I Saw A Crazy RX7 Last Night
 

I was out buying race fuel last night for my Cougar and I saw an absolutely crazy FC. It had a full and abused Shine Kit on it, lowered to the ground with massive Volks, completely gutted with a cage 2 seats and full race car stuff inside, nothing else. It had wear all over it like it had been ridden hard a ton. I couldn't believe my eyes as it was so hard core. Walked around the front and it had a very well done LS swap in it and it was no show queen. This car has been run very hard and bolted back together every time something broke.

Now, most people know that I am no RX7 fanboi. I race cars and mostly consider street cars basically appliances. I love my race RX7 as it does what it was designed to do, race hard and for a long time. I love the rotary as it is so flexible, makes great power, makes a great sound and is different. This LS swap, in light of my present engine difficulties made me go hmmmm....., but I am not going to swap the "Pig" over as it is a great track weapon.

The biggest takeaway from last night is the realization that I have seen the local RX7 scene change. From a period where there were a ton of guys tracking and a number racing their FC's and FD's, to only a couple racing and a handful time attacking and the great majority of the cars either sitting around doing nothing or being turned into the automotive equivalent of Pismo Beach hardbodies, great to look at but not to actually work the muscles. Or sitting around partially completed while the owner makes great plans that take huge amounts of money and engineering capability to pull off. This usually results in the cars staying in suspended animation forever. It is a bit depressing that so many guys prefer to stand around and polish their cars and not actually use them for what Mazda designed them to do. The cars are designed to be driven hard and have fun in. That is why last night was great for me. Here was a young guy who took an FC and decided that he wanted a track weapon and he made it, no holds barred. Everything was all about going faster and screw the rest. I asked him if he was on this site and he said no he just lurks because he didn't want to deal with the grief his swap would bring. Personally, I think its great that an FC is out there pounding pavement, making noise and doing what it loves to do, go fast. I could care less about what powers it and today I am feeling a bit better that there may be someone who will fill my shoes when I can't do this any more.

Eric

I read the first paragraph and assumed it would be a hardcore drift car, but nope.

I don't think he would get any grief here – all drivers are welcome!

Ok, I know everyone is going to have an opinion on this, but here's my take.

Yes, my vehicle is a street car first and foremost. Of the 18yrs I've had it, she's been used daily for the first 2yrs (sans winter driving of course. Never had, never will) and the rest of the time trying to get her to a point of personal taste which agrees with me.
She's got 154k on the clock now. And yes, she barely sees the road compared to my daily driver. But its something I'm planning on keeping until they put me in the grave.

If I wanted to drive all out and use a vehicle for racing, I would seriously consider a Pro Mazda racecar (previously known as Star Mazda).
To me there's no real point of converting a street car into a race car. It'll take an enormous amount of time, energy, and money. Only to have it be a mixed bag because its no longer a good street car, nor is it ever a full out race car.
Granted, if you manage to get sponsors (or are filthy rich) and you want to do such a conversion, by all means.

No knocking against you Eric. I envy you in fact. You've got a few race cars and still manage to find time to balance home life and work.

Alas, that's just my little take on the whole scene. :)

The thing is I have no issues with individuals who love their cars and do something with them, like you Neo. I have a Jag that I treat the same way. I consider the car as special and treat it that way. No problems at all. You love the car and treat it with respect. You have also put almost 160K on it, so its no show queen. It is being used.

What I am talking about is where have all the track cars gone? Not everyone can and wants to race, but there used to be dozens of guys out lapping, out Time Attacking and even racing. Just 5 years ago, I would show up at a regional and there would be 3 or 4 FD's, 4 or 5 Fc's and 2 or 3 FB's. Now I see one other FC every so often and a single FD with an LS swap out of Ottawa. I cant speak about the whole Time Attack side, but a number of the guys who used to be doing it have dropped out or are in a huge rebuild that is taking 2 to 5 years and I expect the cars to never make it back on track.

The only other rotary I really ever see is the Mazdees prepped and run Miata with a streetported 13B in it. Yes its very quick and its cool, but I just wonder where all of the other cars have gone?

Also, is it a cost thing or a motivation thing. I love racing. I would race a B3000 pickup if I had to. Some people like to lap. Some people like to tour. Its all cool, just get out and use these cars in the manner in which they were developed to do.

As to this young man, I was just totally blown away as to how hard core it was. Its as if I put headlights on my racecar and started driving it on the street. His passion radiated in every scratch, bump, splodgy weld and non aligned mis-painted or different coloured body part. I just loved the passion and it made me feel all happy inside...

