What is your track day car, and why?
Discussion
james_gt3rs said:
Sifly said:
Ninemiester 996 3.4 Club Sport
Great 911 Handling Characteristics
Lighter than a GT3
300 BHP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-911-996-9m-Carre...
This is my first post on here, so hello all!
'95 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo (daily driven)
Pro’s:
- Fun out of the box: 1.3 turbo 130bhp, 860kg, LSD box
- Performance: Circa 180bhp, low 6’s to 60mph,
- Handling: best described as fun rather than great, but is good enough after a few mods
- Brakes: Stops on a dime (if it doesn’t lock up) with Celica ST185 fronts
- Running costs: cheap (economy off boost is great), 210bhp/ton can be attained relatively easily
- UFO factor: it’s (relatively) rare to see another on the road. Surprises a lot of other cars
Con’s:
- UFO factor: many parts tend to be quite expensive compared to similar cars (civics etc)
- 20 years old now with 100k, I get niggles cropping up here and there
- Chasing 250bhp+ can get quite expensive
- Lots of NVH
- Gets a bit unnerving past 120mph (aero needed!)
Spec: 1.3 circa 180bhp, lightweight flywheel, Meister R coilovers, uprated anti-roll bars & braces, Celica GT4 brakes, Nankang NS2R tyres
Future: TD04/TF035 turbo upgrade for ~230bhp. Setting up the balance to be more on the oversteer side. Maybe a Honda engine swap when I finish my degree
'95 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo (daily driven)
Pro’s:
- Fun out of the box: 1.3 turbo 130bhp, 860kg, LSD box
- Performance: Circa 180bhp, low 6’s to 60mph,
- Handling: best described as fun rather than great, but is good enough after a few mods
- Brakes: Stops on a dime (if it doesn’t lock up) with Celica ST185 fronts
- Running costs: cheap (economy off boost is great), 210bhp/ton can be attained relatively easily
- UFO factor: it’s (relatively) rare to see another on the road. Surprises a lot of other cars
Con’s:
- UFO factor: many parts tend to be quite expensive compared to similar cars (civics etc)
- 20 years old now with 100k, I get niggles cropping up here and there
- Chasing 250bhp+ can get quite expensive
- Lots of NVH
- Gets a bit unnerving past 120mph (aero needed!)
Spec: 1.3 circa 180bhp, lightweight flywheel, Meister R coilovers, uprated anti-roll bars & braces, Celica GT4 brakes, Nankang NS2R tyres
Future: TD04/TF035 turbo upgrade for ~230bhp. Setting up the balance to be more on the oversteer side. Maybe a Honda engine swap when I finish my degree
AmjadJDM said:
This is my first post on here, so hello all!
'95 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo (daily driven)
Pro’s:
- Fun out of the box: 1.3 turbo 130bhp, 860kg, LSD box
- Performance: Circa 180bhp, low 6’s to 60mph,
- Handling: best described as fun rather than great, but is good enough after a few mods
- Brakes: Stops on a dime (if it doesn’t lock up) with Celica ST185 fronts
- Running costs: cheap (economy off boost is great), 210bhp/ton can be attained relatively easily
- UFO factor: it’s (relatively) rare to see another on the road. Surprises a lot of other cars
Con’s:
- UFO factor: many parts tend to be quite expensive compared to similar cars (civics etc)
- 20 years old now with 100k, I get niggles cropping up here and there
- Chasing 250bhp+ can get quite expensive
- Lots of NVH
- Gets a bit unnerving past 120mph (aero needed!)
