Should you’ve been conserving updated with Mad Mike Whiddett’s MADMAC construct, you’ll know that the turbo 20B rotary-powered McLaren 650S GT3/P1 GTR mashup is fitted with a Rocket Bunny physique equipment. That was a given contemplating Mike and Kei Miura of TRA Kyoto have been working collectively for a really very long time. How lengthy? Nicely, this time a full decade in the past, we featured the rebirth of MADBUL – Mike’s authentic FD3S Mazda RX-7 – for its sixth-generation rebuild.
In the Mazda’s preliminary competitors spec it was re-powered by a naturally-aspirated 20B three-rotor engine, however when Mike and Crimson Bull joined forces in 2008, a naturally-aspirated 26B four-rotor discovered its manner into the chassis. That fundamental configuration has remained fixed even since. What’s modified is the best way MADBUL has appeared all through its generations, and ‘Gen 6′ was one in every of our favorites. For this week’s throwback submit, let’s revisit that function on its 10-year anniversary.
2014 Function
Should you’re an everyday Speedhunters reader, there’s a very good probability you already know what our personal Kiwi driver and a sure Japanese physique equipment designer have been as much as. The results of the MADBUL/Mad Mike x Rocket Bunny/Kei Miura collaboration? Pure awesomeness. It’s one thing additionally helped by that massive MAZDA banner throughout the entrance windscreen and rear flanks. Sure, in case you haven’t heard already, producer assist – one thing Mike has lengthy dreamed of – has lastly arrived, and the timing couldn’t be any higher.
To greatest perceive what this rebuild-of-sorts was all about, the second it was completed and rolled exterior the workshop into the daylight for the very first time, I sat down with Mike to get his tackle the reimagination of a automobile that helped put him on the drifting map.
MM: “Firstly, I’ve to say that I really feel completely privileged to have labored with Miura-san, who in my thoughts is the chief in terms of Japanese aero. Japanese model is one thing I’ve at all times aspired to have in all of my drift automobile builds, so to be given the chance to take a seat side-by-side with him and create one thing like this was really wonderful.”
It most likely got here on the proper time too, didn’t it?
MM: “The BN Sports activities Blister equipment that we’ve been operating since round ‘07 or ‘08 has at all times been, in my eyes, among the best kits out there for the FD3S RX-7. With time and pure development, and myself at all times wanting to vary issues up, I used to be prepared for one thing new and recent. So yeah, the timing couldn’t have be any higher to start this challenge with Miura-san.”
So how did you get the ball rolling?
MM: “I really began hanging out with Miura-san and Ueta-san from Ben Sopra at D1 Grand Prix occasions, and at evening they’d at all times picked me as much as go rolling of their badass road whips. Over at Gatebil final yr I obtained to take Miura-san for a couple of rides within the RX-8 after which hang around with him afterwards. Being into the identical kind of stuff, we get on rather well. He’s a super-rad dude.”
MM: “It was at Gatebil the place Rod [Chong] recommended that Miura-san and I labored with one another we might create one thing actually rad collectively. We talked about it and it kind of simply went from there. A month or so later, after one other D1GP occasion, I discovered myself at TRA Kyoto with my translator and Japanese occasion spotter, Shane from Stacked, Inc., discussing the following steps for an official collab.”
MM: “The second I walked into Miura-san’s store I knew I used to be collaborating with the suitable man. His ardour for outdated stuff may very well be seen in every single place; by the stuff mendacity across the store and the outdated magazines, and images from his kanjo racing days. Immediately we had been on the identical web page when it got here to designing some recent, outdated school-inspired Rocket Bunny aero for MADBUL. Our inspiration got here from the unique racing Mazda RXs from the ’70s.”
MM: “The method was actually cool.”Miura-san had already 3D laser-scanned a inventory FD3S Mazda RX-7, and utilizing his personal CAD software program we had been in a position so as to add my customized Nessen Cast wheels specs and one other measurements, after which begin taking part in with a couple of ideas. To get the model to work the with traces of the FD3S was an actual problem – far more difficult than I ever although it could be. I left him to it and a month or so later, whereas I used to be in Sydney for the World Time Assault Problem, the completed digital renderings got here by. After all, they had been sick!”
So why ’70s model?
MM: “I really like the whole lot about Japanese automobile styling and modifying from the ’70s and in some methods I want I had really grown up in that period. The opposite factor is, right here in New Zealand the place there’s a giant rotary scene, the FD3S is seen as a late-model automobile. Should you take a look at the vehicles of Formulation Drift right this moment although, you realise that the Mazda is definitely fairly an outdated platform now. So to me, old style styling match completely with what I wished to do.”
MM: “Additionally, the possibility to vary MADBUL as much as Gen 6 spec gave me a chance to have a look at a number of the different areas of the automobile and provides them a freshen-up too.”
Let’s discuss bringing the digital to actuality then.
