This Ex-Drift ‘Digicar’ Will Slide into Sick Week to Compete in Its First Drag-and-Drive
Although he’s owned eight different RX-7 models, the ‘Digicar’ 1993 Mazda RX-7 takes the cake as the most recognizable one for Mark Snellman. “I have always loved the third gen rx-7s the most,” he said. “The Digicar was an ex-drift car in 2010 when I got it in trade.
We have had two major renditions before this recent rebuild.” Now in its third form since Mark originally took possession, the ‘Digicar’ heads to Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive for its first drag-and-drive appearance.
When Mark got this RX-7, he added the iconic Digicamo wrap to it, immediately getting loads of attention for the ride. “It was powered by a 13b with 99 twin turbos,” said Mark. “This made it a very fun street car giving naturally-aspirated V8 cars a run for their money.”
After a few years, Mark made the move to running a lot of half-mile events in the southeast, as well as adding some more power to the car. The 13b was ditched in favor of a LS3 swap and a big single turbocharger, with a 4L80E overdrive transmission and a Cobra 8.8 Independent Rear Suspension (IRS).
“This form was where we went to the inaugural FL2K event, and appeared in some videos online blowing our transmissions left and right,” said Mark. “We learned we couldn't use junkyard units real fast, and installed a Stage 5 4L80E & triple disc converter from Jake’s Performance, which we are on the same unit to this day.”
By 2017, Mark found a unique body kit that spurred the decision to start the next version of the car. “We happen chanced into a Fortune wide body kit made by Veilside for the RX-7,” Mark said. “We took the car off the road to do a rebuild.”
The widebody kit would give Mark five more inches of rear tire width on both sides of the car, and life would delay Mark chances to use that space until early 2023.
“After a near seven year stay on jackstands without working on the car much at all, in 2022 we decided it's been enough time and we should put the car back together,” Mark admitted. “The main drive to do so was actually wanting to enter drag-and-drive events, as it presented itself as a large feat to accomplish.”
To prepare for Sick Week, Mark decided to once again up the horsepower factor. The LS3 and single turbo gave way to a L96-code (truck block based) 6-liter LS with the same camshaft as the LS3, and a pair of Armageddon LSX cast stainless turbo manifolds feed into twin VS Racing 67/82-millimeter turbocharger.
Mark kept the Stage 5 4L80E transmission & triple disc converter from Jake’s Performance, and assembled it all in his garage. “When we say the whole car, we meant it from the fabrication to fiberglass work,” he said.
The new version of the Digicar was ready for action in 2023, and Mark recently got his license at Orlando ‘Sick’ World Dragway with a best of 9.2 at 147 mph. Now, Mark will embark on his first drag-and-drive, with friend and co-builder of the car Aaron Messmer in the seat beside him.
“Our first goal of 2024 is to finish Sick Week,” said Mark. “This is the first drag-and-drive we will be participating in, and it is a monumental accomplishment in our opinion to just finish under your own power. Anything more than this is gravy in our books. From this first event we plan to learn and iterate till the car is consistent at this style of events.
“We view drag-and-drive events at the ultimate test of man and machine,” Mark continued. “There are a lot of variables outside the drag strip that you have to account for, from weather to even traffic. We also like how it is a competition whose goal is to have fun, not for a purse and the competitors all seem to want everyone else to finish instead of caring about ranking.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Mark Snellman.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com