Hi guys, I have been lucky enough to have been awarded a place on the Renesis Challenge Special Ops driver training course here in the UK (see www.renesis.co.uk for details) From what I have read we're going to be taught about evasive driving including smooth drifts, high speed relays and J-turns! And I presume as it is a Renesis day organised by Mazda the car of choice will be the amazing RX8!

I must say I've been a huge fan of the RX8 which to me is a truly unique car both in design and under the bonnet and if it weren't for the fact I only have one car, and it has to be a big family car, I would love to own one. As I don't own one I'm looking to you guys "the lucky RX8 owners" to give me an idea of how this car needs to be driven.

Are there any tips or trick to drifting techniques specific to the RX8? Where in the rev range should I be looking to have it in order to get best power? In fact guys any advice, guides, tips or tricks to how to really perform in a RX8 would really be appreciated.

I'll let you know how big the grin on my face was and how much I was buzzing upon my return.

Thanks people

Tank

 

Flying to Moscow Tank! Very KGBish

I have drifted the car in 2 half day training. It is kind of hard to do power slide since if you misjudge it then you will get understeer. I think handbrake is your friend.

One trick the non-rx8 owners do not know. Press the DSC button for 7 seconds until the slippery car sign in the centre dash is light up. That is how to turn the traction control completely off, even some of the dealer do not know (or do not want you to know). If you just push the button once, the brake will be grabbing and you will not be able do weight transfer and drift.

Go to here - there is a pro drifting my car.
https://www.rx8club.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1019

 

I had one of those driving courses, but not in my 8. I had it in a BMW something or other. I had a "crash course" for a job interview just to see what sorts of things I could already accomplish before the training. At this point I didn't have a driver's license. LOL I ended up getting the car totalled in one of the tests where basically you are driving straight and through a few quick manuevers your car does a 180 and continues going in the direction you had come from. It was one of those "evasive driving" tests. The car I was "evading" was too close to me when I started to spin the car and he T-boned me in mid spin and the car rolled over. Oops! I cracked three ribs from the seatbelt harness restraining me but was otherwise fine and a little shaken up.

If you get to do the same kind of stuff you are going to have loads of fun!!!!

 

Holy $hiite bunny what kind of job do you have, and where can I gat one like that???!

Anyways the right side of the tach is your friend, don't be afraid of the beep...

 

It was an interview for a government position that, ironically, didn't require anything like that......at least it didn't appear to.

 

Wow thanks guys your answers are really appreciated.

Takahashi: It does look a bit KGB doesn't it and believe me at this point in time I know as much about what's involved as you do. The whole James Bond 007 style of the website and emails I have received means I really don't know what I'm letting myself in for! Oh and thanks for the traction control trick, I wonder if I can impress with that!

BunnyGirl: Now I have read your replies especially re: the broken ribs I'm really s***ing myself

WhiteDealershipRice: Thanks for the advice too. I had a good idea that the Renesis engine loves to be revved and I'm used to riding motorbikes that rev to 10,000+ so will hopefully make the most of the rev range. What's this about the beep though?

The trouble is the only rear wheel drive car I have driven was an old BMW on a skidpan for a driver training course. The surface was specially prepared and is as slippery as an ice rink so drifts were possible at 10mph. God know's how much faster I'm gonna have to go in an RX8.

Thanks for your replies people. I'm gonna go explore some drifting websites (and clutch kicking!!) and see if I can get an idiots guide to J-turns. My car goes in for a service this weeks so the courtesy car will be getting taken to an empty car park for some J-turn practice!!

Bye for now

Tank

 

The beep will "beep" when you reach 8500rpm, the system just trying to tell you that

"Yo, dude ! Im about to reach my maxiumn Revviing speed! "

Thats all.

 

Thanks, so I want to be hearing lots of beeping then!

And hopefully the horizon moving horizontally instead of just coming towards me!