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


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#201 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 February 2015 - 23:20

Originally posted by Derrwint
.....Mike Ward who was working for K-MAC in the mid '70's sent the photos..... and the "transporter".
 
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"Tow car", I'd say in these circumstances...

Usually their "support vehicle" when using their normal transporter.

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#202 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 19 February 2015 - 04:25

"Tow car", I'd say in these circumstances...

Usually their "support vehicle" when using their normal transporter.

My thoughts too,, though maybe for Amaroo it would be ideal.

Gricey was based at Amaroo.



#203 gouldo

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 04:18

Got a question about the exhausts on the rotary engines. I remember seeing a tip on a number of rx2/3/4 cars that quiet ended the noise down a fair bit. I don't remember what they were called, but it looked like a gold coloured tip with a number of fins or valves that could be added too depending on how noisy the cars were. Super trap is a name that rings a bell, but does anyone know for sure what they were called or what they looked like?

#204 Derrwint

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 04:34

They were made by Supertrapp, I know a few people that used them on road cars with ported engines, waste of time. Too few discs and they were sort of quiet but killed power, add enough discs (less restriction) not to kill power and they were just as noisy, everyone I know went back to simple off the shelf "as big as you could fit under the back" truck style mufflers.

 

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#205 Derrwint

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 06:45

I know someone looking for good pictures of the Lee/Gates RX-3 as raced at Bathurst in 1979, particularly side shot s clearly showing any signage, would anyone have any they could share? Autopiocs have three but don't show enough side detail.

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#206 gouldo

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 09:57

That's them, thanks mate

#207 artracing

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 12:20

Darren, as you are aware we have the Lee/Gates car up here.  Autopics have quite a lot more than 3 photos of it; if you search their full Bathurst collection there are from memory around 20 that we have bought from David on the car.  Hopefully not someone trying to recreate it.

 

John



#208 Derrwint

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 21:51

Hey John, they are trying to create a near as possible look-a-like for R Factor which is a racing video game, and have suggested they try Autopics too as I know their collection is extensive, much greater than just what's shown online. http://img.prntscr.c...com/KACxd91.png

 

With replica's, not much anyone can do if someone wants to build one, it's not illegal and doesn't devalue the real thing, and without a log book and some serious proof you'd never get one through as a genuine Group C car, it's hard enough getting the real things through if anything is suss!

 

The problem is these RX-3's are very popular, genuine Grp C one's are very limited, and people either hoard them with no realistic chance of ever finishing/racing them so they never see the light of day again, or they want plain crazy money for them even in rough shape.


Edited by Derrwint, 19 April 2015 - 21:57.


#209 275 GTB-4

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 22:18

Hey John, they are trying to create a near as possible look-a-like for R Factor which is a racing video game, and have suggested they try Autopics too as I know their collection is extensive, much greater than just what's shown online.


and the sad part about Autopics (terrific website that it is) is the collection still to be catalogued and made available!

#210 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 19 April 2015 - 23:09

They were made by Supertrapp, I know a few people that used them on road cars with ported engines, waste of time. Too few discs and they were sort of quiet but killed power, add enough discs (less restriction) not to kill power and they were just as noisy, everyone I know went back to simple off the shelf "as big as you could fit under the back" truck style mufflers.

 

0e546581_sc-elite640x480.jpg

Traps were used extensively in speedway on Sprinters, Midgets and sedans. 20 years ago they were the best. Seemingly surpassed now.

Mazdas have always had a HUGE problem with exhaust temperatures and used to have the things near white hot,, where no muffler works properly. The rotary midgets of the time,, on methanol, used to have the mufflers glowing and on occasion even blowing molten bits out the exhaust. Road race cars were no better. Night races would clearly show red hot exhausts, that in 6 lap races.

This is one of the many problems associated with rotarys and appears still to be.



#211 artracing

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 08:30

Darren, not saying that people shouldn't make replicas, some of them are better than the originals!  I have no problem with people painting cars to look like whatever they want, and its great to replicate cars that are missing.  Just worried when people ask questions like that; have already had the situation where a person replicated the previous 'form' of one of my Group C cars thinking that the car didn't exist anymore, and not realising that the car had been updated and kept racing as the next 'model' on and with a different owner; the replica owner claimed to have the original, not with CAMS but just in public.  Makes the C of D process harder. 

 

John



#212 Derrwint

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 08:42

Totally agree with you, "claiming" a replica as the real thing is dishonest, immoral, and creates a raft of issues especially if the real thing exists.



#213 Derrwint

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Posted 31 August 2015 - 06:24

This is slightly off topic, but I have no idea what would be a better place to ask, as I know there are a lot of ex journalists here and avid photographers who may just have what I am looking for.

Would anybody have a picture of Rex Mossop’s (yes the football player and commentator) Series II RX 7, circa 1984/85, that was fitted with a slightly smaller flare kit than the Moffat RX 7, and a wide set of 15 inch Simmons wheels with gold centres.

I know this is a long shot, but if someone has a picture of this car it would be greatly appreciated.



#214 brucemoxon

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Posted 27 November 2015 - 21:41

Another typical Amaroo Park meeting with quite a few RX-3's present.

 

Pics by Mick Riordan

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That's Paul McDonnell getting around Peter McLeod. And if that's the colour of McLeod's car, then this is 1980. Bob Holden is further up the grid.

