Garry
26 (formally #1 in 2009)
1982 Series 2 Mazda RX7
Naturally Aspirated Rotary Engine Development, F1, MotoGP, My Honda CBR600F Motorbike, Music, Movies, Linux and Internet Web Page Development
Pit/promo girl(s) in short skirts!!!
Any kind of fender-bender or panel rubbing while racing
Roast Lamb, Pavlova. Toblerone (the cocktail!), Jim Beam and coke
The car was brought as a standard road vehicle and was in a rough but salvageable condition. It was then striped within the the provisions for Group 3J. The guards were fitted with flares and a front spoiler from SelectMaz and a "factory" rear spoiler fitted in accordance with Group 3J rules. A roll cage and Hill Sports racing seat from my NZ RX7 race car were then fitted by Rotomotion. A Willans 4-point harness saftey belt helps keep me in place during racing and if the unmentionable should happen. A replacement MazdaSpeed LSD differential (with Mazda race gear set) was fitted and a PPG close-ratio 5-speed 'dogbox' gearbox were mated up to a freshly built Rotomotion 13B Bridge-Port engine according to Group 3J specifications. The inlet manifold from my old NZ RX7 race car was custom modified by Rotomotion and a purchased 48mm IDA Webber (subsequently modified to 51mm specifications) was then fitted to the engine while the original Mazda factory RX7 series II electronic ignition was retained. Rotomotion then fabricated and fitted 300+mm front brake rotors from a BMW 5-Series along with RX7 Series 4 turbo 4-spot calipers to the original RX7 Series II struts. Peter Wilkinson from Wilkinson Suspension Center then modified the front control arms for more negative chamber, fitted adjustable chamber front strut top-hats, re-sprung the front suspension with coil-over shock springs and new rear springs, lowered the car around 1.5-2 inches as well as rebushing the entire front and rear suspension joints with nolthethane bushes. A modified front strut-tower brace from a RX7 Series 4 was fitted in accordance with Group 3J regulations. Koni externally adjustable front shocks are mounted up front with koni adjustable shocks fitted to the rear of the car. 15x7 Performance Challenger wheels were purchased from Mr Mag and then fitted with 205x60x15 (currently running 225x50x15) Yokohama ADVAN A048R Improved Production control tyres. Rotomotion then fitted a Derre-art designed and fabricated tuned-length exhaust system with extractors and fabricated a complete cold-air box for the induction system. The car was then dyno-tuned on the Rotomotion dynometer for maximum fuel efficency and power (Dyno sheet can be seen on the "About" page here.). Thanks to the Group 3J regluations keeping build costs under control, the excellent durability of the Yokohama ADVAN A048R tyres and the car's ability to run on pump 98 octane fuel (currently E85) means a complete racing calendar can be undertaken for a reasonable cost.
Thanks must go to Graham, John, Brad and Michael from Rotomotion Engineers as well as Peter Wilkinson and his team from Wilkinson Suspensions for all their great workmanship, support and advice. Without their help, advice and support, there would be no Madazmotorsport.
1988 at BayPark, Tauranga, New Zealand
Valentino Rossi, Aryton Senna, Jim Richards and Rod Millen
Peter Screen and Charles Gordy (token American).
Racing that involves many different marques of cars and configurations is much more exciting, to me, that any one or two or horse race. This made the improved production car class an obvious choice which allows me to compete against many other different makes and models of cars.
I started racing in my homeland New Zealand in 1988 in a slightly modified 1974 Mazda RX4. As the years went on the car was developed with more powerful engines and better suspension and brakes. Eventually, in 1992, I took all the running gear out of the RX4 and fitted it to a newly purchased Series 1 Mazda RX7. This car ran well at the final Baypark meeting and subsequent Taupo, Manfield and Pukekohe MREC club events.
None really. Just try to get enough sleep and ensure I drink plenty of fluids in the morning and thoughout the race day. Now....were's that Powerade gone...
Wilkinson Suspension Center - 81 Beechboro Rd Bayswater, Perth,WA