Range Rover, the only vehicle that might spend more time on jack stands then RX-7's :lol:

john, you are really inspiring me to get project going. i bought a set of those SA60M's for my FD earlier this year. ran into your car while google image searching FD's with those wheels and then accidentally fell in love with the GT-C bumper. never realized your car was stateside until recently.

sooooo, hopefully you won't be upset knowing that your car may have an evil twin in the distant future.

i just started doing some track events this year in my S13 mainly for some seat time. hopefully, i'll have some good experience under my belt for when the rx-7 is ready. definitely caught the road racing bug.

keep comin' with those updates!

Ben

Update!

....Nothing to update :lol:

The FD has been great since the completion of my winter build. It has given me zero problems and it is an absolute blast to drive on track (street not so much). I plan on just running it as is for a while, the only thing that needs attention is the front bumper needs to be replaced due to damage it has sustained over the past 6 or so years.

Unfortunately my summer track events got put on hold because I got sent down to Puerto Rico for work. I am on a 6 month assignment until the end of January. Although, for now I am not really missing the track too much....

The most beautiful beach I have ever been to
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/...95ff0777_b.jpg

...It even had a tank!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/...fc0636e2_b.jpg

The caves
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6084/...95ca508b_b.jpg

The rainforrest
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/...19476cee_o.jpg


PR has it all! Next on my list is to find the drag races so I can see some crazy rotaries!


Glad to hear you caught the road racing bug... it really is addicting!

As long as you dont paint your car blue we will be ok :squint: haha

no worries, going white.

that sucks about your bumper, it looked fine in the pictures? you going to try to source another GTC?


and just curious, how do you like the 10" wheels up front? do you regret not going with the 18x9 +23? what size tires are you running? any fitment issues?

thanks

Beautiful pics of Vieques In PR, looks like you had a great time.

john, great choice in wheels. car looks bad ass! congrats

So after about two months down here on the island I FINALLY found some rotaries... they could not hide from me forever! :seeya:

I accidentally stumbled upon the "Dia Nacional del Mazda" which was basically a huge rotary show.

Everything I have heard about Puerto Rican's and their rotaries holds true, but the most surprising thing was the amount of pristine low mileage cars there were.

Some pics:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/...848c5333_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/...a3179659_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/...cb2121f4_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6167/...4c77c52f_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/...563b432d_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/...c3159f00_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/...d96fe067_z.jpg


Hopefully I can update this thread with some updates of my own car... but for now it sits in the garage waiting for me. I may be attending a track day one of the weekends I am home in October if I am lucky :driving:

Ya know, I was going to PM you about that event on 10/16 & 17.... I'm about ready to register, just need to get my tint pre-approved so I don't drive 3.5hrs just to get turned away. I may just swap rear hatchs... anywho..... John, if you could make that NJMP event it would be great to see you again.

Yep, that's the event. I am 100% sure I will be there. I'm just not sure if they will let me drive or not. I have been speaking to the organizers about letting me sign up for just one day because I will be traveling back to Puerto Rico on Monday. They said they are not ready to open up single day sign up for anyone other than people with absolutely no experience. I should have just said I have never done an event before haha.

Regardless I will be there with a tech form, my helmet and my checkbook.

I know of two other FD's that are already signed up. What is the issue with the tint? I have not heard about this rule before, is this something specified by this group?

Yes it is. Mine is dark and I'm a little worried they'll turn me away. If you're in contact with Jeff, ask for Vic's email and they can get you through their whole pre-approval gig.... kinda retarded but whatever. Have you ever run @ NJMP before?

I love this thread.

Cant wait to see the rims in 2 weeks John

Hope they let you sign up for one day.

sweet pics. hopefully they'll let you on the track.

not sure if you missed my questions before (don't wanna nag), but curious as to what tire sizes you're running on your wheels. do you have any fitment issues up front or regret not going with the 9" +23?

thanks

18"x10" +36 Front with 255/35/18 AD08's
18"x10" +20 Rear with 255/35/18 AD08's

Fronts fit perfectly with no rubbing issues at all. I would not change them at all.

Rears, are VERY close. Driver side does not rub at all, but passenger side rubs slightly due to an issue that occured when rolling that fender. That rear quarter panel had previously been replaced, and one of the tac welds broke when rolling preventing the ability to roll any further.

Ideally I would like to run 265's all around. The fronts MIGHT work, however there is no way the rears would work without flaring the fenders some.


and BTW... I saw that you got a brand new authentic Mazdaspeed GTC bumper. I officially hate you because mine is such a POS. That is all. :rofl:

thanks for the info.

i keep hearing you say that, but your bumper/car seems to look damn good in pics. it's authentic right?

any tips before i destroy mine? you running a rebar?