1979 Mazda RX7 Series I Racer

By: Alex Affat, Photography by: Alastair Brook

Date: 06.07.2018

Peter Ingram and his brother Matt have been mucking around with Rotaries all of their life

"We’ve always done everything together, from 4x4s to bikes… we built a rotary in high school and after that we got an RX-3," Ingram explains.

During that RX-3 time the boys fell in love with RX-7s, Peter buying this car and his brother eventually buying his own.

This RX-7 in particular was an ex-championship winning car, but was a rolling chassis when Peter bought it in 2015.

An engine was promptly dropped in that same year, supported by Motec engine management.

Since then, the project has been incrementally evolving between each racing outing.

| Buyer's guide: Mazda RX-7 Series 1-3

In his second year of competition with the car, Peter won the NSW Improved production Championship in 2016.

At the end of 2017, the car underwent a full rotisserie rebuild, with Peter working on the car full time for two months.

When asked what remains of the car today since that first year of ownership, Peter paused – mentally retracing the entire build before simply stating and laughing "headers".

This year already off to a flying start, Peter and his RX-7 won the IPRA round at the Clipsal 500 earlier this year.

Future plans for the car are simply to keep on racing the car and enjoying it. The boys are currently looking at some small chassis tweaks, ways to draw more power out of the engine and are currently cleaning up the wiring and replacing the old relays with a Motec PDM system.

Motorsport is obviously a path less-travelled by most car enthusiasts, but Peter is quick to point out the social aspect as a greatly rewarding one.

"When something breaks 15 minutes before you’re supposed to be out there on the dummy grid, and you’ve got guys you’re actually competing against in their racesuits helping you out… it’s a humbling feeling," says Peter.

As for anyone looking for their own RX-7; "Do it!" he exclaims, "They’re such a fun car.

Beneath the surface form abruptly gives way to function

"When my car puts out 300hp at the wheels, and is able to take on a 2005 Commodore with 700hp… it’s really rewarding."

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