So, its been a while since I have done one of these for the RX7 and it feels great to do one.

The car was all prepped from last year and ready to go. Some changes that I had done were to increase front downforce and rear wing effectiveness. I had also tidied up a number of things underhood, bedded my new carbon brake pads and had the Conti slicks on the car. I was ready to rock and roll.

Got to the track and had to go through annual tech and get a new log book. The car was converted to a race car back in 1997, so its been a whil and the car has gone through about 16 annual techs, so its not an issue, especially as I had my new FIA Certified rain light so I was feeling very safe. The car started and ran extremely well and it looked good with all the new series mandated decals, so I was feeling confident. The grid was large at 30 cars and as I had missed Saturday, I had to start from the last position in 31st. My goal for the first race was to make sure the car was running well, no detonation and pulled hard. We gridded in last place and went out for the start for the first race.

On the pace lap, I spent the time cleaning off the tires and heating the brakes, keeping in mind that the tank of fuel was the same tank I put in last fall when the race was cancelled I was squirting the throttle a fair bit to make sure it was running clean. No issues and came around to get the green. Pounded down to the start and cars were going everywhere. They were 3 wide going into Turn 1 and they took the inside away from me, so I went to the outside. Passed 2 cars and was on the inside for Turn 2. Got chopped pretty hard and climbed on the brakes, but man the car had some grip and was handling very well. Moved back and forth from 2 all the way down through 5B and picked off a couple more cars. I loved the way the car was handling and now it was time to lower the boom up the straight.

GAAAAAAAHHHHHHH...... up to 3/4 throttle the car pulled hard, but over that it just flattened out and fell over on its nose. I was getting outpulled by the GT5 cars I had just passed. It pulled okay, but I doubt I was generating more than 150 hp at 3/4 throttle. The good side was that there was no misfires or detonation, so I just had to drive with less power and see how fast I could go and drive around the issue. I really wanted to finish the race and get a good result, so I just buckled down and drove. I used the handling as best as I could and was passing people around the outside of Turn 8, Turn 2 and Turn 4. Monstering it on the brakes and carrying as much speed as possible. I was passing cars in chunks still and then I caught up to the 1962 Ford Galaxie setup like a NASCAR Stock Car. I followed him for a lap or so an watched what he was doing. The car has a well done 427 NASCAR motor in it and was making well over 400 HP. ON the downside it has the aero of a garage, weighs 3800 lbs and has drum brakes. It was also being driven by a very good driver in Malcolm Strachan. I could catch him and get alongside, but on the straights he would just pull away if I wasn't careful to maintain momentum in the corners. I got alongside him in a number of corners by outbraking him and using my better grip, but he wasn't making it easy. He gave me just enough room, but nothing extra and the car was a huge handfull in the corners and was sliding everywhere, so I didn't want to go side by side through anything with him as it potentially could just bump me off just by a twitch as Malcolm struggled to control it.

Honestly, it was an awesomely fun fight. I couldn't accelerate with him, but I could push him really hard and after a couple of laps I noticed that he was getting more and more wiggly and slidey and I knew it was just a matter of time before he couldn't gather it up after one of them. So finally, I laid back a bit going into Turn 8 and built up some room. Carried a ton of speed through Turn 9 and got inside of him in 10. Malcolm got on the throttle and totally deafened me with his exhaust. I was all wiggly trying to get grip and so was he as we accelerated down the front straight. He had to give me some room on the inside going into Turn 1, but he was a full car length ahead and on the dirty line. I saw the car start to understeer and he slide right off the outside of Turn 1 and I was able to get by going up into Turn 2 and I immediately pulled out about 5 lengths and then we went to a full course yellow as the Dave Wood Mazda had pounded into the wall on the inside of Turn 3 exit. We spent the next 3 laps under a pace car until we got the flag.

