Mazdatrix brings rotary power to Gymkhana Grid Invitational
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mazdatrix brings rotary power to Gymkhana Grid Invitational
December 15, 2010 (Signal Hill, Calif.) – One of the more unique events for the Mazdatrix team in the 2010 season was the Gymkhana Grid Invitational, held December 3-4 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in Irwindale, California.
Spurred by the worldwide success of Ken Block’s Gymkhana videos, the Gymkhana Grid Invitational featured two classes of cars – all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive, enabling Kyle Mohan to bring out his Mazdatrix / Nexen Mazda RX-7 FC3S for one last 2010 competition. The former Formula Drift Pro Championship car contested the west coast Redline Time Attack season, as well as an IDRC drag race.
Gymkhana would bring together two of those elements, as the two mirrored courses began with a drag race from a Christmas tree before drivers had to navigate the tight course consisting of figure eights, a box, slalom, and a 720 degree corner before crossing the finish line. Calling upon all of his skills as a Formula Drift and Redline Time Attack driver, Mohan wheeled his RX-7 to sixth in qualifying.
In the first round of eliminations, he would go up against Japanese driver Toshiki Yoshioka. The two drivers ran time staggeringly close to each other, putting on the best head-to-head battle of the day, but Yoshioki emerged victorious after two runs with a combined advantage of a little more than one second.
“Gymkhana is really fun, and even though we lost by a small amount we still had a great time,” said Mohan. “It will be interesting to see what happens next season with Gymkhana Grid. Having completed this event, we now have a long list of changes we would make to our Mazdatrix / Nexen Mazda RX-7 to pick up some more time in a Gymkhana event.”
Mazdatrix promoted rotary performance throughout the day with the team’s RX-8 that competes in Redline Time Attack, as well as the team’s 1983 Mazda RX-7 FB that is a former SCCA and NASA race car.
With the racing season now officially wrapped up, the team at Mazdatrix will now retire to their metal building in Signal Hill to make their Mazdas even faster for the 2011 racing season. Keep an eye on mazdatrixracing.com for announcements on their 2011 racing plans.
One Smart Car
Weird video of the day. Nineteen college girls from Karachi, Pakistan cram into a car to get into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Wait, what? Just watch.
The Ten Most Hotly Anticipated New Cars
Based on feedback and suggestions from users, Jalopnik has identified what they think are the ten most hotly anticipated new cars of the future.
Check out their top ten (and when they should be available). Do you agree or disagree? Have any better suggestions?
The Ten Most Hotly Anticipated New Cars
10.) Ford Focus ST/RS (2012)
9.) 2013 Dodge Viper (Late 2012 at the earliest)
8.) Volkswagen Golf R (2012)
7.) Subaru/Toyota/Scion FR-S (Fall 2011)
6.) New Stratos (2011)
5.) Abarth SS (2012/2013)
4.) McLaren MP4-12C (2011)
3.) Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid (Late 2012)
2.) Audi Quattro (The future?)
1.) Chevy G8/Caprice/El Camino (2012)
Let us know what you think.
SEMA 2010
Mishimoto doesn’t have a booth at SEMA this year, but we sure do have a ton of cars there representing our products! Stay posted for better photos from this year’s event, but for now, camera phone pictures will have to do!
Kyle Mohan at Formula Drift: Round 7
Mohan wraps up Formula Drift campaign with his foot
to the floor at Irwindale Speedway
October 14, 2010 (Signal Hill, Calif.) – As it does every year, the Formula Drift Pro Championship wound down its season at the ‘House of Drift’ – Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California. One of the largest Formula Drift events of the year, it was also one of the largest in the KMR pits as the team entertained nearly a hundred guests that came out to support Mohan near the team’s base in Signal Hill.
The KMR team came ready for battle. The Nexen / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 was rebuilt end-to-end for the event, as well as tested extensively, giving Mohan the confidence to attack Irwindale’s high bank from the first practice session.
With two runs given for qualifying, the team’s plan is always to run a conservative first run to safely get in the top-32. However, on Mohan’s first run, he went on the attack and scraped the rear bumper of his Mazda RX-8 against the walls of both banks which earned him a 73.7 and put him in 12th after the first round.
He turned up the boost and went for it on his second run to see if he could equal his qualifying effort of fifth during last season’s event at Irwindale. With a lot of angle and speed, Mohan came off of the high bank and into the inner bank, foot to the floor. Throwing the car into the inner bank, the car slowly over rotated and came to a stop, earning a 0 for his efforts. In the end, he would settle for 14th starting position, which matched him up against Matt Powers in his Nissan.
