Mazda RX-3

[Rob 18]

Can anybody remember when DJ raced the little Mazda??

 

[Wazza]

No. How about a Laser TX3 turbo?

 

[Henry]

It was long, long ago, and my knowledge of it is sketchy to say the least... Lakeside 1980? The TX-3 wasn't a bad little weopon IIRC... the turbo on it wasn't all that reliable though...

 

[Bigcol]

The little laser nearly won the Bathurst 12 hr.It was actually third in the race when it retired with something broken in the transmission with about an hour to go.It had done all the nessecary pit stop's to take it to the flag.The Supra's had to do a brake change and refuel and the laser would have ended up in front of them if it didn't break down.That Laser is actually owned by one of the bloke's in the QLD Falcon GT Owner's Club.

 

[Wazza]

quote:Originally posted by bigcol

The little laser nearly won the Bathurst 12 hr.It was actually third in the race when it retired with something broken in the transmission with about an hour to go.It had done all the nessecary pit stop's to take it to the flag.The Supra's had to do a brake change and refuel and the laser would have ended up in front of them if it didn't break down.That Laser is actually owned by one of the bloke's in the QLD Falcon GT Owner's Club.

Yep that's the one . Did Steven drive with Dick at the 12hr or was it the next year at the Eastern Creek 12hr event?

 

[Doug]

Hi guys, I actually thought the laser did a turbo on the warm up lap of the Bathurst 12 hour in 1992 or thereabouts - and he drove Ross Burbidges RX3 in the Surfers Paradise enduro shortly after the Rock incident in 1980.

 

[J.C.]

The TX3 that finished second in the first 12hr was not raced by DJ.
He raced the TX3 when it poped a turbo on the warm up lap. And yes Jr was a co driver.
DJ and Jr shared a XR6 with Colin Osborne at the Bathurst 12hr.
DJ and JB won the 12hr at Easten Creek in the Triple M RX7.

 

[Henry]

That Laser did a Targa Tasmania with a heap of Sierra tweaks aboard (about 300 hp's worth IIRC)... quick as stink! In the 92 12-hr, it evidently got a big gutful of fresh air at the top of the hill, the impeller flexed and jammed against the side of the housing... and tore the impeller shaft straight out of the guts.

Dick also drove Joe Moore's King George Tavern XD following the Rock (I had thought it was at Surfers), with 17 on the door and Dicks gun motor aboard: the radiator cap played up and the thing overheated, but he had led the rae for a while.

 

[Doug]

henry : kudos to you - he did run Moores falcon at surfers, now I have to go and do some serious reading to find out when he drove the RX3

 

[Henry]

Doug, I do recall mention of the RX-3 being Rosco Burbidge's, but I cannot for the life of me remember where... Dick was one of several drivers who had been touted as looking seriously at RX-7's in the early 80's, but I have no idea how accurate that may have been... must ask the big fella if the opportunity arises

 

[Rob 18]

quote:Originally posted by Wazza

No. How about a Laser TX3 turbo?

Yes. How about a Mazda RX-3, Rd 6, Surfers Paradise Raceway 1980. The "Rice Burner" in Question here was Terry Sheil's.
He qualified fastest of the Mazda's, despite never driving one before, but lasted just 3 laps before retireing with mechanical trouble!!

 

[Henry]

Thanks Rob!