This thread will serve as a blog and repository for our pics from the trip. We will try to update this thread quickly and at least once on Saturday, if I can find a wifi spot out there, we may update with pics a couple of times.

Fred and I are leaving tomorrow early, so we plan on visiting a few shops such as Mazdatrix and Racing Beat, as well as a Car Audio shop, Image Dynamics on Friday.

Keep checking back for more updates.

LOL, you haven't even left yet and you already started a blog?!?! Ya'll are too much...

I hope you guys have a great time!! Take lots and lots of pics and bring home good stories!

Here's my first entry. Frantically getting the last bits of the Megasquirt wiring harness soldered up. Ran out of Butane with only 4 wires to go. (I use a butane soldering iron). Going to try to get it on the car and a simple map created tonight. Brillo isn't coming over until between 10-11 pm so we won't have too much time to do this. Flight leaves here at 7:40 am so we need to be awake around 5 am. It's going to be a short night. Hopefully taking the MS, a couple of laptops, and a couple dozen feet of random wiring through security won't get us arrested in the morning!

TSA is gonna rape your bags. Good luck!

See you in Cali guys. Looks like I am going alone, but will have a rental car.

PS. I have business class room with internet, so bring a ethernet cable if you want to login.

TSA is gonna rape your bags. Good luck!

See you in Cali guys. Looks like I am going alone, but will have a rental car.

PS. I have business class room with internet, so bring a ethernet cable if you want to login.


why would you say that? The Megasquirt is only a little homemade metal box full of circuits with wires hanging out and smells of butane, I can't possibily see what they might find suspect :D

Sorry Lori can't go but glad your still coming.

Ok it's Thursday night (Friday morning) at 1:30 am. I need to be waking up in 3 1/2 hours and I still have to pack yet. Like I said, it's a short night.

Finished wiring up the MS harness. Installed it in Brillo's car. Damn it, it won't start! Double checked all of the wiring. It all checks out fine. Must be a software/tuning issue. Not enough time to work out the issues before we leave so it goes as is. It's either going to be something very serious or something very minor. Hopefully the later. Off to get my short nap before morning...

Here's my first entry. Frantically getting the last bits of the Megasquirt wiring harness soldered up. Ran out of Butane with only 4 wires to go. (I use a butane soldering iron).

Nice RG I love the butanes...electric is a pain but if I'm doing microcircuitry the butane is too hot (although I'm thinking I could build an attachment :))

OK it's now 5:45 am. Got all of 2 hours of sleep. It's a 3 hour flight so I can at least double it by the time we get ou there! All packed. Maps are printed out. Continental flight number 809 leaves Houston at 7:40 am cst. We get into Santa Ana around 9 am pst. Got a full day to go see some things. Will have to update after we get there. Rental car is waiting and it better be. We can't check into the Hilton until at least 3:30 pm. Ready to be frisked, poked, and prodded by some old, overweight airport security guard.

(speaking in really over exaggerated Captain Kirk voice) Captains log stardate 100605, this is my final entry on planet Houston. A long journey is about to begin full of peril and hardship. Will arive in a strange new land in just a few hours. Must ready myself for the indigenous poluation. Kirk out.

(Must be the lack of sleep!)

Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a great time. Dazy decided to take a little trip this morning and she just called to tell me she's in L.A. for Sevenstock. Be on the lookout for the tiny blonde!!! :D :cool:

Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a great time. Dazy decided to take a little trip this morning and she just called to tell me she's in L.A. for Sevenstock. Be on the lookout for the tiny blonde!!! :D :cool:

Oh, cool! Thanks for the heads up, ALWAZL8. I'll be looking for her tomorrow.....

We get into Santa Ana around 9 am pst. Got a full day to go see some things. Will have to update after we get there. Rental car is waiting and it better be. We can't check into the Hilton until at least 3:30 pm.
Damn RG, SNA airport is pretty much in my backyard.

See you guys @ Sevenstock tomorrow.

Oh, cool! Thanks for the heads up, ALWAZL8. I'll be looking for her tomorrow.....


Awesome, Phee! Try to keep her out of trouble if you can. ;) :D

Dazy got here about 2 hours ago. I just got in. We're live from the Irvine Hilton!

Me? Keep DAZY out of trouble? Ahahahahaha!!!

Glad to hear you got in safely, Ajax and Dazy! I'll be looking for you both tomorrow. May not go up w/the SD caravan. Being somewhere at 5am is against my religion!

Well, Fred and I made it in alive and well, its about 5:30 Cali time now, and we have managed to hit MazdaUSA twice, Racing Beat, Mazdatrix, West Coast Choppers and two car audio shops. I’m really starting to suffer from lack of sleep, as we both got about 3-4hrs. The weather here is gorgeous, and should be even better tomorrow for the event.

The coolest item of the day was finding out that the Courage ALMS car is here at Sevenstock, I’ve got some teaser pics of the Courage and some other net pics. We heard the 792P fire up will at MazdaUSA, not a full 9K rev, but even idling, sounds incredible.

On another note, I hate Neon’s I’m glad that Dodge finally killed off these cars. I feel bad showing up to a rotary event in a Neon rental.

Enough babbling, enjoy these pics from today.

