Grassroots Motorsports

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Readers’ Rides:
1993 Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo
Added on May 21 by Armitage

1993 Touring, Purchased in 2006 for $8500, Track/AutoX Toy

I purchased this car in bone stock condition. It came with a recently rebuilt (~$4500/installed) motor from Peter Farrell Supercars, two sets of wheels and a catback exhaust as part of the purchase price. I was in the market for a Miata at the time, but this came along locally and considering the amount of work recently performed for the asking price, I couldn’t pass it up.

The setup has evolved over the last few years by identifying weaknesses at track days and fixing them. The biggest issue with the stock configuration is inadequate cooling (water, oil and intake charge). The car has been set up to be more reliable at the track with greater cooling capacities while still running stock boost levels.

During my 6th track weekend in October the same year, I spun out at Summit Main turn 10 into the inside tirewall and damaged the front, passenger side and rear. I slowly restored the bodywork and paint at home in my garage. This was my first ever paint/bodywork project and I it coincided with GRM’s Saab body/paint articles so the timing was good. Since it was my first attempt, it didn’t come out as well as I would have hoped, but I learned some good lessons for the next time.

As of summer ‘09, the car has seen 34 track days (still on original suspension, power levels, etc.) My long-term plans are for continuing to improve my skills as a driver in HPDE events without relying heavily on performance upgrades and eventually using the car for Time Trials or Hill Climb competition in the next few years.

Suspension/Brakes:

• Used 17” Forgeline LS wheels (17x8 front, 17x9.5 rear) painted black
• 235/40 front 255/40 rear Falken Azenis RT-615 tires
• Used Stainless Steel Brake Lines
• Hawk DTC-60 Race Pads
• Used Cusco Front Strut Tower Bar
• Aftermarket (heim joint type) rear Toe Links and Trailing Arms

Interior:

• Autometer 2-Gauge A-Pillar Pod
• Omori 3-Gauge DIN Panel
• Stewart Warner 30-0-15 Boost Gauge
• Stewart Warner Water Temp Gauge
• Stewart Warner Oil Temp Gauge
• Stewart Warner Oil Pressure Gauge
• Stewart Warner Voltmeter
• Grant Evolution GT Leather Steering Wheel
• Used Sola Shifter
• Stereo Delete
• Used M2 Chromoly 4-Point Roll Bar
• G-Force 6-Point Cam-Lock Harnesses
• Used MemoryFab Kevlar/Aramid Racing Seats
• Widefoot Racing Pedal Extender
• VS Billet Rollbar Camera Mount

Engine/Powertrain:

• Homemade 2.5” Aluminum Intake with Dual K&Ns
• Fighters Intake Heat Shield
• eBay 3” Stainless/Mandrel Bent Downpipe
• Used PFS Catback Exhaust
• Used Koyo Aluminum Radiator
• eBay 12x18x3.25” Bar and Plate Intercooler
• Homemade Aluminum I/C Duct
• Slowboy Racing Manual Boost Controller
• Used GReddy Throttlebody Elbow
• Used GReddy Type S BOV
• Junkyard R1 Ducted Dual Oil Coolers
• Used GReddy Water Pump Underdrive Pulley

Engine Management:

• Used M2 Stage II ECU
• Used APEXi Turbo Timer

Misc:

• Silicone Vaccum Lines
• Viton Check Valves
• RE-Speed Oil Filter Housing Adaptor
• RE-Speed Baffled Oil Filler Neck
• TurboJeff Battery Tray with Slim Battery
• Used 99 Spec Front Spoiler
• Used R1 Rear Wing
• eBay Hood Struts
• Mazdaspeed Shifter Bushing
• Used ‘99 Spec Plateless Bumper

In-Car Videos: http://vimeo.com/user1242822/videos

First day home:

First season on-track:

Thanks GRM!

First big maintenence/tune-up:

Painting the wheels:

First crash on-track:

First attempt at body work ever:

Skidpad fun

October 2008

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