I did a track day at Lime Rock a few weeks ago, met a really nice guy with a 135 who happened to get me in the shot in front of his car. We were both lapping hard but this was not a wheel to wheel race, so I say "vs" gently. It's just interesting to see where both cars shine individually. Again, he was a really nice guy, and seemed like a good driver. Complained that the 135 understeered a lot, which I could see in the turns. HELL of a lot of fun. This was my 4th HPDE, and first time at lime rock, so I'm there's another few seconds to be had from the car if I were to learn the track better. Got 3rd in class (street-stock 2).

RX-8: ~220hp, 152 ft lbs tq. tokico shocks, RB springs, progress tech sway bars. Stock engine.
135: 300hp, 300ft lbs. Stock everything.

Best times of the day (via a transponder, and on a clean lap):
RX8 1:07.4
135i 1:06.6

So he had almost a second on me, but honestly I think I did quite well, and I won't even mention (more) the power differential. You can see towards the end when he passes me, I'm at full throttle and he just BLOWS by me. So I think I did well staying ahead for that long, even considering the passing zone restrictions. You can tell that he has to brake more, that my corner entry speeds are significantly higher. But you can also see how quickly he makes up gaps on the straights.

Link:
SKIP TO 5 MINUTES and 20 SECONDS, I don't come in until then. AND WATCH IN HD!! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u3brukacok&hd=1#t=5m20s

Feel free to comment, and enjoy

 

that 300hp really is fast
time for a SC mod on your rx8

 

that looks so fun!

 

That's sweet man.

 

When he passed you, did you have it floored?

 

what tires/size?

Car and Driver tested these 2 cars at a racetrack but no lap times. WTF?

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

 

that looks like amazing fun

 

looks like a nice track there!

 

It sure is. I've driven on the LRP track before. Love that course.

 

Good job. Your entry was much faster and he suffers from a lot of understeer like he claimed.

 

nice run! understeer is a bitch...no matter the HP lol

 

sweet!!

 

Looks like a good time... Get some FI and you'll get him next time...

 

Drive mods!

A faster car != (<>, =/=) a better driver.

If you can beat him in his car, then you are faster, regardless of what your time slips say on car vs car



Great job though!

 

Yes- like I was saying, the power differential is quite significant. It was a friendly lapping session, and I will say he probably could have passed me on the straight a lap earlier if he wanted to.

 

I'll also add that I consider what I have now to be the perfect N/A setup for road use, and certainly suitable for the track. I know this will strike many of you as crazy but I dont want any more power. Sure, it might be fun to actually consider drag racing someone at a light sometime and having a chance of winning lol but really I think the car is perfectly set up with the mods I have. And I actually got a chance to tune the suspension nicely, it's set up nice and neutral with a hair of oversteer.

I'm sure I'll want a more powerful car in a few years, but that would be a different type of car, even if it were another RX8, get what I'm sayin?

Thanks for the comments everyone! And you're right, it WAS fun!

 

Awesome race. I love the 135i, its a fast car no doubt. Goes to show just how fast the RX8 is on a track, just wish they were faster on the street

 

When I bought my first RX8 a while ago, I was comparing with several cars, the 3-Series being one. I'm now shopping again... The 1-Series is a far better comparison, size-wise, and, for price range, the 128 is close, although still more expensive than the RX8 -- especially with the current Mazda incentive pricing. The 135 is far more expensive... With the price difference (135 - RX8) you could possibly buy an additional used RX8 and mod it for dedicated track fun.

 

wicked video