View Full Version : IPRA Mazda RX-7
My old girl has her first start in the new owners hands this coming weekend at Eastern Creek. I'm going to watch and will be disappointed if he gets anywhere near my best time... :D
I bought the car in early 2002 as a clapped out ex "Ian Luff Motorvation" drive day car. It had a very average bolt in cage, poxy 12A bridgeport, road 'box and fooly sick single spinnah diff.
We added a cheap respray, a set of B45 Simmons with new A032R's (205/60/15's as per class regs), a 13B bridgeport made out of scraps found on the workshop floor at Mazsport and a Supra 'box.
The car debuted at Wakefield Park for some very average times. It was the first time i'd driven the car (ever !!) and a farked starter motor meant i missed qualifying. Great weekend. Ended up finishing all 3 races though, and eventually got into the 1.12's (just !!) in the last race.
Did a few mods the following year, including adding injection to the junker, better brakes, some camber, and a close ratio Needham 'box to go with the new much flashier paint scheme. Did a 1.20.1 at Oran Park GP in that spec, and mid 9's at Wakefield.
Then decided to go all out and had a race bridgey built, once again by Bill Nabhan at Mazsport Seven Hills. It made an easy 248 hp at the tyres at 9,500rpm and saw as high as 260hp using another 1,300 revs... :yup:
For reliability we set the limiter at 9,500rpm for Oran and Wakefield, and 9,800rpm at Eastern Creek. The thing was an animal with the new engine and used to blow the tyres off coming out of 3rd gear corners (remember we still had to run 205 60 series tyres) - so some major work went into the suspension, yet again bigger brakes, custom billet strut tops, comprehensive welded and crossbraced roll cage, PPG dogbox, etc etc.
By now i was fed up with spending money and took a year off to recover financially. A couple of track days saw mid 8's at Wakefield and 18's at Oran Park GP, the thing was a weapon.
I ended up selling last year as my girlfriend and i bought a business and had to concentrate on the start up and establishment of the business. I kind of miss it now and in some ways wish i had just kept it under a cover for a few years, but what the hell. At least i'm not tempted to race and spend crazy amounts of cash anymore... :(
There's plenty of videos with the car here -
http://www.grumpe.com.au/ipra-video.htm
http://www.grumpe.com.au/images/gallery-10.gif
http://www.grumpe.com.au/images/gallery-19.gif
http://www.grumpe.com.au/images/gallery-20.gif
Specs -
Mazda RX7 Series 2
* Mazsport 13B Bridgeport (248rwhp@9,500rpm)
* Pfitzner "PPG" 5 Speed dogbox
* Factory Mazda LSD, 5.1:1
* MicroTech LT10 ECU
* Graphic Skills Racing (Phil Laird) quad throttle injection
* PWR Alloy Radiator & Oil Cooler
* Bilstein Shocks Front & Rear
* Custom Rev Doctor Suspension
* 15x7 ROH Reflex Wheels, Yokohama Advans 205/60/15
* Custom Mazsport Exhaust System
* Mazda Series 6 Brakes
* 295mm DBA 4000 Series Rotors
* SPARCO Pro 2000 seat
* Willans 5 pt harness
* Mazsport / Pro Racing adjustable Watts Linkage Rear end
* Pro Racing cross braced roll cage
* Rev Doctor Steering components
Huge thanks to Bill Nabhan at Mazsport Seven Hills, Scott Fleming at Rev Doctor Motorsport Hornsby, and my "crew" of Pete Harmston, Jason Priestley and Mick Posa. Couldn't have done it without those guys, and given my complete lack of mechanical ability i was grateful to have such good mates to help out !! :yup:
Cheers,
Paul...
Looks awesome Paul!
I know your a bit dissapointed to let it go, but at least you can say you've done it. Not like a lot of other people who just wish and never take the leap of faith... :)
MR-PUNANNY
15-05-07, 11:52 AM
thats awesome! 1:08 is a great time around wakefield.
bernie-rx7
15-05-07, 06:33 PM
Paul I have always loved your work with that car. so nicely presented!
I intended to build one of these IPRA Rx7s with my S2 after seeing yours......... some how I lost the plot???????
We added a cheap respray
Read: Free
Thanks: Danny
Dont: Mention it....
