What is your track day car, and why?
Discussion
Honda integra type r dc2 ukdm
pros, Very good fun loves being thrashed. quite easy near the limit good fun in near standard form parts are easy to get and reasonably cheap. already had it as a daily so when i got a new job i just took it off he road then had a dedicated track car.
Cons , not rwd , could do with a bit more power , all the comments about it not being "jdm" and why didnt i get a jap spec one instead? (got a decent manifold so running roughly the same just need a remap) cant drive it home (my choice) not a v8
pros, Very good fun loves being thrashed. quite easy near the limit good fun in near standard form parts are easy to get and reasonably cheap. already had it as a daily so when i got a new job i just took it off he road then had a dedicated track car.
Cons , not rwd , could do with a bit more power , all the comments about it not being "jdm" and why didnt i get a jap spec one instead? (got a decent manifold so running roughly the same just need a remap) cant drive it home (my choice) not a v8
AuralisMatty said:
Lol I'm a good enough driver to know that I'm not good! The 52's were high 52's and on federal RS-R's with some extremely hard suspension. With kuhmo ku36's and much nicer suspension for the road I've only managed low 53's. A good driver might get an extra half a second but would do it every lap... I'm lucky if I can do one good lap in a day! MR2_SC said:
PTF said:
Plenty of ex race cars for around £10k
www.graduates.org.uk/forsale.asp
Porsche 964 Carrera 2
I started doing trackdays because of the car. A track is the only place that I can get near the potential of the car (legally). When I do so....it's great fun to drive
. I've tried (hired) a Seven since then and although it was undoubtedly quicker (much easier to drive faster), I prefer the challenge and quirky nature of the old 911. I also like the associated drive or tour that goes with doing trackdays. Something that a lightly modified 964 does with ease and raises a smile while it does it. So, I still do trackdays because of the car not because I just want to do trackdays. If that makes any sense?
I started doing trackdays because of the car. A track is the only place that I can get near the potential of the car (legally). When I do so....it's great fun to drive
. I've tried (hired) a Seven since then and although it was undoubtedly quicker (much easier to drive faster), I prefer the challenge and quirky nature of the old 911. I also like the associated drive or tour that goes with doing trackdays. Something that a lightly modified 964 does with ease and raises a smile while it does it. So, I still do trackdays because of the car not because I just want to do trackdays. If that makes any sense?I have 2: Caterham Superlight and Elise S1 Sport 160
Caterham as I this truly wonderful. Love the handling, feel and overall pace which can easily keep up with more expensive cars. And the fact it has skinny rear tyres and a LSD!
The Lotus is modifies with Nitron dampers, quick steering rack, quickshift, big brakes etc.
Great feel, predictable handling with a penchant for oversteer.
Both get driven on the road too.
Caterham as I this truly wonderful. Love the handling, feel and overall pace which can easily keep up with more expensive cars. And the fact it has skinny rear tyres and a LSD!
The Lotus is modifies with Nitron dampers, quick steering rack, quickshift, big brakes etc.
Great feel, predictable handling with a penchant for oversteer.
Both get driven on the road too.
TVR Chimaera 500.
Pros:
Enough torque and power to make the driving fun (300 bhp, 330 ft lbs), whilst not being glued to the track.
Great noise, without being too noisy for the track - there's nothing quite like that V8 rumble.
The torque means you are not stranded unable to overtake the cars that are quick on the straights and slow on the corners.
People love them, so you spend many happy hours chatting with new friends and giving passenger rides.
Several other TVR Chimaera owners also do track days, and it is great fun doing those days together.
Not the fastest thing on track - much more fun dicing with a well sorted MX5 or GTI than blasting around at warp factor 9 (if you only have my skill level)
Cons:
Thirsty - 8mpg on track
Not the cheapest to repair
Expensive if I crashed it, though I am insured.
Pros:
Enough torque and power to make the driving fun (300 bhp, 330 ft lbs), whilst not being glued to the track.
Great noise, without being too noisy for the track - there's nothing quite like that V8 rumble.
The torque means you are not stranded unable to overtake the cars that are quick on the straights and slow on the corners.
People love them, so you spend many happy hours chatting with new friends and giving passenger rides.
Several other TVR Chimaera owners also do track days, and it is great fun doing those days together.
Not the fastest thing on track - much more fun dicing with a well sorted MX5 or GTI than blasting around at warp factor 9 (if you only have my skill level)
Cons:
Thirsty - 8mpg on track
Not the cheapest to repair
Expensive if I crashed it, though I am insured.