More Pics

See Racing Beat Does endorse Royal Purple :D

I have attached a special mystery picture I took at Mazda. I want to see who knows what this black hood is :D

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

More Pics

See Racing Beat Does endorse Royal Purple :D

I have attached a special mystery picture I took at Mazda. I want to see who knows what this black hood is :D
That last photo looks suspiciously close to the MSP Mazda3 that some spy photos revealed a couple of months ago.... :eek:

Update: 8:58pm CST

Party in Room 728 at the Hilton. BYOB (sorta) we have adult beverages.

Alcohol, Dazygirl, a couple of guys, and a midget with a camera in the elevator, what could possibly go wrong (right?) :D

2 of us are moderators. What happens at Sevenstock, stays at Sevenstock!

Welcome to So CA, lady and gentlemen! We were over at the Anaheim Convention Center earlier this afternoon/evening at the International Auto Show and thought about driving by DROMO on the way home to see if you were there... but the b/f just had shoulder surgery and taking him to a karting track when he's got his arm in a sling and can't drive would just be too cruel! :D

Depending on how he's feeling we may sneak over to Sevenstock tomorrow to say hi -- but like Phee, we'll probably sleep in a bit before heading over. Hope to see y'all!

dammit i am so jealous, wish i could be there :(

Hope you make it over, 'Tinga! Would love to see ya!

Hope you make it over, 'Tinga! Would love to see ya!

YER IN SAN DIEGO!!!

YER IN SAN DIEGO!!!

YER IN IRVINE!

EDIT: Phee said it sucked...

No, YOU do!

you cut me deep.. real deep..

you cut me deep.. real deep..

my work here is done!

my work here is done!
i hope you know.. this means war!

oh, I'm so scared
:rolleyes:

oh, I'm so scared
:rolleyes:
Where did all this unprovoked agression come from!?

I'm so gonna cry!

and it's your fault...

MY fault? You yelled at me on the phone! I'm damaged for life. Oh, wait......I was already damaged. Never mind. :D

Aw, Ajax, you know I <3 you. Or maybe it's <4, I'm not sure. Besides, I wouldn't tease just anyone like I do you. It's just so......FUN! ;)

See ya tomorrow!

Quote of the night: "Get her in the ass!"

^ As spoken by Ajax with a lisp.

^ As spoken by Ajax with a lisp.

Ath? In the ath???!!! Thath tho wrong!

Update:

Damn its early, but its Sevenstock, so off to the event. No hangovers that I see, although Dazygirl is walking kinda funny :D

Take some pics of SUPERCHARGERS!

Wish I was there...

Take some pics of SUPERCHARGERS!

Wish I was there...
Dude.. You know we will!
I've got my camera, tiff has hers, brillo has his, and i'm sure so many other people have theirs.

I'll do my best to pull off what I did last year and upload all of the pics as soon as humanly possible.

Prolly have to start a 7stock8 picture thread.

We're leaving in about 5-10 minutes to head over to mazda in the neon. Wonderful trip that it is in a neon.. hehe..

I could steal your thunder and post mine right now Ajax(3:30pm) :D

I am OH SO jealous of each and every one of you :(

Post pics! Post pics! Post pics! :D

Here's a few re-sized ones. Ajax likely has the good pics(supercharger?). We'll start a SS8 pic thread and move these there. I felt compelled to beat Ajax to the punch, being local and all. ;)

Lots of scissor-doors this year for some reason.

http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-2.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-3.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-4.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-5.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-6.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-7.jpg

http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-8.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-9.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-10.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-11.jpg
http://www.strages.homestead.com/files/SS8-12.jpg

Anyone else see that tool in the EVO prowling around the street goading us to race?

He must have been jealous :)

If it was the blue Evo then it was one of the Vendor's cars. I saw them unloading stuff. Newho nice pic's. I'll put mine up tomorrow night when I get home.


Anyone else see that tool in the EVO prowling around the street goading us to race?

Todd, you bastard!

Haha.. my battery is dead.. so i've gotta charge the camera before I can post.

Good pics though.

We've got quite a few more to post.

What a day here are some more pics.

More pics and new Racing Beat Stuff

New 6speed auto 2006 RX8 - Still revs to 7500rpm. Has a build date of August 05. Not sure the HP numbers yet. This is Galaxy Grey

More random pics

Go axial flow :D

New 6speed auto 2006 RX8 - Still revs to 7500rpm. Has a build date of August 05. Not sure the HP numbers yet. This is Galaxy Grey

from that intake manifold i can safely say the new automatic 8 still uses the 4-port engine

thanks for answering that mystery! :D

Great pics guys... keep 'em coming :)

from that intake manifold i can safely say the new automatic 8 still uses the 4-port engine

thanks for answering that mystery! :D

yes yes

Sevenstock 8 was awesome!

RG, bummer I didn't get to meet you but hope you had fun on your trip out to Cali.

I took 100 pics today...I'll post them later on.

Cool! Thanks for posting those great pics guys. Any new rumors or actual real news to report with regards to the development of the Rotary or RX-8?

And what happen to that one-off prototype supercharged Mazdaspeed 8 that was on display at MNAO HQ?

RG, I did not get to meet you either. Are you still around tomorrow? Would not mind discussing the Megasquirt with you and checking it out.

from that intake manifold i can safely say the new automatic 8 still uses the 4-port engine

thanks for answering that mystery! :D

They all look like that. What exactly is it you are looking at that tells you it is a 4-port? I thought from what I saw in person it was indeed a 6-port?

More pics and new Racing Beat Stuff
Race Exhaust?