:D
That bites to have to watch someone else race it. But I suppose it's better that it's being used than lingering around not being enjoyed.
I've watched all those vids and a higher res one I got somewhere before and they are awesome. We film all our incar and are going to start filming more silly buggers around the pits ect. You've inspired us to make a compilation at the end of the season.
Cal.
That bites to have to watch someone else race it. But I suppose it's better that it's being used than lingering around not being enjoyed.
As a "consolation" his best lap was more than 7 seconds slower around EC than me, and up to 11 secs in some races. I watched one race from a distance and couldn't believe it. The car could have easily finished 4th or 5th last weekend, and was struggling around down the back of the pack... :(
I've watched all those vids and a higher res one I got somewhere before and they are awesome. We film all our incar and are going to start filming more silly buggers around the pits ect. You've inspired us to make a compilation at the end of the season.
Cheers mate. Please do it, and make sure you post the results !!
Unfortunately my mates computer crashed and we lost a LOT of saved footage. In summer we will grab some more go karting, dirtbike riding and water ski-ing etc and throw them into the mix... They will be great to look back on in a few years when we are old farts... :)
Read: Free
Thanks: Danny
Dont: Mention it....
Actually, i paid a $1500 for the first respray Danny... ;)
I should have added TOWIE to my thanks list actually, he dragged it around pretty regularly at mates rates, and even let it sleep at his house a few times... :)
He also teed up the deal with Coopers Smash at Penrith which led to me and Pete running the Coopers logo for 2 years when we both went blue and orange... (I've attached a pic of the Coopers livery to this thread)
Thanks Danny !! :D
Paul I have always loved your work with that car. so nicely presented!
I intended to build one of these IPRA Rx7s with my S2 after seeing yours......... some how I lost the plot???????
Ta Bernie, i long ago realised i didn't have quite enough cash (or talent !! :p ) to win races so i figured i'd at least try to make it look pretty... :)
thats awesome! 1:08 is a great time around wakefield.
Yeah, it's moving along ok with tyres we had to run i guess... I reckon it had maybe a high 7 in it actually, but didn't get the chance to prove it. If a mate of mine had had a steer (he won the State and National IPRA titles last year) he'd have done 7's all day everyday... :yup:
Looks awesome Paul!
I know your a bit dissapointed to let it go, but at least you can say you've done it. Not like a lot of other people who just wish and never take the leap of faith...
Thanks Ryan, much appreciated mate... :)
It was one hell of a ride and great fun while it lasted !! I had a ball and learnt a lot along the way, and the memories will last forever. In the end other priorities took over but i keep saying i'll never do it again, too expensive etc. But i think i'm lying... :D
That's fucking tough.
Thanks buddy... :)
Actually, i paid a $1500 for the first respray Danny... ;)
I should have added TOWIE to my thanks list actually, he dragged it around pretty regularly at mates rates, and even let it sleep at his house a few times... :)
He also teed up the deal with Coopers Smash at Penrith which led to me and Pete running the Coopers logo for 2 years when we both went blue and orange... (I've attached a pic of the Coopers livery to this thread)
Thanks Danny !! :D
Was it painted before Coopers??? I thought Pete's was & yours was white & Series 1...
Long time ago though...
Mine was silver, and i had it painted orange before Emu Smash did the back half in blue and whacked on some gold B45's. Pete's was always blue, and he added orange to the back half, we ran in "reversed colours" the first season...
Then you got the Coopers guy on board and we made them identical, added flares and front bars, same ROH Reflex rims etc. And yeah, mine was a S1 that we updated to S2 at the same time.
Your memory is getting hazy mate... :)
It was/is a good looking car. Although I was always amazed at the lack of cage in the IPRA cars... but then, you don't have trees to contend with. ;)
Hope things go good for you in the near future. I want to see an LS1 VL/VR/VT IPRA car...
Cheers fro, the cage you saw at Wakefield (and Oran too i think ??) was a bare minimum mate - a throwback to the days when an alloy half cage was acceptable... After my crash at Wakefield i put in a decent cage which i don't think you ever saw ??