I finished the first race in 14th and the times were really bleeehh and so I looked at the finishing positions and fastest laps getting ready for the second race and figured out that the best that I could do was about 10th, so I cleaned up the car, set the tire pressures again and waited for the second race. I was pretty pleased that I had managed to pass 15 cars in the first race even with the power issue. I was pulling about 7300 rpm in 4th going into 8, so that was about 600 rpm down on where it was before. I had no way to tune the upper bins, so it was a case of "Suck it up buttercup" and put your big boy pants on for the second race.

Till later for the second race.

Eric

 

The Second Race Report

Even more fun than the first race. I was trying to see how long I could run on a tank of fuel as I was testing it to see if I could do the GT Challenge 1 hour races in the car so I didn't add any fuel for the second race. As well, I looked at the tires and saw that I was getting some slight wrap around wear on to the side walls of the tires. Let me just step away from the discussion for a second to state that the Continental Race Tires are flatout fantastic. Huge levels of grip and decent wear characteristics and they look cool with yellow lettering. I was looking at the first race times and was hoping for a 10th place as a good finish as without full throttle, there was no way I was going to be able to break into a 1:39's or even into the 1:38's.

Anyways, I added about 2 lbs of pressure to each tire to try and control wrap around wear. As well, I added a bit of water to the cooling system as it was a bit lower after the first race. I had Buggy to help me by this time, so he bolted me in to the car and had to push start me as some dumb person (me) had left the fan on after the first race and run down the battery. I was a bit concerned on the pace lap as we got to the entry of Turn 3 and we couldn't even see the first few rows as they had just taken off from the rest of us and the rules state you can't pass the guy ahead of you. So by the time we came out of Turn 5B I could see the leaders way up cresting the hill so it was foot to the floor (well 3/4's to the floor) to try to catch up. By the time we got into Turn 8 I was going about 165 kmh and had to wooow it down pretty quickly as the leaders were going about 40 kmh by this time. I could see the rest of the rows coming at full chat behind us as I was in 10 and thought, this could get scary in turn 1 with the leaders at 50 kmh and the last few rows already at about 140 kmh. Luckily enough the Starter waved off the start and therer was only a little kuffufle as everyone tried to get under control.

A well behaved second Pace lap under caution and boom away we went. Again I took an outside line around the first Turn and exited the corner out on the run off paving, but I had got 1 car. I had a monster run going down the inside into Turn 2 and again got chopped hugely by this grey BMW. It was like he was IRacing or something. I had a quick lock up, a bit of time in the grass and then we all strung out a bit and I could build speed going into 3. The BMW guy tried to block me so I feinted to the left, he moved there and I dove inside him on the right. He was blocked by the car ahead and whoo HOO I got both of them. I was able to out run them down into 4 and then the yellow flags started flying. I looked up in time to see this Red Bull graphiced E30 BMW going off on the outside of 4 shoot down the grass and cross the track perpendicular to traffic flow between 5A and 5B. As well some chunks of his front fascia were bouncing along the track and I collected a piece in the front wire grill with a bang. As I turned through Turn 5A and B, he just pulls on the track in front of me and with smoke billowing from his punched in wheel well goes charging up the straight. I am trying very hard to keep that grey BMW behind me and the Galaxie behind him so that I wouldn't have to deal with that again, but as I had to slow down a fair bit for the Blue BMW the grey one smoked by me going up into Turn 8.

