September 2008 Ride of the Month - mazdamaniac (Winner of RX-8 Month)!

[P71]

Year, model, mods, etc
Its a 2004 Mazda RX-8 GT (6-port motor, 6-speed tranny, leather, sunroof, power stuff, etc.)

Modification List:

Engine Modifications:
Custom Turbo System – Garrett GT3071R water-cooled & ball-bearing, MazdaSpeed V2 sport exhaust, BillyBoat Racing midpipe, custom 32”x12” intercooler, HKS V2 Super-Sequential blow-off valve, 290/480/730 staged injectors, Sohn oil metering adapter, BHR radiator, B&M secondary radiator, 2.5” aluminum cold-side intake pipes, AEM CAI, Greddy Profec E-01 boost controller, Innovate LC-1 wideband O2 controller, Koso EGT display, AEM water/methanol injection system, BHR LS-coil ignition system, MSD 8.5mm plug wires

Engine Management:
Cobb AccessPORT – Custom MazdaManiac tuning

Drivetrain:
OEM clutch and flywheel, OEM helical rear differential w/ 4.44 gears

Suspension:
AutoEXE springs, Bilstein shocks

Wheels, Tires, Brakes:
Ray's G-Games Wolf 77 2-piece forged 19 x 8-Inch (F) and 19 x 9-Inch (R) staggered fitment wheels, Nitto NT-555 Extreme tires, Hawk HPS pads, Brembo slotted/cross-drilled rotors

Exterior:
MazdaSpeed front bumper, side skirts, and wing, GT Factory vertical door conversion, modified billet aluminum fuel door, rear OEM aero flares, rear rotary accent, billet aluminum fender strakes, Greddy air diverter, Meziere polished aluminum overflow, washer & oil supply tanks, Greddy catch can

Interior:
Custom Car PC - MP3/DVD/GPS-NAV/LAN/CANScan, Xenarc 7” XVGA touch screen, Car2PC controller, Hymee sCANalyzer CAN bus monitoring system, Axial Flow Engineering short shifter, Petit radio knob, Infinity Bass-Link powered subwoofer, color-matched e-brake handle and console compartment covers, rear-mounted battery


Questions to the owner:

Q: Congratulations for winning Ride of the Month! Tell us about how you acquired this car?
A: Thanks! I bought it new in October of 2003. I had known I was going to be buying an RX-8 since 2001 when I first saw the Evolve concept. I actually bought the first mods (AutoEXE lowering springs and the OE side skirts) several months before I bought the car!

Q: How did you first become interested in modified cars? Have you had any previously?
A: I've modified every car I've ever owned - right from my 1970 Impala back in 1983. I've had dozens of cars and I've turbocharged all of the non-turbo models that I've owned since my 1987 Honda Accord LXi hatchback, which was also my first new car.

Q: Whats the biggest reason you chose a rotary powered car to modify?
A: Because it was the motor in the RX-8. It could have been a V8 for all I cared - as long as the car looked and performed as it does.

Q: Is this car your daily driver? Do you participate in any form of racing? (Drag, Auto-X, etc)
A: I drive it every day (it has 82k miles on it now) and it is Auto-x'ed every month and does at least one road-race/track day a month. I'd do more if there were more events available to me. Drag racing is boring.

Hey! No it's not!

Q: What do you enjoy most about your car?
A: It gives me a definite sense of "synchonicity" when I am driving it. Most cars feel like a tool, in that you must work it to produce a result. The RX-8 feels more like a partner when you drive it.

Q: Do you have any future plans for the car, or any car?
A: I'm pretty much done with the RX-8; its the way I want it. I'll probably continue to tweak the turbo system for more power, but that's about it. Its already been in Modified (Jan 2008) is about to appear in Fast-Fours magazine.
My next car will be a Factory Five GTM.

Oooh, great minds think alike!

Q: Any other hobbies besides cars?
A: I was a professional musician in the DC area for 22 years and I build performing robots for trade shows. Not really anything else I have time to do!

Q: Anyone you'd like to thank?
A: In no particular order:
Niki, Ray, Erick, Eric, Todd, Michele, Sean, Shawn, Shaun, Karl, Dave, Dave, Robbie, John, Brian, Gabe, Jason, Jason, Phil, Jorge, Sue, Tim, Scott, Scott and all of my AZMC brothers and sisters.

*cough* And of course P71 for doing the ROTM's!

Additional photos:

[Mirage]

Sick...congrats man

[Herblenny]

Congrats!! Looks awesome!! I think we should feature this car for RCCD.. what you guys think?

[P71]

Absolutely feature-worthy!

Also, sticky this please? Thanks!

[P71]

Can I get the banner updated to the September ROTM please? Thanks!

[Mirage]

Nah, I like seeing my car there

[Phoenix7]

[dregg100]

numbers?

[estevan62274]

Nice 8! Well deserved !! I love that car!

[RCCAZ 1]

Congrats to Jeff (MM)!!! Incredible guy (and car). I feel extremely fortunate to have him local (Phoenix). He's a true asset, and just a heluva lot of fun to hang around.

[Phoenix7]

hmmmmmm, I just saw this car on the front page, had to come in to let you know it still looks pimp.

[REnthusiaSTS]

That's a NICE-@SS EIGHT!!!

Engine bay looks trippy 'bro...

[Mirage]

I really like that the Mazdaspeed bumper looks kinda similar to the GTC bumper on the FD. It kind of gives the RX-8 a little bit of family resemblance on the skin

[Herblenny]

I would like to feature this car but we need all NEW pictures... Jeff, can you get them to me?? Also, unlike some magazines, RCC-D will go all over the world... So far we have 20-30% download from Australia.

[RCCAZ 1]

Phil,

Why not just take some pics of Jeff's ride Sevenstock weekend? We're rolling in Friday afternoon and will be there until Sunday. See you at the hotel bar!