Our friends at BMI, who are racing a 4-Rotor RX-8, need your help! See the message below from their team:

We have been presented with many tough struggles this season, but we have kept fighting each challenge that is presented to us. This has led us to being short on the budget for next round - Formula Drift Round 3 New Jersey. This is pretty much Brian Wilkerson's home track, and in some ways similar to this:

I have invented a new rotary engine with more than 80% efficiency please help me to improve this concept and implement the technology. Technical details are given in site http://sites.google.com/site/anyoonrotaryengine/

http://blog.caranddriver.com/rotary-keeps-spinning-may-find-its-way-into-a-new-rx-7-or-rx-8/

Mazda 16X rotor dimensions: You read it here first

Exclusive to RotaryNews.com

by Edwin Krampitz, Jr. (ekrampitzjr)
22 September 2009

Mazda has been coy about what the 16X rotor dimensions will be. Based on a bunch of detective work from the Mazda website and a recent US patent application, along with a lot of algebra and number crunching, I believe I have determined them:

Rotor radius (R) = 120 mm
Equidistance (a) = 2 mm

R' (R-prime) = R + a = 122 mm
Rotor eccentricity (e) = 18 mm
Rotor width (B or W) = 70 mm

K ratio = R/e = 6.67:1 (using R, not R')

Displacement using R' as Mazda (technically incorrectly) does:

Hi, I would like to put my rx8 renesis rotary motor and six speed trans in my 1972 datsun 240z! Does anybody know if I can use stock ecu and to wire it up? Please Help! Thanks alot! CHAD

Tired of no news about the next rotary sports car? Lets make a wish list for Mazda to read, yes?

Mazda should pay homage to the 1st gen rx7 and build a super light compact sports coupe. If I could Chip Foose the 1st gen, it'd look Taiki inspired.

A no frills basic aproach like the Miata. The target weight should be 2-25000lbs. No traction control or electronic suspension, just a strong race proven chassis and a basic cockpit with a view to saving weight. The Nissan GTR, for example, has turbo(s) and alot of electronic technology and weighs 3000+ lbs. Mazda should do the opposite and keep it simple.

New rotary takes flight in India

by Edwin Krampitz, Jr. (ekrampitzjr)

1 May 2009

News of a successful new Wankel rotary engine is unusual and highly welcome—and here’s some. On 31 March 2009 India’s Nishant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) successfully flew with a rotary engine built entirely in India. Online reports said the engine “performed very well”, “met the requirements”, and climbed “effortlessly”. It was the maiden flight for this new engine and first for any Indian UAV using an indigenous engine. The Nishant has previously used the imported AR–801, a derivative of the old Norton motorcycle rotary, built by UAV Engines Ltd (UEL) in Britain. The new rotary, designation not given, is intended to replace the AR–801.

turned up at mallory park thundersport gb meeting expecting to see the beast in anger! where was it? does anyone know what is going on with the rotary racer and are we going to see it?

Its been a while since I've navigated RotaryNews.com.
Today I realized that I overlook alot of stuff on the site, because It all looks the same, like a paperback book.
I am thinking:

Put up a navigation bar accros the top of the home page;
RacingBeat, Atkins etc, can be at the very top in rectangular window.
No offense to RotryNews, but its time for some sprucing up.

Maybe everyone else can put their 2 cents in and we can make 50cent. (or just throw the change out)

OK got my Christmas gift early and having a ball. The RX-8 is really a great machine. The dealer made me a deal on a base sport model with a 6 speed manual transmission. It met all my WANTS in that it was basic and I love it (no tickets yet). In any case I have read about the Gas Mialage and am trying to figure out how and when to shift a vehical that redlines at 8500 to 9000 RPM.
I grew up with manual transmissions and understand the need to compensate between High RPMs and Gas Miliage but am also being told that if I do not "wind it up" it is actually bad for the engine?
OK anyone got some reccomendations as to what RPM levels to shift at (consider it a flat road so inclines are understood). I think two conditions: