Racing an RX

[banned advertiser]

Exactly as shown in photos. Wing just wants pulling out according to a friend who looked at it, especially if racing :-)

[TonyC]

Cheers, so it needs the dent sorting, a rear light? and rear bumper?

[Bobfish]

1 rats nest, as requested:

[banned advertiser]

Dent nees pulling out, Light has crack in it but works, cant see that you would have to change that for a track car, and the rear bumper is complete just wants putting back on when dent is pulled out.

[cruiser]

That green car looks like a good starting point.

On stock twins - you could run around 320hp reliably at stock boost with bolt-on mods in my signature (I have had my dynoed) on stock engine. However, I would advise against FMIC. If you have money, V-mount setup is the best as its a compromise between engine cooling (radiator) and air cooling (intercooler). If you go with FMIC, you will have hard time keepin the temperature down for 20min sessions.

And I\'ve read about RX7\'s down to 1000kg, but it gets expensive under 1150kg.

You will also want to uprate the front swaybar mounts as stock ones are prone to crack.

Definately some Koyo or Fluidyne race radiator.

About stock twins vs. single turbo - I like my stock twins on the track, but top speed on the track I go to is around 110mph, which doesnt call for massive power. What I need is good response and power increase at 4500RPM can catch you out if you arent used to it. But you\'re driving the car and not the other way around. Its not as bad a some may think.

Here is my dyno graph (the RPMs are a bit off at the top of rev-range) on stock boost. At that time I didnt yet have the ignition amp installed (HKS Twin Power)

[AtomicRex]

Hiya Tony,

I currently race an RX in the Castle Combe Special GT class.  Firstly Id like to say good choice of car!  But dont think about doing this on a budget!

My car is doing rather well.  We started off with a bad trip to the Ring, in which I ended up crashing due to the rain.  Then to top it off due to tiredness (2 1/2 hours sleep prior to a race = lots of expense!!!) we crashed again.  Our next race the engine blew up...but then having spent time down with Carl the engine was rebuilt and its been pretty damn good ever since!  Weve since had 2 second place finishes, then 2 first place finishes at Combe.  We rocked up to Pembrey last weekend and took 2 pole positions in qualifying, we converted the first, but due to an oil leak had to settle for second place in the second race!

Ive uploaded the race
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6788872497926333604

The start is amusing as this is where I realise I have oil going onto the front tyre and brakes

So the car is a proven thing!!!

My recommendations are as follows:

If you are intending to do circuit racing then dont go for big power.  Carl rebuilt the engine, ported and using ceramic tips but otherwise standard.  

Using stock twins is unnecessary, I run a GT35 and that spools up in plenty of time with no lag what-so-ever!  Plus we only run 0.85 bar, so the engine will last!

There is no need to worry about WI.

Make sure you go and get a good V Mount I never see temps that would worry in either water or oil

You will need the following:
Strip the whole car down to bare metal (inside)  remove all of the wiring, and aircon, abs, and all of the sound proofing.  (Make sure you have a large bin handy and an EBay account!)

If you want to get the car seem welded (I didnt as Id already had a paint job, all be it crap, and you need to get the shell dipped)  it adds to improving the chassis strength

Next get a roll cage fitted.  Dont compromise here, there really isnt any point, I went to custom cages.  They will only do it if the car is stripped out...no glass or petrol tank either!  Cost £2000, but then its your life and I value mine at more than that!!!  The last thing you want to be saying when you’ve just gone into the tyre wall is why did I not get a proper cage fitted!  Plus it needs to be FIA compliant and the scrutiner’s will check it!

I then had a custom loom made up.  This saves a fortune in weight.

You will need to get electrical cut outs, and a fire extinguisher set up (I went electrical, so you can isolate it and not have to worry about someone pulling the lever in the pits or in a car park!!!)

You need to fit a heater, to stop the windscreen misting up, there are a couple of routes you can use here, one guy uses a 12V hairdryer!!!

You need to get a race battery, and get it all moved…mines in the front passenger footwell

You need decent seats, and runners.  I don’t know how tall you are, but you need to lower the seats down to the floor!!!!  I use Corbeau Pro Series Carbon/Kevlar seats, and Sabelt 6 point 3” belts.

Next you need to look at suspension, I bought double adjustable shocks from Penske.  They are roughly £600 a corner, but worth every penny.  There are other bits that need to be done, and over the winter Im having a back to shell refresh, and one thing Im doing is redoing the wiring loom and also inboard and outboard rose jointing.

Next we did the Diff.  A new and stronger LSD, and the final drive is changed, same as the Rz….kills the top end, but where the hell do you intend to hit 180?  We also fitted a diff pump and cooler.

You need to look at the exhaust, so of the racing is ok…Combe is 108db on race day, but testing is difficult and you pay one mother of a premium if you want to test on race only days.

You will need wheels and tyres.  I have bought 12 wheels, 1 set of inters, 1 set of wets (these second hand are rare as rocking horse poo!), 1 set of slicks.

Don’t run a body kit!  It is a total waste of time and money!!!!