Spec: 1.3 circa 180bhp, lightweight flywheel, Meister R coilovers, uprated anti-roll bars & braces, Celica GT4 brakes, Nankang NS2R tyres
Future: TD04/TF035 turbo upgrade for ~230bhp. Setting up the balance to be more on the oversteer side. Maybe a Honda engine swap when I finish my degree
You weren't at Cadwell last month were you? I forget the date but when the blue GT86 had a big old crash.'95 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo (daily driven)
Pro’s:
- Fun out of the box: 1.3 turbo 130bhp, 860kg, LSD box
- Performance: Circa 180bhp, low 6’s to 60mph,
- Handling: best described as fun rather than great, but is good enough after a few mods
- Brakes: Stops on a dime (if it doesn’t lock up) with Celica ST185 fronts
- Running costs: cheap (economy off boost is great), 210bhp/ton can be attained relatively easily
- UFO factor: it’s (relatively) rare to see another on the road. Surprises a lot of other cars
Con’s:
- UFO factor: many parts tend to be quite expensive compared to similar cars (civics etc)
- 20 years old now with 100k, I get niggles cropping up here and there
- Chasing 250bhp+ can get quite expensive
- Lots of NVH
- Gets a bit unnerving past 120mph (aero needed!)
Spec: 1.3 circa 180bhp, lightweight flywheel, Meister R coilovers, uprated anti-roll bars & braces, Celica GT4 brakes, Nankang NS2R tyres
Future: TD04/TF035 turbo upgrade for ~230bhp. Setting up the balance to be more on the oversteer side. Maybe a Honda engine swap when I finish my degree
I wasn't, but I believe that may have been one of the guys off the Starlet forum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLnaFA7iEog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLnaFA7iEog
AmjadJDM said:
I wasn't, but I believe that may have been one of the guys off the Starlet forum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLnaFA7iEog
Indeed it was, very quick car and well driven. Probably the quickest lapping on that trackday actually.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLnaFA7iEog
That was me put the comment on there about the black kitcar but on closer inspection I don't think it is me. These kitcars are so alike I can't even recognise my own
Ginetta G20 1.4 Zetec SE
Pros:
+ Fantastic fun, the handling, open ITB's and exhaust singing away 6" from your right leg are a good giggle
+ RWD & LSD
+ A bit different
+ Light so easy on consumables
+ Built for competition use so trackdays don't stress it too much & most bits are from big manufacturers parts bins so cheaply sourced
+ Fits easily on a small trailer and can be towed without taking a trailer test
Negatives:
- Rare, so model specific spares are tricky to find
- Expensive (for me) for something to use a few times a year
- Very small inside
Hoping to make it road legal in the future, and would like to take it tarmac stage rallying though need to investigate the work required - I know there was a factory rally car that was quite extensively modified.
Edited by mattydoh on Tuesday 27th October 20:49
mattydoh said:
Ginetta G20 1.4 Zetec SE
Pros:
+ Fantastic fun, the handling, open ITB's and exhaust singing away 6" from your right leg are a good giggle
+ RWD & LSD
+ A bit different
+ Light so easy on consumables
+ Built for competition use so trackdays don't stress it too much & most bits are from big manufacturers parts bins so cheaply sourced
+ Fits easily on a small trailer and can be towed without taking a trailer test
Negatives:
- Rare, so model specific spares are tricky to find
- Expensive (for me) for something to use a few times a year
- Very small inside
Hoping to make it road legal in the future, and would like to take it tarmac stage rallying though need to investigate the work required - I know there was a factory rally car that was quite extensively modified.
Edited by mattydoh on Tuesday 27th October 20:49
johnwilliams77 said:
That's a lovely toy. Mind if I ask: what are the weight rules on towing a trailer with a car on it?
The trailer plus track car must weigh less than the plated weight of the trailer (its max load per the trailer manufacturer).The plated weight of the trailer must be less than the car manufacturer's approved towing weight for the tow car.
A general safety rule is that the trailer plus load should be less than 80% of the weight of the car if the trailer is single axle.
Finally, the tyres on the trailer must be load rated for more than the weight of the trailer plus track car. Easily missed on single axle trailers. The load rating is the "83" or "87" in 205/45 R16 87V on the side wall of the tyre. There is a conversion chart here, and it is load per tyre, so multiply the weight per the chart by the number of wheels on the trailer.
Also, beware - a dual carriageway or motorway, your speed limit is 60, not 70. Single carriageway, limit is 50, not 60.
Finally, if you passed your test before 1997 then you can tow anything of this type (so I am fine towing my 1250kg horse trailer with 1300kg of horses on board, with a Merc ML which must weigh over 2 tonnes).
