So it was the last event of the year. I was on street tires with a passenger because it was a practice day and I was just having fun. Most of my runs were pretty good, but for some reason I completely stopped thinking during one of them. From launch i proceded to spin the tires completely through 1st to about 8k, then shifted to second. I barely got through the first slalom and just ate shit into a... i think it was a chicago box style corner.... anyway i took out 5 cones or so. I started to pull away and noticed i was dragging something. So i stopped and some friendly corner workers came to help dislodge the 3 cones from my front bumper. I started driving again and noticed more dragging sound. I stopped and got out (yes, mid course), and saw that the trim immediately behind my front driver tire was dragging on the ground bent backwards. I re-pushed it forwards and it wouldnt attach to the car because it had been ground away, but it was still holding to the car enough not to drag. I managed to re-secure it for the rest of the weekend. Now its time to fix it. The plastic piece at the bottom of the well with 2 pop rivets is fine, but I need one rivet. Every other time ive broken rivets i got new ones free from the dealership, but they're prob semi cheap, so i should just buy a bunch since i tend to go through them fast. Now the plastic rubber trim that runs along the bottom of the side has been ground down about 3/4 - 1 inch. There was a large (.5 - 3/4" dia circular) weird looking fastener with a phillips head slot on the bottom of it, that is now half sanded away. So basically... I need a new rubber piece, a new fastener and a new plasitc rivet. My questions are simple:

1) Anyone ever repaired or replaced that long rubber part? Know what exactly is involved and any tools i might need?

2) Or if i can say that the pop rivet fell out and then it dragged on the street, so it might be a warranty repair/replacement?

3) Anything else?

Here's a pic from a while ago. I don't have any since the incident because my pc at home is broken so i cant upload photos.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3040181851_92dec0df44_o.jpg

I've been looking at onlinemazdaparts.com for the black piece and can't seem to find it. Im looking in all categories i can think of... anyone lend me a few mins?

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=214264&chapter=&Sectionids=0,2399&groupid=51836&subgroupid=3824&componentid=0&make=22&model=RX-8&year=2006&graphicID=5455120&callout=6&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

The number 6 is the thing i pointed to in the red line in my photo. I need the blue + Purple parts, and then also how to get the pop rivets.

I've been looking at onlinemazdaparts.com for the black piece and can't seem to find it. Im looking in all categories i can think of... anyone lend me a few mins?

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getJointLocator&siteid=214264&chapter=&Sectionids=0,2399&groupid=51836&subgroupid=3824&componentid=0&make=22&model=RX-8&year=2006&graphicID=5455120&callout=6&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

The number 6 is the thing i pointed to in the red line in my photo. I need the blue + Purple parts, and then also how to get the pop rivets.

Try looking upder "Pillars rocker and floor" -> "Exterior trim" -> "Stone guard" -> "W/sport susp." Looks expensive.

The pop rivets you can get from mazmart for cheap. Well you can probably get everything from mazmart cheap. If not go to the for sale section and find someone parting out a car. I'm sure you can negotiate a good price.

If you continue to autocross I suggest getting a few extra pop rivets. I've lost 4 or so from the black plastic undertray under the radiator and 2 at the mud flaps.

Speaking of which I should of probably bought more myself.

In my opinion, if you're not hitting cones you're not driving hard enough. If you are really worried about your car don't autocross in cold weather. The cones become harder and cause little dents.

You could also install the front "Mudguards"; part of the installation requires removing #6 and trimming the stone guard.

hmm... there's an idea... Ill look into those mudguards...

I know autox will cause some little dings here and there, but so far the worst dent of all I got going to walmart. So no big deal.

And i will definitely be buying some more pop rivets... but jeez... i just went to mazmart's site... cant find them on there... it seems to have changed around quite a bit since i looked.

You could also install the front "Mudguards"; part of the installation requires removing #6 and trimming the stone guard.

+1, since that side is now fully prepped for it!

Then again, I don't know how well the mudguards do/don't do in an autocross.