Although Im having a new front splitter, and rear diffuser  made for the car out of Carbon.

Do get an aftermarket bonnet though, and use 2 sets of bonnet pins so it can come off whilst in the pits.


If you contact me I will give you info on where you can get a lot of this stuff, so you can speed up the process.

Im running at the Strokes Association Day at Castle Combe on sat 28/10, if you want to come down and have a look..

[TonyC]

Excellent stuff, thanks fella. A lot of the setup/prep stuff I\'ve already considered as this isn\'t the first race car I\'ve built but still useful to know about your expeirence and costs.

The car will be totally taken apart - that is why I\'m looking at a cheap jap import, rather than a cherished UK car - becuase no onwner will want to see what happens to their pride and joy once I get my hands on it.

I\'ve already decided the bonnet will be a lightweight item and I will junk the hinges. I prefer to run 4 pins (one in each corner) and have the bonnet come right off - makes working ont he car a lot easier although you have to be careful when it is windy! Likewise for the tailgate - although it depends on total weight as the thing looks huge!

Interesting comment on the heater, I run a closed car at the moment but with the heater removed and I\'ve avoided misting up - even in very wet races. I run quie a lot of ventilation but I also found the Mist-X window treatment is fecking superb.
I like the video at the start, I can almost hear your eyes popping out of the helmet looking for the escape road when you realise you aren\'t quite stopping a expected. We\'ve all been there at some time

I\'d love to speak in more detail but my forum membership doesn\'t seem to allow me to send PM\'s or see e-mails - so if you can whizz me a contact e-mail or somethign that would be great. I\'d love to try and get down to CC next weekend - bit of a trek but woudl be worthwhile - I\'ll have to see if I can make it. If I bring a helmet can I blag a ride? (if it has a scond seat)

[Red and Single]

Your driving in that race is very amusing !!

Nice one !!

[AtomicRex]

Yeah its a shame I didnt press record on the first race!!!

The oil made it near impossible to brake!!!!  But I didnt know what the problem was so just carried on as my mechanics werent pulling me in!  Need the signitures to get an international to race the car at the ring next year!!!

[AtomicRex]

Excellent stuff, thanks fella. A lot of the setup/prep stuff I\'ve already considered as this isn\'t the first race car I\'ve built but still useful to know about your expeirence and costs.

The car will be totally taken apart - that is why I\'m looking at a cheap jap import, rather than a cherished UK car - becuase no onwner will want to see what happens to their pride and joy once I get my hands on it.

I\'ve already decided the bonnet will be a lightweight item and I will junk the hinges. I prefer to run 4 pins (one in each corner) and have the bonnet come right off - makes working ont he car a lot easier although you have to be careful when it is windy! Likewise for the tailgate - although it depends on total weight as the thing looks huge!

Interesting comment on the heater, I run a closed car at the moment but with the heater removed and I\'ve avoided misting up - even in very wet races. I run quie a lot of ventilation but I also found the Mist-X window treatment is fecking superb.
I like the video at the start, I can almost hear your eyes popping out of the helmet looking for the escape road when you realise you aren\'t quite stopping a expected. We\'ve all been there at some time

I\'d love to speak in more detail but my forum membership doesn\'t seem to allow me to send PM\'s or see e-mails - so if you can whizz me a contact e-mail or somethign that would be great. I\'d love to try and get down to CC next weekend - bit of a trek but woudl be worthwhile - I\'ll have to see if I can make it. If I bring a helmet can I blag a ride? (if it has a scond seat)

Its a charity day, so yes you can blagg a ride, but you have to pay for it

contact me through Racing@atom290.co.uk

Cheers

Jon

[TonyC]

Ooooh, what series can you race at the \'ring in. I was planning on doing an historic event next year in my curent car and missing that was the one thing I\'d felt I\'d regret once I move onto the Mazda.
If I can race at the \'ring in that car - even better. It\'s a cracking track -I presume you\'ve been to it before?

Pay! Normally people pay me to sit in the passenger seat Although they usually expect me to shout stuff at them about their driving as well, usually it is to tell them to accelerate harder and brake later, and to stop being a big girl.

I\'ll be in touch once I know if I can get down there or not. Mayeb bring my brotehr down as well - He is currently just starting a GT40 replica build - with a view to a few races as well. Car mad eh!

[AtomicRex]

yeah once or twice.....ive done a good couple of thousand laps

[TonyC]

Were these Electronic laps:spank  

[AtomicRex]

Oh no!

Ive been going there for the past 7 1/2 years now.

I used to teach on a bike...used to do upwards of 30 laps a day for 4/5 days non stop!

[TonyC]

aha, that makes a really nice change. I\'ve spoken to so many people who have done loads of laps - in GT4 :confused:

You taught on a bike - crikey. That is not a task I\'d like to do. You must be a very brave man. Just reminded me, I was there 3 weeks ago and there was a sidecar outfit going around! Mental - even getting the sidecar off it\'s wheel on some corners.

So what race is the RX7 going to be in. You\'re not doing the VLN are you?