Let's see who we've got. That's Terry Daly on the front row, next to Steve Masterton. Graeme Bailey and Colin Bond share row two, then Peter Williamson and Barry Jones. Next are Bob Morris in the Gemini (is that the one Seldo raced?) and one of the Craft family. Then Peter Dane in the RX3 and Bob Holden, Mick O'Hehir (?) in another RX3, Phil Parsons in the ex Lakis Manticas and Terry Shiel Capri, Chris Heyer's Golf, McLeod, an RX3 I don't recognise, Richard Vorst (?) in the ex Haehnle four-door RX3 (again, I think that's the car - the silver and yellow one) and Allan Grice at the very back in the BMW. I don't know who's in the Alfa or the other Gemini.

 

 

 

Bruce Moxon

 

An update. I'm reliably informed (by the person driving the car) that the RX3 driver I couldn't identify is Shane Cowham.

 

Shane's still racing, in Queensland Trans-Am.

 

 

Bruce Moxon



#215 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 27 November 2015 - 22:18

 

Another typical Amaroo Park meeting with quite a few RX-3's present.

 

Pics by Mick Riordan

MR042-3_zps2856e7e0.jpg

mr3314.jpg

mr3235.jpg

That's Paul McDonnell getting around Peter McLeod. And if that's the colour of McLeod's car, then this is 1980. Bob Holden is further up the grid.

Let's see who we've got. That's Terry Daly on the front row, next to Steve Masterton. Graeme Bailey and Colin Bond share row two, then Peter Williamson and Barry Jones. Next are Bob Morris in the Gemini (is that the one Seldo raced?) and one of the Craft family. Then Peter Dane in the RX3 and Bob Holden, Mick O'Hehir (?) in another RX3, Phil Parsons in the ex Lakis Manticas and Terry Shiel Capri, Chris Heyer's Golf, McLeod, an RX3 I don't recognise, Richard Vorst (?) in the ex Haehnle four-door RX3 (again, I think that's the car - the silver and yellow one) and Allan Grice at the very back in the BMW. I don't know who's in the Alfa or the other Gemini.

 

 

 

Bruce Moxon

 

An update. I'm reliably informed (by the person driving the car) that the RX3 driver I couldn't identify is Shane Cowham.

 

Shane's still racing, in Queensland Trans-Am.

 

 

Bruce Moxon

 

What is a 3.5 litre BMW doing in a 3 litre race? practicing?



#216 Catalina Park

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Posted 28 November 2015 - 04:47

What is a 3.5 litre BMW doing in a 3 litre race? practicing?

It was a 3.5 litre race. For commercial reasons the category got a capacity increase the same time that the BMW team got a 3.5 litre car. Coincidence?

#217 brucemoxon

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Posted 28 November 2015 - 06:58

I now realise this must have been  1981,  the first year of the BMW



#218 Catalina Park

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Posted 28 November 2015 - 07:33

I might still have the programme.

#219 Catalina Park

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Posted 28 November 2015 - 07:49

I found the programme for the opening round, 9th of March. It wasn't this meeting.

The BMW wasn't entered, I recall it wasn't ready but there was a Rover driven my Milton Leslight which went pretty well but never turned up again. That might have been because the Rover 3500 engine capacity wasn't under 3.5 litres!

I will see if I have any more programmes.

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#220 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 28 November 2015 - 22:59

Now,, if they had came forward a few years  you could have raced your HQ in the big time. On slicks and with a 4 speed!

Though I am surprised noone ran an XU1, there must have been a few around still in that time.



#221 Catalina Park

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Posted 29 November 2015 - 10:34

Now,, if they had came forward a few years  you could have raced your HQ in the big time. On slicks and with a 4 speed!

I did run my HQ with slicks and a 4 speed at Amaroo, and with XU-1 carbies and diff too. The scrutineers got quite a shock.

#222 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 29 November 2015 - 21:46

How much faster a lap?

Someone ran a HQ here witha XU1 box and 1 1/2 SUs and was about 4 sec faster still on HQ tyres.

That was with a Avgas engine with too much compression for the more efficient intake and it blew a headgasket during its one meeting. I got roped into resealing the head.


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 30 November 2015 - 09:25.


#223 Catalina Park

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Posted 29 November 2015 - 23:01

It was about 3 seconds quicker at Amaroo, it was hard to get a good lap time, I kept getting baulked by the back marker Toranas and Mazdas.



#224 Derrwint

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Posted 29 May 2017 - 05:27

 a good little article from June 1977, featuring the Allan Bryant Precinct Performance Mazda RX3.

 

Allan_Bryant_Precinct_Performance_Mazda_



#225 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 29 May 2017 - 20:15

As a matter of interest is there an RX3 still racing with the original bodyshell? Most seem to have been crashed and quite a few ended up as Sports Sedans.

RX7s were a little better though like all GpCs have all had massive rebuilds.



#226 Derrwint

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Posted 30 May 2017 - 04:25

 I know of at least a couple of genuine Group C RX3's that are still the same shell from the pre-1985 era, but yes quite a lot were involved in accidents which required a shell swap, some of the log books do note these swaps, so as long as it was all done properly there are generally no issues.

 

A lot of these cars were worth minimal historic value once the group C era finished, and yes lots were converted into sports sedans or club cars with no regard to maintaining any of their competition history.

 

I would say there are quite a few cars of many makes out there that are a bit like "grandpa's axe".