Offical Grand-Am GT RX-8 Thread
whines all the way home
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From: Towson/Baltimore, MD
hey mike it was nice meeting you,,, you can post them in my pics thread if you want... https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/rolex-gran-am-daytona24-pics-vids-165559/ I still have to post my vids...
Hi guys, still gonna post race pics soon.
Want to share my own post race pics :
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...7&postcount=44
Want to share my own post race pics :
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...7&postcount=44
I think they added the tail lights just to make it 'represent' the '09 for 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday' purposes. I'm surprised the 69 car still has the '08 lights. The bodywork is specific for Grand-Am GT (available through Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development) in order to sit on the Riley tube-frame. The nose and tail are already modified in design over the normal car (regardless of 04-08 or 09+) and it looks like the flares are bigger for wider tires, among other things. Although the headlights still look like 04-08s, thankfully.
If anyone is going to VIR in April I just booked a hotel room at Days Inn South Boston for 41 bucks a night. Can't beat that. Just thought I would give a heads up to everyone needing to book.
Bob
Bob

Since the teams use officially sanctioned Mazdaspeed parts, noses, hoods, trunk lids & bumpers, I would imagine that the styling would be dependent on MS's offerings.
Last edited by AirlockRX; Feb 3, 2009 at 07:29 PM.
whines all the way home
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From: Towson/Baltimore, MD
The kits are moded also, they are a couple mm wider and blend more aggresively with the wider fenders, I also seen variations on the rear bumper depending on the track, some include slots cut into the top lip of the rear MS skirt, I would assume to allow for less drag...
Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development and Mazdaspeed "gucci aftermarket bling" are two different things. The Grand-Am GT body pieces are made specifically for Grand-Am GT and fitting on a Riley semi-tube frame chassis. The GT body panels are made-to-order by Downing/Atlanta (based in, of course, Atlanta, GA) who also made the "factory" GT1 panels for the FD and the "factory" GTO panels for the FB.
whines all the way home
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Towson/Baltimore, MD
^^^ Yup, I would have contacted Downing about the possible sale of a wide body but I read somewhere that its definately not for sale to the public while the design is in current use.
It can be had (for some serious bank) through Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development- 2 autocrosses a year will get you access in addition to OEM parts at dealer cost and S-Plan pricing on new vehicles.
Last edited by shipdriver; Feb 4, 2009 at 09:30 AM.
T-29 years and counting
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From: North Fontana, CA.
dang after the 24 hours of daytona no races for over a month! well just a few nascar races but F1, indy car and Rolex do not pick up until april. At least we have ALMS and the 12 hours of sebring this weekend. Should be pretty good with the new audi's and puget's (sp)
Everyone check out the documentary on the 2008 Audi season on ESPN this Friday
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/15/c...riday-on-espn/
Everyone check out the documentary on the 2008 Audi season on ESPN this Friday
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/15/c...riday-on-espn/
LOL, yea the Grand Am fellas take one helluva break after the 24hr. Anyone know why that is, exactly? I mean, of course its a long *** race and more time than normal is needed before the next but damn, over 3 months??? C'mon already, month and a half or 2 months should be plenty of time, no? IDK, i guess if i was one of the drivers i would be ancy as hell to get back into competition after the first race of the season. But hey, i wouldnt know the first thing about what goes on behind the scenes so...maybe someone in the know can enlighten me
The Mexico City race was originally scheduled to be this month, but it was cancelled and nothing (except testing at Homestead) was put in its place.
Grand-Am conducted DP and GT testing at Homestead-Miami on 24-25 Mar at the request of several teams. The SpeedSource #70 and #69 were there, as were the Racer's Edge #30 and Patrick Dempsey Racing #40. The 70 car (Sylvain Tremblay) had the best GT times on Day 1 and started off Day 2 with the best GT times, but was eclipsed by the #30 driven by Hennie Groenewald, who got an unofficial GT track record. Overall, a great showing for the RX-8s.
^^Yea that Hennie G. must be one helluva driver. First time in the states, comes to track he has never raced and beats the record GT time in an RX-8... good stuff.
Article says he hopes to race in the series later on in the year, does anyone know which team he plans to race for??
Article says he hopes to race in the series later on in the year, does anyone know which team he plans to race for??
Ahh, yes...we are supposed to have great weather next weekend. Sorry for all those who can not attend. I'll be making my way thru the pits to visit my buddies over at Dempsey Racing and SpeedSource.
Race coverage starts at 230pm est on SPEED.
Race coverage starts at 230pm est on SPEED.



