[Pravan] As automotive enthusiasts, the RX-7 has a special place for us all. It’s distinct shape, smell and sound form a unique trinity that heightens our senses. Whether the owner has kept the formidable 13B rotary engine or if the owner has chosen an alternative power plant, the SA22C, the FC3S and the FD3S are all celebrated around the world and nothing is more revered than 7’s day. Growing up in NYC, one of the first experiences I’ve had with a rotary wasn’t connected with an RX-7 but rather a rotary in a Starlet. Once upon a time, I was dumb, fearless and filled with bravado and I thought my LSVTEC was godly. No silly 80’s hatch that sounded like a 2 stroke dirt bike could ever win a street race in “Mexico” but $200 later and the lasting words from Juanito “Maybe next time, papa!?” made a lifelong impression on the power of turbo rotaries.
For those who are unfamiliar, 7’s day is the day where many owners come together to celebrate their beloved RX-7, rain or shine. Parking lots are filled with RX-7’s in different cities across the globe. The cleanest of clean stock examples side by side with the meanest of mean track monsters united through the love of the rotary. The looks range in style from stock to wild or from circuit to drift. This range is so vast that you may not even think these cars are the same chassis.
In the U.S. there isn’t such a thing and we’d like to change that. When Edwin and I first conceptualized PRIME, we wanted to do things different than other blogs by changing the paradigm. While many blogs tend to develop their name and brand over online medium, we’d like to maintain face-to-face interaction among enthusiasts. We don’t believe in technology as a replacement for driving and gathering with friends so get some gas, call up some of your pals and come cruise.
[Edwin] In my case, I first came across RX-7’s in the virtual world on my Sega Dreamcast. They were the coolest looking cars in the entire 3D Wangan world back then. Fast forward a few years, I would find my way to the Hunts Point and Zerega street racing scene over in the Bronx. Whenever an FD would show up, it was pretty much game over for all challengers. Around the same time, the pre-youtube days had me searching all over the internet for Windows Media Player videos of FC’s and FD’s street racing in Japan.
It was then Superstreet and Hot Version videos that fed my need for RX-7 content, where I would regularly come across RE-Amemiya builds. The original blue Touge Monster being my all time favorite. As I began collecting JDM Option DVD’s, there was always one episode of the Wangan Chiba Kun series that I would constantly go back to. The classic RX-7 Cannonball Run from 2002:
Over the past few years, we’ve seen quite a few immaculate examples of FD’s, FC’s and other rotary powered machines appear in and around the Tri-State area. Ted’s Yellow RE-Amemiya themed FD is a local hero. The classic look with the RPF1 set-up is unmistakable.
While the rotary platforms themselves continue to inspire and enhance our lives, the same thing can be said for the RX-7 and Rotary owners themselves. It’s no secret that it takes a great amount of passion and dedication to own one of these cars. The relentless hard work that goes into owning one of these machines is a shared experience that is also part of what keeps the community strong. As Pravan mentioned, no matter what the tuning style may be, RX-7 owners won’t ever stop loving that platform even years after parting with it. The local owners in the Tri-State car community never fail to impress. Whether it’s a 9-second street car or a JDM Tsukuba Spec RE-Amemiya version cruising through Times Square, the owners’ strong connection to their machine is often the same.
7’s day in Japan is something I’ve always looked upon from afar. The amazing articles and photos that would appear in Option Mag and Speedhunters made RX-7 life in Japan seem like a world that was too good to be true. Almost as if it were a film or comic world that manifested from our collective thoughts and imaginations. When seeing the coverage, I would look for the shop cars and one-off builds that would stand out from the crowded parking areas where photographers like Dino would be out shooting. It’s always great to see fully built shop cars out for a cruise. This year I was able to be in Japan and meet the RX-7 and Rotary legend himself, Isami Amemiya. The thoughts of 7’s day have been with me since that day at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Pravan, Ted and I would constantly chat about doing a 7’s day meet in NYC. Not only will this be the first meet of it’s kind in NYC but as far as we know, this may very well be the first 7’s day meet in the USA. Something that pay’s homage to the massive night meets that take place on the other side of the world in places like Daikoku, PA, Umihotaru and all over Japan. A night that will make fellow RX-7 and Rotary owners across the US and around the world proud and perhaps even inspire the upcoming generation.
July 7th, 2016 is the date. Mark your calendars. The 7’s day meet on the night of 7/7 is coming. Details will be sent soon.
See you out there.
