I think the nerve is hit on street racing. I have seen accounts here in CO where folks were racing on the streets, 1 am, 2 am and other times. I have seen what is left of the cars that lost control, the cars that hit others not racing, the deaths, the crying parents, the crying wifes. Hey!! its just not worth it. Let the ricer go and enjoy the fact you still have your car, you didn't get a ticket, you didn't kill someone. Go to a drag race track, pay the entrance fees and race that ricer one on one. I know I have seen a post somewhere on the AT and manual race issues and a guy there said he owned an AT and a manual and he didn't see where the manual has all that advantage. The RX8 is a good all around car and not a drag racer no matter what you have.

 

Plus, you'll have a much better story/memory if you don't race him. You'll talk about this event much more than if you had beaten him. ("Wow, I beat a Celica tonight.") My dad still talks about one time he was driving my Porsche 928. Two punks in a beat up 4X4 pulled up at a light next to him and revved the engine. One says "Want to get it on?" My dad calmly looks over at their beast and says "Yeah, right."

 

Maybe this will help: About 10 years ago, I was in my supercharged Miata (which, honestly, was not terribly quick; maybe 0 - 60 in 6.5 seconds), and I came up next to an E36 M3 driven by a 40s-ish fellow.

We were on a back street with no one around, and I revved and revved and pulled away and slowed down, trying to get him to race me. He didn't rise to my bait. And guess what?

Ever since then, I have felt like a total idiot whenever I recall that episode. I've always thought that he showed real class in ignoring me, and that I did a ridiculous thing. I suspect the other guy in your story feels a bit stupid now, too.

 

Clearly you have never driven a celica(my gf has one, I drive it occasionally)...they are excruciatingly weak from an acceleration standpoint. That is why they are chick cars, they look great, but have no power. I think it has the same engine as a corolla.

I don't think it's terrible to take off, but just accelerate until to the speed limit to prove your point

 

CATALYST has got the touch, he's been bitten! Need For Speed!

 

GTS buddy? Try same engine as the Lotus Elise

 

sorry...the GT has the corolla engine...it is still not as fast as an 8

 

Oh...well, in that case, Catalyst should have smoked that dude! Thanks for the clarification. That's hysterical now that I think about it.

 

You did the right thing. You feel empty because down deep you really wanted to try him and his pretty girl. It's an ego thing. Nothing to be ashamed of. You showed maturity, which can sometimes be hard in a car like the 8.

 

Well this video will make you feel better...

http://www.350zmotoring.com/forums/a...ic/9026-1.html

 

This video has been out for years, I think everyone here agrees that the driver was driving like a grandma.

In other words, no one cares try something new next time.

P.S. the rx8 beat all the other cars off the line. Hmm.

 

The MY03+ is pretty damn close.

 

...and this proves what? The Lotus is a fast car because it is VERY LIGHT and not so much because the Celica engine is soo soo good. I think the Celica is OK (still a chick car) and it's engine is NICE...but the RX8 Vs "stock" Celica...no race at all, just the Celica "chick" looking at the great RX8 rear lights.

Ego aside theCAT...you did the right thing, go take it to a track and regain your EGO!

 

My dad had an 03 Celica GTS, it seemed pretty quick to me. This ricer I am sure had modded the engine as much as the body (I would hope so anyway.) But in the end, isnt it all in the DRIVER?
Speaking of tracks, anyone know of a track near Bay City Texas? I dont recall knowing of any, but would like to find one. I do let my 8 sing now and then on single lane country roads late at night (there are a lot of these roads where I live, just you, the 8, and rows upon rows of farmland) and only danger there is a deer or hog jumping out in the way, in which case it and I would be in trouble depending on how fast I managed to get. I know the RX8 isnt all that fast, but its at these times, on these roads, when all I know is the hum of my rotary, the line where my headlights stop and darkness begins, my 8 urging me onward (faster) as she beeps her warning of redline, and we could be doing 100, or 600 miles an hour, it doesnt matter, because nothing comes between the love a man has for his car, and the love she gives back when, uh oh, 6th gear, a few more RPM's to work with!!!

 

she is a tempting mistress....you can just hear it in the back of your mind....come on....don't you want to go just a little faster???....

 

Every time I get tempted....I remember I have 4 kids.........that will have a shitty life if their dad kills himself in a car. I have rally raced, and done some track racing.....but the streets scare me. You may be a great driver.....It's always the other idiots that get you killed.

 

Perfectly said...bravo!