That was a tremendous thrill I'll always remember and I wrote about the adventure here on.

With our FCM Elite suspension in place and feeling a natural connection with the car, I eeked out a win at the 2011 SCCA National Tour at Packwood, WA in the 17-driver deep STX class. During product development in 2011, I co-drove a customer's STX-class RX-8 at several NW region SCCA regional and then National autocross events. Prior to working on Alberto's FD, I had designed suspensions for several RX-8s and an FC RX-7 used for SCCA National Solo autocross (with no sway bars!). It captured a following and much respect from many journalists and car enthusiasts Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame praised the RX-8's handling dynamics and the smooth, high-revving Wankel rotary that distinguishes the R-badged Mazda cars. Unfortunately, Mazda discontinued RX-7 sales in the US in the late 1990s but in 2004 introduced the Mazda RX-8. After the run finished and I caught my breath, a single thought arose: 'I want one!!'

The sound of the motor was unlike anything I'd been in and I was amazed at the responsiveness and grip. I was at a local San Francisco region SCCA autocdross and asked for a ride-along in a new FD RX-7, piloted by Vernon Head. Connecting with him gave me flashbacks of a singular experience I had with an FD in 1996. So settle in, hold on, and get ready to see and understand why our FCM Elite-tuned Bilstein monotube dampers with our proprietary Kerb Blow Off (KBO) and innovative Ripple Reducer technologies, plus damping and gas pressure optimizing techniques, are literally and figuratively the Final Answer!Īlberto first contacted me several years ago to see if we improve the suspension on his twin-turbo 1993 Mazda RX-7 (or 'FD' as the chassis is known). I'm going to put a lot of detail on this project page, plus more commentary on our blog 'The Perfect Ride'. it is so utterly unlike anything I have driven before' (and yes, he also drove Ohlins DFV before!). In his own words, he tried at least 7 different suspension setups and finds ours 'just so supple while preserving the FDs awesome handling and steering feel.

This is a project I've waited a very long time to do and it's only recently all the elements have come together in my understanding to deliver this ultimate suspension package that Alberto is now enjoying. Elite Projects and Consulting for Corporate clients.Elite Projects and Consulting for Individual clients.Submit an Elite Project form for your vehicle.

Fat cat motorsports review