What is your track day car, and why?
Discussion
Caterham Seven. Ex race car. 1.6 K-Series with about 120 bhp on A048 Yokos.
Pros:
Pros:
- Braking. It brakes in abut 1/3 of the distance of most other cars on circuit. It's absolultely brutal. Probably the biggest WOW factor when taking a passenger out.
- Fast. It's normally one of the quickest cars on a trackday unless someone turns up with an Atom or Radical, etc.
- Handling. It really is like a go kart. Easy to exploit and progressive when it lets go.
- Cheap running costs. Brake pads aren't expensive, even for 1177 Mintex (sub-£100). Brake discs are about £40 for a pair. Tyres last for ages. It will fun for about 1 hr on 30 litres of fuel.
- Can tow it using a normal car. No need for a huge 4x4 as the car + trailer only weigh about 900kg.
- Nil depreciation.
- Too fast over a lap? Spend quite a bit of time stuck in traffic.
- Not enough grunt on the straights to get past anything with 200bhp+ unless they lift.
- I miss being able to drive my track car home from the circuit, though i could drive this on the road if i really wanted to.
TVR Cerbera modified:
Pro's
470BHP/ 450 Torques with a weight of around 1050Kg
Surprisingly nimble with huge amount of feed back, sends a warning telegram before sliding.
able to drive to and from the circuit in comfort
able to mix it both through the corners and on the straights with 911 Turbos and the such which raises a few eye brows.
Con's
Cost of running it is quite high though reliability is very good
A well driven Caterham round some where like Brands will be quicker through corners so constantly having to back off down the straights on tight circuits larger circuits and it is fine as i can pull out quite a bit on the straight and not be left holding people up on the corners so long as I get the pass done early enough.
Pro's
470BHP/ 450 Torques with a weight of around 1050Kg
Surprisingly nimble with huge amount of feed back, sends a warning telegram before sliding.
able to drive to and from the circuit in comfort
able to mix it both through the corners and on the straights with 911 Turbos and the such which raises a few eye brows.
Con's
Cost of running it is quite high though reliability is very good
A well driven Caterham round some where like Brands will be quicker through corners so constantly having to back off down the straights on tight circuits larger circuits and it is fine as i can pull out quite a bit on the straight and not be left holding people up on the corners so long as I get the pass done early enough.
james_gt3rs said:
PTF said:
Plenty of ex race cars for around £10k
Not sure i'd contemplate using a caterham as a daily! Many people do, but it's not for me. I don't even use mine on the road at all.
Vx220 turbo here
Reasons: RWD, lightweight british sports car to buy and work on with my dad
Small cons: few small things need to be replaced to make it safer on track such as the oem toe links and Hub Carrier bolts but both are easy enough jobs and not too expensive but could save you meeting a wall on-track
Reasons: RWD, lightweight british sports car to buy and work on with my dad
Small cons: few small things need to be replaced to make it safer on track such as the oem toe links and Hub Carrier bolts but both are easy enough jobs and not too expensive but could save you meeting a wall on-track
Honda Civic Type R (EP3)
Bought as a cheap stop-gap whilst my smart Roadster went away for an engine rebuild. Its now replaced the smart for track day duties.
Pros:
- Cheap to run and reliable. Gives me 38mpg when I'm taking it easy on the Motorways.
- Easy to work on.
- Fast enough. I've had some good comments from other track dayers about its pace. Its not super quick, but for its age and millage it still pulls like new.
- Handles well enough.
- THAT engine.
Cons:
- Cheap. Its been abused for 13+ years and its showing in the suspension. I rebuilt the front suspension last year, and now the rear needs the same attention. Its also been involved in a front end shunt before I bought it. Car is a 52 plate, yet the AC Radiator has a sticker on saying "QC Passed 09/2007".
- Has the chav image (I refer to it as the chav car).
- The "Tell me I'm wrong" article from a few years back is right, the engine is too much for the chassis.
I keep looking at cheap Tigers/Westfields as a replacement, but I can see myself keeping it for a few years yet.
Bought as a cheap stop-gap whilst my smart Roadster went away for an engine rebuild. Its now replaced the smart for track day duties.
Pros:
- Cheap to run and reliable. Gives me 38mpg when I'm taking it easy on the Motorways.
- Easy to work on.
- Fast enough. I've had some good comments from other track dayers about its pace. Its not super quick, but for its age and millage it still pulls like new.
