2015 Spa classic in Belgium featuring an R100

[TOOL]

A friend just sent me this:

http://mzracing.jp/en/news/892

There is a Spa 24 hour car racing in the Spa Classic race this coming September.

Once in a lifetime opportunity here, I reckon.

It's an easy weekend trip.

[KiwiDave]

It just so happens that I'm off that weekend Pencilled in already.

[TOOL]

Looking like there's an R100 and an RX3 making the trip over. I'll hopefully take one of the RX2s as well.

Convoy?

[TOOL]

This weekend

http://mzracing.jp/en/news/1854

Wim and Piers will be there (lucky buggers)

[Chud]

Very cool

[spirit r]

How expensive how rare.? 200HP small 10A rotary douple dizzy. Inspiration for me.
RS Watanabe 8 Spoke Magnesium Version
RS Watanabe produce these wheels in Aluminium or Magnesium.
These are the Magnesium Version for Ultimate Lightweight Performance and Race Use.
Used in Racing all over the world, RS Watanabe has an unsurpassed reputation for lightweight performance wheels for smaller cars. The small lightweight power optima Battery isn't authentic but a very good choise.
Thanks Andy
touching my rotary heart.

[Hobbawobba]

Man those are cool aye

[TOOL]

Pics up:

http://en.responsejp.com/article/2015/09/21/260488.html

Note Wim's white R100 in the background in some pics.

[KiwiDave]

A very last minute conversation with my bestest mate resulted in a 4am start on the Saturday morning to catch an early EuroTunnel train to Calais and then a drive to Spa.

The plan was to arrive there early afternoon, catch a few events, get the lay of the land and most importantly for me, find where the three mazdas were at so we could catch them firing up on Sunday morning.

The thing I love about Classic Meetings is that you get access almost all areas. That means the grandstands, paddocks, pit areas and you get to go places that you'd never afford to get near at say, a F1 event. You also get to talk to the drivers and service crews. All this for a very reasonable 30 euros for a three day ticket and 15 euros for three days parking.

So, for openers, The 'I was at Spa' shot


The Eau Rouge shots









Finding the rotaries 8)




















After trying to get all sorts of angles from behind the barrier, I was kindly invited inside the tent. These Belgians are really friendly














I was very honored to get 10 minutes with the owner and driver of the green No 133 car. Hitoshi Kato AKA Kato-san ..... the man behind the entire project.
A very humble man with a passion for the rotary engine and the Mazda R-100. We spent most of that time swapping photos on our phones.
I'm pretty sure I was out trumped there. A couple of my best Rx7 shots vs his garage full of vehicles, the R-100 of course AND an Alpine A210. He is also the President of Club Alpine Gordini Japon ouest

And did I mention the RX3 across the paddock? The loudest car in the entire field by a good margin. Like ear bleedingly loud. Like louder than Ralph ... honest. Up thru Eau Rouge sounded epic














































I managed to catch up with Wim, who is a friend of Mr Tool. He is also the guy that built the 12a streetport which now resides quite happily in my engine bay.

And as if two R-100's weren't enough, Wim drove his immaculate 1971 (please don't quote me on that, I'm reasonably sure though) example to the circuit and had it there in time for the Sunday fire up 8)























Kato-san said that 10a engine parts are impossible to find in Japan. I'm not sure how much easier it is to find any in Belgium?
















How immaculate is this??? Wim sent the set to RestoreMaz in Oz to be refurbished. Trust me, serious money involved here.


Kato-san had the team uniforms reproduced from period photos. I would seriously give body organs for one of these


This was the best angle I could get of all three cars ... sorry




There were some other things going on as well, apart from rotary awesomeness. Here's some other stuff...

DB4 Zegato


Wet practice for F1 Masters






Six Hour starting grid .. with distractions


GT40 and TVR


GT40's and decoration




















Really wishing for a better camera here, meters away from Eau Rouge


BMW i8


Bentley improving the neighborhood


XF Sporting Brake .. slumming it


Keeping it real




Moggie




Airstream was a popular team choice ... I love these things 8)






Usually attached to something like this


GTR trying to hide steroid abuse and blend into the crowd


E Type fit for purpose


Competition for the R 100's. .... Capri style






Porsche style




BMW Style ... nice curves






Nice shapes








Retro - tastic




Sunbeam Tiger ... Grrrr


Too cute




If it's curves you really want ...






Arse ...Big... ?


Nah, just beautiful


Dish !!


OMG .. I have a thing for this M1. Added to my dream garage now








One for Nik


Can ya tell what it is yet?


Alfa Montreal in Group 4 guise (okay, maybe Group 5, I don't know everything ok)


It's not every day you see a road going example so a race version is a super rare thing.


Donk is artwork




Dish !!


Opel Commodore




In our hotel carpark. Cool to see a 400i getting out and about








Nice Karmann Ghia


Calais cats














The cats alongside our modest transport for the weekend


Pit lane shot




Alright then ... just one more before bedtime

[DKWW2000]

Great pictures of great cars & such rotary history, unusual to see the Commodore GS/E.
The body work on the "Distractions & Decorations" could do with some work