> I just watched the Star Mazda road race at
> Road Atlanta on the Speed channel. 50 open wheel road racing
> cars all with stock RX8 low power (four port) rotaries. This is
> the most exciting open wheel road racing there is.
> Formula one is boring by comparison.
> Many of the drivers are under 20 years old. The lap times are
> right up there with some of the fastest road racing
> cars in the world. Imagine what a turbo charged Mazda
> rotary engine would do. Since this is a spec class
> they could make the rear wings wider and go even faster.
>
> For all you people in northern Californian that cannot not
> make it to Seven Stock or Copper State flyin the next race
> will be at Monterey Oct. 19th 21st. Next weekend. This is
> a must see event. I am going to talk the boss into going :)
>
> http://www.starmazda.com/
>
> BTW Not once did the Speed channel mention the engines
> were rotaries or stock RX8 engines. Mazda Competition
> ought to get on their case about that. Come on guys
> this is a good way to sell RX8's. The cars sometimes
> race for years without changing the engine. Unheard
> of in other forms of racing.
>
> Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.
Back when I used to live in Monterey county, I never missed the Star
Mazda races at Laguna Seca.  Be sure to get a pit pass if you go.
You can get right next to the cars and talk to  the drivers an
mechanics.   Jerry
Thanks for the tip Jerry.
Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

I'd never even heard of this before, but it sure looks like something
I'd like to watch.  How much do one of those cars cost, I wonder ??

George Ulicny


My guess is $70,000 plus or minus $30,000 less the $5000 engine :)
--  Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.

It used to be that all of the cars were owned by Star Mazda and
leased to the teams.  This guaranteed the cars were equal and held
the cost down.  I think the engines were maintained by Star as part
of the deal.  I don't know if this is still the set up or not.
Amongst the young hot rods, there were several older guys driving who
were living out a long time dream.   Jerry

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