Eric

People have moved on. I remember in 2009 and prior out meets would be way more cars showing up and this section was very alive. Now it's almost damn near dead

It's true. People have left due to life. Not to mention there is no more rotary vehicles right now. So of course the scene has died down a bit.
You know Technology has been a double edged sword. It has shrunk the world in terms of communication, but it has also made things alot easier for other people to know what's going on with people's lives.
You throw in some new laws the country has approved, and you'll get less car people out.

We all remember the old days. And they were some of the best times of my life. Sadly now, things have changed too dramatically.

I for one will always have my car. Despite it not being the latest and greatest the industry has to offer (There are a ton of people obsessed with bench racing and what the paper says about their car. Do you honestly think you'll notice a difference between a car that reaches 100km/h .5 seconds quicker to something that might take even 1.5 seconds? On the street no less??)

Speaking of get togethers , we should plan something in the coming weeks. Help celebrate summer.

Have people moved on to other cars or to minivans and mortgages?

Eric

HAHA. Everyone gets older right? Some people keep their rx7's in the garage for years and years of it not moving.

Mortgages :(

I hear you guys. I raced cars in my early 20's (22), then real life got in the way. I still had the burning desire and crewed for a few people to keep my hand in. Then I had a little bit of room in my finances and bought a racing kart when I was 29. Started racing it right away on a shoestring with takeoff tires, keeping the revs down for engine life, towing the kart in a utility trailer behind my company car. Won the CASC National Class title when I was 30, moved to cars at the end of that year with a full on Suzuki Canada program and NTN sponsorship until I was 32. I had to step back again for real life and only picked up a ride or 2 a year for a few years until I had enough cash to go racing with my own equipment again when I turned 38. Since then its been every year, more cars and different tracks. Its a buzz, but I have more years behind me than in front of me.

All I can say to the people who have had real life get in the way, don't give up. Take a baby step every day towards getting that car back on the road or hopefully, on the track again. And the order of photos are Capri, Suzuki, Suzuki, TBird, RX7 ....

Eric

Don't worry Eric..
When I get this thing done it's gonna get driven..
my 200 dollar paint job says so..If I scratch it..spray it..poof..good as new.
If I wanted to sink 3 grand into paint I would have put it on a house.

Peak a boo..302...

I'll say for me life has gotten in the way a bit. The budget isn't near what it used to be thanks to a mortgage and other responsibilities. Also time seems to slip though my finger tips now compared to a few years ago. I still manage to squeak out some time and money for the cars though. The whole rx7 community is aging and changing. The cars themselves seem to be getting harder and harder to find. You used to be able to go on kijiji and find running fc's for $500 and at least 8 to 10 t2's for sale in various states of repair. Now a shell sells for a grand and a t2 for sale is a rarity. I had my car to Cayuga last weekend for the drag races. On the way home on the 401 people were staring at my car and taking pictures. It's just an S4 t2! The cars themselves seemed to have just dissappeared.

Not even the cars, the community has become old and this new generation of members are douchbaggy and such.

My schooling, work and health are why I do not get a chance to get out to the local rx7 meets anymore. :(

Well then, tell us how you really feel? There are still meets going on, but summer time is a busy time with so much to do.

I'm always up for a meet

rx7
 

Im also up for a meet. Im busy most weekends though. Should all go to an ertefa (spelling?) meet if everyone is in for it. Also if they are still doing them.

Im still around and tracking. Just did some lapping last night. Unfortunately my car has been "overbuilt" according to certain series and OTA ill be murdered by the PAX system which is my fault since i never built the car with OTA in mind. I have always wanted to organize a rotary track meet on a wed night or friday night lapping day but no dice. You are right, there used to be a few FDs and FCs out there. The ones that are out of comission are due to engine rebuilds. I know Andrew Cassidy's Monster FC will be out one day as well as Gabe's (jimmy k's old chassis) and Marco (when he gets his sequential and 1 billion HP). Paul3rdgen with his dry sumped LS powered FD is still around and he has expressed interest in doing a lapping day as well. But alas, grown up life makes free time hard.
We should do a roll call of track cars and see if we can all get together. And of course road legal FD/FC/FB would be welcome :)

RE FC2000 with a Judge Ito/Goopy P-Port, fully caged, etc. but I also have a 3 year-old and a 6-month old and am renovating my kitchen so I haven't touched it this season... Oh, and am building a big single bridged REW from RPM's gorgeous irons. Want the best of both worlds but alas... Mid-Ohio in a couple weeks then Utah. Looking forward to the red-eye home from Miller Motorsport Park via LAX.