As the 2009 edition of SevenStock got underway, a representative from Mazda was one of a series of speakers to welcome people to the event. In a short presentation, he gushed about Mazda's continuing development and support of the rotary engine, and then turned everyone's attention to what he suggested was the future of rotary power, the RX-8 Hydrogen RE.
We sensed this was a decidedly pro-RX-7-and-earlier crowd, because not too many seemed impressed. In fact, there were calls from the audience asking when the next RX-7 was coming out, to which the rep answered, basically, if you want Mazda to develop more cars, you have to buy the ones they have now.
Not that there was any shortage of RX-8s on display in the show area of the planet's biggest rotary meet, a parking lot that was filled to capacity for the first time in the history of SevenStock coming to Mazda USA's base of operations in Irvine, Calif.
Additionally, every grade of RX-7 over the years was exhibited, as well as examples of RX-2, RX-3 and R100, many restored or customized or both to some degree. We even came across a few Mazda rotary pickups the OE produced from 1974-'77.
For the SevenStock noob, the meet is a yearly affair put on by the Southern California RX Club that has snowballed into a pilgrimage for rotary enthusiasts. The first was in 1997, just a simple RX-7 owners' BBQ with a few dozen attendees, and over time has developed to attract Mazda from all over North America and fans from the far reaches of the globe.
The event has received the support of Mazda corporate, which offers use of its parking lots for SevenStock and also provides classic race cars from its vault and tours of its facilities during the event. Again this year a couple of old IMSA racers made appearances, including the GTP category RX-792P, as well as the Le Mans-running MX-R01.
Key personnel involved in the development of Mazda rotaries were on hand, too, to answer any questions or just receive heaps of love form the adoring crowds. Back was Takaharu "Koby" Kobayakawa, a former Mazda VP and program manager for the 3rd-gen. RX-7 and '91 Le Mans efforts, as well as other projects. Dignitaries from JDM rotary tuners Knight Sports were also in the house.
Modern US tuning was on display, too, in cars like Kyle Mohan's Mazdatrix RX-8 drifter and Bergenholtz Racing's 20B-powered RX-8, a car campaigned at drift events by Justin Pawlak and time attacks by Ed Bergenholtz. The RX-8 to take the cake, though, was BMI Racing's, a four-rotor monster that is apparently headed to time attack and sounds like a mechanical demon from hell at high revs.
From the enthusiast ranks assembled, we recognized several local whips, all of them FD RX-7. There was Brad White's road racing 1993 RX, beautifully adorned in a Final Konnexion front fascia, Vertex sides and rear, and Work VSXX rollers.
Dan Beighley's immaculate 1992 FD is still a slice of JDM goodness, rocking the Makers Racing engine damper, RS-R coil-overs, Cusco cage, Defi gauges and Uras NS-01 wheels.
Bruce Kress also flossed the J-spec aesthetic on his '93. He went with a FEED front bumper, custom rolled fenders, JDM hood and side markers, RE Amemiya fender mirrors and taillight covers, JP side skirts, and a GP Sports rear mid-wing.
The hardcore start showing up to SevenStock at 6:30 in the morning for a first come, first served roll-in. Show-n-shiners were joined by myriad vendors and industry, like Mazdatrix, Tri-Point Engineering, Haltech, Racing Beat, 5Zigen, Bomex, Cusco, RE Amemiya and Tokico, several which contributed to the event's raffles and giveaways.
A few looking to poke a finger in the eye of rotary purists brought out their V-8 swapped RX-7s. We still don't understand how they get into SevenStock (technically, not a rotary car anymore, right?), but are endlessly amused at the "rev wars" that break out between the piston and non-piston camps.
Like previous years, SevenStock could not be contained to just the Saturday car meet. This year's weekend started on Friday evening with karting at a nearby K1 Speed and concluded with a reception after the show.
SevenStock costs nothing to show and is free to show-goers as well. For more information on SevenStocks through history, head on over to www.sevenstock.org/.
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