Heading out job hunting I'm on the interstate (I-275 S from N. Tampa) and I noticed an RX7 way up ahead. It's black and wearing one of the oval type of wings similar to those of the last Eclipse GS-T and GSXs. As I get closer I notice he has exhaust. Traffic is moderate, but not very friendly to making rapid progress so I just tuck in about five car lengths behind the RX7.

After a bit the right lane opens up and I hear the RX7's exhaust announcing his intent to take the hole. He's going, I drop to third and follow not losing any ground. He lets off in fairly short order, I let off and coast to about three lengths behind him. He's definitely noticed me now, if he hadn't already.

I'm watching traffic and see that we are going to have some room in the right lane shortly. We are doing about 70 mph.

Here's the run: In line run, RX7 leading, ~70 mph up to ~135.
I'm waiting in third and see a puff of black smoke from the RX7's exhaust so I nail the throttle. I'm sticking to him like doggy doo to your favorite shoes. In fact, I believe I closed the gap a foot or two in third. More black smoke from the RX7 indicates he shifted, I guess I shifted too but was really concentrating on the little black missile and the road ahead. Paper, cigarette butts, and other crap is flying up from the road.

It must have been about halfway through fourth when I notice the RX7 starting to pull away. Slowly at first but then as fourth finished up and I see the next puff of black smoke the RX7 has increased the gap at least a car and a half. At that point I guess I shifted to fifth and the RX7 started pulling pretty hard.

We are still in the right lane with traffic ahead, but the center lane is clear for a ways and the left is wide open. I let off with the RX7 having put about 4-5 lengths on me by about 135. The RX7 continues and goes to the open left lane a good distance before letting off. I applied the binders and dropped to sane speeds and eventually made my way over to the left lane.

He'd gotten in the center lane and as I approached on his left he rolled down his window, I hit the button for the right window for a chat. He said "That things fast!" I'm like :D I replied "That things damn fast. You got me on the top end!" We exchanged thumbs up and continued working our way through what is heavier traffic near downtown Tampa.

I got in front of him and noticed he had a body kit, or at least a front bumper, that allowed almost no air to flow under the car. As I'm taking my exit I hear him four lanes over on the other side of a truck open her up because he'd found a hole. That thing sounded damn mean!

Cool guy! Hell-of-a-run for the M Roadster. I'd love to know what people were thinking as these two little banshee's went screaming by.

Oh, speeds and gears are estimates. I honestly really don't recall shifting and I never looked down at the instruments once things got started.

Cliff notes for ADDBFC Members: In line run with the RX7 leading the way from ~70 to ~135. RX7 starts walking around ~115 FTW.

nice, so he has a more earo car with an aftermarket front and and you are driving the brick. Makes sense that he would start to pull as speeds go up (assuming fairly close power numbers)

NIce run... I swear you get into more races than anyone! I have yet to have one good run on the street in my e46 :(

nice, so he has a more earo car with an aftermarket front and and you are driving the brick. Makes sense that he would start to pull as speeds go up (assuming fairly close power numbers)

I could see the writing on the wall when I wasn't gaining on him significantly early on. I was thinking about that M50 intake in my storage closet about half-way through fourth. :stickoutt

NIce run... I swear you get into more races than anyone! I have yet to have one good run on the street in my e46 :(

no one races me either. i would like to think that its because my car looks so damn fast that everyone is scared to race me, but I'm pretty sure that's not it. Ricers, red neck muscle, new performance cars. doesn't matter, i just don't seem to get into races.

Nice run. The RX's stock are nothing to ignore, modded they can be monsters. Weight under 3k pushing 300+ whp is nothing to take lightly.
Most heavly modded one's I've seen have converted to single turbos BTW

Nice run. The RX's stock are nothing to ignore, modded they can be monsters. Weight under 3k pushing 300+ whp is nothing to take lightly.
Most heavly modded one's I've seen have converted to single turbos BTW
He wasn't heavily modified, obviously. I didn't see an FMIC or such antics.

rx7 is one bad ass sports car, i had a 93 touring pkg, awesome car, my m3 is nice, and and has a bullet proof motor, but the RX7 hands down wins in sheer driving experience and sex appeal. I would buy another but would only buy one in need of a new motor, and buy it reeeeaal cheap.