Someone needs to design a single outlet rear bumper :rolleyes:

guys, that new engine is a 6 port, not a 4 port. We had to look twice ourselves. They changed the upper intake manifold and there are 2 more ports there. It's just not the same as our current 8 manifold.

EDIT: and btw, brillo posted all those pictures, not me. I have some better pics of that manifold so you can see it.

guys, that new engine is a 6 port, not a 4 port. We had to look twice ourselves. They changed the upper intake manifold and there are 2 more ports there. It's just not the same as our current 8 manifold.

well here you go, the manifold's different from mine, that's why i thought it's 4 port

see, you guys that were there should've explained more clearly when you posted that pic!! :o

well here you go, the manifold's different from mine, that's why i thought it's 4 port

see, you guys that were there should've explained more clearly when you posted that pic!! :o
I didn't post that pic :b

Brillo was logged on to my PC so he posted as me.

I've got 225 pictures to post eventually as well as a video of the 792.

Here, you can see it here:

I have the final definitive word from both Mazda and Rick Engman on the use of synthetic oils in the rotary. the Mazda guy I asked has been the head in charge of rotary development since 1974 so there was no one higher or better to ask. Rick Engman is the engine builder for Jim Downing btw and is probably the foremost expert in this country when it comes to rotaries. Just to tease everyone with the answer, let's just say if you know what my position is, I have a really really big smile on my face! :D I'll get into more details later.

murix, jedi check your pm's

I have the final definitive word from both Mazda and Rick Engman on the use of synthetic oils in the rotary. the Mazda guy I asked has been the head in charge of rotary development since 1974 so there was no one higher or better to ask. Rick Engman is the engine builder for Jim Downing btw and is probably the foremost expert in this country when it comes to rotaries. Just to tease everyone with the answer, let's just say if you know what my position is, I have a really really big smile on my face! :D I'll get into more details later.

I'm bringing royal purple in for my next oil change is what you are saying RG! :D :D

You have the one opportunity to go dino to synth, but you can never go back, right? So, for all those taking this path, be prepared. You do not want to find yourself out in the middle of a road trip, and run out of synth, with no where to buy it.

You have the one opportunity to go dino to synth, but you can never go back, right?
You can always go back....drain the Synthetic and put in Dino oil.....It's just oil for Crickey :D

The question is....WHY??

PS: Nemesis......told you we should have gone :(

did anyone happen to see the 3 rotor and 4 rotor 12a FD's? i had a card from their booth but i think i threw it away :(

denward

edit: found their site. http://www.autotechmotorsports.com/index.htm

One hell of a happen-in. Worthy of the "stock" implication.
I met so many people from so far away it was amazing.
Hell with the Mazdas, I love those 1/3 scale engines that guy builds. :cool:
He says some day he'll do a rotary. Can't get over the fact that he does all that on an old Southbend lathe and a Bridgport?????????? :eek:

Anybody know how many cars and people were there?
I didn't get the chance to spend the time I would have liked with alot of new freinds and look at more things but I had some domestic problems going on.
I have a 90 year old mother who lives with me and this was a bad weekend for her. She doesn't understand when I can't be there and panics. Not all the time just some. Maybe most.

I really loved the chance to talk tech with a lot of you without having type and miss spell.

The most comment I had was "it's so small." Except from Turbine_pwr he knew it would be.

Now if I were to build one of those 1/3 scale engines would I build a 1/3 scale axial flow? :D

Now if I were to build one of those 1/3 scale engines would I build a 1/3 scale axial flow? :D
Hold on...don't get side tracked :D...concentrate...must finish supercharger :D

I have the final definitive word from both Mazda and Rick Engman on the use of synthetic oils in the rotary. the Mazda guy I asked has been the head in charge of rotary development since 1974 so there was no one higher or better to ask. Rick Engman is the engine builder for Jim Downing btw and is probably the foremost expert in this country when it comes to rotaries. Just to tease everyone with the answer, let's just say if you know what my position is, I have a really really big smile on my face! :D I'll get into more details later.

Hmmm... Let me just take a wild guess that it has something to do with the *Cadillac* convertor... You know that emission control thingy under the car that sets the grass on fire if you rev your car too much at a standstill... JK... I do hope you folks got some pictures of all the cute Asian gals and not just pics of those old rotary cars... :)

You can always go back....drain the Synthetic and put in Dino oil.....It's just oil for Crickey :D

The question is....WHY??

PS: Nemesis......told you we should have gone :(
I know - but the folks are here, and we are finishing the floors this week :D

Ok here's the official scoop on the oil issue. As I said earlier, I asked the highest people on the planet when it comes to rotaries. First I'll start with Rick Engman's position as he built all of the engine's for Downing. I looked at Rick and just quite simply said, "synthetic oils". His response was, "I wouldn't use anything but synthetic oil in a rotary". Thankyou Mr. Engman! All of Downing's race cars use Valvoline synthetic. He said it doesn't matter if it is a race engine or not. I also told Mr. Engman that many people say you only use synthetics in a rotary because it gets rebult all the time and that it doesn't matter what happens to these engines. I can't post what his opinion are of these people! He did say their engines get 100 RACE hours of use between rebuilds. The Courage is using experimental engine parts that were last used in the 80's and 90's! They care more about the longevity of the engine on a race car than a street car so some people's logic is VERY flawwed.

