Racing an RX8?

[bltamil1]

Hi Guys,

I'm a new poster to the racing area of the forums, and would like a couple of opinions on my latest wheeze.

Together with a couple of mates, I am looking to start racing, and have come up with the idea of doing it in an RX8. I had one as a road car a couple of years ago, and loved the neutral handling and power delivery, plus it had decent brakes as standard, plus a reasonable LSD at the back. The plan would be to start in some beginner races (Trackday Trophy or similar), then possibly onto CSCC Modern Classics, but the ultimate aim would be the VLN in a couple of years and eventually have a crack at the ADAC 24h a couple of years after that.

We haven't got bottomless pockets but we wont have to scrape by either, and are not looking to take home barrow loads of trophies. It's all about taking part and getting on with a long held desire to go racing before I get too old!

Obviously, the above plan might be complete nonsense, so I'm throwing it out there for a bit of a sanity check from more learned minds than my own!

Any advice/comments/ridicule will of course be gratefully received.....

[andy97]

Certainly Modern Classics is a good place to start, and plenty of novices have started with the CSCC.

[fieldl]

Isn't the problem with racing an RX8 that rotary engines carry a loading of 1.7 meaning with a 1308 cc engine you are actually rated at 2.2l. Hence usually a little un-competitive in their class.

[andye30m3]

There's a chap who runs an RX8 in the toyo tires racing saloons series and seams to do well, might be worth asking on their forum, http://forums.seloc.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=15

this would also be a good entry level series to start in with great venues and good value entry fees, if there's 2 of you driving I think they allow each driver to do 1 of the 2 races per weekend.

[andy97]

fieldl said:

Isn't the problem with racing an RX8 that rotary engines carry a loading of 1.7 meaning with a 1308 cc engine you are actually rated at 2.2l. Hence usually a little un-competitive in their class.

CSCC Modern Classics has a clas for 1800-2500cc so should be competitive in that, if it meets the other eligibility criteria.

750 Roadsports has a power to weight class structure so it should fit one of their 3 classes without being uncompetitive.

[bltamil1]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll take a look at the CSCC series I think, it always looks like it has big fields and some good racing.

Longer term we would love to go over to Germany in the VLN, but if things go well we may end up with a completely different machine by then!

Now to find a suitable donor......

[Nero601]

fieldl said:

Isn't the problem with racing an RX8 that rotary engines carry a loading of 1.7 meaning with a 1308 cc engine you are actually rated at 2.2l. Hence usually a little un-competitive in their class.

I Hillclimbed an RX last year in the upto 2.0 litre class (Roadgoing Production) , and we had it in writing from the MSA that it is a 1.3

[Salesy]

I currently sprint an RX8 PZ, great fun and get to go on some nice tracks.

Hethel (lotus test track)
Snetterton
Goodwood
Lydden hill


They carry a 1.5 multiplier so equate to 1950cc, Normally run in the class A2 with list 1A tyres

P

[kev b]

A lady I know has a cosmetically damaged RX8 for sale, we had planned to buy it and use it for track days but nothing became of it. I can pass on details if you are interested.

[Tanuki]

As per this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

...there looks like there was an RX8 Cup planned - and Rob Boston is mentioned.

Rob's a good guy - it might be worth giving him a call to see what came of it, and whether he did actually build any cars?

[iva cosworth]

I see OP is in London.

A place I deliver to in Kent,inside the M25 has in the same yard some sort of RX8 specialist.

At least 1/2 dozen sad looking cars parked up there.

[Salesy]

iva cosworth said:

I see OP is in London.

A place I deliver to in Kent,inside the M25 has in the same yard some sort of RX8 specialist.

At least 1/2 dozen sad looking cars parked up there.

That will be LC rotary, very decent garage and run by Lewis and Reece who are massive rotary enthusiasts.

[iva cosworth]

Salesy said:

That will be LC rotary, very decent garage and run by Lewis and Reece who are massive rotary enthusiasts.

I Googled them and it's not the address that I go to but where I go may be their storage place as it's not

far from there.

[VTECMatt]

Iirc Steve Gugliemi looked after the ladies RX8 cup 10 years back, speak to him would be my advice.