I have owned and raced many cars (sports cars mostly). I have to admit I truly don't understand how the RX-8 can be so quick at an auto-x course. (even at the track up to a certain point) . The car doesn't feel very fast nor does it feel super special, yet it just keeps going and deliver solid times each time out. I have to wait another two weeks before I take the car back to VIR, but I can't wait when it happens! The car is just interesting. It is not a solid HR hitter, but you know it is going to put up the numbers when it counts at the end!

 

its because mazda is godly at suspension design and weight distribution

and because you dont need a high hp car for auto x

which is why the miata is like the number 1 car in auto x

 

Are you going to VIR september 7-8 for the MVP track event? If so I'll be there too

 

its smooth--everything happens a little at the time--so easy to drive smooth.
great chassis and braking--engine--nah.
OD

 

smooth is fast, fast is smooth.
It's great at auto-x because as mentioned before high HP cars aren't always what's needed for those courses.
The suspension setup definitely helps us out.

Oh, and the fact that you're pretty much in the same gear the whole time.


Where's Isley when we need him?

 

Modifying his car to run slower.

 

I'm not sure what you're talking about...since the RX8 has begun to dominate BS, the class has had among the lowest percent increases in PAX in Solo.

 

I am going to be at VIR labor day weekend instead.

I think the best way to describe the RX-8 is that it is the slowest fast car I have ever driven. Let's hope it won't be a huge let down at VIR.

 

...

 

yep the rx8 got a good suspension and timing

 

most mazdas seem to outperform their paper specs. that's the value of good chassis tuning.

 

It won't be. You'll be down on torque, way up there on handling. The RX-8 "hauling the mail" up the Esses to Turn 10, and down through the 'Coaster and Hog Pen is worth a Six Flags "A" ticket.

Wish I could afford back-to-back track days, I'd run with you. Now that I've got this ignition problem sorted, I'd love to REALLY run the back straight out of Oak Tree and see what the 'Zonk' can do.

 

Because of the relatively light weight, excellent brakes, balanced chassis and great suspension, you will carry so much speed through corners that you won't be let down.

 

I had taken my 04 on the track, but it was a lot slower as it was a 4 spd. I still don't expect any magic with the 06 since it is still down 60+ HP to my old Nissan and nearly 200HP to the Corvette that I ran the past 4 years. Best case scenrio, I run within 3 seconds of the 350z. That's all I can hope for at this point.

It's nice to have a car that you can plan for the corner rather than react to it since there is a lot less acceleration and braking involved.

 

You don't really carry that much more speed than other cars. It just feels that way because you don't have to spend time doing heavy braking

 

I've always wondered this myself... for example the Best Motoring vids always show the 8 getting its *** handed to it in just about every comparo. Though in autox the 8 just dominates its class.

My (completely uneducated) theory is that perhaps its easier to run time attacks with this car, especially on more complex tracks, than it is to mix it up with other cars road-race style. The relatively low torque makes it difficult to overtake on a sub-optimal race line, but when its just you and the course you can really take advantage of the sweet and easy handling.

 

To be honest, I just think the car is quick in autox because the car travels so slow down the straightaway that you have time to think about the corner rather than have to react to it. I think the advantage will be a lot less at the track, especially ones where it requires HP to do. I will see what the datalogger says, too bad i didnt have it a few yeas back.

 

and it still takes a licking from the puny Miata ....

the difference between street and R tires on the RX-8 is like night and day too

 

You and the 8 are gonna love VIR. Are you doing MazdaDrivers or MVP?

 

maybe it would be different on a track, but i have to say i didn't enjoy my runs in a BS RX-8 as much as i expected. on 285s, the car seemed to have an insane amount of body roll...way more than the ES MR2 i'm driving right now. the grip was astounding, but it took a long time to get set in a corner; the roll just really threw me (literally, all over the car). it might be faster than an STX-prepped one, but i have to think the STX car would be more fun.

if speed/$$ is all that means fun, i don't know why anyone would waste time in anything but an F125.

 

There's no magic to the RX-8 -- as Sipe pointed out, it's no faster than 170 hp Miatas and Solstii around the cones. Its success in B Stock is largely attributable to several fatal flaws in the 350Z and the fact that no one's brought out a 968 in years.

To illustrate the point -- the RX-8 was initially classed alongside the S2000 because their stats looked pretty similar. Now everyone's beloved PAX estimates that an S2000 should be more than a half second quicker than an RX-8 on a sixty-second course; far from a monumental difference, but hardly one indicative of any miraculous superiority on the RX-8's part.

 

I am going with Mazdadrivers, I do them every year.

I don't think R comps on the RX-8 makes as much of a difference as cars like the Z because the car is already fairly balanced from the factory. It doesn't need super grippy tires to get rid of some of that understeer. From my datalog, I can see my Corvette and Z both pulled more Gs than the RX-8. Yet somehow the car still manages to do enough to keep up. Track, not faster. Autox, close.

 

I once saw a fascinating TV show the showed the results of a study of (human) beauty - specifically, the study strove to understand what beauty was, and what it wasn't. Turns out, beauty is primarily (but not only) defined by a lack of flaws or imperfections.

So, does the RX-8 posses dynamic beauty & grace, or is it just a bundle without flaws? I would argue there is some magic in what Mazda puts into it's cars, using the term loosely, anyway. They know how to get the basics right, and the result is a form of "magic," if you will, in that the car performs beyond expectations when viewed from the over-hyped and one-dimensional power-to-weight ratio performance metric.

Having said that, autocross & track are different things (duh). The physical size of the car (I'm not talking weight here - although that is obviously important as well - I'm talking wheelbase & width) matters a lot. Drive an MX-5 & RX-8 back to back on a solo course to see what I mean. The MX-5 is just easier to hustle around an autocross course. But I'd put an RX-8 up against an MX-5 on a track any day. Same holds true for a 350-Z vs. and RX-8 - we all know which car would come out on top on a track. But the RX-8's relative lack of flaws allows it to be a little quicker on a solo course where power isn't such a big factor.

 

I think it comes down to how drivable the car is. It does not have enough power to get you in trouble. Has good enough brakes to stop the car with no fuss. Good enough suspension you will not get any surprises, mild understeer is built in, makes the car very "safe" and easy to drive.

That, and its just a big fat Miata.

 

Are you referring to CS?....or ES?