Now onto Mazda's position on synthetics since I know that the opinion of the smartest rotary person in the U.S. isn't good enough for some people. As I stated earlier, I asked the head of rotary engine development for the past 30 years at Mazda. He designed and built the 787B engine too. In very broken english he told me that not all synthetics are created equal. some are better than others when it comes to mixing with fuel in the oil metering system. The oil metering system is the key. It is NOT with swelling seals. He said that because some oils work very well and others not as well, it is far easier to just officially say not to use them than to say which ones to use and not to. This has actually been speculated for a long time and now we know it's true. I asked which synthetic oils he does not like. the answer is very surprising. The worst synthetic oil for the rotary according to the smartest rotary engine person in the world is Mobil 1. At least Valvoline and Royal Purple are fine. Didn't get any others listed. Rick Engman did say that decades ago there was an issue with some swelling of seals with old synthetic formulations but these have long since been resolved.

To all the people who keep getting on my case and others for using Royal Purple, WE'VE BEEN THE CORRECT ONE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Yes you can switch back and forth between oil's if you absolutely have to.

[QUOTE=Toadman]Here's a few re-sized ones. Ajax likely has the good pics(supercharger?). We'll start a SS8 pic thread and move these there. I felt compelled to beat Ajax to the punch, being local and all. ;)

Lots of scissor-doors this year for some reason.








Toad man, you so crazy! :D there was only 4 cars there with Lambo doors. 4 out of 400, thats not very many at all. he he he that means there were 396 with normal doors. :p

You have the one opportunity to go dino to synth, but you can never go back, right? So, for all those taking this path, be prepared. You do not want to find yourself out in the middle of a road trip, and run out of synth, with no where to buy it.

wherever you found that little piece of synthetic myth, please destroy it...

Had an awesome time Saturday. This was my first SS, but it definitely won't be my last!Hanging out with RG, Ajax, Dazy, Brillo, and Photic made for really good times. I learned alot! It was a treat to get to meet some of our TX contingent. Dazy is my new hero: booking a flight at midnight on Thursday to come out just for SS8 on a complete whim!! Another highlight: meeting Zoom44 and his lovely wife. Still another: meeting Richard Paul. I mean, we go for the rotaries and it's the most amazing site I've ever seen - morning lineup all around the block, ALL those 7s, old school rotaries, spectacular racing machines - but, for me, getting to meet some of the people I've spoken with online is just the best. Thanks to Bern, Dan, and crew for a great event!

That is the greatest peice of info I have yet to receive from this forum, and I have received alot, thank you RG. I'll be ordering some RP today.

Next year I guess I need to stay at the Hotel of choice. I stayed with my relatives in S0. Cal. so I missed the greatest chance of meeting the forum regulars. Tried to meet some of the requlars on Saturday with no luck. I did meet a lot of great people but non of the forum regulars. This was my first S/S but not my last. Maybe next year I can put faces with those names.

wherever you found that little piece of synthetic myth, please destroy it...
It's been destoyed :D

That's why I said, ...right?

Originally Posted by Nemesis8
You have the one opportunity to go dino to synth, but you can never go back, right?

I'm really not sure where I heard or read that, but it might have been here on this forum. My non-Mazda mechanic has been trying to get me to go AmsOil Synth now for quite awhile. He is origianlly from Puerto Rico, and he said that all the race rotary engines he has built, he used AmsOil Synth in them with great success.

One day I will convert...

I agree. Next time we might stay at the main hotel so we can put some faces with the names...

But still, it was fun at SevenStock!

See you there next year!

Back home. Damn that got over quick.

The event itself seemed about the size of SS7 but there weren't nearly as many people staying at the Hilton. That was alot of fun last year. You had a whole rotary show right outside the hotel room.

Same for me, I talked with a lot of people but, didn't meet anyone from the forums. I'll have to spring to stay in the Hotel of choice instead of with family next year.

Next year I guess I need to stay at the Hotel of choice. I stayed with my relatives in S0. Cal. so I missed the greatest chance of meeting the forum regulars. Tried to meet some of the requlars on Saturday with no luck. I did meet a lot of great people but non of the forum regulars. This was my first S/S but not my last. Maybe next year I can put faces with those names.

Ok here's the official scoop on the oil issue. As I said earlier, I asked the highest people on the planet when it comes to rotaries. First I'll start with Rick Engman's position as he built all of the engine's for Downing. I looked at Rick and just quite simply said, "synthetic oils". His response was, "I wouldn't use anything but synthetic oil in a rotary". Thankyou Mr. Engman! All of Downing's race cars use Valvoline synthetic. He said it doesn't matter if it is a race engine or not. I also told Mr. Engman that many people say you only use synthetics in a rotary because it gets rebult all the time and that it doesn't matter what happens to these engines. I can't post what his opinion are of these people! He did say their engines get 100 RACE hours of use between rebuilds. The Courage is using experimental engine parts that were last used in the 80's and 90's! They care more about the longevity of the engine on a race car than a street car so some people's logic is VERY flawwed.

Now onto Mazda's position on synthetics since I know that the opinion of the smartest rotary person in the U.S. isn't good enough for some people. As I stated earlier, I asked the head of rotary engine development for the past 30 years at Mazda. He designed and built the 787B engine too. In very broken english he told me that not all synthetics are created equal. some are better than others when it comes to mixing with fuel in the oil metering system. The oil metering system is the key. It is NOT with swelling seals. He said that because some oils work very well and others not as well, it is far easier to just officially say not to use them than to say which ones to use and not to. This has actually been speculated for a long time and now we know it's true. I asked which synthetic oils he does not like. the answer is very surprising. The worst synthetic oil for the rotary according to the smartest rotary engine person in the world is Mobil 1. At least Valvoline and Royal Purple are fine. Didn't get any others listed. Rick Engman did say that decades ago there was an issue with some swelling of seals with old synthetic formulations but these have long since been resolved.

