Mazda R100s, RX-2s & RX-3s in Australian touring car racing

Am I too late to purchase the A9X for 20k,, hell I might try and do a deal. A9X and the Mazda too.

Though he can have the 5000 / Corvair engine. I can build a far better one for the same dough these days.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 November 2014 - 22:51.

The RX-3 for 7k is funny in comparison to an RX-5, which was worth about $8,850 brand new in 1978.

A good RX-5 will pull about 3-5k now (nobody likes them), I dare say that RX-3 restored back to Grp C trim could pull 50-80k depending on whose there on the day.

Oh to have a time machine!

Maybe the engine wouldn't fit - hence the sale (should've bought a Bora......)   Although I think you're being a bit harsh on Gricey,  I've always thought of him as a renaissance man.... and his in-car chat after the big accident blocked the track during the 'big race' back in the 80's was pure class.

Some pics of the -ex Potts -ex Gates -ex Everitt -ex Lindstrom Group C RX-3.

This may be slightly off topic but I am doing some research on the history of bridge porting of the Mazda rotary engine.Would anyone know or can anyone direct me to where I may find when this modification was first carried out on the Mazda rotary engine please.

There was a Factory Mazda "Sports Kit" for the R100 that had bridge ported side housings. The kit had everything you needed, including inlet manifold to suit IDA style Weber carby's, exhaust system, suspension etc.

I did find this which talks about the Bridge Port Sports Kit.

"In late 1970, a series of sports kits where offered by the factory in 5 different grades. Starting at a 10% power upgrade A1 kit through to a 100% power upgrade B2 kit. The A grade kits consisted of varies bolt on goodies such as carbies, manifolds & exhausts. Whilst the B grade kits required engine porting such as the recently developed bridge port."

By 1972 they were using very large Bridge Ports in the RX-2's.

Edited by Derrwint, 03 December 2014 - 21:09.

There is a copy of the RX-3 Sport Kit Manual available online as well, this being for the twin dizzy version so pre 1974. It clearly shows diagrams and dimensions for the Bridge Porting.

https://docs.google....3NEYjV4Zjg/edit

I clearly remember a White R100 getting sideways at the top of the Eastern Loop at Lakeside and rolling multiple times til it was a useless pile of scrap.

But I can't remember the driver's name ? - I think he returned to racing with an RX-3 about 6 months later.

I used to have an 8mm film of a Lakeside lap with a hand held camera in the passenger seat of that RX-3 without belts during private practice - I think I was 15 at the time - how silly !!!.

I beat RaceCam by quite a few years !.

Larry Kogge sliding through Sandown's Turn 1 in the wet. July 1981.

Larry Kogge sliding through Sandown's Turn 1 in the wet. July 1981.

 

I can remember at AIR LK sending his mate down the road to buy some standard fuel for that car. Evidently less lead helped the seals. This was early 80s before unleaded fuel became available.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 04 December 2014 - 21:37.

Larry Kogge sliding through Sandown's Turn 1 in the wet. July 1981.
 

It was in Sports Sedans so yeah looks like a ducktail style wing. Never seen a pic of this car at that stage of life before so it would be good to find more.

I can remember at AIR LK sending his mate down the road to buy some standard fuel for that car. Evidently less lead helped the seals. This was early 80s before unleaded fuel became available.

Not really anything to do with seals or anything mechanical, the early 13B's (pre 1985 US Spec RX7) are only 9.2:1 compression and 12A's 9.4:1, so no need for any fancy fuel, you just want something that burns quick so the less lead the better, that's why in the old days they recommended running on Standard fuel. Where you don't have a detonation problem you don't need to mask it with a slower burning fuel.

Even today some of the guys (the smart ones anyways!) running the RX-2's in Nc grab normal non ethanol 91 octane pump fuel where they can, just no need for anything else.

Originally posted by Derrwint
It was in Sports Sedans so yeah looks like a ducktail style wing. Never seen a pic of this car at that stage of life before so it would be good to find more.

RX-3's gained flared guards and front spoiler for Group C racing in late 1979/1980.  

Edited by Derrwint, 07 December 2014 - 20:41.

Where'd you get that first photo Derrwint, the one of Barry Jones and Bo Seton at Amaroo? 'Cause it's one of mine.

Bruce Moxon

Bruce can speak for himself, but, just because a Google search brings something up, that does not mean automatic free use or loss of copyright...

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 07 December 2014 - 10:25.

I'm okay with it, but some less-than scrupulous types have been selling prints of photos I'd shared on a forum - possibly the same on you got this from.

I was just wondering, really.

BM

It's a shame to have to watermark images, but if people can't respect other peoples work and try to make money on-selling them then it becomes necessary.

Totally agree that just because something is out there in the public domain, it doesn't mean it's open slather to use it for financial gain without permission.

Did the Kogge car have a duck tail? a problem with its boot? or is it something on the track?

Amazingly found another pic of thew Kogge car from the rear, BIG ducktail!

And a very similar Ken James RX-3.