I am all like $%#@& this dude and when he brakes for 8, I just touch the brakes and drive around him in Turn 8 with the car on the edge. A bit of tail wag under braking for 9 and bang I was ahead. I pulled out a strong lead after that and caught up to a Porsche 944 and a Nissan Sentra in Turn 2. I had a lot of momentum, so stayed to the right and passed both of them around the outside of Turn 2. Man the pig was sticking like glue and I could do what I wanted with it. Hard braking into 3 and I was on the back of the V8 Cavalier who proceeded to cough it up coming out of 5B and then I was behind Andrew Cordiero in the V6. This car is a very nice pro built car and Andrew has raced at a Pro level. We had a very good battle for about 2 laps and I was alongside a couple of times, but he would just pull away on the straights. Grrrrrrrr. I looked in my mirror and couldn't see anyone behind and couldn't see anyone ahead of Andrew so I backed off a bit and decided to breath my tires as they were getting a bit greasy from the loads I was putting on them and the pressures were a bit to high by now and they were starting to patter and grind. I wanted to cool them off for a lap or 2 then make another run, then I started to smell something and could see flame coming out of his tail pipes, so just swept past and then took it easy to the end as I couldn't catch anyone and as long as I kept a decent pace, no one would catch me. Started short shifting to save fuel and the race finished without fanfare. Oddly enough, even though I drove the car as hard as it would go, my times were slower than the first race a touch. Looking at the race times, everyone was at least a second and a half slower than the first race. I don't know why this kind of stuff happens, but if I deduct that second and a half then I was in the mid 1:38's. It makes me feel pretty god thinking about this and if I get my mapping adjusted just a bit in the upper bins, then the 1:37's are beconing. At least thats what I am telling myself.

Went into the Impound area, sat there when they gave out the awards for the top 3 in each class and then went to get in the car and drive back to the pit area. Then this Race Organizer comes up to me and asks if I am Eric Nummelin and I go yes and he hands me a gift certificate for $100 bucks. I am all like, whats this for and he says I was selected and here you go!

All in all a great day, lots of fun, good battles, the car ran okay and I got a $100 Gift Certificate. On days like this, I love racing. Thanks to Al for the use of his balaclava. Thanks to BEMC for organizing a great race and thanks to everyone who came out from this club. All of you inspired me to "Giv' Er".

Eric

 

On a seperate point, I was pulling 7300 rpm and change in 4th going into Turn 8. Anyone know what that translates into in MPH with 225x45x15 tires?

 

sweet report! sorry I didn't followup with you, it's been crazy in the "life" department lately. Who won the races? Is there a website where I can see results?

 

Just go to Mylaps, sort based on car racing and Canada, then look up BEMC. All of the race results are there and the lap times for every race.

Eric

 

Just found out that this translates into 125 mph approximately or just over 200 kmh. Not the fastest its gone by a long shot. It used to pull 7800 going into 8 which translates into about 134 mph or about 220 kmh. You have to be going at least this fast to pull decent fast times at CTMP.

Eric

 

Great read Eric. Thanks for sharing.

 

I enjoyed the report. I assume this is a naturally aspirated engine?

 

Yep, its an NA car. Its a race car so it needs to be NA to be reliable ...... (flamesuit already on) LOL.

Eric

 

I think I might have seen it in action... my friend was complaining about a very loud white FC at Toronto Motorsports Park during the Mazda lunch event. He sighed in relief when the McLaren MP4 passed by.

Just out of curiosity: do you really think it would be impossible to set up a turbo FC for racing? I can't recall seeing any turbo FCs on the track. A Turbo II could boot you up a category or two in some racing series.

 

Not that one Hiwire lol, That loud one was was Al's old PP fc that you saw at tmp Unless there was another Mazda lunch meet bahaha
I love reading your reports 23Racer!! They inspire me to get back on the track as soon as possible ready to try new tricks and techniques. Perhaps one day I will finally meet ya!

It is not impossible to set up a turbo FC to race,it just requires a lot of test and tuning and lots of it! We just finished building a 13B RE for our FC in Guyana so hopefully we can prove that turbo'd FC's can still track bahaha

 

You're right. I noticed that it was missing the graphics, so it probably wouldn't have been Eric's car.

I'd love to see a turbo FC in action, too. I'm just a speed and boost addict. I've been reading Eric's posts and it seems like you hit a point of diminishing returns (earlier) with naturally aspirated engines.

 

The issue with Turbo rotary motors in racing is that in road races, the turbo cars need to be flexible enough and robust enough to handle issues like heat soak, on/off throttle applications, rapid temperature spikes when drafting other cars and overrevs and braking effect issues. Every race Turbo rotary that I have seen usually suffers from overheating issues either water or inlet air temps and the engines tend to pop or they have to take a few cool off laps before they can go again.