Pics attached... :)
Oh, and as for the future, who knows mate... :)
Would definetly love to do it again but the costs at the moment are crazy. I couldn't build a competitive LS1 VK to VS for under 60k, and probably 80 to 100k for a VT / VZ... :(
It'd be a hell of a lot cheaper to be a proven well developed RX-7 andgo that way, but my knuckle dragging roots are hard to ignore. In a few years when i'm finished the new house and settled, who knows ?? ;)
Cheers,
Paul...
Cheers fro, the cage you saw at Wakefield (and Oran too i think ??) was a bare minimum mate - a throwback to the days when an alloy half cage was acceptable... After my crash at Wakefield i put in a decent cage which i don't think you ever saw ??
Well, the cage in those pics is crap-loads better than the one I remember, so I mustn't have seen it after the upgrade.
How's the go-kart going?
Don't ask mate !!
The kart is awesome fun, but has seen bugger all track time lately. Have been flat out with work and doing either reno, boating or family stuff on weekends. And the farking trailer is always full of trees, old carpet, broken up concrete paths etc so i can't take it out even when i feel like having a run... :(
BoganDAVE
24-05-07, 08:35 PM
need to piss the kart off to get a bike :D
That thought may have crossed my mind Dave !! :yup:
Hey FatBoy great looking car. I'm a massive IP fan down in Vic, Shame you had to let the beast go but I guess it happens...Those vids are great, I love how you had a team going on. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the vids with us!
Update - Looks like i might be back in the seat in a few months... :)
Had a few quiet ones with the new owner a few weekends ago and he has offered me a steer at the next Multi Club round (early '08) to see what the old girl will do with the new engine...
Sadly he had someone else tune it and it grenaded shortly after... :(
On a positive note, i can get a signature if all goes well and won't have to go back to my P's on my CAMS licence... :D
Good stuff Paul. Which track?
Cal.
Eastern Creek Cal...
Great track to make a comeback after well over a year out of the seat !! :D
you buy that air ticket ....or you SOFT
John P
Piss off John... :D
It's currently under negotiation with the dragon lady. If i make the trek all that way to watch you better be on the pace buddy !! :)
Will give you a call when i know what is happening...
Cheers,
Paul...
Fatty, if you dont mind me asking, how did sponsorship money go in covering costs (ie did it cover race weekend costs or even pay for some of the build)?
Were you tempted to give the new owner some driving tips :p ?
There was no "sponsorship" in dollar terms unfortunately mate - i was lucky to have mates who did everything at cost, no labour etc. Bill from MazSport did the engine, i'd say he made enough out of the deal to buy a bottle of bourbon, that'd be about it for example... :)
Danny "TOWIE" dragged it around quite a few times for me and looked after me with the bill, Paulie Mitchell at Emu Signs did all the stickers at cost price etc - so the "sponsorship" on the car was my way of thanking those who got me out on the track...
Having said that, we didn't really "chase" the dollars. We did in this off season though, and it's at the point where my teammates RX-7 has had a ground up rebuild, new livery etc applied, and chances are there will be enough dollars left to pay entry to each round, and at least 3 sets of tyres. That'll make his racing a hell of a lot cheaper this year... :yup:
And nah, i didn't offer any tips. He's a nice enough guy and i didn't want him to think i was being a prick. The funniest thing was one of my mates was talking to one of his mates at the track the first time he raced, and the guy didn't know Mick was a friend of mine. This guy went on saying that there was "no way" the car could have gone as fast as it used to, and that "the previous owner" must have pulled "all the good gear" out of the car.
Mick turned and said, "The only thing Paul took out of the car was the driver. Think about it..." :D
* And i reckon i can't drive too well, so how bad was the new guy going ?? :p
Update - And it's not good news...
Apparently the new owner had a spin at Oran Park on the weekend and got cleaned up by another car. Some are saying it's totalled, others think it might be repairable...
I was away down the coast so didn't get to the meeting. I'm going to call in and see the new owner on the way home tomorrow and see how bad it is... :(
you sure you want to actually see it all banged up pauly??
Not sure actually Clive, i hadn't thought about that angle. But i get on pretty good with the guy and i feel for the poor bugger so it's the least i can do...
