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  Aug. 24, 2011 10:09 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  I need some help guys.

  I have stumbled onto a RX3 with a looong history as an autocross car. I have been offered the car without an engine, a long list of parts, some very rare. It has modified suspension, chassis and cage and is not suitable for use as a road car.

  I have a plan though, thinking of building it to GTU IMSA specs. I am seeking any info and leads you guys can offer.

  Looking to build it along the lines of the Downing car.

  bring any and all info to this party please.

  Steve

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  Aug. 24, 2011 10:14 p.m. Chas_H New Reader

  Downing never ran a GTU RX-3 as far as I remember. The RX-3s were mostly raced in the sedan series back then, and those raced in GTU did rather poorly. The Mazda factory did have 2 RX-3s entered in 1978 24hr Daytona race and Jim did drive one of them, but they were not Downing cars. You could contact Jim at Downing Atlanta and pose you questions directly to him.

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  Aug. 24, 2011 11:31 p.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  C'mon Steve . . .you know better!! Where's the pics??

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Aug. 25, 2011 6:47 a.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

  In reply to Chas_H:

  Yeah... Downing's GTU RX7 was very successful (the winningest chassis in racing history), but the RX3 was mostly SCCA production sedan class raced.

  XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Racing is the process of turning money into noise.

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  Aug. 25, 2011 7:04 a.m. mndsm SuperDork

  Strike_Zero wrote: C'mon Steve . . .you know better!! Where's the pics??

  That's what I was thinking, though I was unaware his name was Steve.

  Go fast or go broke.

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  Aug. 25, 2011 7:19 a.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  I do not have possession yet, I haven't seen the car in years, you know they will be posted when I get it.

  What is the story behind the RX3 Dowling ran at the Mitty?

  Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

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  Aug. 25, 2011 7:20 a.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

  I was unaware too . . . until he left it in the post

  -=PJ=- "Oh FFFFFFFUUUUUUUU . . ." - - - http://www.strikezerogarage.com

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  Aug. 25, 2011 8:12 a.m. ST_ZX2 Reader

  RX3s ran in the IMSA RS Radial Challenge Series; There is a FB page that supports enthusiasts thereof.

  Erik B. _/\__/\__/\__/\__/\_

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  Aug. 25, 2011 5:13 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  Linked to the FB page, any more info forthcoming?

  Any books, documents, anyone who worked on one?

  Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

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  Aug. 25, 2011 6:42 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

  This book might help: http://www.amazon.com/Mazda-Motorsports-Connie-Goudinoff/dp/0879385820 (And it's written by Jim's wife.)

  Yes, we now have signatures.

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  Aug. 25, 2011 7:17 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  This gets me all tingly inside

  

  Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

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  Aug. 25, 2011 9:19 p.m. bruceman Reader

  Maybe Howard Coleman could help at http://www.colemanprecisionrotaries.com/

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  Aug. 26, 2011 7:43 a.m. chandlerGTi Reader

  is this the car in N Baltimore? If so his collection of old racers is where my old 1200 came from.

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  Aug. 26, 2011 2:37 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

  No it is closer to me than that. It has been in a garage for about 5 years.

  Cornering is like bringing a woman to climax. Jackie Stewart

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  Aug. 26, 2011 3:30 p.m. oldsaw SuperDork

  There was a privately entered RX3 runnning in GTU at the '76 Daytona 24; Downing wasn't affiliated.

  This pic caught my fancy during a google search:

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  Aug. 26, 2011 4:18 p.m. Chas_H New Reader

  Ray Walle was probably the first to race an RX-3 in GTU, started in 1974. Ray raced a Mazda Cosmo in 1976 24 hr race. He died in a street car accident a few days before his intended start at the 12 Sebring race. His team mates entered the race in tribute to him.

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