For the aggressive appearance, I turned to Shine Auto Project, also out of the Los Angeles area. Owner Ken Ching helped order a straight-from-Japan KS-Auto Burnout II lip kit. I was worried about smashing that expensive fiberglass to shards while doing Drift Day events, so Shine replicated it in their flexible resin composite material. We redesigned the attachment points, adding wider flanges for screws at the wheel arches and tape-mount flanges on long side skirts. It weighs significantly less than the thicker, extremely-stiff traditional fiberglass. Although I drift poorly, I now do it without fear of cone-induced damage. Extreme Dimensions contributed their outrageous NT-5 wing, which, while merely a generic-fit item, looks as if it were lifted straight from a Formula Drift event.
Recently Cobb Tuning introduced their programmable Access Port for the RX-8. “Simply fabulous” is the only way to describe this plug-and-play miracle worker. Out of the box it makes the RENESIS more powerful. It plugs in directly to the factory OBD-II port under the dash and takes control of the PCM. No, you can’t do the programming yourself; you need the help of a Cobb-licensed tuning facility for that task. You need someone like Jeff Abrams from Phoenix, Arizona, who goes by the appropriate name of “Mazdamaniac” online. His custom tunes can push the little rotary mill to over 200 horsepower at the rear tires, but only with the removal of the restrictive (and Federally-mandated) catalytic converter. Jeff’s custom tune also increases the flow from the oil metering pump for an increase in apex and side seal durability.
We have a plethora of ways to measure automotive performance and excellence. Perhaps we have too many now. We can choose to measure our vehicles over the short sprint in a straight line, or over a winding, asphalt-covered mobius strip. We can argue horsepower numbers in quantitative terms, even though no such value truthfully exists, until we’re ready to come to blows, but it doesn’t matter. In the end there’s only one question we should really ask ourselves; “Does it make YOU happy?” This particular RX-8, with its iPod adapter, upgraded Bazooka speakers, and amazing Soundstream Van Gogh subwoofer stuffed in a sealed box built by my own two hands, makes me happy with every aspect of its performance. I can barnstorm gracefully through canyons or commute in blissful, sound-soaked happiness. I can rub shoulders with drifters and track rats (though probably not win at either venue). I get the “mad thumbs up” from drivers of all ages and brands, which always surprises me. If you want to impress me with your car when I do a story, it’s got to match up well against my Velocity Red rotary rocket. First you’ve got to catch me though, and I get to pick the road!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vehicle: 2006 Mazda RX-8 Base 6-MT
Engine: Mazda 1.3-liter Renesis Rotary
Engine Modifications: K&N panel air filter, Magnaflow cat-back dual muffler exhaust w/ polished stainless steel tips, Motul 300V 15-40W synthetic oil, Motul Gear 300 75w-90 synthetic transmission fluid, Mazda OEM 1.1 bar radiator cap.
Engine Management: Cobb Access Port tuning w/ Mazdamaniac custom tune
Drivetrain Modifications: Fidanza lightweight aluminum flywheel and Stage One clutch
Suspension: Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Tokico D-Spec adjustable shocks, Progress Technology 32mm front hollow anti-roll bar, rear 19mm solid anti roll bar, Energy Suspension anti-roll bar bushing and mounts, JIC Magic front aluminum strut tower brace.
Wheels, Tires and Brakes: Enkei RPF1 19”x 8.5” wheels (f/r), Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R 245/35-19” tires, Muteki 12x 1.25 hollow lightweight lug nuts, TCE Performance Products Wilwood 14” front brake kit w/ 4-piston Superlite-4 calipers, Wilwood 14”x 1.1” slotted rotors, Wilwood street/track pads, braided stainless steel brake lines, rear TCE Performance Products 13” brake offset kit with custom 13” slotted rotors and Wilwood aluminum hats, rear braided stainless steel lines, Motul RB600 synthetic brake fluid
Interior: Bazooka Audio BC5702 front 5x7” two-way speakers, rear BC6903 6x9” three-way speakers, Bazooka Audio BA1300 300-watt mono subwoofer amp, Soundstream Van Gogh 10” dual voice-coil subwoofer in custom sealed box, Mazda factory iPod adapter, red aluminum iPod 4gb Nano, Boom Mat by DEI sound deadening, Razo 340R black anodized shift ball.
Exterior: Shine Auto Project Burnout KD-IV body kit in flexible fiberglass, Extreme Dimensions NT-5 wing, Seibon Carbon TS-style carbon fiber hood, OEM 3-stage paint by SW Autobody and Custom, graphics by NTNS Grafix, NRG Innovations carbon fiber-wrapped hood rams.
Thanks: A Big Thanks to: my wife Betsy and daughter Bridget for their tolerance, Jeremy Barnes at Mazda USA for his help, and every single one of my sponsors. You folks rock!