Ned M
09-28-2004, 12:56 AM
I was happy to spend a 3-day weekend at Mid-Ohio watching the 2004 Runoffs. Among the many Mazdas was pleased to find three RX-8's qualified in Touring 2. The drivers were Scott Shelton, Nicholas Esayian, and Robert Davis all of California, and the 8's appeared to be identically prepared. Touring classes run pretty close to street form, with changes allowed to suspension, exhaust, tires and rims, and a few others.
The RX-8s were running Mazdaspeed springs F/R, Koni shocks prepared by Tri-Point, Mazdaspeed STB's front and rear, Mazdaspeed rear sway bars, and stock front sway bars. The owner said they understeered too much with the Mazdaspeed front sways. Rims were by Racing Hart, and DOT Hoosiers for skins. Stock brake calipers with Carbotech pads. I didn't catch what exhaust system, but it sounded good on track.
Unfortunately the 8's were very outclassed by many of the T-2 cars and ran in the bottom 3rd of the field. They sure brake and corner nice, though. Although they have a near-1000 pound weight avantage, they are giving up about 175 hp and oodles of torque to the Cadillac CTS-Vs that won the race. The CTS-Vs were clearly factory backed, and one was said to have blown past a T-1 Corvette Z06 on the back straight during a practice session. Serious horspower. Even T C Kline in a 350Z couldn't really get a handle on them. The only cars that raced head to head with the Caddys were (believe it) a pair of Dodge SRT-4s that were driven to their absolute limits and past. It was a helluva race to watch and one of the leading CTS-Vs ended up on its roof, but a SRT-4 almost got over on them.
Here are a few pics of the RX-8s.
The RX-8s were running Mazdaspeed springs F/R, Koni shocks prepared by Tri-Point, Mazdaspeed STB's front and rear, Mazdaspeed rear sway bars, and stock front sway bars. The owner said they understeered too much with the Mazdaspeed front sways. Rims were by Racing Hart, and DOT Hoosiers for skins. Stock brake calipers with Carbotech pads. I didn't catch what exhaust system, but it sounded good on track.
Unfortunately the 8's were very outclassed by many of the T-2 cars and ran in the bottom 3rd of the field. They sure brake and corner nice, though. Although they have a near-1000 pound weight avantage, they are giving up about 175 hp and oodles of torque to the Cadillac CTS-Vs that won the race. The CTS-Vs were clearly factory backed, and one was said to have blown past a T-1 Corvette Z06 on the back straight during a practice session. Serious horspower. Even T C Kline in a 350Z couldn't really get a handle on them. The only cars that raced head to head with the Caddys were (believe it) a pair of Dodge SRT-4s that were driven to their absolute limits and past. It was a helluva race to watch and one of the leading CTS-Vs ended up on its roof, but a SRT-4 almost got over on them.
Here are a few pics of the RX-8s.