I was talking with my neighbor last night who for the last two years has competed in the SpeedVision World Touring Cars Challange against the likes of Pierre Kleinubing and TC Kline. In his rookie year he drove a tri-point prepped Protoge and got Mazda their first win in the series. Anyway, he drove a Miata last weekend at Fontana in a SCCA event with some friends and he told me there were some 8's racing in T2. When I asked how they faired he told me the Dodge Neon Turbos were using them as mops. If I remeber correctly i think he told me the Neon was 237 at the rear wheels. He said the 8 was better in the corners but gave it all back and then some on the straights.

 

Okay this needs a little bit of clearing up for Mazda fans. Did the RX8 got outperformed by a Neon? Yes How? Well it's not only the straightline speed its who built the Neon that is what makes that car so damn fast

first of all results can be seen here

http://www.calclub.com/html/html2/20...1n02_01_04.htm

RX8 finished 4th behind 2 Neons and TC Kline 350Z. For people who do not know TC Kline he is a good pro driver. As for who finished first he works for Dodge. And Dodge built those cars for him specifically, now tell me that is fair. If the plant in Japan built a RX8 to fight those Neon they would not stand a chance. I wonder how much boost the thing is running and how many pieces they forgot to assemble while the car was going down the assembly line, top engine, top shocks, better springs and you have got a killer car.

So your Neighbor Paul is right but ask him how much cheating does that Neon is doing and he will tell you that in Showroom Stock and Touring there isn't one car out there that has not bent the rules. Fair competition I don't think so.

 

I should mention that I am a proud 8 owner. Not just bagging on the brand for no good reason. I asked Paul about the boost and he said its suppose to be factory spec but its contolled by the ECU so admittedly there's some prolly some funny stuff going on there. T2 is supposed to be a power to weight ratio governed class and mods are limited. IE you can do shocks but not springs.

 

From the SCCA GCR Touring Car Specifications

17.1.18.D.1.i.2

The engine management computer or ECU may be altered provided that all modifications are done with in the orginal housing. Automobiles shall meet federal emission standards.

Here are the specs for the RX-8 as classified.

Classify 2004 Mazda RX-8
Add new spec line to TCS p.27
Mazda RX-8, 2004
Bore(mm) x Stroke(mm) /Displ.(cc): / 2600
Valves IN & EX(mm): (I)(E)
Comp Ratio: 10.0
Wheelbase(mm):2703
Track F & R(mm): 1496(F) 1506(R)
Wheel size(in.): 18 x 8(F) 18 x 8(R)
Tire size: 225/45(F) 225/45(R)
Gear ratios:3.760, 2.269, 1.645, 1.187, 1.0, 0.843
Final Drive: 3.564
Brakes(mm): 323 vented disc(F) 303 vented disc(R)
Weight (lbs.): 2980

I'm going to my local Mazda dealer next week to purchase a RX-8 for T2 for 2004 and then I plan to move to Grand-Am Cup ST in 2005. I just sold my GT1/Trans-Am Olds Cutlass due to the cost, $20k engines and close to $10k per weekend to race. Now I can get back to my Mazda roots, I ran a RX3 in ITA when I first started racing.

Cheyne Daggett
www.daggettracing.com

 

About forgot here are the weights of the new cars in T2.

04 Caddy CTS-v 3940
04 Audi S4 3920
04 RX-8 2980
03-04 BMW Z4 3.0 3120
02-04 Subaru WRX 3200
03-04 Audi TT 3390
03-04 Dodge SRT-4 2680
04 Saturn ION Redline 2890

The main cars that run T2 alread are the:

97-99 BMW M3 3000
98-02 Camaro Z28 3300
97-98 Mustang GT 3300
99-02 Mustang GT 3500
03-04 Mustang Mach 1 3300

In the resent years the BMW, Camaro and Mustang's have won the Runoffs. I think the RX-8 should do really well at Mid-Ohio due to weight and brakes. Let the heavy cars run off their tires and brakes. Now if it rains the all wheel drive cars will smoke everyone.

Cheyne Daggett
www.daggettracing.com