I'm hoping it's not "that" bad but a few of the boys who saw it reckon it's pretty well farked. I found out he was taken to the medical centre but is reportedly ok. His mobile is turned off though so i haven't spoken to him yet. He does have a smash repair shop as his major sponsor so maybe they can sort it out - or even reshell it if it is beyond repair... :(
damn, sorry to hear that mate. If it's any consolation, you don't own it any more :D
Yeah, thanks mate... :sandyvag:
Apparently they are trying to save it. New rails etc are required. He spun and was facing the opposite way - poor bugger in the Datto tried to avoid him, flicked it sideways and wiped the front off the RX-7 with the side of the Datto. He's ok, car is borked. Fuck it burns...
Ironically the Datto that hit it was owned by a mate of mine who raced under the Chaparral banner in blue and orange colours. We both sold our cars, and the new owners managed to get them to take each other out...
Latest update - she's still alive ! :worship:
Car was repaired by the guys at Merv Newby Smash - they sponsor the new owner and did a great job. Thankfully they managed to save the original towers and it's only been repaired from there forward, so my expensive struts were saved !
Unfortunately Dennis is still getting his head around racing and the lap times are pretty poor. At Oran Park last weekend in one race he was more than 10 seconds off the times i did a few years ago, and 6 to 8 seconds away in the others... :(
I've added a photo of the new livery (same paint scheme, just the blue and orange has been changed to black and red - the Merv Newby colours) and also a video from Paul Lummis (Mitsubishi Scorpion Turbo) that shows Dennis have a spin coming onto the straight at Oran Park... :D
Oh yeah, and i've made an offer to buy it back if the new owner decides to sell. He's gone through a nasty seperation and if he has to sell, i'm going to buy her back...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G09fLBLyQtk (watch the RX-7 at 4.10)
Good luck with the purchase, would be a bit better than a Commo.
charged
31-07-08, 11:13 PM
It looks good paul, hopefully the guy sells it, fuck building a car again. Geez the Scorpian has some squirt in a straightline. The guy driving the Scorpian is he new to circuit racing. His footage looks like my incar, very tentative:yup:
Michael
31-07-08, 11:32 PM
Would be a good thing to buy that car back, knowing that the driver took it easy n that, not much would be broken. I need to get a house stat so I can have a spot for a racer. Tidy car there.
Good luck with the purchase, would be a bit better than a Commo.
Yeah, i know. But i just have a major fat for building a V8 Commo to race... :D
It looks good paul, hopefully the guy sells it, fuck building a car again. Geez the Scorpian has some squirt in a straightline. The guy driving the Scorpian is he new to circuit racing. His footage looks like my incar, very tentative:yup:
Yeah, it's pretty much the same car John, he just changed the colours. And after banging the engine he had it rebuilt - so i'm not quite sure why it's so slow, maybe just a confidence thing ?
If i buy it back and spend 25k it'll win races. 10k for Proflex shocks, 10k on a SelectMaz engine and 5k + the current 'box for a decent gearbox... Oh, and i'd put her back to blue and orange... :)
The guy in the Scorpion is a newby. I actually made a comment on the IPRA forum about him being "too polite". Nice bloke though, he'll get some mongrel in him as time goes on... It's a 2.6 ltr turbo that "Barney" used to run in WA...
Would be a good thing to buy that car back, knowing that the driver took it easy n that, not much would be broken. I need to get a house stat so I can have a spot for a racer. Tidy car there.
Yeah, i sort of regret selling it mate. But at the time we were kicking off the business and i was over spending money on racing. The hunger is coming back though, big time ! :yup:
that photo makes it look like it's a scale model on a Thomas the Tank Engine background :lol:
If you got it back would you get back into racing it?
msmola2002
01-08-08, 08:18 AM
the guy in the scorpion is 'crazy' off here
bernie-rx7
01-08-08, 08:21 AM
fark yeah!!! thats the spirit Paul!!! fATBOY RACING ftw!!!
There are some Evo Lancers running in IP down here now along with the current swag of Commodores running LS motors. I liked the Cameron Van Ddundgen & Leanne Tander RX-7 battles
If you got it back would you get back into racing it?
Nah, i'm going to park it in the loungeroom for decoration... :D
I'll need to spend some bucks on it though to be an outright chance. Probably run it as is for a year (should still be a Top 5 car) then throw some dollars at it when i can afford it mate...
the guy in the scorpion is 'crazy' off here
Shit hey ? I didn't know that. I'll have to go up and ask him if he's crazy next time i'm at the track... :p
fark yeah!!! thats the spirit Paul!!! fATBOY RACING ftw!!!