- Handles well enough.
- THAT engine.
Cons:
- Cheap. Its been abused for 13+ years and its showing in the suspension. I rebuilt the front suspension last year, and now the rear needs the same attention. Its also been involved in a front end shunt before I bought it. Car is a 52 plate, yet the AC Radiator has a sticker on saying "QC Passed 09/2007".
- Has the chav image (I refer to it as the chav car).
- The "Tell me I'm wrong" article from a few years back is right, the engine is too much for the chassis.
I keep looking at cheap Tigers/Westfields as a replacement, but I can see myself keeping it for a few years yet.
Edited by DMN on Monday 5th October 15:00
1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR.
Why?
It's so much fun to drive, not like modern 4wd's - more like old school front engine rear drive.
Most people don't notice it until it goes past... With a belch of flame and bit of oversteer if I can get away with it
Pro's :
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. Very reliable and cheap for the performance.
Con's:
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. It's too quick for most cars on track so can get boring with nothing to play with. Usually get black flagged for drifting.
Recently took an Audi A6 diesel on track with 130 bhp... almost as much fun as the skyline, so many more cars to play with and hilarious overtaking the stickered up 'race' cars.
Why?
It's so much fun to drive, not like modern 4wd's - more like old school front engine rear drive.
Most people don't notice it until it goes past... With a belch of flame and bit of oversteer if I can get away with it
Pro's :
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. Very reliable and cheap for the performance.
Con's:
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. It's too quick for most cars on track so can get boring with nothing to play with. Usually get black flagged for drifting.
Recently took an Audi A6 diesel on track with 130 bhp... almost as much fun as the skyline, so many more cars to play with and hilarious overtaking the stickered up 'race' cars.
Mitsubishi Evo 10
But modified in an unusual way (compared to most Evo's anyway)
When I started track days, I was busy in summer and wanted more winter trackdays. I wanted the grip in the wet of 4x4 Japanese barge, but without the weight and the electronic nanny's.
So it was stripped, caged, lightened as much as possible, fitted with an RS manual rear diff without nannies on board and the ECU was thrown in the bin. A replacement ECU by MoTeC and top mapping has made a Jap 4x4 that I really wanted. Added Nitron suspension and some decent ARB's. Rebuilt engine with larger valves and polished inlet and matched tubular manifold. But no big turbo, just a stock frame turbo upgrade. Spool and handling, that's what I wanted.
Pro's It 'sticks like stools to the stairs', the mechanical grip is amazing. The power is nice and instant and a pleasure to drive.
Con's Expensive to build, addictive. Did I say addictive.
But modified in an unusual way (compared to most Evo's anyway)
When I started track days, I was busy in summer and wanted more winter trackdays. I wanted the grip in the wet of 4x4 Japanese barge, but without the weight and the electronic nanny's.
So it was stripped, caged, lightened as much as possible, fitted with an RS manual rear diff without nannies on board and the ECU was thrown in the bin. A replacement ECU by MoTeC and top mapping has made a Jap 4x4 that I really wanted. Added Nitron suspension and some decent ARB's. Rebuilt engine with larger valves and polished inlet and matched tubular manifold. But no big turbo, just a stock frame turbo upgrade. Spool and handling, that's what I wanted.
Pro's It 'sticks like stools to the stairs', the mechanical grip is amazing. The power is nice and instant and a pleasure to drive.
Con's Expensive to build, addictive. Did I say addictive.
Mk3 Fiesta RS1800
Why.
It was a cheap way into track days buying a readily prepared machine, it had been a track day car since 1996 and was ready to rock and roll from day 1.
Pro's
Cheap to buy and run, track prepared cost me well under £2000
Doesn't cost the earth in fuel when on track
Consumables aren't too expensive, front Brembo discs and yellow stuff pads cost less than £50 and last quite a while
I can pick up 4 Semi Slick Tyres for £80 that have done 1 BMW championship race and so far they have lasted me all year
Spare parts are cheap and readily available
Lots of ford parts are interchangeable between models
Cons
Not going to break any lap records, only 144bhp
Rust....
As a car to learn the basics of track driving and to gain more experience its perfect. One day I will move to something faster, hopefully that wont be too soon though, keeps putting a massive smile on my face.
Why.
It was a cheap way into track days buying a readily prepared machine, it had been a track day car since 1996 and was ready to rock and roll from day 1.
