Biggest bang for rotary bucks ever?

[70sRX4]

Hi people,

My LogIn name refers to my first ownership and love of a rotary-powered vehicle.

My current rotary-powered vehicle is far more exciting and powerful (massive power to weight!) than that fondly-remembered ancestor.

Pics and details here: www.3tracing.co.uk
More specifics here: www.nova-racing.com
And some good video here: www.karting1.co.uk/wankel-kart-test.htm

I’ve raced Formula Ford in the past, but this is a far bigger blast.

What interest might there be, I wonder, in some sort of joint event with RX cars? A joint track day perhaps? – Show me the RX car to beat this (ok, ok, on a tightish circuit anyway)! Leaving such light-hearted aspects aside, it certainly must be one of the more affordable ways for rotary enthusiasts to appreciate high-performance wankel engines on track.

In reference to threads further down here, incidentally, these engines are apparently also used in drone aircraft.

[travellinbob]

Nice one! It was me that found the article on the rotary powered kart and think that they are a seriously awesome piece of kit. POst up a bit more info on your kart, costs, availibility etc as I reckon others would be interested and it could be cool telling others more about a different incarnation of the rotory engine.
cheers,michael.

[oldone]

Nice one! It was me that found the article on the rotary powered kart and think that they are a seriously awesome piece of kit. POst up a bit more info on your kart, costs, availibility etc as I reckon others would be interested and it could be cool telling others more about a different incarnation of the rotory engine.
cheers,michael.
Ditto that and pics of your Rx4........:cool :cheers

[70sRX4]

OK, well have a look at these new clips:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5A539DAAC7C2E175
Very short, but especially the first one will give you some idea of just how FAST these things are. At the point where the kart passes the camera it will only have had about 30 meters out of the previous corner, and by then is probably doing about 80 mph, going well past 100 by the end of the straight. A complete outfit costs about £6500. Chassis are available anytime; the engine has a wait list of about a month.
The biggest running cost is tyres. This kind of performance demands super sticky racing rubber that will only give you about 2 hours at best (having peaked well before then) - about £120-150 per set.
As you guys will know, having an oil sump is a bit of a fig leaf for Wankels as they will consume the stuff like crazy anyway. So, also for packaging reasons, this racing motor does away with that by running on a 2-stroke type mix. Unlike 2-strokes, however, it's all combusted, so no nasty smell.

As for pics of my cherished RX4 of yesteryear - I have been meaning to have hunt around old packing boxes. Hopefully I'll find them and will then post. It was an estate, by the way - cheaper to insure and 'practical' as well as fun.

[Martiny]

R....X.......4......... ESTATE !!!! Where, oh, where is it now ???????

[70sRX4]

Gone to meet its maker long ago, I'm afraid.

[travellinbob]

AAaaaaarghhhh. An estate. Geeeez. They are like hens teeth. I found a pair of tailights for one of those things in a scrappy in oz once and have them well hidden on mates farm.
Cheers for the extra info.

[70sRX4]

Some on-board video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW3oTWZ5YQ

Not easy, getting all that power down on cold tyres – and they were knackered too by that time late in the day, meaning that the driver was at least 3 seconds off a potential pace.

[banned advertiser]

This is most most exciting form of motorsports I have ever had the pleasure to take part in, although all bloody long while ago. I use to have a cart and went with a friend (Tony Cruttenden), I only did a season, he went on to become british champion and his father who got soo engrossed in karting opened Dartford Karting, one of the biggest karting shops in UK. I believe he has now retired and sold the shop but still own Tilbury race track

[banned advertiser]

Oppssssssss. double post

[70sRX4]

Absolutely, beats Formula Ford, like I said originally.

But why the past tense? This can be enjoyed at any age, and now the Wankel takes the experience to a whole new level.

Whatever you other people do: Don’t p*ss about on public roads – get yourselves on a track in whatever shape or form!

[kiwimazda]

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19506
nuff said