Passion for the Mazda RX-7

I decided to create this site to share my journey of building my dream car, a 1993 Mazda RX-7.  Along the way I also needed a place to share some information I have assembled into how-to tutorials. Figured this would be the best way in which to do so.  My passion for RX-7’s began when I was 15 years old.  Rocking my sweet learners permit, counting down the days until I could spread my wings on the open road alone.  One small problem, I didn’t have a car. I had been searching already, scouring auto trader and the free car trader magazines at gas stations.  It’s 2002, the internet isn’t quite as big as it is now.  I’m approaching my 16th birthday, car-less, with all the enthusiasm of a toddler who just learned how to walk.  My mom walks in and says, “Do you like Mazda Rx-7’s”….. uhh that’s a sports car right?  YEA I LIKE THOSE.  Turns out just down the street from where my mom gets her hair cut sits a 1987 Mazda Rx-7. So we go to look at the car. It had a for sale sign in the window, “1987 Mazda RX-7 76k miles, 5 spd manual, 5.0L V8, $4000”  LOL by this time I had done enough research and talked to my dad about it who knew it was a Rotary engine car.  We chuckled about the V8 comment, called the owner, and test drove it.  I, of course, have never driven a stick shift car in my life.  So my dad drove it, but I FELL IN LOVE.  This was the cleanest, all original, second  gen I have ever seen to this day 16 years later.  We bought the car, me paying my half $2000, that I earned rebuilding and selling a Victorian Upright Piano.  I then spent the remainder of my 2 months with a learners permit learning how to drive stick.  Stalling all the way!  I still remember trying to pull out of the Raley’s parking lot after I had just ran into a friend from school.  I was so nervous trying to look cool, I stalled it….several times… and had to switch seats with my mom.  She can drive stick like a boss.  I was so embarassed, but continued my lessons with mom and dad until I was proficient at rowing through the gears.  On my 16th birthday I took my license test and passed, I was free to move about the world!  This car began my passion for cars and RX-7’s.  It wasn’t long until I’d be on to RX-7 number two, three, four, and five.  Number six I had to wait a long time for. My next post I’ll tell you where my first car ended up and about the cars that followed!