MM: “As you realize, as quickly because the equipment turned up at my workshop I obtained straight into chopping panels and dummy-fitting it. Ever since I left Miura-san’s store I had been fascinated with what it could seem like in actual life, so I wasn’t going to waste a second discovering out!”
I simply can’t consider how briskly it’s all come collectively.
MM: “Yeah, between then and when the ultimate brand was utilized was solely round two weeks, so there have been a couple of late nights getting all of it collectively. I’m fortunate to have an superior staff although, and everybody was focussed on getting it executed.”
Okay, beginning on the entrance finish, let’s discuss concerning the equipment and a number of the particulars.
MM: “One of many principal issues I wished to do on the entrance was transfer away from the lengthy nostril and FD3S Collection 8-style park lights of the BN equipment and flatten it again off. The Rocket Bunny bumper has a punched-up snout that’s shorter and extra aggressive, and that provides the automobile a kind of blunt old style look, fairly than one thing too sharp and pointy, or fashionable. There are different small issues too, just like the cut-out the place the highest of the bumper joins the bonnet, which permits for extra airflow into the engine bay.”
MM: “After all, overfenders had been at all times part of the general plan – not solely as a result of that’s what Miura-san has grow to be world well-known for, but additionally as a result of I needed to have them for the old fashioned theme. As a result of this equipment is ultimately going to be made out there for anybody who needs to buy one, the massive factor was ensuring that the overfenders match on inventory FD3S fenders as soon as they’ve been lower for wheel clearance. This truth additionally allowed me to make use of some recent carbon from Seibon, which I’ve left in a uncooked state as a pleasant distinction. On the sides you possibly can see that we’ve completely gone away from the massive stepped skirt look and designed one thing that follows the door-line down and underneath the sill, fairly than protruding. Once more, this was a throwback to outdated Mazda race vehicles of the ’70s, nevertheless it additionally allowed us to set the completed peak of the equipment precisely the place we wished it.”
MM: “Seibon make 4 completely different carbon fibre bonnets for the FD3S, so we’ve added a brand new vented-style one within the combine too. I additionally removed the outdated blue and pink police patrol model lights as I assumed they had been a bit performed out now, and fitted some Japanese strobes underneath the pop-up covers.”
MM: “Trying down the aspect of the automobile in direction of the rear you get a greater concept of how the skirt follows the road of automobile after which kicks out to fulfill the fender old style model. That is fully completely different to the Toyota 86 Rocket Bunny equipment which makes use of just a little lip underneath the inventory aspect skirts and has rear overfenders that lower off midway up on the front-facing aspect. Ben at Hybrid Lab in Auckland made me some stock-style rear fenders in FRP plugged from a regular RX-7, so once more, if somebody buys this equipment for his or her FD3S sooner or later, the overfenders will bolt straight on as soon as the manufacturing facility fenders are trimmed again.”
MM: “Down the again, you possibly can see that we’re operating the total taillight set and likewise a real Mazda plastic bumper. These are super-robust and versatile, in order that they’re good for drifting. Being the identical width as the usual physique, the bumper actually accentuates the width of the overfenders too. The wing that’s on the automobile now isn’t really the one that it’ll find yourself with. Miura-san remains to be engaged on a couple of prototype elements for the automobile which embody a Ben Sopra 380X-style wing, rear diffuser, entrance under-tray and entrance bumper canards. For now although, I feel the wing works. It took me about 20 or 30 goes on the aspect plates to get the look I used to be after!”
MM: “And eventually, the livery. I had been fascinated with this for a very long time earlier than I set to work with Miura-san and the brand new Mazda sponsorship got here alongside, however I at all times knew that I wished to go for a clear and sharp search for Gen 6. Of all of the liveries I’ve had on my vehicles, my all-time favorite is the black and white Want for Pace theme we ran in USA at Formulation Drift again in 2010, so a number of the inspiration undoubtedly got here from that. I wished to maintain the old fashioned theme going and likewise retain a little bit of camo, which my vehicles have at all times had, so I got here up with the thought of a racing stripe which you’ll see operating up the entrance bumper and over the bonnet and roof. The camo obtained a gloss laminate too, which units it aside from the strong sponsor logos that are all in matte black or white, relying on whether or not they’re over the gloss white painted panels or the gloss cleared-coated Seibon carbon fibre. With the camo I attempted a couple of completely different seems to be with desert storm and likewise aqua, however as you possibly can see I ended up going again to the snow camo look which the automobile had once I first started drifting in ’06. It’s a pleasant reminder of the place we began and the way far we’ve now include the rad manufacturers like Crimson Bull, Mazda, Nitto, Mobil 1 and Speedhunters supporting us.”
I do know the Gen 6 construct has been extra about the best way the automobile seems to be, however we should always most likely discuss concerning the mechanicals too since there’s been some adjustments alongside the best way. The engine’s staying in the identical spec for now, yeah?
