2002 Mazda RX 7

Loosely defined, sociology is the study of individuals. From a macro view, it defines the character of a nation. So what does it say about the Japanese society during the '90s-while the U.S. was engrossed in the Civic nation-that rallied its drums to engineering feats such as the FD? So cult-like is the RX-7 following, that sales figures in Japan dwarfed those of the U.S. (a country with twice its population), and sightings are almost as ubiquitous as a McDonalds. It makes sense for such a logic driven society like Japan's that the RX-7 was, and remains, endearing to the national consciousness.

To review, the iconic car is a triumph of engineering; its heart-a no valve, no piston, twin wankel, turbocharged engine-is a 1.3L marvel. To complement the rotary is a structurally sound, and equally advanced chassis, which includes a low-slung, front engine position, and extensive use of lightweight alloys, resulting in a respectable 2,822 lb curb weight for the baseline 252 hp push around. While the U.S. only received the Series 6 version, domestically, Series 7 and 8 (branded Efini RX-7) continued selling well into 2002, and are still seen in various forms of racing today; particularly N1 Super Taikyu and the all important Time Attack... excuse me... Super Lap Battle series, as it's known now.

Auto Craft Kyoto is a small, four-bay, three-hoist tuning garage in southern Kyoto. Headed by pro-driver Masanaga Shirahige, AC-Kyoto can be credited for the creation of such visually arresting pieces as the VeilSide Fortune RX-7 (of Tokyo Drift fame), and more recently, the TAS show-stopping RX-7.8 (2NR cover, August 2008). But if you ask me, I like a woman not of just beauty but of substance, my meals to be as delicious as they appear, and to have world peace... but now's not the time to discuss that. Behold AC-Kyoto's time-attack RX-7. At a minute-fourty-one (albeit in wet conditions), this '02 model FD currently is the overall winner of the Tuning Festa event at Okayama circuit.

It sort of makes sense why on such a large, balls-to-wall, former Formula 1 circuit (2.3 miles, compared to Tsukuba's 1.2) an FD would dominate such an event. In contrast to the EVO, which holds the current lap record at Tsukuba, what the FD does best is offer stability at high speeds. Thus, to enhance the natural attributes of this bronze beauty, AC-Kyoto was to add a down force generating exterior package that matches its 500 hp brawn. It starts with a C-West aerodynamics kit, fitted with AC-Kyoto three-piece canards, and is topped off with an M-Sports carbon hood, original under-tray and diffuser, and Voltex GT Wing. Drag is addressed via smaller Craft-Square mirrors.

The long straights of Okayama circuit create triple digit speeds, and thus, one must brake hard before turning. Adding function to form is a set of wide, bronze 17x9.5 Volk CE28Ns, wearing super sticky Advan A050 tires, sized at 255/40-17. Combined, they frame a set of AP Racing 6-piston calipers up front, matched with 4-piston rears. Now with the FD, Mazda engineers did such an awesome job on brake balance that many professional race teams (including N1) decided to leave the stock diameter rotors alone. Not so on this RX-7. Upon swapping the stock unit for their own master cylinder, Shirahige deployed a set of 330 mm front rotors and 315 mm in the rear, careful to keep it proportional to OE brake sizes. Once the issue of braking was addressed, a set of proprietary AC-Kyoto Aragosta remote reservoir coilovers, with front and rear 18 kg springs, was employed for the corners, and AC-Kyoto spherical linkages were swapped for stock units. The Aragosta (sounds like a strip bar) pieces have 12-way adjustable rebound and compression settings.