Don Sherman experimented a bit to find the right launch RPM
to side step the clutch for the best 0-60 and 1/4 mile time.

3500 launch RPM was about right for the pre production prototype
we had. 5000 launch RPM caused a bit of wheel chatter that can be
fixed with a bit more tuning of the hardness of the various
rear suspension rubber bushings. 5000 or above launch RPM's
would give better RX8 times I suspect.

In both cases the the rubber strips on the pavement were about
16 to 18 feet long on launch and about 10 or 12 feet on the shift
from first to second. This of course was with the six speed gear
box.
0-60 times were about 6.8 seconds. The 2 passenger Datsun Z was a
bit
quicker with its much larger 3.5 liter motor and the six cylinder
3.5 L BMW 330ci was also a bit quicker. Both in the range of 6.5
seconds. Both piston engines however seemed to run out of steam at
around 4500 to 5500 while the RX8 engine kept pulling strongly up
to its 9000 RPM red line. The RX8 rev limiter cuts in at 9300 RPM.

We weighed the cars on a local truck scale and the RX8 came out at
30020 pounds with a full tank of gas.

Mazda ought to build some three and four rotor cars as well and be
done
with it. I am not sure if the world is ready for a 200 mph car
however. We would probably hear howls of protest from the
wackos and the greens.

That is my Gold 1st gen RX7 and the Datsun Z car in the background.

Paul Lamar

        30,020 #, 15 ton car ?? Virg

Virgil N. Salisbury AMSOIL
WWW.LUBEDEALER.COM/SALISBURY

Opps an extra zero found its way in the there. Must be a computer glitch :)
Should be 3020.

Paul Lamar
 
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