Leading powers in the first run, Mohan gained an advantage until he dropped into the inner bank where he backed his car into the wall, causing him to lose drift. In his chase run, Mohan was aggressive again, tapping the wall on the high bank as he chased. In the end, the judges awarded the round to Powers and Mohan’s season came to a close.
“Our focus changed this season from being very careful and conservative to always going for it,” said Mohan. “We changed our whole approach in the last few events, becoming much more aggressive in the way we operated as a team, in the way we set up the car, and in the way I was driving. And we definitely learned a lot this season about how to operate as a team and how to stay competitive against the V8s with our two-rotor Mazda engine. We are already preparing for Formula Drift next season, and we can’t wait for Long Beach in April.”
Mohan’s work isn’t done yet this season, as he will compete in two weeks at the Redline Time Attack at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, before Redline hosts its finale in November at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
Video – First qualifying run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1p83IOhfLI
Video – Second qualifying run: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=tZhplTiG02I&feature;=related
About Kyle Mohan Racing
Based in Signal Hill, Calif., Kyle Mohan competes in the Formula Drift Pro Championship in the No.99 Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8, and in the Redline Time Attack in the No.99 Mazdatrix / Nexen Tire Mazda RX-7. KMR is supported by Nexen Tire, Mazdatrix, Genius Tools, Spider Energy Drink, Exedy, Mazdaspeed, Turbonetics, XXR, Mishimoto, Drop Mounts, Gatorz Precision Eyewear, EF1 Motorsports, AIT Racing, WPC, Kaaz, Racing Beat, F&L; Racing Fuel, TCSportline, Idemitsu, Baker Precision, Mothers Polish and Haltech. For more information, visit www.kylemohanracing.com.
Dave Lemon’s Mazda RX-8 Featured on MazdaUSA
Dave Lemon’s Time Attack car, a MazdaTrix RX-8, is featured on the MazdaUSA site!
Check out the sweet feature on Dave Lemon’s MazdaTrix RX-8, as well as a number of awesome photos of this beautiful car. The Mishimoto logo doesn’t look too bad, either.
ATTACK MODE
Dave Lemon’s MazdaTrix RX-8 battles the stopwatchMazdaTrix is a household name among rotary fanatics in the U.S.A., Puerto Rico, Australia, Japan, and beyond. The tuning shop is known for its mastery of the Wankel engine, but has developed parts for and raced many a Mazda nameplate since opening its doors in Signal Hill, California, in 1977. Dave Lemon, owner of MazdaTrix, started out as a racer, and the shop sort of materialized afterward.
Lemon began racing in 1971 in Sport Car Club of America (SCCA) events, but soon starting the shop occupied much of his time. As the shop secured a foothold, Dave resurfaced in 1980 behind the wheel of a Mazda RX-3 in the IMSA series and in 1985 he moved to the SCCA Trans-Am series until 1990.
At this point Dave again went into hibernation mode, although he built and drag raced a three-rotor RX-7 during his sabbatical. From 2001 to today, Dave has called SCCA E-Production class home … that is until he tangled with this aptly colored Winning Blue RX-8.
Like many race cars that have hit the track before, the Mazda’s early life consisted of dress rehearsals serving as a mannequin to test fit MazdaTrix parts, aftermarket offerings from competitors, as well as a mind-numbing number of power pulls on the MazdaTrix dyno. Of course all this torture was laid on the RX-8 while it also served as Dave’s daily driver.
Graduation day almost never came for the Mazda, as MazdaTrix bought another RX-8 for race purposes, but eventually “old reliable” got the nod and was transformed into a Street Tire Class Redline Time Attacker.
As a testament to the inherent strength of the Renesis rotary engine, the race car runs an internally stock 13B rotary engine, the workhorse of Mazda’s Wankel fleet. Power has been boosted with a bolt-on ProCharger supercharger system that runs a custom front-mount intercooler with trick ducting to maximize efficiency.
A set of MazdaTrix headers and a MazdaTrix exhaust system reduce restriction and bump output. A MazdaTrix- tuned Haltech engine management computer keeps the rotary purring lap after hot lap.
To get the power down, the stock RX-8 gearbox has been enhanced with a MazdaTrix lightweight flywheel and Quartermaster 4.5-inch clutch. This duo puts the twist to the stock Torsen limited slip differential. Thanks to A’PEXi coilovers, Megan Racing adjustable links, and a StopTech braking system, the Mazda can tickle the edge of adhesion with ease. The Stoptech setup consists of 14-inch rotors and four-piston calipers up front and 13- inch discs and single-piston calipers in the rear.
The car’s impressive contact patch is provided by 285/35/18 Nitto NT-05 tires all around. The Nittos are wrapped around 18 x 9.5 XXR 522 wheels.
The Mazda retains some of its street looks but there is no denying its true purpose. A MazdaTrix front splitter with long mounting struts, an intimidating TCSportline rear wing, an AIT Racing carbon-fiber hood, huge orange MazdaTrix logo, and a Time Attack number plate with a big “99” on it give the RX-8 a pure race-car aura.
The aura carries over to the cabin where a six-point roll cage by Steen Chassis, Sparco racing seats, harnesses, and steering wheel and a lot of gauges drive the racer theme home.
Dave has fared well behind the wheel of the Mazda, notching three Top 5s in the first four Time Attack West Coast races. He is currently second in the season standings, a mere 19 points off the leader.
Lemon hopes to gain a lot of ground late in the season, as a street ported, WPC treated, over-sized studded, ceramic apex seal engine is slated to be dropped into the RX-8 prior to the Pahrump, Nevada, race in mid- September. Look out competition.
MODIFICATIONS SUMMARY
Dave Lemon’s 2003 Mazda RX-8Engine
Factory internals
ProCharger supercharger system
Custom front-mount intercooler
MazdaTrix headers
Haltech computer
MazdaTrix 4lbs. flywheel
Quartermaster 4.5 inch clutchChassis
A’PEXi coil-over suspension
Megan Racing adjustable linksBrakes
StopTech braking system, 14” rotors and 4-pot caliper front, 13” rotors and 1-pot caliper rearWheels
XXR 522, 18 x 9.5Tires
Nitto NT-05, 285/35/18Exterior
MazdaTrix front splitter, air-dam
TCSportline rear wing
AIT Racing carbon hood and trunk
No sunroof, Winning Blue paintInterior
Six point roll cage by Steen Chassis
Sparco racing seats, harnesses, and steering wheel
A lot of gauges
Track Cam: Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch
Watch this video from inside of a Subaru WRX on the picturesque track, known as Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch track. This track is home to the Ron Fellows “Official Corvette driving school” and can be configured seven different ways.
American Muscle Car Show
Mishimoto was in attendance for the American Muscle car show on September 11th, 2010. The pictures can not even begin to illustrate the mass of 500+ cars that were in the show, nor the 1,000+ people in attendance. Proceeds from the show went to Homes for Our Troops, an organization that’s dedicated to helping disabled veterans. One lucky raffle winner went home with a Mishimoto Mustang radiator. It was a beautiful day, filled with beautiful women, beautiful cars, and it was all for a wonderful cause.
Eyelashes for your car
Make your car look extra creepy thanks to a product called “CarLashes!”
I think these would look great on the new “faces” of the Mazdas. You know, the ones that seem to be happy all the time?
What do you think?
Hey Nissan GT-R Owners in New York…
Watch out for the wheel bandit!
From the article on Jalopnik:
Last September, a Long Island-area Nissan GT-R owner awoke to find all four of his wheels missing. Now it’s happened in Queens. It’s a regular crime spree. Save the GT-R wheels?
The last time at least the thief left the owner a free car jack. This time it appears the technique’s been improved and there’s no such parting gift, just a street-parked Nissan GT-R in the Queens neighborhood of Bayside resting on a couple of rocks no-doubt causing untold thousands worth of damage to the under body. So now, for all you Nissan GT-R owners in the NYC area, how about this for some advice: park your car in the garage. (Thanks for the picture Joe!)
Mishimoto Welcomes Carl Nadeau!
Mishimoto would like to extend a warm welcome to the latest Mishimoto sponsored driver, Carl Nadeau of the BFGoodrich Drift Team! Hailing from Boucherville, Québec, Canada, Nadeau is no stranger to the automotive world. With experience in drifting, rally, ice racing, and road racing, as well as hosting automotive television programs, Nadeau’s love for the automotive industry is clear. Mishimoto looks forward to seeing what Carl will accomplish in the rest of his 2010 season in his 460WHP V8 LS6 swapped 1995 BMW M3.
You can check out Nadeau competing in the remaining rounds of the Drift Mania Canadian Championship!
