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12a Powered RX-7 wins SCCA EP National Championship

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Old 10-14-07, 11:38 PM
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12a Powered RX-7 wins SCCA EP National Championship

It's been a long time coming but Tom Thrash just won his first EP National Championship. He won in his 12a powered 83 RX against a field largely made up of Mazda's. Read more about it here: http://www.scca.org/newsarticle.aspx?hub=1&news=3201

In second was a 2nd Gen, and in third place a 13b powered 1st gen. Full results here: http://www.scca.org/documents/result..._RaceFinal.pdf

Congratulations to Tom and the rest of the RX-7's in the field!
Old 10-15-07, 12:25 AM
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Badass!!!
Old 10-15-07, 04:28 AM
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I thought 12As sucked?

If I can make mine do that, bring it!
Old 10-15-07, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by wotnartd
I thought 12As sucked?

If I can make mine do that, bring it!
whoever told you that was sadly mistaken.
Old 10-15-07, 09:11 AM
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I forgot to post that these races will be on the Speed TV, set your PVR's.
http://www.scca.org/eventitems.aspx?...ent=5643&hub=1
Old 10-15-07, 09:56 AM
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Awesome news! Cant wait for the airing on speed. Nice results for the 7's this year.


He also took 3rd in GT3!
Old 10-15-07, 01:59 PM
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Impressive that Mazdas took an incredible 15 out of the top 16 places!!!!!!

No doubt the SCCA will immediately overreact and adjust them out of contention for the next five years.
Old 10-15-07, 02:09 PM
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12a Rx3 took 4th

13b 2nd gen took 5th

Just Rotary in the Top 5.
Old 10-15-07, 03:09 PM
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very good to see this.
Old 10-15-07, 04:46 PM
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Man this really motivates me to keep working on my RX-7 and the driver mod. I almost thought about selling it and getting a Miata for Solo2. I am glad the rotary is doing good in EP!
Old 10-15-07, 08:28 PM
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racing a rotary in SCCA poses two challenges...

the usual one, building & driving.

the second is SCCA's biases which are not in favor of the motor.

be very careful about a decision to run the rotary in EP especially after a good 07 showing. i am not saying don't do it but suggesting you'd best get to know all the members of the Comp Board and know how to lobby them before you commit to spending $100,000 if you plan to run for a win.

EP is a healthy class but SCCA is following a shrink the number of classes so GT3, for instance, will probably not be running at the Runoffs next year due to low participation. lots of rotaries in GT3 BTW.

here's my tube frame Mazda...




22 seasons SCCA GT3, the last 6 in a rotary including a 2nd at the Runoffs when they were run at a real racetrack... won the June Sprints etc etc

more details

https://www.rx7club.com/old-school-other-rotary-63/my-rx3sp-gt3-scca-614456/

howard coleman
Old 10-18-07, 11:27 PM
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I was there and saw the race in person. Thrash really took off at the start of the race. After a few laps the second place Honda (last year's champ) caught him and they had a great race. Eventually the Honda dropped a wheel off track and punctured a tire or broke a wheel then pulled off. I believe Thrash could have won anyway but it was going to be a war.

So far the RX7 in EP has done really well. This is especially true of the 1st gen cars which are the cheapest to build. Even the FC, which is more expensive because of the complexity of it's rear suspension is a BARGAIN when compared to piston powered cars in the class. For example a full prep miata 1600 engines have a $25K price tag, need constant refreshing and are prone to blowing up. A 12A or 13B with the best of every thing (ceramic seals, coatings, lightened rotors etc) is just north of $10K but typically lasts for 2+ years of racing before a rebuild. Most of the racing rotaries that I am familar with cost between 4K and 7K and are very reliable and competitive.

We have 6 EP RX7's in the KC area - 4 13B's and 2 12A's. All of them are pro built street port engines built by Tony Rivera, Roger Mandeville or Prather Racing. Yes, 12A's work fine and cars that run them get a weight break to help keep them competitive with the 13B's Both the 12A and 13B engines get the same size weber carb with 38mm venturies. OE fuel injection is also allowed on GSL-SE's and FC's.