To all the people who keep getting on my case and others for using Royal Purple, WE'VE BEEN THE CORRECT ONE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Yes you can switch back and forth between oil's if you absolutely have to.

This the kind of sh*%t that one can only get at SevenStock... you could've asked Jim Mederer of RB too... but you guys could've asked me this ages ago and been done with it!!! Silly kids!

-Bern

Had an awesome time Saturday. This was my first SS, but it definitely won't be my last!Hanging out with RG, Ajax, Dazy, Brillo, and Photic made for really good times. I learned alot! It was a treat to get to meet some of our TX contingent. Dazy is my new hero: booking a flight at midnight on Thursday to come out just for SS8 on a complete whim!! Another highlight: meeting Zoom44 and his lovely wife. Still another: meeting Richard Paul. I mean, we go for the rotaries and it's the most amazing site I've ever seen - morning lineup all around the block, ALL those 7s, old school rotaries, spectacular racing machines - but, for me, getting to meet some of the people I've spoken with online is just the best. Thanks to Bern, Dan, and crew for a great event!

You guys are very welcome!! Great meeting you all!

-Bern

Back home. Damn that got over quick.

The event itself seemed about the size of SS7 but there weren't nearly as many people staying at the Hilton. That was alot of fun last year. You had a whole rotary show right outside the hotel room.

Actually, there was more than DOUBLE the amount of folks staying at the HILTON this year. A lot of folks from out-of-town though, and many that learned their lesson; to not stay up late the night before!!! :p


-Bern

This the kind of sh*%t that one can only get at SevenStock... you could've asked Jim Mederer of RB too... but you guys could've asked me this ages ago and been done with it!!! Silly kids!

-Bern
The problem with that was that if it wasn't an actual Mazda rotary engine designer from Japan, a few people still weren't going to be happy with the answer. Many of us have known this for a long time. Who better to confirm it though than the top rotary engine person in the world!

The problem with that was that if it wasn't an actual Mazda rotary engine designer from Japan, a few people still weren't going to be happy with the answer. Many of us have known this for a long time. Who better to confirm it though than the top rotary engine person in the world!
There are those that will never believe regardless... :p

-Bern

looked at my upper intake manifold when topping off the oil on the way home. decided it really is the same on the 2006 6AT. but my washer fluid bottle is black and the one on that car was white and not opaque.

from that intake manifold i can safely say the new automatic 8 still uses the 4-port engine

thanks for answering that mystery! :D


im serious go look at yours or mine or any other hi power

nah i'll take your word for it, i'm too tired and frustrated to look anything up right now :o

Definitely a six port. I also saw it close up. One of the Mazda people who drove it inside told me that it drives much more impressively with this new trans and gets better fuel mileage too. Nice seeing and meeting a lot of you guys. Good night all!

My final thoughts on Sevenstock 8

What a weekend, between SS8 and Texas beating Oklahoma, prolly the best weekend I’ve had in a long time. Here are my final thoughts on the event, the weekend, what we learned and other random musings.

First off, what a first class event, hats off to Bern, the Socal RX Club, Mazda and all the folks that made this happen. Very impressed with the organization, facilities, venue, show, guests etc….would be worth it even for a $50 entry fee.

The guest stars of the show, Kobi, Yamato, Yamaguchi, Rich Engman, Paul Thomas, Jim Downing, Jim Langer, Jim Merder and anyone else I missed are some of the most down to earth folks you can meet. Very genuine, approachable, loved to answer questions, and we quite visibly humbled to be there and see the love an interest in the rotary engine. They really are people like us. Watching Kobi observes all the cars driving in was interesting, I wish I could know what was going through his head when he saw his creations lined up around the block.

I don’t think Most people realize how much of an R&D shop Racing Beat is for both Mazda and other companies. I thought they were a “parts shop” that did R&D, but in reality they are a R&D company that happens to make speed parts. You can see the R&D mentality in the quality of the design and research that goes into there parts for their cars. Mazda quite literally drops cars and boxes of parts off and says fix it, break it, tune it, etc…

We did here that we should all tune in to the Detroit autoshow this year for something exciting, my guess is the Mazdaspeed8 but I have nothing to back that up with other than conjecture on my part.

The 2006 automatic RX8 gets the HP motor with a 6speed auto, no word on power figures but the current guesses in the 212 range are prolly right. Galaxy Grey is a sweet color, I like it better than the titanium grey (which is a nice color). The leather for 2006 is a better quality also.

Rotarygod did in my opinion, settle the synthetic oil debate in my mind once and for all after speaking to Rick Engman and Mazda’s head of rotary engine design. Synthetic is fine, it won’t rot the seals or open a portal to the netherworld, it turns out, as started before, most dino oils are created equal in terms of components, but synthetics can vary widely in terms of components and performance. Mazda didn’t want to test all possible synthetic’s, so it was easier and cheaper to just recommend dino oil.

