What is your track day car, and why?

What is your track day car, and why?

Author
Discussion

git-r

969 posts

198 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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ORD said:
Must be trolling!
What makes you say that?

Pdelamare

659 posts

127 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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git-r said:
Do you have any vids of this in action? Can't imagine what it must be like
Not a huge deal right now as its a new car I've only been out in it twice and both times either there's been issues, marshals confiscating SD card from VBox, or the Go Pro wasn't on. I'm at Mallory Park with it on Saturday and will have the VBox fitted discreetly so can get some good footage, plus the car should be finally sorted and ready to start scaring myself properly.

The video below was from a recent shakedown test at Outlon, brakes and suspension weren't ideal so we're coasting into bends and just checking oil and water temps as it was overheating and turning itself off at Silverstone. I got black flagged for noise in the video. The video gets a bit blurry as the supercharger oil breather was blowing a bit, this has also been fixed.

http://youtu.be/1Yy5GWinR68


MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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Mev exocet kit car based on a mk1 mx5 why because I wanted to build my own car and at 19 was the most affordable way for me at the time.
130bhp brakes are spot on and handling is spot on again not much can keep up on the handling type circuits does lack power though.

Downsides well no roof/doors/windscreen etc so a bit st in the wet and as its so low doesn't get seen by the bigger cars on track.
Power is low but being changed next year with a td04 turbo and loads of other mods.

When the work is all done again next year be around 10k from start to present.

motorhole

658 posts

219 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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E30 3 Series with a breathed-on E36 328i engine.

Why? No real reason other than I like E30s! The way they look, way they drive and easy to work on.

For a 25+ yr old car, they don't need much to keep up with modern fast stuff. Anything can fit under the bonnet and the monocoque is as good a blank canvas as any. With real investment, can be made pretty serious, so a good prospect for a long term rolling project.


shirt

22,508 posts

200 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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i have a locost 7 fitted with a 2.0l duratec and various mods performed under my ownership [including a lot of chassis stiffening]. i got it because it for sale at a good price, i looked at it and bought it.

i also have a half share in a clio 182 cup car - the factory racer with the sadev box etc. again we got it because it was for sale at a good price. we looked it over and took 5mins to decide we wanted it.

both are decent cars, pros and cons to each. main downer is that even the locost can't be made road legal where i live as it has a full cage. this means having to trailer everything around which wasn't a problem until i sold my tow car to buy an elise....

jumare

417 posts

148 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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Mazda MK1 1.6

Pro;
- it was cheap
- it's RWD and handles well (or will do when I get it sorted out)
- lot's of tuning parts availability
- lot's of information about modifying
- fun to drive on road and relatively practical
- easy to work on

Con;
- it's slow (but that can be changed given budget)
- not a very original choice

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
git-r said:
What makes you say that?
Running an AWD super barge as a track car. Saying a diesel Audi was fun on track. Pub talk about 'mixing it' with other cars on track.

Mega Drive

18 posts

135 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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Toyota GT86

Pro;
- great handling/feel
- Has a roof!
- looks fast
- light compared to moderns cars
- great platform to make a monster
- road and track car

Con;
- Isnt fast (Lacks power to be taken seriously)
- Heavy compared to a cateram
- Expensive - only 3 years old

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
ORD said:
git-r said:
What makes you say that?
Running an AWD super barge as a track car. Saying a diesel Audi was fun on track. Pub talk about 'mixing it' with other cars on track.
I've seen a few Skylines at track days, I guess they are trolls too? rolleyes

I'll give you that for the Audi though...

ORD

18,086 posts

126 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
james_gt3rs said:
I've seen a few Skylines at track days, I guess they are trolls too? rolleyes

I'll give you that for the Audi though...
It made me think of the infamous Kebab video! It is hardly the driving enthusiasts' choice for taking on track: heavy, expensive consumables, oodles of assistance, not much feedback, etc etc.

I cant think of a single Audi that I have not found positively unpleasant to drive (although I havent driven an R8).




geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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BMW E36 318ti Compact

Pros:
Lightweight
Plenty of bits available and advice
Easy to drive
Cheap, very cheap
Handling puts a smile on my face

Cons:
Power, it will holder more expensive machinery in a corner and on the anchors, but beyond that....
The wife won't let me MOT it so I have to trailer it, although i cant really blame the car for this!