As I watched race I also wondered if the Thrash win would earn every one with a Rotary a lead trophy. It is possible, however Thrash has been a top qualifyer for a number of years and finished second last year. Actually all of the Rotaries at the pointy end of this year,s race are always competitive. What is likely is that the Miata's will lose weight that was added to them a few years ago.

Sorry for the long post - but I love EP Mazdas!
Old 10-18-07, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by howard coleman
racing a rotary in SCCA poses two challenges...

the usual one, building & driving.

the second is SCCA's biases which are not in favor of the motor.

be very careful about a decision to run the rotary in EP especially after a good 07 showing. i am not saying don't do it but suggesting you'd best get to know all the members of the Comp Board and know how to lobby them before you commit to spending $100,000 if you plan to run for a win.

EP is a healthy class but SCCA is following a shrink the number of classes so GT3, for instance, will probably not be running at the Runoffs next year due to low participation. lots of rotaries in GT3 BTW.

here's my tube frame Mazda...






22 seasons SCCA GT3, the last 6 in a rotary including a 2nd at the Runoffs when they were run at a real racetrack... won the June Sprints etc etc

more details

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=614456

howard coleman

YOUR CAR IS KICK ***!!!!
Old 10-19-07, 01:55 PM
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I am honored to have bought a set of racing wheels from Mr. Thrash! I bought them, and then I saw him on TV get the 2nd place last year. That was a great race. I still have it saved on the Tivo. I can transfer it to the computer and post it if anyone wants it.
Old 10-21-07, 11:58 AM
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Tom is a real neat guy who I met in maybe 2002 at a Mid Ohio Regional just after he had completed a Mid Ohio school. Tom came looking to meet the Spec-7 drivers of which he was one (a very good one) before he started his E Production National program. Previous to meeting Tom I would view the Texas Spec-7 site & he was accused of many things other than being a very talented driver & being very good at preping a car. He continues to do HIS same thing in E Production.

The interesting thing about Tom's 1st gen winning this year is that overall he was way above ALL the other 1st or 2nd gen Mazdas. Other than the tire issue the Loshak Honda was right there.
Old 10-21-07, 12:55 PM
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David, the guy can really drive. His GT3 drive this year is one I can't wait to watch on TV. It's great having him in our division as you said he is a great guy and is willing to help slow guys like me. The car I'm building now will incorporate a lot of what he's doing, and it's certainly no secret. A lot of the other guys have the same parts he does, so why is he so much faster than everyone else? Except of course Mr. Loshak. To bad he cut his rear tire. Would have been fun to watch, but that's racin.
Old 10-23-07, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by mustanghammer
I was there and saw the race in person. Thrash really took off at the start of the race. After a few laps the second place Honda (last year's champ) caught him and they had a great race. Eventually the Honda dropped a wheel off track and punctured a tire or broke a wheel then pulled off. I believe Thrash could have won anyway but it was going to be a war.

So far the RX7 in EP has done really well. This is especially true of the 1st gen cars which are the cheapest to build. Even the FC, which is more expensive because of the complexity of it's rear suspension is a BARGAIN when compared to piston powered cars in the class. For example a full prep miata 1600 engines have a $25K price tag, need constant refreshing and are prone to blowing up. A 12A or 13B with the best of every thing (ceramic seals, coatings, lightened rotors etc) is just north of $10K but typically lasts for 2+ years of racing before a rebuild. Most of the racing rotaries that I am familar with cost between 4K and 7K and are very reliable and competitive.

We have 6 EP RX7's in the KC area - 4 13B's and 2 12A's. All of them are pro built street port engines built by Tony Rivera, Roger Mandeville or Prather Racing. Yes, 12A's work fine and cars that run them get a weight break to help keep them competitive with the 13B's Both the 12A and 13B engines get the same size weber carb with 38mm venturies. OE fuel injection is also allowed on GSL-SE's and FC's.

As I watched race I also wondered if the Thrash win would earn every one with a Rotary a lead trophy. It is possible, however Thrash has been a top qualifyer for a number of years and finished second last year. Actually all of the Rotaries at the pointy end of this year,s race are always competitive. What is likely is that the Miata's will lose weight that was added to them a few years ago.

Sorry for the long post - but I love EP Mazdas!
i want a ride in one of thoes cars lol
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