Socal has more FD’s than I could imagine, if you want one, I suggest you go there to buy. There was a guy for Norway to came to the show and is shipping 3 of them back.

I don’t like Lambo doors on RX’s

The weather in Socal almost justifies everything else I don’t like about California

Mazdatrix is a great shop, they really know how to do a quality rebuild and Dan and his folks are a great source of information.

Damon (sorry Damon I didn’t get your last name) is the guy in charge of RX8 development at Racing Beat, has the coolest job on earth and is a really nice guy.

Ryan Scott’s cigars can be smelled in the car behind him while traveling down a road.

The breweries in Socal are pretty good, and there are a lot which is nice for trying new beers.

The Mazdaspeed3 will be a turbo but front wheel drive. I posted the pic of the hood that was lying around.

Peeling out of Sevenstock is not a good idea. (ask those who met the cops about it)

Bern’s car did a whopping 52whp on a dyno (1st gen with 210K original miles), I think my friends Vespa can beat that :D

The Renesis intermediate housing is a bitch to improve. I finally saw, touched, took apart, and photographed the center exhaust port. Improvements can be made, but that port is an issue from a velocity standpoint.

The axial flow supercharger is so small it might be the first supercharger to mount in a glove box :D

Scott and Christy from Mazsport are really nice and I have even more faith in Scott's product and his determination to deliver a quality product to his customers.

The White "underground" Mazdaspeed8 from Speed Magazine was actually a 4port motor with a Eaton90 S/C and 6spd manual. it did in the neighborhood of 263BHP (on a brake dyno).

The blue Mazdaspeed car seen last year at SS7 was actually not fitted with a turbo at the time it was shown, but had a mocked up intercooler. it was eventually tested with a turbo similar to the greddy setup and did about 317BHP (on a brake dyno)

Dodge Neon’s are the only car I am aware of that get slower when you give them more gas. I think our torque converter was full of peanut butter.

It was great to meet all you guys that were there, I'll definitely be back next year.

Nice notes, especially the 263 and 317 parts :D

It was great to meet all you guys that were there, I'll definitely be back next year.

Bern said on the other site he hadn't heard anything about an SS9. I swear we heard that like twice on Saturday, and it would appear you're under the same impression, yes?

Glad you at least liked our weather, Alan ;)

Bern said on the other site he hadn't heard anything about an SS9. I swear we heard that like twice on Saturday, and it would appear you're under the same impression, yes?

Glad you at least liked our weather, Alan ;)
I think several vendors were talking about next year, but the SS team members I talked to said that it had not been decided upon. Like I told Dan, you guys created a monster... it's gonna be hard to stop it now.

I for one had a blast. It was an honor to meet everyone and put some faces and voices to the screen names. I only wished I was operating on more sleep that day ;)

Just take a look at the description for the Seven Stock Forum:
"The Final Sevenstock hosted at Mazda is here!"

:eek:


Hope they continue it next year

Apparently Mazda has a grey Turbo'd RX8 that they are testing, and it was apparently at Mazda R&D on friday, I was talking with someone at Dromo1 about it, but I'm terrible with names.

Anyone see it?

Race Exhaust?

Someone needs to design a single outlet rear bumper :rolleyes:
I'd like to know more about this item, anybody quiz the RB people?

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60618

I did talk w/Brian at length about the race muffler and the scoop is that it saves weight, makes the same power as the standard RB system, sounds great, is louder. Emphasis on weight savings. No part number or price yet but looks like it will bolt up to the existing RB pipe. Way cool.

it should be out in a month or so, they were finishing up there first production run. Expect about the same power gain (maybe 1-2whp) but the big savings is the weight.

If you want the same savings with a duel muffler, I found out from ajax the corksport dual muffler which is steel and $550 is also 25lb lighter than stock.

Jim Langer told me something about it but I don't remember now. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have met a number of you also even though most of you appear to not remember meeting me :( .
By the way, check out this handsome devil I met while I was out there. I won't say who he is but I will say he's more pleasant than people think.
Paul.

I believe I met you at the banquet afterwards, I was sitting across from you.
I don't think I introduced myself though, I'm terrible with that. I had the grey shirt with the glasses hanging on my collar. I was making bad jokes and terrible puns all night. ;)

Apparently Mazda has a grey Turbo'd RX8 that they are testing, and it was apparently at Mazda R&D on friday, I was talking with someone at Dromo1 about it, but I'm terrible with names.

Anyone see it?
The grey car was there on Friday and Saturday. We never moved it... it was right under your noses in the RX-8 parking spots next to the stage. The blue car was also there but, behind close doors... too many little things on it now to show in public and up close. ;)

-Bern

The grey car was there on Friday and Saturday. We never moved it... it was right under your noses in the RX-8 parking spots next to the stage. The blue car was also there but, behind close doors... too many little things on it now to show in public and up close. ;)

-Bern

Ahhh, I was one of the 1st 8s in the doors and I noticed there was one already parked there. It was very stock looking, so I thought nothing of it. Dammit Mazda! :p

I just luv these little secrets - keeps the rotary heart in me going. :)

I saw that gray car there when we arrived on Friday morning with Mazdaspeed on the windshield, nice ride height and wheels and noticed it was there on Sunday night when we met Abel who was picking up his car. I wondered about that car.
Paul.

it should be out in a month or so, they were finishing up there first production run. Expect about the same power gain (maybe 1-2whp) but the big savings is the weight.

