7/020.jpg

All prominent symbols of the rotary world

 

Just got back a draft cover shot for the book from the publisher. Before I post my opinion of the shot, I'm curious what you folks think about it. What, if anything, should I suggest they change or do differently?

 

I think it looks well done, but I would have liked to see a cleaner cover with just a rotary engine, similar to something like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ary_engine.jpg
http://www.roadfly.com/features/wp-c...gine-parts.jpg
http://www.roadfly.com/new-cars/wp-c...ary-engine.jpg

But, I think what you have does look good on it's own

 

I think if you're really going for the 78-08 market cars you should at least have a picture on the rear of something other than an FD.

 

wow... I can't wait for this to come out, I will definately be picking up a copy as well... Thank you for all your hard work.

I like the cover they have designed. It looks like an expected cover for a book of this topic.

I think this is a good point, but the cover posted clearly states in large print what years/engines this text suppourts so the pic is really nothing more than eye candy and null... The FD is by far one of the most famous most recognizable rotary engine cars made so I think it has a fitting center stage photo on the cover...

 

Good point. I have little say about the cover, but I will pass this along with the suggestion that the small image in the lower left be replaced with a non-FD engine shot. Maybe a Renesis or something peripherally ported. Maybe even a 3-rotor? Hmm.... Suggestions for this spot on the back cover?

Also, speaking of back covers, I messed around in photoshop and superimposed a rotary engine cutaway onto the back cover. Is this too busy? What do you guys think? I kinda like it, but I ain't no artist....

 

I love the rotary cutaway.

Not a fan of the front cover shot, though; it's as if they somehow found the least flattering angle for that car.