For Time Attack, they work great as you aren't following other cars closely and its a fairly rigid program. There has to be a reason why even Mazda stayed away from turboing their race cars and went to 3 and 4 rotor motors and I think its the heat shedding issue.

Even the BP and PP NA motors can be a bit finicky if the tuning isn't right, but they are more robust than the turbo setups.

Eric

 

Understood. I did notice Mazda, RE Amemiya, and SpeedSource were running NA setups in endurance racing. Sounds like it would take a lot of work to keep a turbo running under those conditions.

 

And yet down in Australia a pair of stock FD's ran for 24hrs to win the race overall????
Thus Bathurst editions were created...

It's always good to read about your race reports. Makes me feel like I'm right there in the action.

 

I got a couple of shots from the races for you to see. GAWD, that Escort looks horrible, but its stinkin' fast. Beat him in the second race though. You can see the Galaxie in one of the shots and the Andrew Cordiero's Golf in another.

Eric

 

I think I know why I am having fuel starvation issues. It seems that a single Walbro 255 lph pump amnd the stock sized lines aren't enough to fuel the car for long pulls. I have to go to a completely new fueling system along the lines of the Mazda Factory system that they used for the 2 rotor BP's in IMSA competition.

So no race next weekend as there is no point. I am going to double up on the fuel pumps, go to #6 line all the way through. Increase the size of the primary fuel rail or maybe go to a split system that feeds both at the same time and a different regulator. I will also go to #6 for the return.

More than likely hard plumb the system so that I can run it under the car still, safely. Oh yeah, heres a shot of the Mazda factory system that they used........

Eric

 

That seems really odd to me considering I'm planning on getting close to 300 whp from my car using a walbro, stock lines, and rails with 720 primary and 800cc secondary injectors. I'm running my TII on the stock fuel system right now and it's pulling close to 240 or so rwhp just by my butt estimation. I'd say it's another issue somewhere else. Maybe a restricted line or filter or something. I would double check your current setup before going to the extreme of changing it all, unless that's what you want to do....

 

I totally agree and thats why I built it that way. I am running the stock 440's as primaries and 550's as secondaries. I am going to check everything over first to see if anything jumps out at me, but seeing the factory Mazda race setup, then talking with Al who had fuel starvation issues as well until he beefed up everything, leads me to think that maybe I am undersized to keep a full set of rails for 30 seconds. I don't know, but I am going to check it out. Also, I have never liked the way Mazda fuels the car by first going through the primary rail, then the secondary rail. The primary rail becomes the determining constraint.

Eric

 

Fair enough, that sounds logical. I know it takes a lot of fuel to keep a modified NA like yours happy at full throttle for any period of time. Let me know how it goes.

 

So your saying that the fuel lines in general are too small? It could possibly be causing a bottleneck right?
Oh and isn't that Andrew M's Escort? Bahaha gotta love that guy

 

I don't know if the stock fuel lines are too small. I need to run a fuel pressure regulator on the secondary fuel rail to see if the pressures drop overtime at full throttle I also have to track the full fuel lines to see if I can find any crimps or twists that may be restricting fuel flow. Something is causing it to drop on its face over half throttle and I need to find it. It only does it under extended full throttle pulls. It has no issues at TMP or Shannonville, only at Mosport.

And yes thats Andrew M's Escort. Its surprisingly quick and I am really, really glad I finished a fair way ahead of it in the second race as the car looked like crap, but was surprisingly quick.

Eric

 

Does it do the same thing with extended full throttle on a dyno? Just thinking it might be a much easier way to trouble shoot and observe what's going on without having to lap a track. Gives you the chance to watch multiple gauges closely without having to actually drive, or have somebody looking under the hood if you have gauges on the lines/rails.

Something like a Mustang dyno that will actually let you vary the load.

 

I think the Escort has the 1.8 gtx engine in there or it did at one time not sure if he went back NA or not.

 

Very good idea and what I am planning on doing as its just not right to watch a gauge at 200 + kmh.

Eric