Amazingly found another pic of thew Kogge car from the rear, BIG ducktail!

 

A few familiar cars in that pic. I reckon Jarrets QH Camaro. Peter Finch Pizza Hut HQ. Kogge obviuosly, the Mini whose drivers name I cannot remeber and possibly Murray Carter in the Falcon

Jim Myhill RX-3.

Edited by Derrwint, 12 January 2015 - 22:04.

Posted for artracing

The Jim Myhill RX3 is the ex John Bundy 'Cleanaway' car pictured in one of the photos above, and it started life as the Barry Lee RX3 which won its class at Bathurst 79. After running it as a Group C car for a year or so Jim turned it into a Sports Sedan, and it raced mainly in Adelaide after that.

A long time ago. I forget where it went after Jim. I think Sports Sedan was right. not Jim though.  Maybe Bob Piper? If so I hit it!!! first time out with my Torana early 80s when the steering rack broke. You never know what you will get with a used race car!

Jim bought a RX7  12A Tourer which ended up with the Finniss clan.

 He is still dabbling with his late Magna Production car. I saw him at Willunga hill hillclimb. Though he has recently sold his REAL Sports Sedan, the ex Colin Morris, Rob Smith FJ that he only owned for about 35 years! Mind you he has had the Magna about 15 years

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 13 January 2015 - 06:54.

Jim turned it into a SS and raced it that way till the RX7 came along.  Looking at the logbook and my old notes as I type....... Bob Piper never owned it.

John

Jim turned it into a SS and raced it that way till the RX7 came along.  Looking at the logbook and my old notes as I type....... Bob Piper never owned it.

 

John

Ok. Jim would have raced it as a Sports Sedan, not changed it. though I cannot remember him racing it locally ever. A very good driver but not very mechanicaly minded.

Quite a few GpC cars raced as Sports Sedans in that era. Some even raced with full trim still.

Posted for artracing

The Jim Myhill RX3 is the ex John Bundy 'Cleanaway' car pictured in one of the photos above, and it started life as the Barry Lee RX3 which won its class at Bathurst 79. After running it as a Group C car for a year or so Jim turned it into a Sports Sedan, and it raced mainly in Adelaide after that.

Photo by Bruce Moxon.

Edited by Derrwint, 14 January 2015 - 18:48.

Ahem...

Another of mine. Glad I could help.

BM

Ahem...
 
Another of mine. Glad I could help. 
 
BM

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 14 January 2015 - 11:07.

Apologies Bruce, there was no reference or watermark on the pic so I had no idea where it came from, otherwise I would have asked before posting/credited it. I seem to have a shocking hit rate of finding random pics that belong to Bruce 

Edited by Derrwint, 14 January 2015 - 18:52.

Bruce, it would help if you could confirm picture taken at Oran Park...date would be excellent.

Yes, Oran Park. I think it was about March 1980.

BM

Bit of a long shot but do any photos exist of an RX-2 with these Simmons? Seen plenty of RX-3 pics wearing them but not RX-2's.

I'm still looking for a set of these in 13" 4x110 pattern if anyone knows any around that might be for sale.

I sold a set of the above Simmons not sure of the PCD to 

3 / 20 Crescent St, Granville NSW 2142

about 5 years ago Daren

Yeah all the pics I've ever seen have them running 13x5.5" RX-4 rims in 1973 at best, I don't think I've seen one pic of an RX-2 running alloys back then.

I suspect that just about any rim that old will be past its use by date. If purchasing them to use have a VERY good look at the centres and the rims. And spin them on a balancer to check if the rims are still reasonably round.A lot of those old race wheels are very buggered.

The Simmons castings were heat-treated aluminium...

Not magnesium.

At well over 30 years old they still crack. I have seem more than a few of all brands. And the poor rims have been pounded, tyres forced on instead of wound on and off

Great old poster of the Tony Farrell RX-3.

Awesome pic of the Grice RX-3, posted on the SS Auto Memorabilia facebook page.

Lukey Heights would seem right, looks like he's been driving by braille!

I clearly remember a White R100 getting sideways at the top of the Eastern Loop at Lakeside and rolling multiple times til it was a useless pile of scrap.

 

But I can't remember the driver's name ? - I think he returned to racing with an RX-3 about 6 months later.

 

 

Driver was John Wharton - 

These brilliant pics of the Grice RX-3 were posted up on the SS Auto Memorabilia page https://www.facebook...automemorabilia

Mike Ward who was working for K-MAC in the mid '70's sent the photos in of the Allan Grice Craven Mild RX3 on the wheel alignment bench and the "transporter".

Edited by Derrwint, 18 February 2015 - 19:31.

Note the what was common in the day piece of hose to put some air in the drivers face.

And these days they race with all the windows fixed up! And wonder why drivers get ill. Very dumb really.

Though the piece of hose could be dangerous too, a friend used it and ended up with a bee in his face! Not nice. Lucky he was not allergic.

I always used a 'half' window with a small kickout. It let in enough air and let out most of the excess heat.

Though with a Mazda the exhaust temp will fry your feet.