F1BHP said:
Which insurance companies have people used and what is the cost for track days
My TVR is insured with Equity Red Star via Classic Line. Includes full road cover and the track days. Road cover is unlimited mileage and fully comp. Premium is £460 a year. Therefore the 6 track days I imagine are roughly £25-£30 each. They then charge me for further track days at £53 a time.01455 639000 and ask for Lauren Holder.
SidewaysSi said:
I have 2: Caterham Superlight and Elise S1 Sport 160
How do the 2 compare handling and driving involvement wise? I've been toying with the idea of swapping my Vortx for a VX220 or Elise S1 but not sure they would offer as much raw fun as the kitcar. Like the idea of weather protection etc. though so I can do trackdays through winter.T0MMY said:
SidewaysSi said:
I have 2: Caterham Superlight and Elise S1 Sport 160
How do the 2 compare handling and driving involvement wise? I've been toying with the idea of swapping my Vortx for a VX220 or Elise S1 but not sure they would offer as much raw fun as the kitcar. Like the idea of weather protection etc. though so I can do trackdays through winter.However I didn't feel that 118bhp in standard form would keep me satisfied so ended up forking out a bit more for a 160.
Regarding handling, Elises are very geo sensitive, however mine is entirely predictable. Limits are much higher than the Caterham but ultimately it will understeer, lift off oversteer and power oversteer. Mine can be driven hard on a trackday and perform very well indeed.
Only thing with Elises is I wanted one with a few modifications to make it a bit more raw so mine has had:
- Nitron NTR dampers
- Ali belled discs and RS42 pads
- Upgraded toe links
- Quick steering rack
- Quickshift gearchange
- ProAlloy radiator
It also needs a sports exhaust and race seats and harnesses to get it to a decent position and to fully challenge the Seven in the fun stakes. After that, I am looking engine mods, lightweight flywheel, CR gearbox etc.
So if you are used to a Seven type car, I don't think a standard Lotus (irrespective of model) will give that immediate hit that you may look for.
Ideally you want to have both as they are very different (my Elise has a hardtop and the Seven is currently aeroscreened) - Front engined with LSD vs mid engined with open diff. Also, the Elise can be used year round, whilst I am more precious about the Caterham.
However, if I could have just one car, it would be the Elise as it really is a car that can do it all.
Thanks for that, useful info.
My Vortx is probably only worth £8k so it sounds like I'd need to sink a lot more than that in to get an Elise that would feel like a step up as that would only cover the purchase price of a basic S1 before any mods. I could stomach the loss in straight line performance if the handling was on par but maybe it would be a backwards step. Frustrating having to try to book trackdays on dry weekends though...got a motorbike for that already.
Shows what good value kitcars are though really!
My Vortx is probably only worth £8k so it sounds like I'd need to sink a lot more than that in to get an Elise that would feel like a step up as that would only cover the purchase price of a basic S1 before any mods. I could stomach the loss in straight line performance if the handling was on par but maybe it would be a backwards step. Frustrating having to try to book trackdays on dry weekends though...got a motorbike for that already.
Shows what good value kitcars are though really!
ST205 Celica GT-Four.
Pros
Fast
Fantastic in the wet
Unusual to see
Great handling
Cons
-Is very expensive to track, eats through brakes and tyres and drinks petrol like it is going out of fashion.
-Still has full interior so not a dedicated track toy.
-Pistons are weak so have 3 grand in your back pocket for when the inevitable happens.
Pros
Fast
Fantastic in the wet
Unusual to see
Great handling
Cons
-Is very expensive to track, eats through brakes and tyres and drinks petrol like it is going out of fashion.
-Still has full interior so not a dedicated track toy.
-Pistons are weak so have 3 grand in your back pocket for when the inevitable happens.
Edited by BricktopST205 on Monday 19th October 03:21
Mazda RX8 231
Pros
200bhp
9600rpm
6 speed gearbox
Rear wheel drive
LSD
Great handling and brakes as standard
Parts are very cheap and plentiful
If you drive to/from the track like me then four decent seats and boot with a decent spec
Cheap to buy
Cons
Heavy on fuel and fluids
Low on torque so requires driving hard
Not suited to big open tracks like Bedford & SPA
Everything gets hot
18" tyre running costs
Matt
Pros
200bhp
9600rpm
6 speed gearbox
Rear wheel drive
LSD
Great handling and brakes as standard
Parts are very cheap and plentiful
If you drive to/from the track like me then four decent seats and boot with a decent spec
Cheap to buy
Cons
Heavy on fuel and fluids
Low on torque so requires driving hard
Not suited to big open tracks like Bedford & SPA
Everything gets hot
18" tyre running costs
Matt
Edited by StreetDragster on Saturday 24th October 08:08
Got 3 and they all do different things on track.
