Apologies if I begin this put up off on a barely detrimental observe, however figuring out what 7’s Day (7/7) was once like in Japan, it’s laborious to not be involved on the lack of individuals that turned as much as the official unofficial Daikoku PA get-together this previous weekend.
Whereas it has been a bit quieter lately, the low turnout on Sunday late afternoon/early night may very well be attributed to the annual 7’s Day occasion held at Mobara Circuit, which fell on 7/7 this 12 months. Most house owners who attended would have skipped dropping by Daikoku PA on the way in which dwelling, having already acquired their 7’s Day repair forward of a brand new working week.
However regardless of the purpose for the smaller affair, what began as a gradual and chilled gathering did, fortunately, brighten up because the night became night time.
July 7 has eternally marked the celebration of considered one of Japan’s most revered efficiency automotive fashions. The Mazda RX-7 in all its generations is cherished by lovers throughout the globe, and for good purpose – these are wonderful sports activities vehicles with distinctive – and extremely tuneable – rotary engines.
The Mazda rotary engine, and subsequently fashions just like the RX-7 might need been out of manufacturing for some time now, however as house owners hold refining, restoring, and tuning their vehicles, this scene is just getting higher.
7’s Day isn’t just for RX-7s; all Mazda rotaries be part of within the celebrations. The one Cosmo I noticed was this pristine 12A-powered HB coupe with iconic early-’80s pop-up lights. I like these items a lot, but when I had to decide on a favorite Cosmo, it will be the rounder JC variant (1990-1996), out there with a 20B three-rotor engine.
I acquired to trip on this Veilside Fortune FD3S RX-7, which was a little bit of a blast from the previous as I shot the film vehicles Veilside constructed for The Quick and the Livid: Tokyo Drift again within the day. Should you go to Tokyo, you possibly can lease this automotive, which is fairly cool.
Because it acquired darker, extra vehicles arrived, which saved the day for me.
This FD3S, rolling on iconic Mazdaspeed MS-02 wheels (by RAYS), is a 7’s Day common.
As is the case each time July 7 rolls round at Daikoku PA, I find yourself falling for these vehicles.
Should you don’t come away from an evening like this interested by shopping for an RX-7 – and envisioning what you’d do to the aesthetics and engine – are you even an actual fanatic?
That leads me to this query: Should you had an RX-7, how would you strategy it? Preserve it inventory or easy? Gentle mods? Heavy mods? Or maybe a full RE Amemiya conversion?
The largest shock was seeing Automobile Store Glow’s ‘GT race automotive for the road’ FD3S RX-7, which we first noticed at Wekfest Japan 2024 a number of months again. This automotive jogs my memory of the Revolution time assault FD3S from a decade in the past, however designed to be pushed on public roads. Toby has shot a characteristic on this beast, so keep tuned for that.
Because the time got here to depart, quite a lot of different vehicles started rolling into the parking space, which might have made the numerous vacationers who arrived in tour vans blissful I’m certain. There isn’t any higher place to style genuine Japanese automotive tradition than Daikoku PA – even on 7/7 Sunday with an RX-7 turnout smaller than you’d hope for.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
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