2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Running with the big boys: GTUs at Thunderhill!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 01:04 AM
  #1  
RarestRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
NA Powah, Every Hour!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, U S of A
Running with the big boys: GTUs at Thunderhill!

Yo,


This was my second visit to Thunderhill Raceway in the GTUs. Here is the first:


https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=104171


In this thread I am going to just quickly give you some impressions and a few pics.


#1. NA RX-7's kick ***. I'm sorry, but they do. Yeah, I pointed people by on the straights...oh, like FD's, Z06's, Porsche Turbos, WRXs. But the funniest thing happened when the track started to get twisty:

I could hang with them.

I **** you not. I got into a big gaggle of big boys and I totally hung with them. I had to hussle...but I could hang. It was pretty damn cool.

So my NA bruthas...don't let all the talk of what's fast and what's slow get you down. Our cars are not slow...not where it counts: in the turns.

#2. RX-7's kick ***. It was an open track day.

You know how many Supra's showed up?

One.

You know how many RX-7's showed up?

Like...11 or more. Lots...all generations. Lots of FCs...lots of FDs...It was sweet seeing them all in their element.

#3. DTSS Eliminators kick ***. Dude, I love the things. I swear I would have spun 3 or more times if I still had the DTSS. The rear end would have loaded up, then all that energy would spring back suddenly...and I would have spun. Instead, the rear end was catchable, controllable. Very nice.

#4. Spec Miata's kick ***. You know who I couldn't hang with? Little Spec Miata's just smoked me. Chick car? Don't think so...see ya! Passing me on some crazy turns.

#5. Alex kicks ***. Alex was the only person at the drift event that looked like he knew what he was doing. He totally was drifting a Lexus SC300 on and off the track. Fun to watch.

Okay...I'm tired so I'm gonna post some pics now.



Ready for some fun? Check out the manual window cranks and the Recaro-esque cloth seats.



No sunroof means extra helmet room. Sumo's turbo'ed CRX is in the background.



Ahh...A008R's. I took this at the dealership this morning. R-Compound tires own.



Peace to all my forum peeps! That's Todd next to me.

That's it for now...feel free to ask Q's...I'll try to answer 'em.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "Hard to drift on race tires..."
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 01:43 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Parkersburg, West Virginia
Dude, cool ****, I'd love to be able to get into that kind of stuff....no damn track's around here though...not that I know of
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 03:57 AM
  #3  
adamlewis's Avatar
Back from teh deadly!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY 40299
More pics!
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 04:45 AM
  #4  
bingoboy's Avatar
Lava Surfer
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,354
Likes: 0
From: Kailua, HI
who's alex? alex pfifer by any chance?

edit: oh and sweet pics . post more.

Last edited by bingoboy; Jan 27, 2003 at 04:47 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 08:04 AM
  #5  
Xentrix's Avatar
Kill Bear
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Asheville, NC
Sweet pictures, post some more
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 09:19 AM
  #6  
Erik's Avatar
Best of both worlds
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: NJ
dude...you rule...

Erik
91 TII "in Japan, the seats really did have Recaro embroidery! but we don't"
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 09:23 AM
  #7  
vosko's Avatar
Just Call Me Terminator!
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 0
From: NJ
kevin is right when it comes to turns power doesn't help anything except make you go off track
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 09:50 AM
  #8  
adamlewis's Avatar
Back from teh deadly!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY 40299
Originally posted by vosko
kevin is right when it comes to turns power doesn't help anything except make you go off track

Actually being fast it all about your exit speed.


I think power can help with that
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 09:54 AM
  #9  
vosko's Avatar
Just Call Me Terminator!
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 0
From: NJ
there is a reason spec miata's are faster on a road course and they don't have more power. what i meant to say was the driver makes a bigger difference than more horsepower. the car is only as fast as the driver. i have only driven on a road course once with my old TII i had a great time but damn is road racing hard, you know taking turns correctly lol, i think i did "OK"
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 11:36 AM
  #10  
RarestRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
NA Powah, Every Hour!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, U S of A
Yo,


Well guys, I hate to admit this...but I hardly took any pics. Why? I was too focused on making sure the car was ready for the next session, that /I/ was ready, etc. I was just too focused on driving the car fast and not wrecking it to wander around and snap photos of all the AE86's, S13, S14's, FDs, etc.

That being said...here are like my last 2 photos:



Note the mud on the sidewalls. 2 wheels off? Nah! Never! *wink* Gotta love the Ronal 5 spoke 15's!



Kind of an interesting shot...you can see how the Racing Beat upper strut bar works.

I might have more photo's of my car on the track, including some video possibly that was taken by a third party. I'll keep you guys updated...

Kevin
1989 GTUs "FD's pulled 2:15...I pulled 2:21."
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:10 PM
  #11  
Node's Avatar
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,383
Likes: 3
From: Stinson Beach, Ca
sweet **** kebin
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:11 PM
  #12  
j9fd3s's Avatar
Moderator
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
those ronals are super cool dude , did you look at the other thread with the times? your 2.21 vs carls 2.13 vs the k2rd its cars 2.07.

mike
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:31 PM
  #13  
RarestRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
NA Powah, Every Hour!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, U S of A
Yo,


Mikey, yeah I remember pointing Carl past....Zoooom! I think I pulled some better times than 2:21...I'll check with Brian or Todd to see what we did when we battled. I'm still stoked on how well my car did given its relatively light state of tune.

