. News Archive .

At the beginning of February I got a call asking what we were doing with the Subaru (2004 STi rally car we’ve had around the shop since last year) and if we would mind terribly bringing it to an event. “I can probably even cover your expenses”. It didn’t take much convincing for me to say I was in, especially after I heard the name of the event and what it was about – Racing for our Heroes, giving hot lap rides to injured veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The date was February 21 and 22, and we had less than 3 weeks to get ready.

The first order of business was replacing what seemed to be some disintegrated brake pads on the car after a few sessions at Harris Hill. What those molten bits turned out to be were roller bearings from the right front hub, and what we needed was everything between the lower control arm and the strut. I ordered the necessary parts from Subaru, and they arrived the day we were supposed to leave. As it turned out, though, they sent me parts for another car, and didn’t have the ones I needed. After a last ditch effort to drum up the correct parts, we relented and started preparing one of our Spec7’s that hasn’t been raced in 2 years and had tons of untested parts on it. We eventually rolled out of the shop with a mile-long to-do list just before midnight on Wednesday the 20^th.

After driving through the rain and arriving at Motorsports Ranch Houston at nearly 4am, we slept outside the gate for a few hours before the supposed 8am drivers meeting. I say supposed, because when we arrived what was touted as “up to 10 Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin racecars from the ALMS and IMSA series” turned into one 997 Supercup and a couple worn out BMW M3’s. Aside from, of course, our trusty Spec RX7. At about 10:30, we hit the track for a little shakedown, and around 11 the troops arrived. Because of the rainy weather, only 9 vets showed up with family, so the ridealongs were very loose, and the troops could ride with whomever they wanted whenever. I ended up only giving rides to 2 people, because quite frankly who wants to ride in funny sounding RX7 when there’s a shiny Porsche 997 Supercup there? Even the troops knew which was the faster car. The track was still wet and I only had some extremely slick, old, Toyo’s, but I think those 2 folks got the best ride all day in my car, sideways through the Bus Stop and Sugar and Spice, up against the wall. As the downpours came that afternoon, the demonstration race was cancelled.

Sunday we awoke to nice sunshine and a very dry track. After taking some crew around the track in the morning warm-up, we parked the cars on pit road and welcomed Sunday’s group of troops. This time there were 20-25 troops, so they divided everybody up into 4 groups of 4-5. On my first run with a very sweet Captain just out of surgery for breast cancer, one of the gas tank straps came loose and bounced along the track… a quick fix with a spare bolt, and tightening the other bolts (oops) and we were back on track, this time taking one of the “Samoan brothers” for a ride. During that run the car pushed horribly in right handers, so when I came in we had to put air in the RF. It was about 10 psi down, so we aired it up and I took the other “brother”, Junior, out. Handling was much better and his ride was a good bit quicker, and when I came in the first wanted to go again, and it being the end of the ridealongs with no-one else waiting for a ride with me, I took him again. It’s really something when you can make a 260 pound Samoan giggle like a school girl.

During lunch the handicap for the demonstration race was set, we gridded up, and headed out single file. Set by our laptimes during the ridealongs (me at 2:01, the BMWs at 1:50s, and the Porsche at 1:43) we would run for 40 minutes, and I would get a lap on the BMWs and 7 on the Porsche. Sounded fair to me because I knew I wouldn’t be running 2:01’s in the race, and the Porsche has 4 times the power with not much more weight. We started, and the 3 of them blew by me on the first real straight and walked away. About 10 minutes in the Porsche came around to lap me, and not long after that broke a half shaft going over The Hump, and his race was done. I continued to lead (remember I have to do one lap less than the BMWs) until about 10 minutes from the end when Jeff Stone passes me. I know his tires probably wont last the race and he’s worried about the transmission, so I let him go without much of a fight. That and he has at least twice the power and Hoosiers. Then, coming up to the white flag, Sam Shalala passes me going into Sugar & Spice… and as we go through the carousel, Jeff has parked it in the grass! Shit! Back to second place on the last lap! We come around to the checkered with Sam in first, me in 2^nd and Jeff Stone a close 3^rd after finally getting it out of the mud and driving like hell to catch up.

The really cool part of the demo race is that the winner, and the Wounded Warriors they’re paired with, gets their names engraved on an incredibly nice bronze trophy that will be on display. We were pretty damn close, but there’s always next year!

We just got back from MSR-H with a Spec7 for Racing for our Heroes (www.rfoh.org). It was an absolute blast, and we hope they have us back in the future!

We're also taking reservations for SRX7 and ITA rentals for this SCCA and NASA season, so shoot contact us for info!

Also, we have free reign over a vinyl cutter, so have us cut your signs, banners, and numbers! Contact Chris for info.

Need to rent a GT3 or EP car to get a finish for the Runoffs? We're thinking about converting the ITA car (really just adding clips and a fire system) for this purpose so contact us if you might be interested!

Wanna get your SCCA license? Rent one of our cars for the December school! Contact us to reserve a spot!

Register here!

In Club Racing news, Chris finished the year with a second at TWS in May and a first at MSR in August to take 3rd in the SWDiv SpecRX7 Championship!!

Want your car to win? Have Taylor Rotorsports prepare and/or drive it!

As Antonio's Miata is in the ending stages of sanding and body work, everyone involved is eagerly awaiting the '06 season as improvements in car and driver abound. Stay tuned to Antonio's ever-expanding project page to keep an eye on his car as this "transformation" is completed.

After it's vast makeover just a little over a year ago, Henry's RX7 has been nearly bulletproof, leading Henry to a string of 2nd place finishes in the Division. Thus, tired of being the bridesmaid, we set out to improve the venerable RX7 during the winter break so Henry has a better chance than ever at moving one step up the podium and acquiring all the prizes and job offers that come with it.

Always ready to hit the track, a few suspension improvements and some finishing touches for the appearance of his car give Chris high hopes for the coming season. That and a new set of tires can hopefully land Chris on the podium or better yet the winner's circle in another highly contested SRX7 season.

For those that remember the now infamous Chris' HS Project Page, the EP car will have similar treatment but with an eye towards use in print! Stay tuned!

Project page is continually updated, albeit slowly.

You'll also notice a lack of updates to the project section, and a general lack of pictures on the whole. This is due in large part to the fact that our "trusty" digital camera (hey, it was almost 4 years old) took a dump. A new one is on the way, and upon it's arrival there will be a flurry of updates to the project section since we've got a lot going on. Stay tuned!

Taylor Rotorsports has enjoyed our return to oval racing, and plans are being kicked around for building an RX-7 based car (powerplant unknown as the beloved rotary is banned). Stay tuned to see what unfolds!

Additionally, Chris promises he'll have some projects up on the project page within a week, assuming he has time between races to do so.

So as always, stay tuned!

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