Raced a Rx-8

I have been having alot of problems with my Nova since the motor/tranny (among other things) swap. Within a month I shattered a flywheel and had to get a thicker, more heavy duty one, but I wasn't too upset because the tranny had to be pulled anyway because of a severe leak/internal problem. Basically I haven't been able to drive the car more then 3-4 miles straight since the problems started, until tonight. Tonight I put about 50 hassle free miles on the car, and im pretty sure just about all the kinks are worked out.

Anyway, onto the story. I was driving down the highway when my Girlfriend wanted some ice cream. I stopped in a Sonic and got her a "Holiday Mint Blast". Well also at sonic there was a brand new Mazda Rx-8. It was a really nice car, jet black on some 18ish? chrome rims, 6 speed, and an aftermarket type exhaust on the back that wasn't obnoxious, but nice sounding. (I later found out he had some kind of CAI and some kind of performance chip, according to him anyway) Well after I got her ice cream and proceeded to leave, the Rx-8 started to leave too. We both turned right onto the highway and we both caught the redlight thats roughly 100 yards from the Sonic.

He pulled up along side of me and rolled the window down, and we proceeded to compliment one another on our cars. He asked me what motor I had and all, and asked if I wanted a short run to the next stoplight, which was slightly longer then 1/8 a mile. I told him a slightly modified 307, and I wouldn't mind racing, but I have a serious problem getting traction. We talked for a few more seconds and finally agreed to race. I didn't even bother stalling my car up, because I was already going to have traction problems, and stalling it up would have meant me going nowhere. The light turned green and I eased into the pedal while he hooked pretty good and jumped off the line. He got around a 2-3 car lead on me until I was finally going fast enough where I could start reeling him in without much traction problems. At 45ish I was able to pace him at roughly half throttle. I waved to him and smiled then went wide open. As soon as I did I spun for a split second, then finally hooked and shot away from him.

I have no idea how many lenghts I had on him when I went under the stoplight, but It was quite a few. I stopped at a "Movie Gallery" and he pulled in behind me. The guy nearly pissed himself when I popped the hood to show him a 454 sittin in there. He started laughing to himself saying how he was doomed from the start and all I could do was smile. We talked a bit then parted ways on good terms.

All in all it was pretty fun. I know RX-8's aren't that fast, but they arent really that slow either, being a mid 14ish (i think) second car. I was oretty confident I could win, but I was just itching for a race, especially since I haven't got to drive the car in roughly a month. Well I figured I'd share the story with you guys, and Merry Christmas to all.

Rob

I told him a slightly modified 307


That's just pure evil... poor guy haha, that's really funny tho ;) Would like to see that car in action some time...

oh and Merry Christmas to you too

A marine buddy of mine came in from his station in North Carolina today and Im going to try my damndest to use his digital camera sometime this weekend. If all goes well I might be able to have a video up by Monday. The traction on these cars is horrible, so thats gonna be my next problem to address.

Rob

you lying a-hole...haha j/k...good kill!

You think you got traction issues?

Ha, FWD...'nuff said

good race

Thats f***** up telling him you have a 307 j/k.

Good and Nice kill.

Thats what i do when a kid,ricer or someone that doesn't know about w-bodies rolls up next to me and asks what i have under the hood b4 we race!
"Hey man what motor is in your Regal?" "Ummmm just one of them new Ecotec 4 cylinders i think" ;)

Great kill man, that's pretty funny. Merry Christmas to everyone.

"what do you have under there?" "a bunch of hamsters on excercize wheels!"

"what do you have under there?" "a bunch of hamsters on excercize wheels!"
Haha, that would have been even better. And yeah, get those pictures of your car up. Try getting wider tires, preferrably racing slicks.

OMG that's hilarious....poor guy. Nice run.

yeah poor guy. but atleast he was cool losing. Happy Christmas everybody.

I feel bad for him, up until the point where you smoked him. Late...

Nice race Rob, it's good to hear that you're getting all the bugs worked out without to many problems. Get those traction issues taken care of and take it to the track. :bigthumb:

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have a set of ET drag slicks I have used on the street, but they are really a pain in the ass to drive with. If you hit any kind of bump going over 40ish MPH it feels like the ass end is going to come out from underneath you. Right now I run REALLY small street tires (225/60/15s), but I bought a set of 265/50/15s from my dad that should help a little on the street. After looking around in a local junkyard I came across a Camaro with a set of 350 emblems that I picked up. I think I am going to put those on the car, because the 307 emblems currently on it are just too unbelievable. Im going to try and make a video sometime tomorrow or Sunday if all goes as planned. I have developed a tapping lifter, and my tranny stll has a VERY tiny leak somewhere, but the car is still running at probably 90%. Thanks again guys.

Rob

I told him a slightly modified 307,
and thats why I removed my V8 Emblems. Plus my car doesnt have that gurgle that 4.6's have (Shitty cats, and no mufflers..yea, its on my to-do list), so alot of people think its a V6 with flowmasters or something on it.

Try to fit taller tires, not wider tires. Believe it or not a wider tire doesn't do all that much for traction. Height is much more important. There are lots of good 29" tires out there, just fitting them is the problem.
Oh and get caltracs, from what I've heard they're the best bolt on traction device for RWD leaf springed cars. I'm getting a set for my '69 stang. http://www.calvertracing.com
Nice race!
Too bad you're in Mississippi, when my car is done it'd make a good race... '71 nova with a 454 vs '69 mustang with a turbocharged 351c. It'd be close!

Thats a funny kill.

I did that to a guy in a 3000GT VR-4 a long time ago. He was messing with me and we caught a light at the bottom of a long bridge.

At the time I had a 50 shot in the car and decided to turn it on. After I creamed him he asked if I had NOS and I said no I was running race gas. He bought it and I never told him otherwise. I didnt want the word to get around town.

Those poor RX-8's, I have beaten 2 of them now in my Mini Cooper S JCW. The first time I thought it was a fluke the second time confirmed the first.


BTW - I just bought a set of Yokohama Advan A032R tires for my car. Look into those they will stick good for you they will work good on the street.