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The Hillclimb RX7 - a saga

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Old 07-04-15, 11:00 AM
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Multiple drivers

Originally Posted by DaveEstey
Saturday is practice runs. Sunday is timed runs. Best run counts. Usually you get 3-4 runs per day depending on weather and people staying out of the foliage.
Can 2 drivers be accommodated for one car without losing said 3-4 runs? And is it common to see multiple drivers per car?
Old 07-04-15, 11:30 AM
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dual drivers are common. There are 2 run groups, A and B to accommodate such things.
Old 07-05-15, 05:33 PM
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Dave,

With Okemo racing up to us, we all wonder if you made the 55 entry limit? will you be bringing your car either way?

With such a dedicated car, what do you do when it comes time to test drive? use autox? do you have a friend with land?
we drove our car today, maybe an 1/8th of a mile and turn around, first time driving it ever.
Old 07-06-15, 10:11 AM
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Originally Posted by NorthernForestMotorsports
Dave,

With Okemo racing up to us, we all wonder if you made the 55 entry limit? will you be bringing your car either way?

With such a dedicated car, what do you do when it comes time to test drive? use autox? do you have a friend with land?
we drove our car today, maybe an 1/8th of a mile and turn around, first time driving it ever.
As of Saturday, the registrar said there are a few spots left open. My entry should have arrived prior to that so I'll be at the event.

Test drives are autocrosses and the drag race event I went to, as well as dyno time. I need to get the car prepped for a track day so I can spend some time setting the brake balance, but that requires working tail lights and I haven't rigged up a pressure switch for them yet.

On Wednesday I'm taking the car to Kinetic Motorworks in Hampstead for an alignment and another hour of dyno time to make sure my jetting is good to go and mess with timing a little bit. This car has never had an alignment, which was interesting at 100mph...
Old 07-06-15, 12:47 PM
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I'm really looking forward to Okemo. Did you say you hadn't been there yet? I just spent the weekend getting the cage in the Miata (and realized it really shouldn't be a single weekend project), but I think the rx-7 will be perfectly suited to the hill. I'm really interested to see how your car handles the little rhythm/slalom section.
Old 07-06-15, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by driven-daily
I'm really looking forward to Okemo. Did you say you hadn't been there yet? I just spent the weekend getting the cage in the Miata (and realized it really shouldn't be a single weekend project), but I think the rx-7 will be perfectly suited to the hill. I'm really interested to see how your car handles the little rhythm/slalom section.
I've been, but not as a racer. I think all the hills play to the RX7s strengths haha. Ive been watching lots of in-car videos to learn the hill.

I did a single day cage once, but that was for Lemons and I had 2 helpers with experience.

Last edited by DaveEstey; 07-06-15 at 02:22 PM.
Old 07-06-15, 09:14 PM
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Entry confirmed along with a "You've got a muffler- Right?"

Damn right I do
WHAPOW

It's actually much quieter than the video suggests. Enclosed spaces and all that. The muffler seems to have "bedded in" as well.
Old 07-09-15, 06:12 AM
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Busy day yesterday. Got to the shop at 7:45 for my 8am alignment appointment... man was it out of whack.







One of these things is not like the other....


Alignment is good now and should be a good baseline.

After that I hit the dyno for a few pulls so I could mess with ignition timing and really see what the engine likes. It likes about 26 degrees - and I picked up 20hp at the wheels. I'm still running way too rich, with AFRs in the 11s and low 12s. I'll fix that with slightly larger venturis to add more air rather than cut back on fuel.

When I got home I had a package waiting, so I got some more safety gear installed.



So safe
Old 07-09-15, 10:28 AM
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Doing thangz

Old 07-14-15, 12:30 PM
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Review of Okemo:

Learning a new hill is tough. Learning one while staring at your gauges is a little harder. The RX7 had some more teething issues, including getting hotter than I like (which was fixed with an aluminum wing) and not getting enough fuel (need bigger pumps).

Still it was a successful weekend given the car made it to the top of the hill every time and posted some solid times. With a few tweaks and enough fuel to be full throttle when it needs to be full throttle, I'm sure I'll be setting very nice times indeed.

Next hillclimb is in 3 weeks and it's at Okemo again! Nice to have back-to-back on the same hill. Hopefully it will be cooler.

Big thanks to Kinetic Motor Works for helping me get the car aligned before the event. It really paid off.

No videos. I'm a dumby and the gopro didn't get turned on right.