I bought it as like any good chef, I eat what I cook! Glad I did though has taught me alot about driving on track and what RWD is all about!

Robert Elise

956 posts

144 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
jumare said:
Mazda MK1 1.6

Pro;
- it was cheap
- it's RWD and handles well (or will do when I get it sorted out)
- lot's of tuning parts availability
- lot's of information about modifying
- fun to drive on road and relatively practical
- easy to work on

Con;
- it's slow (but that can be changed given budget)
- not a very original choice
+1
"robust" too.

Simple, authentic track day fun. To upgrade costs a lot more!
I moved to a dedicated Eunos (stripped, buckets, bracing, still cheap) to save my newish Lotus.

More spare cash -> Caterham
wealthy aunt -> Zenos or Radical
Lottery -> no 458 Speciale for me. i'd go single seater racing

Henry Fiddleton

1,581 posts

176 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Sam (git-r) certainly isn't a Troll!

Anyway:

Mx5 SvT (Mk2.5).

- Cheap, cheerful, very reliable.

Pros: Being slow on the straights is all the reason to make sure it keeps my lines spot on.

Cons: Power needed when lines are spot on with other cars!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTbi3ggGog


PTF

4,252 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Had a couple of mx-5 track cars between owning caterhams and they're great fun.

You learn lots with them because you have to carry momentum EVERYWHERE to make up for the lack of grunt. Sweet handling things though.

Couple of years ago I picked up a mk1 1.8is (with lsd) for £1k. It had a TR Lane roll bar, Gaz Gold adjustable shocks, Larini exhaust. Absolute bargain. Ran it for a few trackdays, and when a good caterham came up i sold the mazda for £1700 biggrin

Mega Drive

18 posts

135 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
I can think of no better cheap trackday car, that has a roof, than an MX5. Great fun and excellent balance. It is true with a slower car, you really have to think about getting the technique right to carry the momentum and it is so rewarding.

The youtube clip of the mx5 vs subaru doesnt surprise me at all - its a common occurance at the handful track days I have attended and great to see.

PTF

4,252 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
My MX-5 "carrying momentum" at donington a couple of yrs ago. First few mins a bit dull, but some interesting moments. Right on the limit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XlYbjbEmkU

Robert Elise

956 posts

144 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Henry Fiddleton said:
so, scooby doo clearly can't drive, but no black flag after ignoring a full circuit of blues for 10mins?

Henry Fiddleton

1,581 posts

176 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Yup not sure what happened, but I was fine with it all. Would have been nice to get let through and see if could keep up - but he only let me passed when he gave up.

He seemed to let some other cars through, but I was usually to far back on the straights.

Anyway - "Mx5"

Looking to move on soon, might get a race Mx5 then Turbo that.

Digimon

16 posts

198 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Standard for this scooby, has done the same at Lydden in the past



MNR Vortx R1

Pros:
Very fast, amazing handling, great stopping power from small brakes thanks to its 480kg curb weight
Running costs are non existent, brake pads and tyres seam to last for ever and there cheap to replace
Free sequential gearbox thanks to the bike engine + bike quick shifter is a great bonus
Amazing noise from the R1 engine at 11,000rpm

Cons:
No roof or windscreen, can get quite cold and wet
You feel quite exposed on track and the road but that's just part of owning a Caterham / 7 type car
Vibration white finger is a problem on long motorway journeys as well as your feet going dead
Car trailer is need for this car really

Edited to add a photo smile

Edited by Digimon on Thursday 22 October 11:29

HorneyMX5

5,306 posts

149 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Mk1 1.6 MX5 (Supercharged)

Started out as a near standard road car and over 4 years has morphed into a track and competition car for speed events.

Pros:
Fast
Cheap to run
Easy to source parts
Multiple different upgrade paths
Huge owners clubs with a wealth of experience

Cons:
Upgrade costs – With so much choice and availability it’s easy to get carried away.

I genuinely can’t think of any other cons. It’s such a fun, fast, reliable and value for money package.

Have a video of some fun it from a month or so ago:

https://youtu.be/pWxSR1E568A

And 7 minutes of Sprinting footage from Sunday:

https://youtu.be/76mVXFBNxv8