My 1991 RX-7 Found a New Home 40 Miles From Sports Car Heaven

Though I had moved to the countryside a month in the past, I had entrusted the RX-7 to my buddy Mike for its start-of-the-year tune-up. The headlights stopped working in December. It turned out {that a} relay had failed, and now I’ve an additional swap for my low beams to keep away from comparable conditions. My new driver’s door lock is now in place, so I now not must open the passenger door earlier than getting the motive force one.

We put in three braided brake strains in December however had points with the fourth one. Mike took care of that, too. Then, the Consumption Manifold air sensor began performing up, complicated the Adaptronic M2000 ECU. We changed that, too. After a three-hour bus journey, I arrived on the scene to see my rotorhead buddy doing further map changes. Idle was a bit tough, and it did not assist that some woman from throughout the road known as the police on us for making an excessive amount of noise in the midst of the day.

I limped from the situation, discovering the automobile was operating lean. An extra 20-minute session made the whole lot run easily. As we drove the FC and FD to the automobile wash, I did not get an opportunity to go previous 5,000 rpm. As soon as I did, I found it would not rev previous 5,500 rpm. I used to be each mad about restricted energy ranges however pleased that the M2000 is shiny sufficient to guard the engine when one thing’s incorrect.

First Automobile Meet of the Yr

Photograph: Dragos Chitulescu

All of it clicked completely for me. Our native JDM group organized the primary Automobile Meet of the yr. This time, they determined to permit non-Japanese vehicles, too. The situation was spectacular, with over a dozen skyscrapers within the background. As we pulled in, over 300 individuals have been onsite, and there have been cameras pointed at us in all places.

It did not take lengthy earlier than a number of RX-8s in our group arrived, and we parked between a Honda Civic EK and a Honda S2000. Increasingly vehicles arrived, together with a wrapped R35 GT-R, a four-door Skyline R33, a duplicate of Brian Earl Spilner’s Mitsubishi Eclipse, and even a brand-new Audi RS 6. I’ve invested all my cash into efficiency upgrades, so the FC RX-7 nonetheless appears relatively tough on the skin. Mix that with the recognition of the FD, and I at all times really feel like I am strolling in its shadows.

However I am not involved about that one bit. I usually come throughout one or two hardcore FC followers, both not financially prepared for its successor or only a fan of the “Synthwave” vibes it places out. Both means, I am getting bored with static meets. It is good to meet up with individuals, however I would relatively do it within the paddock of the racetrack after going out for a sizzling lap. RX-7s ought to by no means attain Storage Queen standing.

Drive Again House

Photograph: Dragos Chitulescu

Three hours into the occasion, I made a decision to move again dwelling. I had slept for a number of nights earlier than, considering of this present day. It will be the primary time I might drive the FC West and the second time taking it out of the massive metropolis since I purchased it in 2018. The journey again dwelling was a mixture of freeway driving and a harmful touge street locals name “the Black Hill.”

With my spouse within the passenger seat, she was in all probability much more nervous than I used to be, figuring out how simply I get sucked up in hitting the twisties. The FC drank up a full tank of fuel (50 liters/) over 130 miles with out me ever going previous 93 mph (150 kph). With a straight-pipe exhaust, issues get relatively noisy should you get on the throttle.

However there is a sure zone when it isn’t all that unhealthy. Regardless of coping with the 5,500 rpm safety, I nonetheless had a blast navigating by means of the hairpins. With a set of HSD coilovers and the Stoptech/Hawk brake combo, the FC would a lot relatively dwell on the touge than the freeway. Positive, that is one thing you will hear from somebody with lower than 300 horsepower. However I would relatively get extra seat time than transfer on to the subsequent stage.

Countryside Rolling

Photograph: Dragos Chitulescu

Driving for 3 hours was easy, and I felt unhappy about reaching my vacation spot. I needed to maintain going however knew the chance would come up the next day. My godfather requested if I would be part of him within the nearest metropolis to purchase a birthday cake, and I provided to present him a raise.

His 13-year-old son jumped off the bed, screaming to tag alongside, when he heard me beginning the 13B. They each had a giant grin on their faces for the entire journey. My godfather grew to become keen on the wooshing noises from the HQS SSQV BOV. Once I returned dwelling, individuals began popping out of their homes to see what was taking place.

Youngsters have been already with cameras on, whereas my older neighbors did not appear mad however intrigued. The following factor I knew, my nephew was already taking down names for a ride-along record I now wanted to meet. To my pleasure, I’ve found a smaller touge just some miles from the home, and it appears like one thing straight out of Preliminary D.

2025 Plans

Photograph: Dragos Chitulescu

I’ve achieved the mathematics, and it is relatively scary. I want an additional $25K to show my automobile into an epic FC RX-7. That may be the price of a brand new turbo, a 1.5-way diff, extra-cooling, a brand new physique package, tires for my Panasports G7 C5C wheels, a pair of Recaro seats, a wacky-color form of paint job, and the record goes on and on.

I am tempted to do extra Time Assault occasions as a result of that is my low cost means out. However in my coronary heart, I need to return to drifting with a ardour. And that solely complicates issues. Positive, I might get an RX-8 chassis and construct it up. Or I might go down the “on a funds” street and go for a Bimmer.

However I need to hear that 13B smashing on the rev-limiter at 9K rpm whereas sending the rear tires to excessive heaven. I hope to indicate you the subsequent step in my undertaking automobile journey quickly. It is a love-hate relationship, however seeing her within the driveaway makes my coronary heart soften each single time.