You can definitely see my fuel issues in the radar speeds, though I did get a 94mph (fastest in class) run by managing the throttle before the long straight and letting the carb bowl fill up. New fuel pump is incoming and I'm excited to shoot for 100mph next month.
Old 07-15-15, 06:42 PM
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NFM was there! I took alot of pictures but im old fashioned and they are all on film :-P. Our team desperately needs someone better than I to manage media. It was a great experience and fills me with hope and excitement for getting our FC on the hill, maybe do a Carb Vs. FI competition sometime ;-). She sounds and looks great Dave but you know that!!!!
Old 07-16-15, 10:38 AM
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Did you introduce yourself and I just wasn't aware?

Hillclimbs are a blast. I love the people. Laid back as anything and lots of people with good taste in beer. My pulled pork sandwich at the Loft must have weighed 3 pounds!
Old 07-17-15, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by NorthernForestMotorsports
NFM was there! I took alot of pictures but im old fashioned and they are all on film :-P. Our team desperately needs someone better than I to manage media. It was a great experience and fills me with hope and excitement for getting our FC on the hill, maybe do a Carb Vs. FI competition sometime ;-). She sounds and looks great Dave but you know that!!!!
Come find me at Okemo 2. I have plenty of digital cameras and audio equipment, and 30tb of media server, I just need someone who isn't driving who is willing to manage all that gear. I don't think I'll have my FC at any hillclimbs this season, so I'm still in the white NA Miata (365).
Old 07-17-15, 03:37 PM
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NH

Originally Posted by DaveEstey
Did you introduce yourself and I just wasn't aware?

Hillclimbs are a blast. I love the people. Laid back as anything and lots of people with good taste in beer. My pulled pork sandwich at the Loft must have weighed 3 pounds!
I had the Jerk Chicken Sandwhich, it was about the size of my head!!!! The Fiddlehead IPA, ill remember that for the rest of my days.

We parked in the pits for a bit on saturday, when we got to your tent car was parked you werent in sight so we moved on and chatted with the miata guys. (I am aweful with names.) We never made it back into the pits. I may come up for sunday of Okemo II.

Dave,
Kinetic Motor Works is getting some business because of this thread! our FC will be on the dyno Tuesday morning. I told him that you referred us! ;-) hope that helps you! I think the rest of the day is open, would you be up for a chat, visit and some IPA's? If so send me a private message with address and time and Mike and I will shoot down your way. Beers in hand of course!
Old 07-17-15, 03:40 PM
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NH

Originally Posted by driven-daily
Come find me at Okemo 2. I have plenty of digital cameras and audio equipment, and 30tb of media server, I just need someone who isn't driving who is willing to manage all that gear. I don't think I'll have my FC at any hillclimbs this season, so I'm still in the white NA Miata (365).
Thanks for the offer, frankly I'm junk at media, you should see the videos on my blog :-P!

It seems in the future there will be a few guys with FC's and MX5's ?!?!?!?! Volkswagen watch out here comes MAZDA!!!!
Old 07-18-15, 08:28 AM
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Photos from a mid-june autocross got posted.


Fiddlehead is badass. I was drinking the 14th Amendment. The Miata guys included Driven Daily AKA Jesse and the NB was Ian.

Tuesday is open. I'll work from the home office that day.
Old 07-18-15, 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by DaveEstey
Photos from a mid-june autocross got posted.


Fiddlehead is badass. I was drinking the 14th Amendment. The Miata guys included Driven Daily AKA Jesse and the NB was Ian.

Tuesday is open. I'll work from the home office that day.
Look at that front right lift!!!!!
Old 07-19-15, 06:11 PM
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Spoke too soon about Tuesday. Got booked for a business dinner.
Old 07-21-15, 06:53 AM
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External clips from Okemo

Old 07-21-15, 03:35 PM
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Old 07-21-15, 07:41 PM
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We had a great experience at kinetic today!
Old 07-22-15, 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by NorthernForestMotorsports
We had a great experience at kinetic today!
Glad to hear it. I've been friends with those guys for going on 6 years now. Really just outstanding people.
Old 07-22-15, 10:55 AM
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Dave,
From looking at our dyno charts, listening to the car under load and seeing the motor visibly shake about 6600rpm it seems our ignition system is falling on its face. I wonder if you still had your stock coils from switching to MSD and if you'd be willing to part with them for a fair price.


I agree, Mike and I were very pleased with the service and pricing, our experience with them created life long customers! I told them that you had sent us and that we would be back!

Last edited by NorthernForestMotorsports; 07-22-15 at 11:01 AM.
Old 07-22-15, 12:07 PM
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Let me check my box of goodies. I think I still have them.
Old 07-22-15, 12:50 PM
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:-)

Originally Posted by DaveEstey
Let me check my box of goodies. I think I still have them.
Box of goodies I LOVE IT! Thanks!


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