Papercup's RX-7
Discussion
I've owned this beast for two years, so i guess it about time i threw something up on here. I still have no plans to sell it; it still awes and scares me in equal measure and i honestly couldn't think what i'd replace it with.
Now running 420 horses at the flywheel but weighing less than most hatchbacks (1230kgs with a full tank of fuel), its an absolute weapon on track, and eats almost everything it meets.
I bought it to use it; hence its been tracked and raced, as well as used on the road.
It will be familiar to many of you; its been to several PH meets (Run to the Coast in 2007 & Sunday Service at Wadhurst in 2008), lots of Goodwood Breakfast Clubs (including the Jap one in November 2008 where it was one of the 'start/finish straight' cars), two Fighting Torques and one FB5K run (Millau, April 2007).
I looked for one for a while and when i finally found it i bit the guy's hand off; the standard of work and care he had put into it was exceptional. It was the tidiest i'd seen; any of the pics with 'New Era' on them are from the original advert. The tailgate is Re-Amemiya and is made from carbon fibre. It was £2000!
Since then its been a rolling project; every time it needs something it gets a better or stronger one. Hence the single plate Exedy clutch (weedy) got changed for a twin-plate OS Giken when the former died after Fighting Torque 2007 (during the timed run at Brighton Speed Trials 2007, unfortunately
).
The turbo, which popped at Rockingham in October 2007, was rebuilt with a larger wheel inside. It went from 402hp at the flywheel to 420.
The standard brakes, being weedy and not up to track use, were changed for the APs, which are stunning when combined with Pagid pads.
Water injection was fitted for safety's sake (it is not mapped with the water).
The original intercooler was fine but was mounted vertically at the front, with the radiator behind. This worked OK on the road but led to gradually increasing water temperatures on track. I'd do 3 fast laps then have to do a slow one. Not ideal; hence the WGT V-Mount set-up which is fantastic. Now the water temps never get above 85 and the intake temps hang around the twenties when under hard use.
You'll notice the wheels change, but i still own both pairs. In fact, i picked up a cheap third set (the Volks, being new and imported from Japan, were not cheap!) recently to help with the racing; its nice to not have to change tyres all the time . The Volks change the look of the car completely. They are now the 'road wheels' with noirmal tyres on while the BBS and the Work wheels have differing track tyres on. The Volks are too nice to change the tyres on all the time; they are utterly spotless. I bought them after i got the APs and realised that, with the BBS on, you couldn't see the brakes at all!
The original coilovers (Tein HA) were replaced this year by the newer version of them, Tein Mono Flex. Coupled with a full geometry set-up by Wheels in Motion (highly recommended) and a full powerflex bush kit the amount adjustability in the chassis is nothing short of breathtaking. You can go into a corner and, with a little throttle, push the front wide. More throttle and the back starts to squirm, then let go. Balance it and you can hold a perfect four wheel drift. Stunning. I hired a Caterham R400 from BaT at Donington and thats the only thing i've driven that has that level of precision and control, that much playfulness in the chassis.
Some amazing memories:
Anyway, time for some pictures
There you have it. At present, all tucked away in the garage, waiting for this years' Sprinting season, and whatever else the year may bring
cheers
Andy
Now running 420 horses at the flywheel but weighing less than most hatchbacks (1230kgs with a full tank of fuel), its an absolute weapon on track, and eats almost everything it meets.
I bought it to use it; hence its been tracked and raced, as well as used on the road.
It will be familiar to many of you; its been to several PH meets (Run to the Coast in 2007 & Sunday Service at Wadhurst in 2008), lots of Goodwood Breakfast Clubs (including the Jap one in November 2008 where it was one of the 'start/finish straight' cars), two Fighting Torques and one FB5K run (Millau, April 2007).
I looked for one for a while and when i finally found it i bit the guy's hand off; the standard of work and care he had put into it was exceptional. It was the tidiest i'd seen; any of the pics with 'New Era' on them are from the original advert. The tailgate is Re-Amemiya and is made from carbon fibre. It was £2000!
Since then its been a rolling project; every time it needs something it gets a better or stronger one. Hence the single plate Exedy clutch (weedy) got changed for a twin-plate OS Giken when the former died after Fighting Torque 2007 (during the timed run at Brighton Speed Trials 2007, unfortunately
). The turbo, which popped at Rockingham in October 2007, was rebuilt with a larger wheel inside. It went from 402hp at the flywheel to 420.
The standard brakes, being weedy and not up to track use, were changed for the APs, which are stunning when combined with Pagid pads.
