After rebuilding a 900-hp 1997 IndyCar, Rob is getting some driving practice in with a miniature version called the Formula Mazda.
Rob Dahm is no stranger to wild project performance cars – his most infamous build being his 1,300-hp AWD Turbo 4-Rotor Mazda RX-7. Second, only to the 4-Rotor build, is his 1997 IndyCar complete with a 900-hp Cosworth XD V8.
While Rob is an enthusiast and a project car builder, he is not a racing driver. Before trying to lap a full-blown IndyCar around a circuit, he wanted to gain some experience in a less intimidating and less expensive open-wheeler known as the Formula Mazda.
In his latest video, Rob takes us along to buy the Formula Mazda Mini IndyCar before taking it for a quick test drive and then stripping the car down for an inspection and full service.
The Mini IndyCar You Probably Haven’t Heard Of
Initially built in 1984, the first-generation Formula Mazda was a spec open-wheel racing car using a modified carburetted Mazda 13b Rotary engine producing 180 hp. After its inaugural race as a support class at the 1984 Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Formula Mazda retained its initial specification for almost 20 years – with the class being a regular feature on the Road to Indy driver ladder.
Rob starts by giving us a tour around the car with the previous owner, showing the car’s idiosyncratic start-up procedure, all the underbody mechanicals, and the driver’s manual before loading up the Formula Mazda into the trailer and taking it back to the workshop.
Once there, Rob decides to take the car out for a quick lap around the compound next to his garage and soon gets a large kick of oversteer on his second pass on cold tires. Rob’s main takeaway is that you need to throw the car into the corners very aggressively otherwise it will understeer wide. Despite this, Rob says the amount of grip the Formula Mazda has on old, cold slicks is amazing.
Taking the car back into the workshop, Rob first decides to weigh the car, finding out the Mazda is less than 1,200 lbs with fluids. Next on the list was to strip back the bodywork and have a look at the engine and gearbox, first changing the oil and oil filter before running a compression test.
The Formula Mazda Gets Fuel And Fluids
Both Rotors were pulling between 93-100 psi, healthy numbers for an old rotary race car with over 12,000 miles on the clock. Rob then checks the spark plugs and finds that they are pretty old and covered with soot. After a quick sand blast and a gap check, Rob reinstalls them before moving on to the gearbox and differential.
With the gearbox fluids and coolant topped up, he then takes the car for another quick test drive before realizing the car is low on fuel. Rob drives the car over to the gas station next to his workshop to fill up on 87 Octane, quite to the amusement of the gas station employees.
It’s safe to say Rob’s excitement about the mini-IndyCar is palpable. Not only because of the build potential but also because of the open-wheel experience and improvements he feels he can make as a driver. Perhaps the best aspect, though, is that the Formula Mazda has no track-day restrictions, so we expect to see a video with Rob on the circuit very soon.