MM: “Yeah, Warren at PPRE [Pulse Performance Race Engineering] constructed us a brand new 26B PP four-rotor final yr, and that’s been within the automobile for the reason that second spherical of D1NZ.”
MM: “The spec is usually the identical because it was beforehand, with customized PPRE centre and finish plates and a hand-built chrome-moly crank. It’s nonetheless operating lightened and balanced high-comp RX-8 13B-MSP Renesis rotors too, however after going by numerous completely different manufacturers of aftermarket carbon and ceramic apex seals and having heaps of bother, we’ve switched to real Mazda 3mm seals and haven’t had any issues since.”
So that you’re capable of rev it tougher then?
MM: “Greater than ever now! The limiter is ready to 10,750rpm, however we’re seeing 11,000rpm spikes. It’s sick, and the extra it revs, the tougher I simply need to drive it!”
I keep in mind you telling me that the height energy is definitely barely down on what it was although?
MM: “Yeah, we used to see round 575hp on the wheels on the outdated motor, however since then it’s been run up on a special dyno and had the rebuild. When Warren tuned the Haltech he focused on lifting energy in every single place by the rev vary, so though it’s making just a little bit much less peak energy at 538whp, it’s really so a lot quicker now than it’s ever been earlier than. Now that we now have manufacturing facility backing from Mazda we’re trying ahead to constructing a model new motor that can give us some main features. That’s going to be rad!”
MM: “Within the driveline the one factor we’ve upgraded for the reason that Gen 5 construct is the diff; going from a full spool to a 1.5-way OS Giken LSD. Every little thing else stays the identical although – the HKS 6-speed sequential ‘field, and manufacturing facility Mazda FD3S drive shafts.”
It seems to be such as you’ve spent a little bit of time finding out the inside. Actually, I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen it that clear.
MM: “Yeah, bro! I at all times wished to offer the cockpit a tidy up, and with the all-new look and new companions approaching board it appeared like the proper time. There have been a number of outdated wires hanging round from earlier setups, so I just about tore the whole lot out and removed what wasn’t wanted, after which gave it a paint.”
MM: “Clearly, we’re now operating with TAKATA Racing seats and harnesses too. I’m actually stoked to have one other massive Japanese model like this concerned in our programme, and we’ll be utilizing the identical arrange within the RX-8 and likewise the brand new MX-5. The Race LE seats got here out actually sick with the customized ‘MM’ logos and colour-coded trim down the edges.”
MM: “The opposite change is the sprint. Kaz at TBR bent up this new alloy one for us which is strictly the identical because the one which was within the automobile earlier than, however minus all of the stickers. That authentic sprint means rather a lot to me, and each sticker that was added over time jogs my memory of all of the rad individuals I’ve met and all of the locations we’ve been capable of take the automobile, so I’m planning on hanging it up within the workshop someplace. I simply remembered once I pulled it out that Youichi Imamura’s autograph is definitely beneath all of the stickers, as I obtained him to signal it when he did some demos within the A’PEXi FD3S RX-7 on the D1 Grand Prix NZ driver search again in ’06. Imamura-san was an actual icon for me once I began drifting, however him and all the opposite Japanese dudes from D1GP and Choice had been buzzing out on the 20B PP that was within the automobile then!”
I do not forget that. You’ve made some adjustments behind the automobile too, proper?
MM: “Yeah, we sort of needed to after I hit the wall in Melbourne at Formulation Drift final yr [2013]. We lower off all of the tube work I had added after which Kaz designed a brand new arrange which additionally homes a brand new Gas Protected gas cell and a few upgraded gas pumps. It’s fairly tidy in there now!”
I most likely don’t have to ask how stoked you might be with the best way that MADBUL Gen 6 has turned out, however I’m going to…
MM: “I positive am stoked! It’s good to maintain issues recent and it’s at all times a pleasure to welcome inspiring manufacturers with rad individuals to our staff.”
And never a second after the automobile’s again collectively it’s off on a particular abroad mission – and by way of airfreight no much less. The 2014 Goodwood Pageant of Pace within the UK; that’s a fairly large deal!
MM: “I’m actually honoured to be invited to Goodwood and I can’t wait to scream the MADBUL up the hill in full fury and showcase the precision driving {of professional} drifting to a really completely different demographic of individuals than what we’re used to. It solely actually simply kicked in how epic this chance is after I learn by the record and noticed the names which can be driving and the insane automobiles on this record. To say the least, studying ’96 Mazda RX-7′ seems to be manner misplaced!”
MM: “I actually hope to see some Speedhunters readers there, however within the meantime take a look at the clip we put collectively on the Gen 6 construct. Stick it to the wall!”
Mad Mike Whiddett
Instagram: madmike.123
Pictures by Brad Lord
Instagram: speedhunters_brad