If you want the same savings with a duel muffler, I found out from ajax the corksport dual muffler which is steel and $550 is also 25lb lighter than stock.

i ordered a corksport yesterday, i will let you know how it goes.

beers

Jim Langer told me something about it but I don't remember now. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have met a number of you also even though most of you appear to not remember meeting me :( .
By the way, check out this handsome devil I met while I was out there. I won't say who he is but I will say he's more pleasant than people think.
Paul.

Love the pic, Paul. I think you got his best side ;)

Like Photic, I, too, was sitting at your table at the banquet with my husband. So much "shop" was being discussed, I didn't want to interrupt. I'm sure we'll meet again :)

It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have met a number of you also even though most of you appear to not remember meeting me :( .
Paul.

Paul,


sorry if I missed naming you up in my summary post, I went back and corrected that, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the people I met, so sorry to anyone I may not have mentioned.

Paul was out spy in the basement of Mazda R&D who saw the rotary powered spacecraft Mazda is developing for the Xprize Xcup :D

Shhhhhh!! You weren,t supposed to say anything about that. My spy cover has been broken and Ill never be allowed back again.
Paul.

No wait my bad, I did meet you Paul, it wasn't at the banquet though. It was outside the room with the galaxy A/T inside.
I was confusing you with mazsport. Sorry Phee, I can't read very well :(

Shhhhhh!! You weren,t supposed to say anything about that. My spy cover has been broken and Ill never be allowed back again.
Paul.TOO LATE... I've informed all the proper authorities and you are no longer welcomed in the basement... at least you didn't go to B2 level, where the real secret stuff is! ;)

-Bern

No wait my bad, I did meet you Paul, it wasn't at the banquet though. It was outside the room with the galaxy A/T inside.
I was confusing you with mazsport. Sorry Phee, I can't read very well :(

You're still in a daze from the weekend ;)

I AM A VERY SAD PANDA :mad:

The grey car was there on Friday and Saturday. We never moved it... it was right under your noses in the RX-8 parking spots next to the stage. The blue car was also there but, behind close doors... too many little things on it now to show in public and up close. ;)

-Bern

Love the pic, Paul. I think you got his best side ;)

Like Photic, I, too, was sitting at your table at the banquet with my husband. So much "shop" was being discussed, I didn't want to interrupt. I'm sure we'll meet again :)
I am the black dude in this picture. I was at the table with the Japanese engineers, Jim and Connie Downing, Rick Engman, Rick Knutt and his lady friend (I've probably butchered his name), Kobayakawa-san and Mr Oku. I was making sure that Mr Engman and Yamamoto-san covered all the necessary technical topics that I won't be sharing here today.
Paul.

Well it's obvious this file is giving me more trouble than I can handle. Maybe I'll find a different picture tomorrow or something.
Paul.

Jim Langer told me something about it but I don't remember now. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to have met a number of you also even though most of you appear to not remember meeting me :( .
By the way, check out this handsome devil I met while I was out there. I won't say who he is but I will say he's more pleasant than people think.
Paul.
I know he like to write brain hurting tech articles! Really nice guy too and was at Racing Beat Sunday talking to my co-pliot.

Paul,


sorry if I missed naming you up in my summary post, I went back and corrected that, I was a bit overwhelmed with all the people I met, so sorry to anyone I may not have mentioned.

Paul was out spy in the basement of Mazda R&D who saw the rotary powered spacecraft Mazda is developing for the Xprize Xcup :D
You need to make one more correction: I was not one of the stars of the show, more like a makeup boy than even supporting actor. Reconnect Jim to Downing while you're there.
Paul. :)

The grey car was there on Friday and Saturday. We never moved it... it was right under your noses in the RX-8 (#) parking spots next to the stage. The blue car was also there but, behind close doors... too many little things on it now to show in public and up close. ;)

-Bern
We saw It Friday when we showed up. But just thought it was the new color.
"If your're going to hide something, do it in plain sight"

I am the black dude in this picture. I was at the table with the Japanese engineers, Jim and Connie Downing, Rick Engman, Rick Knutt and his lady friend (I've probably butchered his name), Kobayakawa-san and Mr Oku. I was making sure that Mr Engman and Yamamoto-san covered all the necessary technical topics that I won't be sharing here today.
Paul.

DOH! I remember you now. I made the same mistake as Photic. Outside the "showroom", yes. Not sure how I could have forgotten the name of someone quite so witty and engaging. :)

So many people, and usually I'm very good with names. Apologies to you, Paul. Hope to see you again!

I know he like to write brain hurting tech articles! Really nice guy too and was at Racing Beat Sunday talking to my co-pliot.
Did I meet you? I don't remember hearing about your forum name.

Scott: That's a really bad picture! Get my better side next time. Too bad she stayed in Houston!

The grey car was there on Friday and Saturday. We never moved it... it was right under your noses in the RX-8 parking spots next to the stage. The blue car was also there but, behind close doors... too many little things on it now to show in public and up close. ;)

-BernHmmm... now could this blue car (or a similar version of it) be making its world debut at a big name auto show in the next couple of months?

EDIT: And with an official Mazdaspeed designation next to its name plate? :D

We saw the blue car last year. Then it only had a mocked up large front mount intercooler. It has since then had various turbo and superchargers bolted to it to test it. I even played with one of the turbo's that was on it. Not saying how though!

