In the event you’ve been protecting 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 package. That was a given contemplating Mike and Kei Miura of TRA Kyoto have been working collectively for a really very long time. How lengthy? Effectively, this time a full decade in the past, we featured the rebirth of MADBUL – Mike’s unique 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 Purple Bull joined forces in 2008, a naturally-aspirated 26B four-rotor discovered its approach into the chassis. That fundamental configuration has remained fixed even since. What’s modified is the best way MADBUL has regarded all through its generations, and ‘Gen 6′ was one among our favorites. For this week’s throwback put up, let’s revisit that characteristic on its 10-year anniversary.
2014 Characteristic
In the event you’re a daily Speedhunters reader, there’s a great likelihood you already know what our personal Kiwi driver and a sure Japanese physique package 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 automotive 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 relating to Japanese aero. Japanese type is one thing I’ve all the time aspired to have in all of my drift automotive builds, so to be given the chance to take a seat side-by-side with him and create one thing like this was actually superb.”
It in all probability got here on the proper time too, didn’t it?
MM: “The BN Sports activities Blister package that we’ve been operating since round ‘07 or ‘08 has all the time been, in my eyes, probably the greatest kits accessible for the FD3S RX-7. With time and pure development, and myself all the time wanting to alter 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 undertaking 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 all the time picked me as much as go rolling of their badass avenue whips. Over at Gatebil final yr I received 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 very well. He’s a super-rad dude.”
MM: “It was at Gatebil the place Rod [Chong] instructed 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 precise man. His ardour for outdated stuff might be seen in all places; by means of the stuff mendacity across the store and the outdated magazines, and photographs 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 ready so as to add my customized Nessen Solid wheels specs and one other measurements, after which begin enjoying with a number of ideas. To get the type to work the with strains of the FD3S was an actual problem – far more difficult than I ever although it might 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 means of. After all, they had been sick!”
So why ’70s type?
MM: “I like every little thing about Japanese automotive 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 an enormous rotary scene, the FD3S is seen as a late-model automotive. In the event you take a look at the vehicles of Components Drift at present although, you realise that the Mazda is definitely fairly an outdated platform now. So to me, old-fashioned styling match completely with what I needed to do.”
MM: “Additionally, the prospect to alter MADBUL as much as Gen 6 spec gave me a possibility to have a look at among the different areas of the automotive and provides them a freshen-up too.”
Let’s speak about bringing the digital to actuality then.
MM: “As you recognize, as quickly because the package turned up at my workshop I received straight into chopping panels and dummy-fitting it. Ever since I left Miura-san’s store I had been fascinated with what it might appear 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 number of late nights getting all of it collectively. I’m fortunate to have an superior staff although, and everybody was focussed on getting it finished.”
Okay, beginning on the entrance finish, let’s speak in regards to the package and among the particulars.
MM: “One of many essential issues I needed to do on the entrance was transfer away from the lengthy nostril and FD3S Sequence 8-style park lights of the BN package and flatten it again off. The Rocket Bunny bumper has a punched-up snout that’s shorter and extra aggressive, and that offers the automotive a kind of blunt old-fashioned look, relatively 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 all the time part of the general plan – not solely as a result of that’s what Miura-san has turn into world well-known for, but in addition as a result of I needed to have them for the old-fashioned theme. As a result of this package is ultimately going to be made accessible for anybody who desires 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’ll be able to see that we’ve completely gone away from the massive stepped skirt look and designed one thing that follows the door-line down and below the sill, relatively than protruding. Once more, this was a throwback to outdated Mazda race vehicles of the ’70s, however it additionally allowed us to set the completed top of the package precisely the place we needed it.”
MM: “Seibon make 4 totally 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 purple police patrol type lights as I believed they had been a bit performed out now, and fitted some Japanese strobes below the pop-up covers.”
MM: “Wanting down the facet of the automotive in direction of the rear you get a greater thought of how the skirt follows the road of automotive after which kicks out to satisfy the fender old-fashioned type. That is utterly totally different to the Toyota 86 Rocket Bunny package which makes use of just a little lip below the inventory facet skirts and has rear overfenders that lower off midway up on the front-facing facet. Ben at Hybrid Lab in Auckland made me some stock-style rear fenders in FRP plugged from a typical RX-7, so once more, if somebody buys this package 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’ll be able to see that we’re operating the complete taillight set and likewise a real Mazda plastic bumper. These are super-robust and versatile, in order that they’re excellent 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 automotive now is just not really the one that it’ll find yourself with. Miura-san continues to be engaged on a number of prototype elements for the automotive which embrace 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 facet plates to get the look I used to be after!”
MM: “And at last, 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 all the time knew that I needed 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 Components Drift again in 2010, so among the inspiration undoubtedly got here from that. I needed to maintain the old-fashioned theme going and likewise retain a little bit of camo, which my vehicles have all the time had, so I got here up with the thought of a racing stripe which you’ll be able to see operating up the entrance bumper and over the bonnet and roof. The camo received a gloss laminate too, which units it other than the stable 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 number of totally different appears with desert storm and likewise aqua, however as you’ll be able to see I ended up going again to the snow camo look which the automotive 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 Purple Bull, Mazda, Nitto, Mobil 1 and Speedhunters supporting us.”
I do know the Gen 6 construct has been extra about the best way the automotive appears, however we should always in all probability speak in regards to 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 automotive because the 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 means of numerous totally different manufacturers of aftermarket carbon and ceramic apex seals and having heaps of hassle, we’ve switched to real Mazda 3mm seals and haven’t had any issues since.”
So that you’re in a position to 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 wish to drive it!”
I bear in mind you telling me that the height energy is definitely barely down on what it was once 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 all places by means of the rev vary, so though it’s making just a little bit much less peak energy at 538whp, it’s really so a lot sooner now than it’s ever been earlier than. Now that we’ve got manufacturing facility backing from Mazda we’re trying ahead to constructing a model new motor that may give us some main positive factors. That’s going to be rad!”
MM: “Within the driveline the one factor we’ve upgraded because the 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 appears such as you’ve spent a little bit of time checking out the inside. In reality, I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen it that clear.
MM: “Yeah, bro! I all the time needed to provide the cockpit a tidy up, and with the all-new look and new companions approaching board it appeared like the right time. There have been lots of outdated wires hanging round from earlier setups, so I just about tore every little thing 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 perimeters.”
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 automotive earlier than, however minus all of the stickers. That unique sprint means loads to me, and each sticker that was added over time jogs my memory of all of the rad folks I’ve met and all of the locations we’ve been in a position to take the automotive, 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 received 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 automotive then!”
I do not forget that. You’ve made some adjustments at the back of the automotive too, proper?
MM: “Yeah, we sort of needed to after I hit the wall in Melbourne at Components 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 in all probability 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 all the time a pleasure to welcome inspiring manufacturers with rad folks to our staff.”
And never a second after the automotive’s again collectively it’s off on a particular abroad mission – and through airfreight no much less. The 2014 Goodwood Competition of Pace within the UK; that’s a reasonably 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 totally 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 means of the checklist and noticed the names which are driving and the insane automobiles on this checklist. To say the least, studying ’96 Mazda RX-7′ appears approach misplaced!”
MM: “I actually hope to see some Speedhunters readers there, however within the meantime try 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