DMCC Round 4: Montmagny, August 14-15
DMCC Round 5: St-Eustache, September 5-6
DMCC Round 6: Mosport, September 18-19
World’s Most Ridiculous School Bus
Remember how everyone said it wasn’t “cool” to ride the bus to school? Well, we have a feeling this 42,000hp school bus capable of 367mph is probably an exception.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/template/utils/ooyala/telegraph_player.swf
Jalopnik Readers Choose 10 “Coldest” Cars
Ten Cold-As-Ice Cars
10.) Porsche Panamera
Suggested By: Adam Spano
Why It’s So Cold In Here: Though the Panamera is ugly as sin on the outside, its climate control system is pretty advanced. Passengers can independently control each of four air zones in the car, as well as mess with settings for their own heated or cooled seats. You won’t look cool in it from the outside, but on the inside, you’ll be freezing.
9.) Ice Cream Truck
Suggested By: Mister Scroggs
Why It’s So Cold In Here: Come on, it’d have to be cold, right?
8.) 2001 Chevy Cavalier
Suggested By: rebeldevil
Why It’s So Cold In Here: According to rebeldevil, their 2001 Chevy Cavalier was born with an air conditioning heart two sizes too big. It might have been a mistake at the factory, or it might have just been the result of a few engineers who wanted to be absolutely sure that their Cavalier was damn chilly. Whatever the reason, the 2001 Cavalier was equipped with a freakishly large compressor, which meant that AC was just about the only thing that car could do well.
7.) 1984 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Diesel Wagon
Suggested By: My X-Type is too a real Jaguar
Why It’s So Cold In Here: There were a number of answers that highlighted air vents aimed specifically at crotches, and more that talked about systems so cold that ice would form on various parts, but none that combined the two, until the Custom Cruiser showed up. That must have been one seriously chilly Olds, man.
6.) Volkswagen Phaeton
Suggested By: D_Robb
Why It’s So Cold In Here: Everyone’s favorite over-designed climate control system lives in the similarly over-designed Volkswagen Phaeton. Famously made to “maintain a constant 72 degrees Fahrenheit inside the cabin while driving at a sustained speed of 186 MPH through an outside temperature of 122 degrees,” it was built to function perfectly in a wholly ridiculous set of circumstances. Not to mention its “draftless” methods of cold air delivery. It cools you off without blowing air in your face. I think the Phaeton is powered by magic.
5.) Rolls Royce Camargue
Suggested By: Jagvar
Why It’s So Cold In Here: When it was introduced in 1975, the Camargue was the first car in the world to feature split-level climate control. That’s important, because the car was so big that there were major fluctuations in temperature across the cabin. It could be boiling hot on one side, and freezing cold on the other, and no one would know. The automatic temperature control worked to reduce that discrepancy.
4.) 1964 Cadillac Eldorado
Suggested By: 64deville
Why It’s So Cold In Here: For an additional fee, the 1964 Eldorado could be had off the lot with the world’s first fully automatic climate control system. The driver could set a temperature on the dashboard, and the car would use sensors around the cabin to detect when it was hotter or colder, and would activate the heater or air conditioner as necessary. The idea was that you could drive from Maine to Florida and not have to mess with the climate control. Now however, some 46 years later, most of those sensors are broken, so good luck maintaining a temperature now, buddy.
3.) Mitsubishi Diamante Wagon
Suggested By: zacarious
Why It’s So Cold In Here: Zacarious used to use his Diamante as a rolling keg chiller. It was freezing in that car, either because the air con rocked, or because he was in Schenectady in the middle of winter. The memory is clearly a little fogged. No one condones drinking and driving, least of all us, but if you’ve gotta transport the kegs to the party, the back of a Diamante seems to be the way to go.
2.) 1980′s Toyota Van
Suggested By: Elhigh
Why It’s So Cold In Here: Deluxe and LE models of the 1980′s Toyota Van had a feature we all joke about when discussing air conditioning. These vans actually had a small refrigerator hooked up to the AC lines that would produce ice cubes, right in between the front seats of the car! Sure, it also had dual-zone air conditioning for the people inside, but the most important part is that ice machine. How cool is that?
1.) 1980 Chevy C/K Scottsdale
Suggested By: nt_conant
Why It’s So Cold In Here: Sure, the actual air con may have been good, but it’s nt_conant’s story that takes the cake here. Stuck in “the junkiest truck I’ve ever seen” for 3200 miles round-trip into Mexico, nt_conant was going to see a solar eclipse with his dad when he was but a wee lad. The truck was about to fall apart, and his dad was fully prepared to ditch it and fly home if it failed during the trip. It didn’t, and the AC worked so well that nt_conant wrapped himself in a big fluffy down comforter the entire length of the Baja Peninsula.
Get inside Andrew Comrie-Picard’s Mitsubishi Evo 9!