Oh, thanks for letting me ride shotgun in your car when Todd Ho drifted it. I'll never forget him yelling:

"Dude how much do you weigh?!"

"Damn fat white boys!!"

*snicker*

I guess he wasn't used to the extra ballast over on the passenger side. I told him a /real/ drifter could adapt to any situation...heh.

Kevin
1989 GTUs "I need harnesses!"
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:37 PM
  #14  
walterh's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: jackson, mississippi
Hey Man , I have that same style ronal rims, but mine are black and 16's.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:41 PM
  #15  
Rotorific's Avatar
I dont know a damn thing
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 1
From: Evans, Ga
Glad to see someone not scared to take it to the track...as always nice car/pics man
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:43 PM
  #16  
Fitness Stain's Avatar
Yar-Har-Har
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, 37217
that is one clean gtus......
it looks emmaculate.....
i guess its just the good paint job...(as compared to mine....which isn't so kosher)
the interior is also REAL clean...
your props are in the mail, dude.....Yeah FEDEX
=-dustin
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:46 PM
  #17  
vaughnc's Avatar
knowledge junkie
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,595
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta, GA
With all the DTSS bashing lately, I seem to remember you had your old / worn DTSS in before right?

Same experience here with the curves on my TII. I had coilovers & tokico's & nobody passed me except a heavily modified rotary miata. On the TII you have to feather the throttle allot on the stock tires. I'd imagine better grip could have helped me put all the power down around the curves. But just keep the TII in 3rd gear & off you go
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 12:56 PM
  #18  
Rotary Racer's Avatar
Zoom Zoom Boooom
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 987
Likes: 0
From: Freakmont, CA
Originally posted by Rotorific
Glad to see someone not scared to take it to the track...as always nice car/pics man
Team GTUs is a hard core group . It's all about the street, and we use the track to increase our skills . Hahaha yes I am Ryousuke Takahashi "The White Star" .

Glad you could represent out there Kev. It was such a nice day and I was stuck in class for 6 hours (was going back to school a good idea?). Hey on your pictures (or lack there of). I would rather have you focused on racing than taking pic's and spinning. GTUs’s always have to look good on and off the track, and denting them up would keep that goal from happening. Glad those mods I put on help.

Team GTUs "keeping the stage of street alive"
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 01:04 PM
  #19  
Travis R's Avatar
trying to build a racecar
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Tx.
I've got the exact same HJC helmet for autocross, same color too.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 01:13 PM
  #20  
RarestRX's Avatar
Thread Starter
NA Powah, Every Hour!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, U S of A
Yo,


Yeah, I just recently replaced the DTSS bushings. Don't get me wrong, DTSS probably saved my *** many times while I learned how to drive a RWD car. Now that I have a pretty good handle on the RWD dynamics, I thought it would be a good time to put in the eliminators...and my buddy has a press in his garage.

That being said, I would recommend leaving the DTSS bushings in for at least a year or so until you feel confident in your driving abilities...

Kevin
1989 GTUs "I still need some Schroth harnesses."
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 02:01 PM
  #21  
MaxRX7's Avatar
hambre y sueño
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 300
Likes: 1
From: 80* >
Looks like loads of fun

1-change clutch,
2-eliminate the DTSS bushings,
3-head out to the track,
4-get someone to take lots of pics.

I'm I forgetting anything ?
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 02:22 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
From: cali
Question

UM, Who said K2RD posted 2:07s? That would put them in the winners circle at nearly every SCCA ITS race at T'Hill last year. Props to them if this is so, but they were running in an intermediate group with lots of cars, and limited passing. Not that I am overly competitive or anything, but we were carrying nearly 130mph down the front straight, I can't see an NA car putting down those numbers, in traffic, unable to pass except on the straights. I'm not saying whoever was driving is not skilled enough to do this , but the race winning fastest lap ITS cars last year were in the 2:08-2:10 range. Who timed their car? K2RD, great job hope to see you in the advanced group next time so you can show me how its done. BTW if I am offbase on this my apologies, I'm just very impressed, and a little sceptical. Best regards, Carl Byck (hot lap timer on the way)
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 03:02 PM
  #23  
j9fd3s's Avatar
Moderator
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Originally posted by in2twins
UM, Who said K2RD posted 2:07s? That would put them in the winners circle at nearly every SCCA ITS race at T'Hill last year. Props to them if this is so, but they were running in an intermediate group with lots of cars, and limited passing. Not that I am overly competitive or anything, but we were carrying nearly 130mph down the front straight, I can't see an NA car putting down those numbers, in traffic, unable to pass except on the straights. I'm not saying whoever was driving is not skilled enough to do this , but the race winning fastest lap ITS cars last year were in the 2:08-2:10 range. Who timed their car? K2RD, great job hope to see you in the advanced group next time so you can show me how its done. BTW if I am offbase on this my apologies, I'm just very impressed, and a little sceptical. Best regards, Carl Byck (hot lap timer on the way)
alex is crazy, they have run a 2.07 in that car. we all had fun though, and thats the important part, right?

mike

Last edited by j9fd3s; Jan 27, 2003 at 03:07 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 03:08 PM
  #24  
KiyoKix's Avatar
13B N/A POWA!
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 0
From: Everywhere, WRLD
Your car is freaking pristine man! By the way I'm loving the super sexy and stealthy shift **** you've got in there...care to tell me what kind it is and where to get one? As for the almightly N/A FC...amen brother amen indeed.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2003 | 03:20 PM
  #25  
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
From: cali
great job then, Carl
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:04 AM.