That would be good. While I support the rotary I admittedly also support Mazda.

 

2007 will look pretty different. The P2 class has grown alot. If you ever get state side you need to fit in an ALMS race. Lotsa fun.

 

The truth is Mazda saw a low cost RE marketing opportunity in '05 with BK, and decided to support it. As stated they almost won a championship for very little... great PR/Marketing for very little investment; good business... then some other better prepared, organized, funded, etc… teams/factories saw the same thing and came and ruined the Mazda party. Next year it gets worse, with Honda coming, and Porsche upgrading their rides. Now Mazda is faced with the prospect of QUITTING or finding a way to stay in the ALMS, in some non-embarrassing fashion, again in the most cost effective and logical way possible. They are behind the eight-ball and I’m sure a way to continue the program was/is to spread (amortize) the race and marketing program cost over a very large product run, such as the MZR engine line. If it goes this way.

See Mazda should’ve recognized this from the very beginning, and prepared a full factory effort two car RE team, with appropriate chassis, and engine preparation, rather than helping fund a very enthusiastic privateer team. But see, there was no real need for this in the beginning.

Remember that racing for most factories now-a-days is about marketing, and marketing about winning. If you’re not winning, it does a factory no good! Unfortunately, it looks like the RE will fall victim to the ineffectual use of the very limited resources and experience all parties brought to the table here. To win, everything on a team (including the factory) must be in harmony, and totally committed and focused on victory, and unfortunately in this soap-opera it doesn’t seem that this was the case! The RE, if it dies here, was unfairly saddled with issues beyond its control!

-Bern

 

^ good post

 

They couldn't until the rules changes allowed tube chassis cars... and the 3-rotor.

That's always the case when you try to make a point, and don't. Mazda underestimated the P2 class, in my opinion.

Mazda in the USA has mostly relied on privateer race teams; some were very successful, but unfortunately here things haven't worked out.

-Bern

 

Yes true, and I agree with you, but the end to factory racing is again marketing, which is winning or being successful... the commercial/ad would say "the WINNER"... "the CHAMPION", etc... the general public is not expected to know, or even care that there was only two cars in a class... the important thing is that you're a WINNER!! People want to hang with a winner or overachiever! See we the hardcore enthusiast are the cynical idealist who care of the "how you win"... you see we are the choir in no need of converting, we love RE regardless, and always find ways to keep loving it no matter what... Mazda knows they have us, so the important thing to Mazda is to get all those who just want to be with a WINNER!

-Bern

 

NO.... just pretty much neutered!!!

-Bern

 

LoL, I like your choice of words..

Anyways, thanks for the posts above, good post.

I wonder Mazda would ever pursuit strongly at the professional racing level again, with full factory backed race cars. This point I am about to bring up could be shallow and without depth, but read on anywas please

Seeing Mazda is now finished with the Gran-AM ST class and moving to Gran-AM GT, its a good thing that they're pursuiting something more challenging, although still not fully factory backed, but Speedsource and MNAO seems to be good partners and are successful. However, where are the advertisment? Did they make any use of the triple crown victory? And, why dont they still run in the ST class to defend the title? Could be due to insufficent funding of course. I'd like to see them defend and win every year like Audi.

But this worries me as Mazda DID WIN THE LE MANS afterall in 1991. Maybe they dont want to pursuit victory no more, and as Bern stayed, racing to them is merely advertising. The only way I see that they made use of racing in advertising is that i see the star mazda car in the RX-8 brocheur!!!... thats too little mazda!
________
How To Roll Blunts

 

You're welcome.

I trully hope so... but only Mazda would know.

The SpeedSource Mazda connection is very strong and as close as you can get to a factory effort in North America. This is a good deal here!! The SS organization is extremely proffesional and dedicated. In the few occasions that I've had the pleasure of speaking with the Dave and Sylvain, I've been extremely impressed by their attitudes and proffesionalism. My best to SS-MazdaSpeed this next season!

Not sure, but I have seen triple-crown ads in several big title mags; especially Auto-Week. They are not focusing on ST anymore, and Dave H. can chime in here to correct me if I'm wrong, because the factory feels they have accomplished their stated goals in the production based class, and feel the pursuit of a greater challenge is necessary. Also several rules adjustments challenged the RX-8 to a greater extent this last season. Grand-Am has made it more difficult for the 8 to win in ST, but both Sylvain and Dave have still done very well! Also remember that the smarter resource allotment is in a class with higher demand, but also higher exposure. It seems that the GS/ST classes will have NO TV package next year; last I heard. On Audi, they have no where to go... they are in the maximum sports car class... how would it look it they went down a class or left...

I think and know that there is more of a passion for racing at Mazda than at most factories, but the FINANCIAL realities of a small manufacturer, and even smaller finances of the North American branch, really hold back the full potential. Now if only the full company, marketing, engineering, sales, etc.. etc.. Japan/Europe/North America got behind racing in a cohesive fashion... what miracles we wouldn't see from Mazda!!!! I'm still hoping... "Koby-san where are you when we need you?!?!?!"

-Bern

 

I hope that day would come and we can again hear the 4-rotor roar on the mulsanne straight.
________
Ugor

 

I would rather hear it in the Carousel at Road America.

 

Amen!

 

the thing is that if mazda feels they have a better shot with piston power go for it, I for one am tired of waching the rotary last!

Race the rotary where it is going to be competitive, and help sale cars

 

I say again, there are still factory backed rotary efforts out there, ask speedsource, problem is none of them have the cache of ALMS or F1.

 

Yes, very good point!

 

What were the rules adjustments that hindered the Rx-8? Fortunately, there will be other private teams running in the ST class even though SS will be focusing on GT.

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/adryland

Some pics from Laguna.

 

great pics Senna, thanks!

 

Sure no prob. Hey, I like the new avatar.

 

Hey thanks, only 20 days more to go till it gets here

 

Anyone know what was the mechanical problem that put the #70 out at VIR?

 

Out here at Sevenstock, I asked some very high up's about the car. I didn't get anything out of them but did express my concern that we could potentially see them announce a turbo 4 cylinder. What was interesting was one such high up person in the program responded by saying "the rotary is Mazda's primary focus and future". That implies that it will still be rotary in ALMS next year. Let's hope so!

 

That's encouraging!! I just don't get all the secrecy about it unless they're still in doubt about what they have planned and are still testing etc.???? If they are changing powerplants the secrecy makes more sense...to me.

I for one hope they add another car to the team.

 

From what I could gather through the grapevine, the Courage is almost 300 lbs too heavy/ I don't know exactly how much power it makes but I trued my hardest to find out. I do have a better idea though. The new Speedsource 3 rotor car does 420 hp. It doesn't have the leak power the BK car has but it has a wider powerband. The Speedsource car shifts around 8500 rpm or so and the BK a little bit higher. At a guess I'd say the BK car makes 430-440 hp or so. While not exact, that should be getting close.

I met David Haskell. Great guy. He is a pleasure to talk to. Very honest and open to all of my questions. He knows his stuff. After seeing what it has taken them (speedsource) to build their 3 rotor RX-8 race car, I have nothing but respect for them and confidence in their efforts. No detail is too little and no expense has been spared to do things properly the first time. They definitely know what they are doing. Watch tme next season.

 

Wishful thinking maybe but might the secrecy have something to do with this...

If they have a next generation of rotary engine around the corner, makes sense that they might wanna race it. It would explain the secrecy as well. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.