30/08/2026
From 100 laps last year… to Lap 8 this year! 😅💥
After smashing out near 100 laps at last year’s Rotary Riot, getting sidelined on lap 8 was a bit of a shock (in more ways than 1 lol)
While perfroming a full-power roll start on lap 8 with hot slicks and an 80kg passenger at 40km/h in 1st gear, right foot buried at 100% throttle while left-foot braking to hold the car at 40kmh, released the brake, hit the shift lights almost instantly, pulled 7kg on the Holinger strain k**b.
The MoTeC blipped the DBW blade to 22% open for the BIG long duration - 1st to 2nd Gear shift and once the closed loop shift signals done, the ECU sent the DBW Blade back to 100% open... then KABOOM. 💥 The engine rumbled on rev cut that went to the usual 9400ish before the ECU could catch it lol
With additional massive bangs from the rear end, diff oil and small metal parts allover the road, once stopped the car was locked up solid...had to be skull-dragged onto the tilt tray
twice—once off the track, and once home!
Once the car was on air jacks, it could be seen that the original Mazda top cast-iron diff mount sheared clean off, causing the diff housing to drop.
As the diff fell, it ripped out the diff oil temp sensor (dumping out about 1ltr of Motul Blue 75w140) and pulled the CV joint completely apart, scattering grease, needles, and CV rings over the track. Did we mention CV grease! Wow mazda packed alot of grease into a Rx7 CV in 1995 lol!!
It seems the sheer force even rotated the LH camber pin and kinked the poor trusty subframe on the left hand side. =(
Having thought we broke a diff housing, it was a surprise to learn the internal diff components inspected mint!
Dissapointed to be out of the event so early, but also great full this happened at low speed rather than at 200km/h+.
We also can’t be too mad, the failed part and 90% of the others still used in the rear end, came as factory parts in the car as a used import back in 2009 with 67,000km and have taken years of hammering , especially behind a dog box.
Will retire that 13-year-old subframe! We’re replacing it with one of 2 later model Series 8 subframes we have ready to go in primer,
transferring over the solid welded-in Samberg PPF delete brace and additional reinforcement bars we added and fabricating a custom steel top diff brace with extra ribs and thickness.
Not sure on the date, but a pair of BRAND New front alcon brake calipers (replacing these mega aging Alcon units purchased back in 2004 in early PWR days) + a new set of Japan made dunlop solid slicks, Lakeside will be our next outing... looking for a Sub 55.0
05/04/2026
28/03/2026
23/03/2026
01/03/2026
20/02/2026
08/02/2026
08/02/2026
03/02/2026