To make sure the transmission held up under the newfound power, it was shipped to Pineapple Racing for a complete rebuild. The clutch assembly comprises a Pineapple Racing six-puck sprung-hub clutch and an HD pressure plate. Equalizing power distribution to the wheels is a KAAZ LSD. The engine revs a little freer thanks to an ACT Pro-Lite chrome-moly flywheel. A Mazdaspeed short shifter quickens the shifts and keeps the revs up in the powerband.
After a minor altercation with a mountain pass ditch, the car was off to Precision Performance Auto Body for a complete respray, including the engine bay, in Porsche arctic silver. Before the paint job began, Rotary Extreme Type F wide front fenders were bolted on. Between the fenders a Mazdaspeed-type carbon-fiber hood found a home. The nosepiece has been replaced with a Pettit Racing GTC nose cover. Filling the nose are '99 JDM Mazda front light combos. The headlights have been upgraded to an East Bear headlight kit.
Rotary Extreme was also the choice when it came to side skirts. Chuck decided to go with Type F carbon fiber skirts. Covering the rear tires are Pettit Racing Bonzai fender flares that are molded on for a clean look. Completing the JDM look are a set of '99 JDM Mazda taillights out back.
Filling the wide fenders are 17-inch CCW wheels, measuring 10 inches up front and 12 out back. Kumho Ecsta V700 race rubber sized 275/40 and 335/35 wrap the CCWs, front and rear, respectively.
The stance and handling of the Mazda come from a combo of Ground Control coil-overs with Eibach 2.5-inch race springs, 450 lb, front, and 375 lb, rear, with Koni Yellow adjustable shocks. The front sway bar is a Tri-Point Engineering Speedway piece with a 0.120-inch torsion bar. The rear control arms are from M2 Performance.
The braking system has been upgraded with cryo-treated rotors, Hawk Racing HP-Plus pads and Goodridge stainless steel brake line all the way around.
Driver and passenger are strapped in with Sabelt 3-inch, four-point harnesses. The standard gauge pod is joined with an Auto Meter A-pillar pod and a Pettit Racing steering column gauge pod. Defi Link gauges: boost, fuel pressure and exhaust temperature, fill the pods. The center console holds a Defi Link gauge controller and a Blitz Dual SBC boost controller and turbo timer.
Balancing his music needs with a racecar's low weight, the head unit was upgraded to an Alpine three-disc in-dash CD changer with Infiniti and Blaupunkt speakers in the stock locations.
By now we're sure you are familiar with Mazda's global marketing campaign-Zoom-Zoom. Chuck certainly is as his RX-7 sees plenty of road time. Whether it's on the wonderful network of nicely paved backroads around his hometown, lining up against other fast cars on the freeway or at the track. Chuck has been an avid autocrosser for the last seven seasons and the RX-7 runs competitively in the SCCA, Street Modified II class.
High school has a sneaky way of guiding you down particular paths. It is also a place to develop hobbies and obsessions. For Chuck Duncan his obsession led him into a Mazda dealership and on a 13-year journey. Sure the journey had a few bumps on the way but all his patience and hard work has paid off. This is one RX-7 any car enthusiast would cherish owning, no matter what brand or make of vehicle infused in their DNA.