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Chiketkd:

solo-x:

The E36 is heavy and likes to roll over.

As you mentioned, the RX-8 is down on torque (it probably has the worse torque-to-weight ratio of all the top cars in DSP). It is also heavy. It weighs right around what an E36 does in DSP trim (and in your own words, the E36 is 'heavy').  The RX-8 also has a long wheelbase of 106.1". So it's not like the smaller & more nimble ITR in the class.

Many sound arguments have been raised regarding the 8's re-classification: power levels for a top build; realistic *SP weight; thrust curves, etc. So in my mind, "a" has been accomplished. "b" has not and may never be.

That's what happens when I think faster then I can type. The E36 is "tall", ie, it's weight is MUCH higher then the weight in the 8. That makes a huge difference. The top of the engine in the BMW is actually higher then hoodline of the Type-R.

Everybody says a long wheelbase is a handicap. It was worth a tenth to 60' in my ST car and allowed me to put power down coming off corners when the EF's couldn't. My car was also easier to drive at the limit because the break away characteristic was more docile. The 8 may not be as nimble as the ITR, but it's not exactly a boat either.

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Nate Whipple
NER
188/88 DSP ITR

I might be brining up an old point/idea I made along time ago...

If the RX8 will get killed in BSP and kill in DSP what would happen if it were in ESP?

It might make the Mullet / WRX class a little more interesing.

 [EDIT] Here it is:

DrJones_CMR:

Just throw it in ESP!

 Looking at it again, ESP and DSP are supposed to be pretty close, so if it would kill DSP more than likely it would kill ESP (judging by Rick Ruth's 2009 PAX).

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Alex Jones
2007 B-Street Prepared GXP
www.CrazyMonkeyRacing.com

"Your co-worker can't make it in today, the water pump on the Porsche broke"
"Isn't his car air-cooled?!"

Wow, that was a long read. 

John V:

I used the full tilt build from the thread Sipe posted.  From a professional race team.  So as much power as anyone will get out of an RX-8 in SP (and more than most will get).  220whp.

That thread from Eric Meyer also states he used, "---4th gear pulls (5th gear reveals higher power)."  I think that statement throws off the 220whp as the max available, doesn't it?

George:

That thread from Eric Meyer also states he used, "---4th gear pulls (5th gear reveals higher power)."  I think that statement throws off the 220whp as the max available, doesn't it?

Nope. Remember we're talking about solo here, not road racing (which is what Eric Meyer is involved in). So *technically* a 2nd gear pull will be the max power seen (even if a course requires the use of 3rd, the RX-8 wouldn't get high enough in the rev band to make any power). 99% of the RX-8 dyno's I've seen were done in 3rd or 4th gears.

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Chike D. - Blue Ridge/Washington DC Regions
2006 Mazda RX-8 STX (formerly B-stock)

"Row faster, I hear banjos!"

Chiketkd:

George:

That thread from Eric Meyer also states he used, "---4th gear pulls (5th gear reveals higher power)."  I think that statement throws off the 220whp as the max available, doesn't it?

Nope. Remember we're talking about solo here, not road racing (which is what Eric Meyer is involved in). So *technically* a 2nd gear pull will be the max power seen (even if a course requires the use of 3rd, the RX-8 wouldn't get high enough in the rev band to make any power). 99% of the RX-8 dyno's I've seen were done in 3rd or 4th gears.

Huh??

5th gear should show the most power in a dyno pull.  5th gear in the RX-8 is a direct drive, so theoretically 5th should have lower transmission loss than any other gear.

Remember the dyno reads engine RPM and wheel RPM and backs out the gearing, but not the loss through the transmission.

 

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John Vitamvas
1990 GTUs - STS fodder

John V:

Chiketkd:

George:

That thread from Eric Meyer also states he used, "---4th gear pulls (5th gear reveals higher power)."  I think that statement throws off the 220whp as the max available, doesn't it?

Nope. Remember we're talking about solo here, not road racing (which is what Eric Meyer is involved in). So *technically* a 2nd gear pull will be the max power seen (even if a course requires the use of 3rd, the RX-8 wouldn't get high enough in the rev band to make any power). 99% of the RX-8 dyno's I've seen were done in 3rd or 4th gears.

Huh??

5th gear should show the most power in a dyno pull.  5th gear in the RX-8 is a direct drive, so theoretically 5th should have lower transmission loss than any other gear.

Remember the dyno reads engine RPM and wheel RPM and backs out the gearing, but not the loss through the transmission.

John, i think he was saying that a 2nd gear pull will give you the max power seen in an autoX setting, not that it will give you the highest number overall.  pulls in 4th/5th aren't realistic measures b/c we don't use 3rd/4th/5th in autoX.  so the 210-220 number is probably overly optimistic.

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Mike
'04 RX-8 -- #44 CS
'10 CX-9 -- family truckster & dog hauler
www.phillyscca.com
www.GreyhoundAngelsAdoption.com