FYI, most rx7's running around are on weak motors and limited boost, i smoked a m3 and few 911's in my rx7 that was low on compression(aka, needed a new motor) the wiegh around 2700#'s plus or minus a buck and put out 255 hp, i think similiar tq........again, a mildly tuned s52 wont have much luck with a "healthy" rx7, go drive one, your m3 will feel like a 525i in comparison. I really wouldnt mind having another one.

nice run!

My friend has a highly modified 93 RX-7 Single turbo, front mount etc. Usually runs around 12-13 pounds of boost and can go up as high as 17 or 18 with the flick of some switch he has in the car. That car is an absolute beast and when he gets on it, that thing is just scary. I've driven it several times and after 3000 rpms that thing is just insane. He pulls on some pretty serious sports cars like they are standing still. Only issue with them is the reliability of the motor.

Dontcha just love it when you don't really recall the race and all you know is you were traveling at freakish speeds and having fun doin it. It's even better when you know you shifted perfectly without even glancing at your tach.....when that happens you know your car is an extention of your body and it just feels natural.

Well, I have owned a 98 M3 w/ schrick cams, full exhaust, pulley, m50 manifold, blablabla..and it was a blast to drive, plus loads of tq down low, with around 245hp/240 tq. But I have to say, owning the FD is like driving a go-cart. I bought my FD pretty much bone stock w/ just a few reliability mods, and a downpipe and exhaust, and it will just hands down rape the E36 m3 on the highway/ 1/4. Given add an ECU, intercooler and a midpipe will get you around 350rwhp, 280 tq on just stock twin turbos. Most RX-7s have stock mount intercooler which is in the engine bay, so pretty much a stock look. If you ever come across one w/ single turbo, which about 50% do on the street, you are talking about 450+ rwhp on a 2700 lb car. Most modded bmw's would never stand a chance unless you are FI. Anyway, I loved my M3, it was a solid car, and it hauls 4 people. My FD gets shitty gas miledge, stinks, and rattles here and there, but it is just a rare exotic one of a kind.... have fun.

What were your 1/4 numbers, ARCpolo?

he ran a 12.8 on dr's, trapping around 112mph, i think.

What were your 1/4 numbers, ARCpolo?

he ran a 12.8 on dr's, trapping around 112mph, i think.
I'd guess this guy would trap a little better than me with a higher ET. So high 13's with low 100's. That's a pretty good trap you are pulling in the M3. My best is 101, of course my best ET is three tenths lower than yours. ;)

RX7's weigh 2700 pounds. It only takes about 500rwhp and they are very very fast at that level.

My friend has one with an LS-1 Swap and it was in the low 11's.

I want to make love with that Supra^

My friend has one with an LS-1 Swap and it was in the low 11's.

Now that's what I'm talking about. :D

Nice run, I've always liked the looks of the last gen RX7.

NIce run... I swear you get into more races than anyone! I have yet to have one good run on the street in my e46 :(

:wave

:wave


wazzup :wave

wasn't there a story on here a while ago about i think a 600+ whp FD that got taken by a touareg?

I'd guess this guy would trap a little better than me with a higher ET. So high 13's with low 100's. That's a pretty good trap you are pulling in the M3. My best is 101, of course my best ET is three tenths lower than yours. ;)

so ur at mid 13's? nice. roadsters are pretty quick cars, ran one a few years ago that was stock and it definitely pulled on me w/ my current set up. i was able to trap at 102 2 weeks ago so the car is running great w/ 140k miles, problem was traction as i was almost always spinning first gear.

so ur at mid 13's? nice. roadsters are pretty quick cars, ran one a few years ago that was stock and it definitely pulled on me w/ my current set up. i was able to trap at 102 2 weeks ago so the car is running great w/ 140k miles, problem was traction as i was almost always spinning first gear.
Hit 13.5. Waiting for a nice cool day to take it back to the 1/4, hoping to cut a couple of more tenths off.

I want to make love with that Supra^

LOL thanks...I think...hehe:devillook