We were told by the head of Mazda North America to expect something very exciting to be shown at the next New York auto show. He didn't say if it was rotary or not but he knows we are rotary enthusiasts. I doubt highly it is a new RX-7 though so get rid of those ideas. The only thing we do know is that there will be a 2nd generation RX-8 in the distant future and with the on going rotary hybrid studies, the rotary has a lot of life left in it.

We were actually discouraged at the news of a potential of an MS8. One source quietly said it was really pushed back on the priority list but then again that could have also have been to throw us off what is really going on. You never know. Sometimes they slip and tell you things they shouldn't and don't realize it and other times they deliberately throw you off. Yet other times they'll hide something from you in plain sight!

It's all a big game isn't it... sometimes I wonder if they enjoy the game as much as we do.

You've got a bunch of pictures that I'd like to get a copy of. Can you get them burned onto a disk?

Of course... I will post a low-res gallery later this week... then you can give me a list of the pics you want. Most original pics are about 800k to 1.5 Mb in size.

Did you guys get any answers to any other of the forever debated topics that reocccur on here? Such as HP, or ecu flashes.

Nope. Didn't even ask. It's not an issue in my opinion. The car performs as advertised and that's all that really matters.

Hmmm... now could this blue car (or a similar version of it) be making its world debut at a big name auto show in the next couple of months?

EDIT: And with an official Mazdaspeed designation next to its name plate? :D
NOPE... MNAO MazdaSpeed Development car only... one of several.

-Bern

I hope that's a NOPE, as in NOPE not that specific car. Rather than NOPE, as in no MS 8 at an auto show like at Tokyo, Detroit or New York ...

I hope that's a NOPE, as in NOPE not that specific car. Rather than NOPE, as in no MS 8 at an auto show like at Tokyo, Detroit or New York ...

that is a NOPE, as in not that specific car... as to a MS8 at any of those shows.... well... it will be Rotary something, but not sure if MS8 is it. ;)

-Bern

I can't believe it, right under our noses. We definitely need another SevenStock, just proves I didn't see even half of what was there!!! I really enjoyed seeing all the cars. I can't believe this thing started out as a little group of guys having a BBQ!!! Amazing!!! :D

Thank you so much Bernie for all that you do, on behalf of the Downing Atlanta crew, myself and the whole rotary community. I will thank you more properly in the form of mail but you and your fellow volunteers and Kelvin deserve all the repeated thanks we can offer. Thank you for remaining humble and hardworking.
Paul.

Ok here's the official scoop on the oil issue. As I said earlier, I asked the highest people on the planet when it comes to rotaries. First I'll start with Rick Engman's position as he built all of the engine's for Downing. I looked at Rick and just quite simply said, "synthetic oils". His response was, "I wouldn't use anything but synthetic oil in a rotary". Thankyou Mr. Engman! All of Downing's race cars use Valvoline synthetic. He said it doesn't matter if it is a race engine or not. I also told Mr. Engman that many people say you only use synthetics in a rotary because it gets rebult all the time and that it doesn't matter what happens to these engines. I can't post what his opinion are of these people! He did say their engines get 100 RACE hours of use between rebuilds. The Courage is using experimental engine parts that were last used in the 80's and 90's! They care more about the longevity of the engine on a race car than a street car so some people's logic is VERY flawwed.

Now onto Mazda's position on synthetics since I know that the opinion of the smartest rotary person in the U.S. isn't good enough for some people. As I stated earlier, I asked the head of rotary engine development for the past 30 years at Mazda. He designed and built the 787B engine too. In very broken english he told me that not all synthetics are created equal. some are better than others when it comes to mixing with fuel in the oil metering system. The oil metering system is the key. It is NOT with swelling seals. He said that because some oils work very well and others not as well, it is far easier to just officially say not to use them than to say which ones to use and not to. This has actually been speculated for a long time and now we know it's true. I asked which synthetic oils he does not like. the answer is very surprising. The worst synthetic oil for the rotary according to the smartest rotary engine person in the world is Mobil 1. At least Valvoline and Royal Purple are fine. Didn't get any others listed. Rick Engman did say that decades ago there was an issue with some swelling of seals with old synthetic formulations but these have long since been resolved.

To all the people who keep getting on my case and others for using Royal Purple, WE'VE BEEN THE CORRECT ONE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Yes you can switch back and forth between oil's if you absolutely have to.

I was aware that Royal Purple was fine for rotaries; but I am surprised to learn that Valvoline's synthetic is ok. I'm curious is Redline's synthetic is ok. Obviously, if you bypass the OMP and premix with a 2-stroke oil, there's a larger range of options; but I am curious which synthetics can be used safely.

Jesus f-ing Christ!
Not only a 2 + year old threadsurrection, but an irrelevant question that is being discussed in a dozen other places.
Did you put Wite-Out over your search button?

holy thread resurrection batman

at least he searched!

holy thread resurrection batman

those were going to be my EXACT words. Damn you Brillo, damn you!!! ;)

HAY! those are my words!

If I can quote Rick Engman "5W20, woow! That's scary"

Seal.

If I can quote Rick Engman "5W20, woow! That's scary"

Seal.

LOL.
Another:

"Wow, these things are built awfully loose!"

Much like the women in your avatars!

Holy freaking Thread Ressurection BATMAN!
RG: it took ya a month to respond to Jeff's thread revival!

It's only a month. That's better than 2 freaking years!!! I don't ever come over to this section until right around SS which is why I didn't see it.