Racing Beat product status
09-14-2004, 06:56 PM
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Racing Beat product status
I emailed RB yesterday asking about their ECU project and got this in reponse:
Thanks Jim for the ALWAYS prompt and courteous response. I am annoying and I admit it, and you keep up with me.
Rx-8 owners,
It seems that everyone is buzzing after attending the recent Sevenstock event. Those that weren't able to attend have certainly seen, heard, or read about many of the new parts that are being introduced. Since the show, and the Racing Beat open house, I have received a tremendous amount of e-mail asking for updates on many of these new products. Let me address them in the following:
1. Body Kit
We debuted the new RX-8 body kit at the show. The kit consisted of a Nose, Side Skirts, Rear Fairing, and Rear Spoiler. These parts were completely designed and fabricated in Japan under the guidance of Racing Beat's co-founder, Mr. Takayuki Oku. Once the on-car design was completed, a set of fiberglass molds were produced and a sample set was air-freighted to the US for test fitting on our car. The parts were fitted, painted, and installed on the car just prior to the Sevenstock event.
We are currently awaiting the arrival of the production molds from Japan so that our US fiberglass supplier can begin production. We do not have retail price established yet, as we must first obtain cost information from our fiberglass supplier before a price can be established. As soon as pricing and availability are known, information will be posted to the site.
2. Intake System
The Racing Beat REVi Intake System for the RX-8 is nearing completion. This system will feature a enclosure to encapsulate the filter element in order to 1) maintain intake sound to a tolerable level, and 2) allow the intake to utilize the stock VFAD intake tract.
The tooling shop has taken a bit longer than we had hoped to finish this project, but it appears that only final refinements are required. (The parts that were displayed at Sevenstock were only received a day before the event!) Now the we have the "final" working part, Jim Mederer will be back on the engine dyno to fine-tune this system. We are still a few weeks away on this project, but we are anticipating having this available sometime this fall. Again, pricing and availability will be posted when it becomes known.
3. ECU Upgrade
Prior to the Sevenstock event, Jim Mederer had been extremely busy with both the intake and body kit projects. Heaped on top of these projects was a complete engine rebuild of the 1986 Bonneville RX-7 for Mazda USA. After many years of "museum" sitting, the engine on this record setting car was showing its age. The last components were installed on this car on Thursday afternoon, and the car was loaded onto a trailer and delivered to Sevenstock event site.
Unfortunately these projects just hasn't left much time for Jim and his crew to investigate the ECU project. He has informed us that he intends to resume his work now that time allows. More will be posted when information becomes available.
Thanks for your interest in Racing Beat, let me know if you have any further questions.
It seems that everyone is buzzing after attending the recent Sevenstock event. Those that weren't able to attend have certainly seen, heard, or read about many of the new parts that are being introduced. Since the show, and the Racing Beat open house, I have received a tremendous amount of e-mail asking for updates on many of these new products. Let me address them in the following:
1. Body Kit
We debuted the new RX-8 body kit at the show. The kit consisted of a Nose, Side Skirts, Rear Fairing, and Rear Spoiler. These parts were completely designed and fabricated in Japan under the guidance of Racing Beat's co-founder, Mr. Takayuki Oku. Once the on-car design was completed, a set of fiberglass molds were produced and a sample set was air-freighted to the US for test fitting on our car. The parts were fitted, painted, and installed on the car just prior to the Sevenstock event.
We are currently awaiting the arrival of the production molds from Japan so that our US fiberglass supplier can begin production. We do not have retail price established yet, as we must first obtain cost information from our fiberglass supplier before a price can be established. As soon as pricing and availability are known, information will be posted to the site.
2. Intake System
The Racing Beat REVi Intake System for the RX-8 is nearing completion. This system will feature a enclosure to encapsulate the filter element in order to 1) maintain intake sound to a tolerable level, and 2) allow the intake to utilize the stock VFAD intake tract.
The tooling shop has taken a bit longer than we had hoped to finish this project, but it appears that only final refinements are required. (The parts that were displayed at Sevenstock were only received a day before the event!) Now the we have the "final" working part, Jim Mederer will be back on the engine dyno to fine-tune this system. We are still a few weeks away on this project, but we are anticipating having this available sometime this fall. Again, pricing and availability will be posted when it becomes known.
3. ECU Upgrade
Prior to the Sevenstock event, Jim Mederer had been extremely busy with both the intake and body kit projects. Heaped on top of these projects was a complete engine rebuild of the 1986 Bonneville RX-7 for Mazda USA. After many years of "museum" sitting, the engine on this record setting car was showing its age. The last components were installed on this car on Thursday afternoon, and the car was loaded onto a trailer and delivered to Sevenstock event site.
Unfortunately these projects just hasn't left much time for Jim and his crew to investigate the ECU project. He has informed us that he intends to resume his work now that time allows. More will be posted when information becomes available.