But unless you took a trailer test as well, if you passed your driving test from 1997 onwards, you are limited to 3.5 tonnes in total, car and trailer plus contents. This one nearly caught out my son in law, towing a caravan behind a Volvo VC90. Because the Volvo is a distant relation of the Sherman tank, we had to buy a fairly light single axle caravan to comply. If your track car weighs say 1300 kg, trailer 350 kg, tow car 2500 kg, you will be safe, but well over the Gross weight limit for your licence.
Believe me, if VOSA check, they will know straight away you are over and can impound the whole lot.....
Hol said:
For those of us that have already posted, I see the mods are asking for people to put in pictures on the PH homepage. 
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonhead...
Edited by Hol on Thursday 22 October 13:29
(caged, KW V2 suspension, Tarox 6 pot brakes etc)
Pros -
Handling
Sound of S14 & DTM airbox
Just love the bloody thing!
Cons -
Cost if I bent it or blew the engine/box.
Konan said:
Thanks! The MSV photographer was great on that track day, there were loads of good photos.
Lotus Elise S1 k series based.
Why? Sort of got into track days during ownership. It's a great car to use on track and for me it's the safer option compared to a 7 based car since the chassis surrounds you more and sits high.
Pros
Handling is superb, great platform to learn on
Can be slowly upgraded as you progress
Light so parts last fairly well
Retains value
Can keep up with quite a lot of stuff if you drive well
K series engine and bits relatively cheap and can be upgraded, simple mechanicals.
All round use not a problem
Cons
Wet not as good unless you've got the right tyres but still lots of fun and you learn more anyway.
K series engine can be he weak link in its armour as they're always prone to hgf but then not a big deal.
Lotus bits can be expensive
http://youtu.be/5FqTiFyGI58
. - my car recently at Hulavington.
Why? Sort of got into track days during ownership. It's a great car to use on track and for me it's the safer option compared to a 7 based car since the chassis surrounds you more and sits high.
Pros
Handling is superb, great platform to learn on
Can be slowly upgraded as you progress
Light so parts last fairly well
Retains value
Can keep up with quite a lot of stuff if you drive well
K series engine and bits relatively cheap and can be upgraded, simple mechanicals.
All round use not a problem
Cons
Wet not as good unless you've got the right tyres but still lots of fun and you learn more anyway.
K series engine can be he weak link in its armour as they're always prone to hgf but then not a big deal.
Lotus bits can be expensive
http://youtu.be/5FqTiFyGI58
. - my car recently at Hulavington.
Edited by england_r on Saturday 31st October 18:41
E36 M3 Evo - Fully stripped, caged, 325 bhp, 1250 ish kg, gaz coilovers
Pros
All weather trackdays - (it has a roof and heater)
Driftooooo
Bullet Proof
Looks ace
V.Fast
Cheap to buy
Cheap to run as its light
Cons
Uncomfortable to drive to track
Uncomfortable to drive to track
M-Tax on some parts can sting
Pros
All weather trackdays - (it has a roof and heater)
Driftooooo
Bullet Proof
Looks ace
V.Fast
Cheap to buy
Cheap to run as its light
Cons
Uncomfortable to drive to track
Uncomfortable to drive to track
M-Tax on some parts can sting
Mines a Radical SR3. Reason is I wanted something that would match the excitement I got from doing bike track days in the past but wanted something a bit safer. I know the car isn't welcome by TD organisers as it's too quick for the average TD and you just end up with cold slicks and on someones bumper which isn't fair to the other drivers. Anyway, ARDS sorted and racing a Seven next year 
Edited by Thecarper on Tuesday 3rd November 16:19
Just got this 2003 MR2 roadster. 138bhp and 990kg. Getting it ready for first trackday-
New manifold without pre - cats is wrapped with heat shield tape and just awaiting new studs from toyota for manifold and downpipe.
Fresh brake fluid to swap
Lose a little weight- space saver and probably hood under hardtop.
Slight clonk at front under braking possibly front roll bar or drop links needs attention
Pros- was 1700 quid
Lightweight
Nimble
Lsd
Cheap insurance
Cons- with 190bhp would be a track monster :-)
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