Water injection was fitted for safety's sake (it is not mapped with the water).
The original intercooler was fine but was mounted vertically at the front, with the radiator behind. This worked OK on the road but led to gradually increasing water temperatures on track. I'd do 3 fast laps then have to do a slow one. Not ideal; hence the WGT V-Mount set-up which is fantastic. Now the water temps never get above 85 and the intake temps hang around the twenties when under hard use.
You'll notice the wheels change, but i still own both pairs. In fact, i picked up a cheap third set (the Volks, being new and imported from Japan, were not cheap!) recently to help with the racing; its nice to not have to change tyres all the time . The Volks change the look of the car completely. They are now the 'road wheels' with noirmal tyres on while the BBS and the Work wheels have differing track tyres on. The Volks are too nice to change the tyres on all the time; they are utterly spotless. I bought them after i got the APs and realised that, with the BBS on, you couldn't see the brakes at all!
The original coilovers (Tein HA) were replaced this year by the newer version of them, Tein Mono Flex. Coupled with a full geometry set-up by Wheels in Motion (highly recommended) and a full powerflex bush kit the amount adjustability in the chassis is nothing short of breathtaking. You can go into a corner and, with a little throttle, push the front wide. More throttle and the back starts to squirm, then let go. Balance it and you can hold a perfect four wheel drift. Stunning. I hired a Caterham R400 from BaT at Donington and thats the only thing i've driven that has that level of precision and control, that much playfulness in the chassis.
Some amazing memories:
- Snetterton, 2007; coming onto the back straight round the outside of an F40 then matching it so utterly for the entire straight that i could have reached out and adjusted his wing mirror for him!
- A 'meet at Guildford Cathedral' before a BreakFast Club in 2007 when i had a Murcielago in front (lime green one) and an Enzo behind (red, of course). Later on it was an older Ferrari in front (348?), then the Murci, then me, then a T350 TVR all going for it; no-one else kept up.
- Rockingham, October 2007. Sticking on the tail of a lunatic in an R500 Caterham, watching him slide on the way into a corner, slide round it, then slide all the way out. Then pull away on the straight! (Which doesn't happen often, believe me). I'd catch him on the brakes each corner, then gain slightly mid-corner, then he'd clear off again.
- Goodwood, August 2008. Brighton & Hove Motor Club (of which i am a member) Sprint. After a wet practice and damp first timed run, the sun came out. I got fastest time of the day as well as winning my class. Two trophies, and i'd have had three if there wasn't some daft rule about me not being allowed to win them all!
- Castle Combe, October 2008. A fantastic tussle for a whole session with a Series 1 Elise with a supercharged Type R engine. Stopped for a chat afterwards, then did it again!
Anyway, time for some pictures
| Goodwood Breakfast Club, sometime in 2007 |
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| Fighting Torque 2007 |
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| Brighton Speed Trials 2007 |
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| FB5K Millau Bridge Tour 2008; this is at the top of Mont Ventoux |
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| Fighting Torque 2008 |
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| Brighton Speed Trials 2008 |
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| Six-pot APs & Tein Mono Flex coilovers | Recaro SPG seats and Sabelt harnesses |
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| Mazdaspeed carbon gear lever | Racing Beat twin tailcan |
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| Cusco Cage, Water Injection, Lightweight Battery | HKS T04E bored out for larger compressor wheel |
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| Re-Amemiya carbon fibre tailgate & Knightsports rear wing | WGT Engineering V-Mount Intercooler & Radiator |
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There you have it. At present, all tucked away in the garage, waiting for this years' Sprinting season, and whatever else the year may bring
cheers
Andy
Edited by papercup on Tuesday 16th February 23:27
rawky said:
This maybe mis-informed, but don't these cars need engine rebuilds every few years? Is it worth the fuel economy and the rebuilds?
Im sure the OP will fill you in, but I don't think it's as bad as 'every few years'. From my research, if well serviced and not driven on short journeys the carbon rotor tips should last 60-80k between rebuilds. Fuel ecconomy is a different matter though!Still, the RX7 offers supercar performance and therefore supercar ecconomy and expense! But all for a very good price I reckon
papercup said:
Run to the Coast in 2007
Pretty sure I followed you out of the car park (Ockham Common) at the beginning of this. Remember it looked rather skitish on the early morning dew covered roads. Smelt good too (this might have been the 20-odd other nutters in assorted sportscar who had just hoofed it up the road too 
)Cracking car
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