Pro's
Cheap to buy and run, track prepared cost me well under £2000
Doesn't cost the earth in fuel when on track
Consumables aren't too expensive, front Brembo discs and yellow stuff pads cost less than £50 and last quite a while
I can pick up 4 Semi Slick Tyres for £80 that have done 1 BMW championship race and so far they have lasted me all year
Spare parts are cheap and readily available
Lots of ford parts are interchangeable between models
Cons
Not going to break any lap records, only 144bhp
Rust....
As a car to learn the basics of track driving and to gain more experience its perfect. One day I will move to something faster, hopefully that wont be too soon though, keeps putting a massive smile on my face.
PTF said:
Caterham Seven. Ex race car. 1.6 K-Series with about 120 bhp on A048 Yokos.
Pros:
I really like the Caterhams, but the whole no roof thing puts me off! Kinda limits you to dry weather track days! Pros:
- Braking. It brakes in abut 1/3 of the distance of most other cars on circuit. It's absolultely brutal. Probably the biggest WOW factor when taking a passenger out.
- Fast. It's normally one of the quickest cars on a trackday unless someone turns up with an Atom or Radical, etc.
- Handling. It really is like a go kart. Easy to exploit and progressive when it lets go.
- Cheap running costs. Brake pads aren't expensive, even for 1177 Mintex (sub-£100). Brake discs are about £40 for a pair. Tyres last for ages. It will fun for about 1 hr on 30 litres of fuel.
- Can tow it using a normal car. No need for a huge 4x4 as the car + trailer only weigh about 900kg.
- Nil depreciation.
- Too fast over a lap? Spend quite a bit of time stuck in traffic.
- Not enough grunt on the straights to get past anything with 200bhp+ unless they lift.
- I miss being able to drive my track car home from the circuit, though i could drive this on the road if i really wanted to.
git-r said:
1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR.
Why?
It's so much fun to drive, not like modern 4wd's - more like old school front engine rear drive.
Most people don't notice it until it goes past... With a belch of flame and bit of oversteer if I can get away with it
Pro's :
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. Very reliable and cheap for the performance.
Con's:
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. It's too quick for most cars on track so can get boring with nothing to play with. Usually get black flagged for drifting.
Recently took an Audi A6 diesel on track with 130 bhp... almost as much fun as the skyline, so many more cars to play with and hilarious overtaking the stickered up 'race' cars.
Must be trolling!Why?
It's so much fun to drive, not like modern 4wd's - more like old school front engine rear drive.
Most people don't notice it until it goes past... With a belch of flame and bit of oversteer if I can get away with it
Pro's :
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. Very reliable and cheap for the performance.
Con's:
Very fast - 52 second laps at Brands Indy on road tyres. It's too quick for most cars on track so can get boring with nothing to play with. Usually get black flagged for drifting.
Recently took an Audi A6 diesel on track with 130 bhp... almost as much fun as the skyline, so many more cars to play with and hilarious overtaking the stickered up 'race' cars.
1999 BMW 328i
Pros -
Dirt cheap to buy. got ours off autotrader for £775. therefore cheap enough to not worry about trackday insurance at £100 a day - if we break it, we get another. So far we've done 4 days in it, need another 4 to break even. previously we had a slightly older 328 that cost £410 to buy, and did 12 trackdays before it was scrapped!
Safe, predictable handling. even with cheap tyres on, the chassis is really nice, slight understeer normally but great fun sliding it around when the rear tyres get hot. nice and easy to catch slides and gather up if needed, been black flagged for drifting a few times.
nice turn of power for the price - nearing 200bhp in a 1300kg car aint too shabby - can keep up with far more expensive stuff especially with decent brake pads and tyres. way faster than similar priced MX5s and MR2s, we're keeping up with things like RX8s and 350zs.
comfortable enough to drive to and from track, plus room for all spares. ours still has full heating/air con, and radio. no problems driving for 3 hours to a track, doing a trackday then driving home again.
Cons -
handling isnt quite as sharp as a more track focused machine, after all its still a family saloon at heart.
could do with being perhaps a little faster - previously had a 330 which was great, but to buy them you need twice as much money. plus both the 328 and 330 stop and corner equally well, which are the important things!