It'd be nice to get back in it mate. Not a done deal yet, i don't think he wants to sell but he might have to. Fingers crossed huh ? :)
There are some Evo Lancers running in IP down here now along with the current swag of Commodores running LS motors. I liked the Cameron Van Dundgen & Leanne Tander RX-7 battles
Matt - Who are the guys running LS1's down there mate ? We've only got one - and it's a stocky that is shoved into a VH (ex Commodore Cup car). There is a VY and a VX in the build though but no idea when they'll hit the track...
Awesome news, Paul! I remember your posts when you sold it, it wasn't your best day... I'll have to make the trip out to see you race when it makes it second debut :p
I was only going by what was runnig assumingthey were LS motors. i saw a red VH last year which was very quick
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?27/07/2008.SAND.Q5
Nah, i'm going to park it in the loungeroom for decoration... :D.
wisearse :p I meant were you going to park it in storage until your missus changes her mind ( :lol: ), or just do sprints or something...
charged
01-08-08, 12:22 PM
Yeah, i know. But i just have a major fat for building a V8 Commo to race... :D
To build a commodore will cost serious bucks, Daryl is building one over here a VZ and it owes him a 100grand and hasnt turned a wheel yet
Yeah, it's pretty much the same car John, he just changed the colours. And after banging the engine he had it rebuilt - so i'm not quite sure why it's so slow, maybe just a confidence thing ?
Is the guy new to racing, sometimes it can be pretty daunting out there, practice days and supersprints are a breeze. I know the first race I had I was fuckin shitting myself with all the cars round me.
Might see you at Bathurst in 2010... dont blow my doors off going past me down conrod:w:
If i buy it back and spend 25k it'll win races. 10k for Proflex shocks, 10k on a SelectMaz engine and 5k + the current 'box for a decent gearbox... Oh, and i'd put her back to blue and orange... :)
Ive heard good things about the proflex, pity about the price, whats in the RX7 now .. a needham ? Will you go to a PPG box ?
The guy in the Scorpion is a newby. I actually made a comment on the IPRA forum about him being "too polite". Nice bloke though, he'll get some mongrel in him as time goes on... It's a 2.6 ltr turbo that "Barney" used to run in WA...
The 2.6 pulls alright but the thing dies at about 5 grand, a guy here has one in a Sigma.. its like a diesel to drive, just when things start happening the HP party is over
Sometimes its better to be polite in your first year, than make a cunt of yourself first time out, we have had a few heros come out and try and be joe racer straight away... usually ends in tears and panel damage:knock:. Clint tells me all the time to grow some nuts:gay:
Im getting a reputation as the polite,attentive back marker
Yeah, i sort of regret selling it mate. But at the time we were kicking off the business and i was over spending money on racing. The hunger is coming back though, big time !
My theory is never start racing then you dont know what your missing out on and have a nice bank balance to boot. Racing is the best thing you can do with your clothes on though:yup:
Michael
01-08-08, 01:29 PM
My theory is never start racing then you dont know what your missing out on and have a nice bank balance to boot. Racing is the best thing you can do with your clothes on though:yup:
Yeh thats the problem, i started racing go karts, got the feel for it, then had to sell the kart as my motorbike was stolen and needed a car.
Now im prone to getting sore from karting i want to get into car racing. To make it workse im going ona track day in 4 weeks and im itching to get out there, even in the stock S-pack ute with gay brakes, its going to be fun.
Hey Paul,
It would be great to see you back out there. I WILL be back for the Nationals, car is getting closer all the time.
The scorpion looks very peaky in it's power delivery, a bit like my sunny was when I first put it on the track. I spent a lot of time and money spreading out the power delivery which made it much nicer to drive. With the scorpion set-up the way it is, it is very difficult to have any confidence as the power comes on extremely quick and ends up putting you sideways......this might also explain why he is being a little tentative at the moment.
See you on the track :)
Save your money Fatty, just buy this....
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DATSUN-STANZA-RACE-CAR_W0QQitemZ170245284019QQihZ007QQcategoryZ43807Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Not a bad buy actually...... Then little lady keeps talking about having a go on track but is too scared to drive my car. This could be a good option though.
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