For you track guys that like all cars.

[Jims5543]

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.

If a guy gushing about his non p-car irritates you read no further.

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 duping 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.


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




A Z-8 that showed up, I love these cars, if I only had a spare 130K laying around.


P-cars...




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?

[turbo6bar]

That Alfa is hot. I know the Z06 is fast as cr@p, but the Alfa oozes cool.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
If a guy gushing about his non p-car irritates you read no further.

No problem, thanks for sharing the pictures and stories, sounds like you had fun.

[Z-man]

What track? Sebring? Homestead? Who ran the event?

Nice pics - thanks for sharing,
-Z.

[BGCarrera32]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
I sometimes wonder if some of these people only look 50 feet past their hood?

Yup, pretty much...also amazing how close people jam up to each other in a DE on the warm-up lap, with cold tires and brakes...

[onewhippedpuppy]

No pics of your track beast? I love a good sleeper, I'm sure many of those people couldn't believe an RX7 was hanging with them.

[Nathans_Dad]

I'm not a big vette guy (except for the old roadsters 57-62) but that new one looks pretty nice...

[kaisen]

Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
No pics of your track beast? I love a good sleeper, I'm sure many of those people couldn't believe an RX7 was hanging with them.

He's posted a pic before. Looks very purposeful and sinister. 2500-2600 pounds and 400RWHP sounds like the formula for a GT2-killer.

Thanks for sharing Jim!

E

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Z-man
What track? Sebring? Homestead? Who ran the event?

Nice pics - thanks for sharing,
-Z.

It was run by Chin Motorsports. The track was Moroso in West Palm Beach. Its my home track I am 30 minutes from driveway to front gate. I am considering Sebring in January its the short SCCA track though and not the 12 hour layout. Since its my 1st time at Sebring I thought it would be good to learn 1/2 the track first then go on to learn the whole track at another date.

For those of you asking about my car here is a thread I did about it a while back.

My 1987 Rx-7

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by BGCarrera32
Yup, pretty much...also amazing how close people jam up to each other in a DE on the warm-up lap, with cold tires and brakes...

Chin did an event up at VIR 2 weeks ago and 3 cars wrecked on the 1st lap.

I did another event in my MINI a few months ago with a different club and a Vette and M-3 took off out of the pits on the warm up lap like bats out of hell. The Vette ended up spining in the 1st turn and almost taking out the M-3.

When I out onto an hot track I take it easy for the 1st few turns until I feel the tires and brakes warm. If it pisses off the car behind me so be it. After 5-6 turns I will not be a hinderance to him anymore.

I also take the same consideration for a car pulling out of the pits. If he ends up in front of me I give him some room to warm up without pressure from behind. If after 1/2 a track he is still a hold up I will move in and let him know I want to pass. I at least give him a chance to warm up without breathing down his neck.

[tchanson]

Radical:



Oh dear Lord I love that Alfa in what appears to be Porsche Signal Orange...



Tim

[onewhippedpuppy]

That Alfa is sexy as hell.

[Jeff Higgins]

What's with the pre-mix in the rotary motor? I know nothing about these. Is there some kind of problem with the "wipers" (I don't know what else to call them) at the points of the rotors? I've never heard of pre-mix in any four cycle.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
What's with the pre-mix in the rotary motor? I know nothing about these. Is there some kind of problem with the "wipers" (I don't know what else to call them) at the points of the rotors? I've never heard of pre-mix in any four cycle.

Rotaries are built to inject engine oil onto the Housing thus lubricating the Apex seals. This is O.K. for street cars that are stock. Actually its not really that good its much better to premix a good quality 2 cycle oil instead.

I was dead set against this at first. I did not want to play chemist every time I had to fill up. That was until I was at Pettit Racing and his engine builder (Candi) pulled a couple of Rotor housings off a shelf. The housing is what the rotor spins around inside. The housing that used premix was nice and smooth the one that had not was very worn. I was believer after that.

I was told to use more oil when racing to lubricate the engine better. So, instead of my usual 8 oz. per 12 gallons I run 16 oz. per 10 gallons.

Now couple that with the fact that I have my air / fuel ratio set dead at 10:1 and you have a smoke show. You also have a very rich running engine that will not detonate and is being cooled by the fuel somewhat. I am sacrificing ab out 30RWHP running this rich but well worth it to keep the engine happy.

BTW - The flames were reported to be 6 feet long and lasting 20+ seconds on decel and on through the first turn after the long straight.

[onewhippedpuppy]

So is that what the RX7 looks like now, same as in the thread? If so, I'm sure you baffled a lot of people as to how it was so fast. Cool car, I almost bought a 3rd generation RX7 a while back but didn't want a 2 seater.

[Jeff Higgins]

Ah, the flames alone would be worth it. Interesting; I have heard of short engine life in racing rotaries. This sounds like it would address that problem quite well. When Mazda won LeMans, did they do something like this? I don't remember the smoke show. Which, by the way, sounds like Audi will be providing next year in a different way.

[Jims5543]

I ran my Autocross setup on the track. I took a pic 2 minutes ago. The slicks make it less of a sleeper.





A couple of other and of course some P-car content.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Ah, the flames alone would be worth it. Interesting; I have heard of short engine life in racing rotaries. This sounds like it would address that problem quite well. When Mazda won LeMans, did they do something like this? I don't remember the smoke show. Which, by the way, sounds like Audi will be providing next year in a different way.

Yes, this addresses the reliability problems. I have been running this setup now for over 2 years with countless autocrosses running the full 400RWHP at them problem free.

When suping these up tuning is the key. Keeping them running rich and using conservative timing is the key. Getting greedy and trying to wring out every last horse is what kills these cars.

I cannot wait to see that deisel Audi run at Lemans.

The Rotary that won the Lemans in 1993 its first time out was duly banned the next year. Roatries are the Rodney Dangerfield of racing in some aspects.

[Jims5543]

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.

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