Apologies if I start this post off on a rather negative note, but knowing what 7’s Day (7/7) was once like in Japan, it’s hard to not be concerned at the dearth of participants that turned as much as the official unofficial Daikoku PA get-together this past weekend.
While it has been a bit quieter lately, the low turnout on Sunday late afternoon/early evening may very well be attributed to the annual 7’s Day event held at Mobara Circuit, which fell on 7/7 this 12 months. Most owners who attended would have skipped dropping by Daikoku PA on the way in which home, having already got their 7’s Day fix ahead of a brand new working week.
But whatever the explanation for the smaller affair, what began as a slow and chilled gathering did, thankfully, enliven because the evening become night.
July 7 has endlessly marked the celebration of one among Japan’s most revered performance automobile models. The Mazda RX-7 in all its generations is loved by enthusiasts across the globe, and for good reason – these are amazing sports cars with unique – and highly tuneable – rotary engines.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-10](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073003/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-10-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-10](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073003/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-10-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-12](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073010/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-12-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-12](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073010/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-12-1200x800.jpg)
The Mazda rotary engine, and subsequently models just like the RX-7 may need been out of production for some time now, but as owners keep refining, restoring, and tuning their cars, this scene is just convalescing.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-13](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073013/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-13-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-13](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073013/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-13-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-15](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073020/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-15-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-15](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073020/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-15-1200x800.jpg)
7’s Day isn’t only for RX-7s; all Mazda rotaries join within the celebrations. The one Cosmo I saw was this pristine 12A-powered HB coupe with iconic early-’80s pop-up lights. I like this stuff a lot, but when I had to decide on a favorite Cosmo, it could be the rounder JC variant (1990-1996), available with a 20B three-rotor engine.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-16](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073023/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-16-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-16](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073023/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-16-1200x800.jpg)
I got to ride on this Veilside Fortune FD3S RX-7, which was a little bit of a blast from the past as I shot the movie cars Veilside built for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift back within the day. In the event you visit Tokyo, you possibly can rent this automobile, which is pretty cool.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-17](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073027/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-17-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-17](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073027/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-17-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-28](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073106/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-28-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-28](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073106/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-28-1200x800.jpg)
Because it got darker, more cars arrived, which saved the day for me.
This FD3S, rolling on iconic Mazdaspeed MS-02 wheels (by RAYS), is a 7’s Day regular.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-23](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073050/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-23-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-23](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073050/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-23-1200x800.jpg)
As is the case each time July 7 rolls around at Daikoku PA, I find yourself falling for these cars.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-29](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073110/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-29-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-29](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073110/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-29-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-31](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073116/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-31-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-31](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073116/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-31-1200x800.jpg)
In the event you don’t come away from an evening like this excited about buying an RX-7 – and envisioning what you’d do to the aesthetics and engine – are you even an actual enthusiast?
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-32](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073120/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-32-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-32](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073120/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-32-1200x800.jpg)
That leads me to this query: In the event you had an RX-7, how would you approach it? Keep it stock or easy? Light mods? Heavy mods? Or perhaps a full RE Amemiya conversion?
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-33](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073124/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-33-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-33](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073124/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-33-1200x800.jpg)
The largest surprise was seeing Automotive Shop Glow’s ‘GT race automobile for the road’ FD3S RX-7, which we first saw at Wekfest Japan 2024 just a few months back. This automobile jogs my memory of the Revolution time attack FD3S from a decade ago, but designed to be driven on public roads. Toby has shot a feature on this beast, so stay tuned for that.
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-34](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073129/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-34-1200x800.jpg)
![7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-34](https://s3.amazonaws.com/speedhunters-wp-production/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/08073129/7s-day-2024-dino-dalle-carbonare-34-1200x800.jpg)
Because the time got here to go away, quite a lot of other cars began rolling into the parking area, which might have made the numerous tourists who arrived in tour vans glad I’m sure. There isn’t a higher place to taste authentic Japanese automobile culture than Daikoku PA – even on 7/7 Sunday with an RX-7 turnout smaller than you’d hope for.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com