1995 Bonneville RX-7

Class: C/BMS - Bonneville Land Speedway - Long Course Record
242.005 MPH - Driver: Jim Mederer (Racing Beat) 1995

RACING BEAT prepared this 1993 MAZDA RX-7 in conjunction with MAZDA Corporation for the 44th Annual Bonneville National Speed Trials. The event, held on the Bonneville Salt Flats at Wendover, Utah, USA, was scheduled for the week of August 16th through 22nd, 1992. RACING BEAT's intention was to eclipse the C/Blown Modified Sports (C/BMS) record of 241.48 miles per hour (388.62 kilometers per hour).

The 1993 MAZDA RX-7 utilized a multi-turbocharged three-rotor 13G rotary engine capable of producing in excess of 760 horsepower at 8000 RPM, at a boost level of approximately 14 PSI. Also incorporated in the project was an E.F.I. Engine Management System.

The drive train for the vehicle, a Weismann 5-speed transmission coupled to a custom-made differential, containing a 2:1 rear end ratio, was specifically engineered to handle the engine's extraordinarily high output. The innovative suspension system, completely a RACING BEAT design, had been tailored to meet the high speed demands of the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The race car started as a stock 1993 MAZDA RX-7. The floor pan was completely cut away and discarded. The shell was then filled with a tube frame and roll cage, and a new floor pan constructed of carbon fiber was bonded to both the tube frame and the shell, thereby allowing the possibility of improved aerodynamic tuning.

The RACING BEAT 1993 MAZDA RX-7 Bonneville Project represents a considerable degree of joint sponsorship support from MAZDA CORPORATION, GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO., NGK SPARKPLUGS, TMC COMPANY, LTD., SIGMA AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY, LTD., NAGAI ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY, LTD., AND SANWA TRADING COMPANY, LTD.

The Racing Beat RX-7 is shown in the "Back In Black" paint scheme after an ill-fated record attempt in 1992 when the car went airborne at over 220 MPH! After repairs to the RX-7 were made, Racing Beat returned to the salt flats in 1995. Although it was hoped this car would travel close to 300 MPH, poor weather and salt conditions kept the top speed to a modest 242 MPH. Mazda announced that production of the RX-7 would cease after the 1995 model year, and the RX-7 Land Speed Project came to a close.

Today this car still stands as the WORLD'S FASTEST RX-7!

How Are World Record Times Recorded?

The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) is the organizing body that governs the events at the Bonneville Salt Flats. There are MANY classes that are listed in the SCTA rule book from stock classes to race-bred streamliners.

In order to establish a new world land speed record, a car is allowed to accelerate over a two mile stretch of the salt flats, then the next one-quarter (1/4) mile stretch is timed. If the car exceeds 175MPH in this one-quarter mile section it is considered a "long course" car and is allowed to continue through the next three miles of the course, for a total distance of five miles. Additional timing traps are set up at the end of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th mile sections.

To qualify for a record attempt, a vehicle must exceed the existing record by .001 MPH during a one way run. If the record is established during this run, then the car is impounded and a second run is attempted later that day. The second run is attempted and the average of these two runs determines a potential new land speed record.




		Class: C/BMS - El Mirage Dry Lake Bed - 1.3 Mile Course Record 204.990 MPH - Driver: Jim Mederer (Racing Beat) 1994 Class: C/BMS - Bonneville Land Speedway - Long Course Record 242.005 MPH - Driver: Jim Mederer (Racing Beat) 1995 RACING BEAT prepared this 1993 MAZDA RX-7 in conjunction with MAZDA Corporation for the 44th Annual Bonneville National Speed Trials. The event, held on the Bonneville Salt Flats at Wendover, Utah, USA, was scheduled for the week of August 16th through 22nd, 1992. RACING BEAT's intention was to eclipse the C/Blown Modified Sports (C/BMS) record of 241.48 miles per hour (388.62 kilometers per hour). The 1993 MAZDA RX-7 utilized a multi-turbocharged three-rotor 13G rotary engine capable of producing in excess of 760 horsepower at 8000 RPM, at a boost level of approximately 14 PSI. Also incorporated in the project was an E.F.I. Engine Management System. The drive train for the vehicle, a Weismann 5-speed transmission coupled to a custom-made differential, containing a 2:1 rear end ratio, was specifically engineered to handle the engine's extraordinarily high output. The innovative suspension system, completely a RACING BEAT design, had been tailored to meet the high speed demands of the Bonneville Salt Flats. The race car started as a stock 1993 MAZDA RX-7. The floor pan was completely cut away and discarded. The shell was then filled with a tube frame and roll cage, and a new floor pan constructed of carbon fiber was bonded to both the tube frame and the shell, thereby allowing the possibility of improved aerodynamic tuning. The RACING BEAT 1993 MAZDA RX-7 Bonneville Project represents a considerable degree of joint sponsorship support from MAZDA CORPORATION, GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO., NGK SPARKPLUGS, TMC COMPANY, LTD., SIGMA AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY, LTD., NAGAI ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY, LTD., AND SANWA TRADING COMPANY, LTD. The Racing Beat RX-7 is shown in the "Back In Black" paint scheme after an ill-fated record attempt in 1992 when the car went airborne at over 220 MPH! After repairs to the RX-7 were made, Racing Beat returned to the salt flats in 1995. Although it was hoped this car would travel close to 300 MPH, poor weather and salt conditions kept the top speed to a modest 242 MPH. Mazda announced that production of the RX-7 would cease after the 1995 model year, and the RX-7 Land Speed Project came to a close. Today this car still stands as the WORLD'S FASTEST RX-7! How Are World Record Times Recorded? The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) is the organizing body that governs the events at the Bonneville Salt Flats. There are MANY classes that are listed in the SCTA rule book from stock classes to race-bred streamliners. In order to establish a new world land speed record, a car is allowed to accelerate over a two mile stretch of the salt flats, then the next one-quarter (1/4) mile stretch is timed. If the car exceeds 175MPH in this one-quarter mile section it is considered a "long course" car and is allowed to continue through the next three miles of the course, for a total distance of five miles. Additional timing traps are set up at the end of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th mile sections. To qualify for a record attempt, a vehicle must exceed the existing record by .001 MPH during a one way run. If the record is established during this run, then the car is impounded and a second run is attempted later that day. The second run is attempted and the average of these two runs determines a potential new land speed record.