The Nismo "coppermix" clutch never misses the action, and the Nismo GT Pro TT limited-slip differential doesn't clunk or exhibit any problems distributing power. The entire car is dialed in. Any discerning drifter wants a set of the remote-reservoir-equipped Nismo dampers. Combined with Nismo bushings and suspension links, the damper set provides incredible body control and performance, yet still absorbes some hard high-speed bumps.
The exterior work on the R-Tune S15 is equally impressive. The Nismo full aerodynamic body kit features a very large front opening-perfect for intercoolers and air guides. The kit follows around to the rear of the car, flowing smoothly with the lines of the S15, rather than trying to change the shape. Don't even ask about the inside. Without interior or luxuries, this is a competition car in the same vein as a D1 pro car. Start harassing your local Nissan parts department to see if they can score you these Nismo parts, or check it out at www.nismo.co.jp.
Rotaryheads Invade Mazda R&D For Sevenstock 7
It was a Saturday; the workweek was over, and the rotary people came out to play. Swarming Mazda R&D in Irvine, Calif., nearly 6,000 Mazda enthusiasts showed up for the seventh incarnation of the Sevenstock show, some arriving nearly four hours before the gates opened. Featuring RX-3s, RX-7s, RX-8s, and a veritable stable of historic Mazda racecars, Sevenstock 7 was one of the best in a long line of Sevenstock gatherings. There were many nearly mint cars belonging to both attendees and vendors. It shows just how anal Mazda people really are. More than just a car show, Sevenstock is a gathering of all things rotary.
On hand was the #7 1979 IMSA GTU, a first-gen RX-7 (in fact, the first racing RX-7 ever designed) that won the Daytona 24-hour race. Also making a presence was the #1 1991 IMSA GTO champion RX-7, the 1984 Le Mans Lola T616s (with drivers Jim Busby, Rick Knoop, John Morton, Yoshimi Katayama, and crew chief Jim Mederer), the Racing Beat Bonneville FD, the #00 1973 RX-2, and-after a brief hiatus from Sevenstock-the Le Mans-conquering 787B. The 787B was the overall winner in 1991 at the historic 24-hour race and the only Japanese car to ever win Le Mans. This four-rotor beast was shipped straight from Japan for all to see. Refreshed and utterly striking in person, the 787B stands as a reminder of just how beautiful closed cockpit Prototype-class cars can be.
Mere hours into the show, the 787B was fired up and its ear-demolishing roar rang out in a five-block radius. You haven't lived until you've stood close to a car like this, felt the sonic shockwave and viewed the smoke and fire burst forth as the engine exceeds 10000 rpm. Surprisingly, the cops didn't give exhaust noise tickets to the 787B team; they seemed to enjoy the ruckus too.
The most impressive aspect of Sevenstock wasn't the massive throng of fans or the historic racecars either; it is the organization. Without entrance fees or aid from Mazda, but with a host of unpaid volunteers, the event was motivated by rotary love. The silent charity auction alone raised more than $10,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund International Charity. But with attendance and scheduling needs far outpacing the Mazda R&D facility, will there be a Sevenstock 8?