Update on the #23 RX7
03-28-17, 09:40 AM
#1
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Update on the #23 RX7
Its been a while since I updated everyone on what is happening with the car. First, for those who don't know, we overheated the motor during a Red Flag session at Mosport during the Vintage race weekend last summer. The engine basically ran air cooled for about 10 laps after blowing all of its coolant out during a hold period and the driver was too inexperienced to understand what was going on. Its sad as the motor was running fine right up until we shut it off and I discovered it had hardly any water left in it.
The motor was pulled and I have been trying to find a place to get it done ever since. Either people want eye watering amounts to replace the seals and check it over, or they don't have time. I would love for Joe at RPM to redo it, but he is too busy with his real job now. Anyway, as soon as it gets repaired it goes back together again and gets ready for 2017.
For 2017, we are looking at a different mix of uses for the car. It will be primarily the back up to the 2 Cougars that we run in the CASC GT Challenge Series. It handles great and it is very very quick still and I love driving it. It is still a successful race car having won its class in its second last race and finished 3rd in its last GT Challenge race in very trying conditions. Of course, we are running it on NA Racing Slicks and have further support this year from Miller Oils Canada and Wix Filters. We will be returning the rear wing on to the car and adding a complete fibreglass nose again, just like 2 years ago.
What is really cool is that a new competitor will be using it in some Time Attacks this year. Mikal Safo, will be running it during the June OTA Championships at CTMP (Mosport) and at another couple of events of his choosing. The car is a great, easy and flexible ride and Mikal should have a ton of fun. I also want to use it again as its been since early 2015 since I raced it last as I have concentrated more on the Cougar.
Eric
The motor was pulled and I have been trying to find a place to get it done ever since. Either people want eye watering amounts to replace the seals and check it over, or they don't have time. I would love for Joe at RPM to redo it, but he is too busy with his real job now. Anyway, as soon as it gets repaired it goes back together again and gets ready for 2017.
For 2017, we are looking at a different mix of uses for the car. It will be primarily the back up to the 2 Cougars that we run in the CASC GT Challenge Series. It handles great and it is very very quick still and I love driving it. It is still a successful race car having won its class in its second last race and finished 3rd in its last GT Challenge race in very trying conditions. Of course, we are running it on NA Racing Slicks and have further support this year from Miller Oils Canada and Wix Filters. We will be returning the rear wing on to the car and adding a complete fibreglass nose again, just like 2 years ago.
What is really cool is that a new competitor will be using it in some Time Attacks this year. Mikal Safo, will be running it during the June OTA Championships at CTMP (Mosport) and at another couple of events of his choosing. The car is a great, easy and flexible ride and Mikal should have a ton of fun. I also want to use it again as its been since early 2015 since I raced it last as I have concentrated more on the Cougar.
Eric
03-28-17, 11:49 AM
#2
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (3)
Sad to hear the rotax went dry. Hopefully she'll be back together for the new season in time. Gotta represent! 
Its been a while since I updated everyone on what is happening with the car. First, for those who don't know, we overheated the motor during a Red Flag session at Mosport during the Vintage race weekend last summer. The engine basically ran air cooled for about 10 laps after blowing all of its coolant out during a hold period and the driver was too inexperienced to understand what was going on. Its sad as the motor was running fine right up until we shut it off and I discovered it had hardly any water left in it.
The motor was pulled and I have been trying to find a place to get it done ever since. Either people want eye watering amounts to replace the seals and check it over, or they don't have time. I would love for Joe at RPM to redo it, but he is too busy with his real job now. Anyway, as soon as it gets repaired it goes back together again and gets ready for 2017.
For 2017, we are looking at a different mix of uses for the car. It will be primarily the back up to the 2 Cougars that we run in the CASC GT Challenge Series. It handles great and it is very very quick still and I love driving it. It is still a successful race car having won its class in its second last race and finished 3rd in its last GT Challenge race in very trying conditions. Of course, we are running it on NA Racing Slicks and have further support this year from Miller Oils Canada and Wix Filters. We will be returning the rear wing on to the car and adding a complete fibreglass nose again, just like 2 years ago.
What is really cool is that a new competitor will be using it in some Time Attacks this year. Mikal Safo, will be running it during the June OTA Championships at CTMP (Mosport) and at another couple of events of his choosing. The car is a great, easy and flexible ride and Mikal should have a ton of fun. I also want to use it again as its been since early 2015 since I raced it last as I have concentrated more on the Cougar.
Eric
The motor was pulled and I have been trying to find a place to get it done ever since. Either people want eye watering amounts to replace the seals and check it over, or they don't have time. I would love for Joe at RPM to redo it, but he is too busy with his real job now. Anyway, as soon as it gets repaired it goes back together again and gets ready for 2017.
For 2017, we are looking at a different mix of uses for the car. It will be primarily the back up to the 2 Cougars that we run in the CASC GT Challenge Series. It handles great and it is very very quick still and I love driving it. It is still a successful race car having won its class in its second last race and finished 3rd in its last GT Challenge race in very trying conditions. Of course, we are running it on NA Racing Slicks and have further support this year from Miller Oils Canada and Wix Filters. We will be returning the rear wing on to the car and adding a complete fibreglass nose again, just like 2 years ago.
What is really cool is that a new competitor will be using it in some Time Attacks this year. Mikal Safo, will be running it during the June OTA Championships at CTMP (Mosport) and at another couple of events of his choosing. The car is a great, easy and flexible ride and Mikal should have a ton of fun. I also want to use it again as its been since early 2015 since I raced it last as I have concentrated more on the Cougar.
Eric
03-28-17, 12:12 PM
#3
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Oh, don't worry. It will get fixed. Its been a race car since 1997 and it still has a lot more to accomplish. I just need to get it to a builder who can pull it apart, find out whats wrong and put it back together again. It was running great before the cooking episode.
Eric
Eric
Can't Wait
03-30-17, 04:36 PM
#5
Did the engine have any signs of issues after it was cooled back down? I overheated my rx4 not long after I built it and it was perfectly fine. I just fixed the coolant leak (heater hose let go) and I had to replace the water pump as it cooked the seals out of it. Ran great for years after.
03-31-17, 08:45 AM
#6
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Did the engine have any signs of issues after it was cooled back down? I overheated my rx4 not long after I built it and it was perfectly fine. I just fixed the coolant leak (heater hose let go) and I had to replace the water pump as it cooked the seals out of it. Ran great for years after.
Eric