Thanks for your interest in Racing Beat, let me know if you have any further questions.
09-14-2004, 07:12 PM
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All of us that attended the event got to see the body kit and the intake firsthand. Jim Mederer demo'd the ecu bench for us and said that at some point they will release a new flash of their own. Keep in mind that they still are concerned with emissions.
from what I could tell from the new intake and from what Jim Langer specifically said, the VFAD system will not be used but instead replaced with a long cold air tube.
from what I could tell from the new intake and from what Jim Langer specifically said, the VFAD system will not be used but instead replaced with a long cold air tube.
09-14-2004, 07:42 PM
#3
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And here's the pics of the body kit, personally, I like it a LOT:
http://jedi.betterbox.net/images/rx8...gbeatSS701.jpg
http://jedi.betterbox.net/images/rx8...spoiler-01.jpg
http://jedi.betterbox.net/images/rx8...gbeatSS701.jpg
http://jedi.betterbox.net/images/rx8...spoiler-01.jpg
Last edited by robertdot; 09-15-2004 at 11:29 AM. Reason: The 1024 X 768 images are too big to post inline.
09-14-2004, 07:49 PM
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I like their rear spoiler. It is subtle enough -just a tad more prominent than the European version. But I don't have too much love for the front. Like some people have said, looks like a Dodge Intrepid or something. Maybe pictures don't do it too much justice.
Any ideas of ground clearance in contrast with the appearance package from Mazda?
Any ideas of ground clearance in contrast with the appearance package from Mazda?
09-14-2004, 08:11 PM
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clearance is about the same.. to me the front looks like a cross between a dodge and a porsche. If that middle bar were thinner, it'd look just like a porsche (and the headlights stuck out a little :b)
09-15-2004, 02:43 AM
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I don't care for the looks of the kit too much, it is different and I am sure it will appeal to a lot of people though. I am sure the ECU is a ways off sicne they are barely scratching the surface of what they can do.
09-15-2004, 05:51 AM
#8
One of the things I like about all of the Racing beat products is a certain level of classy maturity inherent in their design. This also seems to be the case with their body kit. Instead of having harsh body lines, there is a smooth contouring to it that doesn't scream "ricer!".
Charles
Charles
09-15-2004, 02:51 PM
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I agree with you Charles. I like the understated manner of Racing Beat. To my tastes, the car is flashy enough without the appearance package, but I really don't like to attract much attention either. So body kits, flashy wheels, etc...are generally out for me.
As far the the PCM recalibration, all the information that keeps coming out between Canzoomer, Racing Beat etc...says to me that the way to go is to prep the car to the point where it can accomodate either an NA or FI tune without having to discard any newly purchased parts. Which I'm guessing elimates any thought of an aftermarket intake or headers (apparently useless anyway).
As far the the PCM recalibration, all the information that keeps coming out between Canzoomer, Racing Beat etc...says to me that the way to go is to prep the car to the point where it can accomodate either an NA or FI tune without having to discard any newly purchased parts. Which I'm guessing elimates any thought of an aftermarket intake or headers (apparently useless anyway).
Last edited by Red Devil; 09-15-2004 at 02:55 PM.
09-15-2004, 05:37 PM
#10
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to me they almost got it right witht the body kit. the front end is just a little off for me. instead of the 2 openings split byt the rail i would rather see one grille opening. but thats just me many people liked it. one of the comments made by a few,and i agree with, is that it looks stock. like maybe Mazda might use something close to this in their first redesign.
i agree with the racing beat comment- they are a class act and after spending time there saturday talking to several of the people who work there i wouldnt hesitate to buy their products. i wish i could have spent another week there.
i agree with the racing beat comment- they are a class act and after spending time there saturday talking to several of the people who work there i wouldnt hesitate to buy their products. i wish i could have spent another week there.
09-15-2004, 11:29 PM
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Originally Posted by zoom44
one of the comments made by a few,and i agree with, is that it looks stock.
09-15-2004, 11:43 PM
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When I saw it there I too wasn't too impressed with the styling. I also would prefer one large grille opening. The more I look at the pictures though, the more it is growing on me.
09-16-2004, 07:31 AM
#13
My experience in life is that if something takes a while to grow on me then I'll be more satisfied in the long run. At the same time, if I like something immediately I'll become bored just as quick. That might be why I tend to like the RB body kit, at least the front-end anyway. I know I like less dramatic changes as a rule. However, I am more performance-oriented so I won't be doing body mods any time soon. These are also the reasons why it takes me FOREVER to do anything. If an idea is a good one, it will still be a good one 30 days later.
Charles
Charles
09-16-2004, 09:15 PM
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Hmm...first glance was a "No." Looking at it from all angles, it looks pretty damn classy. Hmm...starting to have second thoughts about it. The one funny thing though is that the RB kit car on the page isn't wearing their exhaust!
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