All in all, i'd heartily recommend a BMW 328i as a first track car - dirt cheap to buy, parts are cheap and plentiful, easy to get decent brakes and tyres, lots of fun to be had stripping out the interior, can modify as little or as much as you want.
Pros -
Dirt cheap to buy. got ours off autotrader for £775. therefore cheap enough to not worry about trackday insurance at £100 a day - if we break it, we get another. So far we've done 4 days in it, need another 4 to break even. previously we had a slightly older 328 that cost £410 to buy, and did 12 trackdays before it was scrapped!
Safe, predictable handling. even with cheap tyres on, the chassis is really nice, slight understeer normally but great fun sliding it around when the rear tyres get hot. nice and easy to catch slides and gather up if needed, been black flagged for drifting a few times.
nice turn of power for the price - nearing 200bhp in a 1300kg car aint too shabby - can keep up with far more expensive stuff especially with decent brake pads and tyres. way faster than similar priced MX5s and MR2s, we're keeping up with things like RX8s and 350zs.
comfortable enough to drive to and from track, plus room for all spares. ours still has full heating/air con, and radio. no problems driving for 3 hours to a track, doing a trackday then driving home again.
Cons -
handling isnt quite as sharp as a more track focused machine, after all its still a family saloon at heart.
could do with being perhaps a little faster - previously had a 330 which was great, but to buy them you need twice as much money. plus both the 328 and 330 stop and corner equally well, which are the important things!
All in all, i'd heartily recommend a BMW 328i as a first track car - dirt cheap to buy, parts are cheap and plentiful, easy to get decent brakes and tyres, lots of fun to be had stripping out the interior, can modify as little or as much as you want.
Edited by brillomaster on Monday 5th October 19:03
Caterham Levante with 600hp. .
Pros:-
Fast, really really fast.
Handles well, weighs only 530kg.
Great conversation starter.
Cons:-
Useless really in the wet.
Needs insuring due to £120k cost to replace.
Bespoke parts, slight offs can be expensive and take a long time to repair
Currently too loud for some circuits, though this is being sorted.
Can't drive it to or from circuit (yet)
Having typed that out and seeing the cons appear to outweigh the pros, I wonder why I have it, however that all changes as soon as the tyres are warm and your eyelids peel back out of corners and straights disappear.
Pros:-
Fast, really really fast.
Handles well, weighs only 530kg.
Great conversation starter.
Cons:-
Useless really in the wet.
Needs insuring due to £120k cost to replace.
Bespoke parts, slight offs can be expensive and take a long time to repair
Currently too loud for some circuits, though this is being sorted.
Can't drive it to or from circuit (yet)
Having typed that out and seeing the cons appear to outweigh the pros, I wonder why I have it, however that all changes as soon as the tyres are warm and your eyelids peel back out of corners and straights disappear.
Edited by Pdelamare on Monday 5th October 21:17
PGNCerbera said:
Lordy, that sounds bloody fearsome !
You can say that again, there are some tracks where neither myself or my Caterham & Radical club racer buddy are brave enough to give it full throttle or rev it out. It revs to 10k, but 8k is about as mental as I can handle, leaving another 150hp to go for bigger and smoother tracks. It's intimidating, even just ticking over in the pits.
Do you have any vids of this in action? Can't imagine what it must be like!!
Pdelamare said:
Caterham Levante with 600hp. .
Pros:-
Fast, really really fast.
Handles well, weighs only 530kg.
Great conversation starter.
Cons:-
Useless really in the wet.
Needs insuring due to £120k cost to replace.
Bespoke parts, slight offs can be expensive and take a long time to repair
Currently too loud for some circuits, though this is being sorted.
Can't drive it to or from circuit (yet)
Having typed that out and seeing the cons appear to outweigh the pros, I wonder why I have it, however that all changes as soon as the tyres are warm and your eyelids peel back out of corners and straights disappear.
Pros:-
Fast, really really fast.
Handles well, weighs only 530kg.
Great conversation starter.
Cons:-
Useless really in the wet.
Needs insuring due to £120k cost to replace.
Bespoke parts, slight offs can be expensive and take a long time to repair
Currently too loud for some circuits, though this is being sorted.
Can't drive it to or from circuit (yet)
Having typed that out and seeing the cons appear to outweigh the pros, I wonder why I have it, however that all changes as soon as the tyres are warm and your eyelids peel back out of corners and straights disappear.
Edited by Pdelamare on Monday 5th October 21:17
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