Tracked my TII this past weekend.

I took my RX-7 to the track this past weekend. It has been almost 2 years since I "played car" all day long. The hurricanes in 2004 really kept me busy but I finally have things back to normal so its time to sign up for some track days.

The last time I tracked my RX-7 it had 240RWHP and weighed over 2700 lbs. This time I ran it slightly detuned at 330RWHP and have the weight at about 2580. I have a lexan rear hatch that I did not put on and I used my normal street battery instead of my 10 lb. one. So she was about 60 lbs heavier than my usual race trim. I decided not to run the full 400RWHP this time. I figure I should work my way up to it.

What a day! The car ran perfect. I got black flagged during the first heat due to all the smoke on decel. I pitted and explained that I was running a ton of premix (we premix rotaries like a 2 cycle engine) and my A/F was set to 10:1. The marshall was cool about it and told me they would not bother me about it again. They were concerned I was dumping fluids.

The car handled great and cornered like it was on rails. This was a point by track day so no racing was allowed. Some highlights that stuck in my mind. I had a radical come up behind me as we were approaching the main straight. I pointed him by and then got back in it. By the time I hit the top of 4th and shifted to 5th I was running down the Radical and had to lift at 150 to give him room. Of course once we hit the turns he was gone but I was suprised I could run with him in the straights. Another notable run down the straight, a C-5 caught up to me while being held up by a slower car, that car pitted. The pit exit is right before the main straight. By the end of the main straight the Vette was nowhere in sight I never saw it again after that. My mechanic/friend was at the track helping/watching and said it was remarkable how fast I pulled away from the vette. He also saw me run down the radical and could not believe his eyes.

I also came upon a Lotus Elise. I was somewhat curious if I could hang in the twisties with it. I was delighted to see I could walk it down through the turns. I am really happy with the car setup, very neutral and very easy to throttle steer.

I did encounter a Gran Am RX-8 he came up on me I pointed him by and he disapeared. I was blown away how fast he was. He was as fast as the Star Mazdas and Radicals.

We were almost incident free for the day, the only casualty was a SupraTT that ate a wall. Unfortunatly it was almost predictable. I saw him on track and he was really not doing well. Not in control of the car at all. Even my mechanic/friend said he knew it was a matter of time before that guy wrecked. My friend felt the instructor should be talked to. The guy in the Supra was a novice and it was obvious as the day went on he was not getting any better at all just more reckless.

Now, car porn:

This a a new Z-06 that showed up at the pits. It was not on track though.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01680.jpg

I love these Alfas the guys hanging around them were all speaking Italian. :D Really.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01679.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01674.jpg

A Z-8 that showed up, I love these cars, if I only had a spare 130K laying around.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01678.jpg

Porsches... ;)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01676.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01675.jpg

I felt bad for this guy. He was there to learn and ended up destroying his beautiful car. I came around the last turn onto the straight away and saw his car parked into the wall. I let off right away, then remembered to check my mirror. The Vette behind me did not see him until he was almost on top of him. I had to keep some speed to keep from being rear ended. I sometimes wonder if some of these people only look 50 feet past their hood?
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01673.jpg

BTW- Here are some pics of my RX-7 in case you are wondering what it looked like.

I ran my Autocross setup on the track. The slicks make it less of a sleeper.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads6/DSC016851135028252.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01686.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/Jims5543/DSC01687.jpg

Sounds like a great day at the track. Can't wait till you open up the other 70 ponys and see what it can do. Those alfa's look very clean in the pics, how did they do?

you are a pimp

i thought he sold that rx7 for a porsche?

i thought he sold that rx7 for a porsche?


in "13 rew swap" whats rew mean or whatever he said and where the hell did you get that hood?

in "13 rew swap" whats rew mean or whatever he said and where the hell did you get that hood?

13b-rew is the 3rd gen rx7 engine

which means it's crazy fast yo! haha :)

I did have it for sale I was selling it for $15K and no one wanted to buy it.

I sold my MINI CooperS JCW to buy the Porsche.

Soyo - yours sounds like it is coming along nicely. I am gald you did not buy that one I had. The guy that bought it has some serious money and will need it. The coolant seals are on their way our. Probably from the car sitting so long.

The Hood was purchased from Rotary Extreme in Cali. I believe it is an RE knockoff. They have fiberglass and CF.

I am trying to get on at Sebring nextmonth to track again there, its looking more like Homestead in 2 months though.

I am considering gutting the car and setting it up to compete in NASA's open modified class. I am having a hard time taking the car off the road and making it a dedicated track car. I still enjoy cruising on the streets wtith it.

yea well the seals went out on the one I bought after about a month so looks like the same situation haha

Beautiful. cant wait till i get a 7.

I found this neat website that you can host videos on for free.

Here are a couple from this past track day if you are interested.

This was my "tank slapper" incident. I was at full pucker although it does not appear to be so severe, at 80 MPH I knew one wrong move and I was going for a ride.

Camera Angle sucks I need to go back to my old setup or find a better position for the camera. This was my first time using a sticky pod.

Click on link:
http://videos.streetfire.net/player.aspx?fileid=53753592-1C03-42AA-B42C-B1A44DFAA0C9


Here is sort of a lap around the track. I got caught behind a Race prepped Focus and he ends up tuning it sideways in front of me. Then we hit the checkered flag for a cool down lap.

Same deal click on link:
http://videos.streetfire.net/Player.aspx?fileid=4591C344-3A0B-4923-AB3B-54FEA9C28A98

Nice, looks fun, need to find something like that out here for me.