Ever wonder what the view is like for Andrew Comrie-Picard when he climbs inside his Mitsubishi Evolution 9? Now you can see for yourself, thanks to this new video provided by OctaneReport.com! In this video, you will see Comrie-Picard practicing for the X Games 16 on a dirt track similar to the competition course. Mishimoto keeps this 600hp beast running cool!
Andrew Comrie-Picard’s Mitsubishi Evolution
Watch this awesome video of Andrew Comrie-Picard himself talking about the components that make his Mitsubishi Evolution rally ready! Do you see anything “cool” under the hood? We sure do!
Video from Formula D: Round 5
This is an amazing video montage of clips from Formula D at Evergreen Speedway in Seattle. Enjoy!
http://www.streetfire.net/flash/SPlayer.swf
Formula Drift Seattle 2010
Enter for your chance to win the YoParts GT-R!
Put your automotive skills to the test and you could win the YoParts Nissan R35 GT-R Giveaway Contest! For those of you unfamiliar with the YoParts GT-R, YoParts has been modifying the GT-R with performance parts from the YoParts catalog. This GT-R is fitted with a Mishimoto R35 GT-R Aluminum Performance Radiator and Mishimoto Heat Defense Tape! Members of YoParts will have to calculate the improved performance figures after the modification list is provided when the build is completed. Whoever comes the closest to calculating the actual figures will win the YoParts Nissan R35 GT-R! You must be a member of YoParts.com to enter. If you are not already a member, head on over to YoParts.com and sign up today!
God Bless America
In honor of the upcoming July 4th weekend, here is the Mishimoto ride of the week:
Top Ten Cheapest Cars to Insure
Car insurance can be a pain, but it’s completely necessary if you want to enjoy the open road. If your looking to cut costs on your daily ride, and are in the market for a new vehicle, check out the following 10 cars that are the cheapest to ensure on the market.
10) 2009 Ford Ranger
This small truck received five out of five stars in it’s highway safety testing, partially due to the addition of stability control and side airbags in this years model.
9) 2009 Buick Lucerne
This sedan continues to score well on its driver safety ratings since it was introduced. It’s also likely to be driven by older, safer drivers.
8) 2009 Subaru Tribeca
Another high scorer in safety and crash test is the Subarua Tribeca, with top of the line safety features, the insures providers see this car as low-risk.
7) 2009 Kia Optima
Again, the Optima performs well in crash tests, and at only around $15,000 insurance companies aren’t risking all that much.
6) 2009 Ford Escape
This is the first SUV on our lists of cheapest to insure cars of 2010, but it certainly won’t be the last. The size of SUVs alone make them very cheap to ensure, and since this model is Ford’s cheapest SUV, there is little risk.
5) 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
This year’s Equinox includes new accident avoidance features that haven’t made it to most makes yet. Safety pioneers like the Equinox almost always get rewarded with lower rates.
4) 2009 Kia Sportage
Kia’s second vehicle to make our top 10 list is their mid-sized SUV, the Sportage. With perfect frontal and side impact ratings, and a $15,000 price tag makes this a clear winner.
3) 2009 Toyota Avalon
Avalon drivers are likely to be mature and safe, and like many Toyota’s it scores very well in crash test, even with the recent brake fiasco.
2) 2009 Buick LaCrosse
Though more expensive than in previous years, you’re really just paying for more advanced safety features. Like the Buick Lucerne, the LaCrosse attracts mature drivers.
1) 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis
This car is heavily based on the Ford Crown Victoria, the safe cars most of the countries police officers still use, so you know it’s safe. Grand Marquis drivers are also statistically safer than the average driver.
Japanese Electric Car Goes Over 620 Miles On One Charge
What if you could drive an electric car though which went over 600 miles per charge? That’s the new world record according to Sanyo, which said recently a vehicle powered by its batteries had gone the distance.
Sanyo stated that a Japanese vehicle driven by the Japan Electric Vehicle Club in the last few days broke the current Guinness World Record for the longest journey without recharging. The Mira EV, as it is called, achieved a travel distance of 1,000 km (1,003.184 to be exact) at a training school for auto racers in Ibaraki, Japan. The Sanyo batteries under the hood which drove the electric motor were of the same variety as those normally used in laptops, though in this case there were 8320 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries and not just one.
How To Install a Mishimoto Radiator
Check out the How-To Section of Mishimoto.com to read our handy radiator install guide!
This general guide will cover the steps needed to remove an OEM radiator and replace with a Mishimoto aluminum radiator. The images shown for this guide show a Mishimoto Honda Civic Radiator being installed on a 1999 Honda Civic. Keep in mind that different makes and models will be unique, and adjustments will be necessary according to application.
How To Install a Mishimoto Radiator