Standardish Lotus Exige S-
Drives to and from track in comfort, so great for evenings and Ringtrips where you cant be arsed to tow. Easy to drive, still pretty quick and thrilling. Very reliable as its standard... has Traction, stability control and ABS so great in wet
500bhp Turbocharged Cosworth Westfield.
Bats
t scary fast. Tries to kill you if you take liberties, but is alot of fun. Is a pain for ALOT of the time... its road legal but needs towing as its bound to break something! normally the expensive sequential gearbox! Tests my patience for most of time, but delivers 'highs' like nothing else on those rare sunny days where its all working and putting its 800bhp per tonne down!
Renaultsport Clio200 Cupracer.
LOVE this car. proper racecar. TOTALLY different and makes even a track oreintated roadcar like the Exige feel compromised and unfocused. Feels very special and hardcore to drive. Its no ball of fire in straight line at all... but the corner speeds are truely senational and its been VERY reliable. Everything IS made to go around tracks (not like converted roadcars) The gearbox makes you feel like a BTCC driver as well (sadev Sequential with flat shift)
Standardish Lotus Exige S-
Drives to and from track in comfort, so great for evenings and Ringtrips where you cant be arsed to tow. Easy to drive, still pretty quick and thrilling. Very reliable as its standard... has Traction, stability control and ABS so great in wet
500bhp Turbocharged Cosworth Westfield.
Bats
t scary fast. Tries to kill you if you take liberties, but is alot of fun. Is a pain for ALOT of the time... its road legal but needs towing as its bound to break something! normally the expensive sequential gearbox! Tests my patience for most of time, but delivers 'highs' like nothing else on those rare sunny days where its all working and putting its 800bhp per tonne down!Renaultsport Clio200 Cupracer.
LOVE this car. proper racecar. TOTALLY different and makes even a track oreintated roadcar like the Exige feel compromised and unfocused. Feels very special and hardcore to drive. Its no ball of fire in straight line at all... but the corner speeds are truely senational and its been VERY reliable. Everything IS made to go around tracks (not like converted roadcars) The gearbox makes you feel like a BTCC driver as well (sadev Sequential with flat shift)
I have an oddball AWD Proton Satria GTI running full EVO RS drivetrain.
Think Mitsi Evolution, but in a lighter hatchback shell.
Its a competent platform with relatively cheap parts due to market saturation and scaleable power - although limited to 420 by the current turbo at the moment.
I had a Seven-esque (Tiger6) running a tuned Zetec before this, and it was great - in the dry, but miserable in the wet winters. Before that I had the usual plethora of 300-450 bhp imprezas, Renault Turbos and pug GTI's.
Pro's
Cheap and easy to find parts.
Road legal, spare family car. Even has aircon.
Cons'
5-8mpg on track.
The temptation to strip it out and whack in a 600bhp drivetrain has to be constantly avoided - as people make that mistake all the time.
Edited for pictures.
Think Mitsi Evolution, but in a lighter hatchback shell.
Its a competent platform with relatively cheap parts due to market saturation and scaleable power - although limited to 420 by the current turbo at the moment.
I had a Seven-esque (Tiger6) running a tuned Zetec before this, and it was great - in the dry, but miserable in the wet winters. Before that I had the usual plethora of 300-450 bhp imprezas, Renault Turbos and pug GTI's.
Pro's
Cheap and easy to find parts.
Road legal, spare family car. Even has aircon.
Cons'
5-8mpg on track.
The temptation to strip it out and whack in a 600bhp drivetrain has to be constantly avoided - as people make that mistake all the time.
Edited for pictures.
Edited by Hol on Thursday 22 October 13:08
Porkie said:
Renaultsport Clio200 Cupracer.
LOVE this car. proper racecar. TOTALLY different and makes even a track oreintated roadcar like the Exige feel compromised and unfocused. Feels very special and hardcore to drive. Its no ball of fire in straight line at all... but the corner speeds are truely senational and its been VERY reliable. Everything IS made to go around tracks (not like converted roadcars) The gearbox makes you feel like a BTCC driver as well (sadev Sequential with flat shift)
Excellent. The cup racer is where I want to go next when things get a bit more serious and I use a trailer LOVE this car. proper racecar. TOTALLY different and makes even a track oreintated roadcar like the Exige feel compromised and unfocused. Feels very special and hardcore to drive. Its no ball of fire in straight line at all... but the corner speeds are truely senational and its been VERY reliable. Everything IS made to go around tracks (not like converted roadcars) The gearbox makes you feel like a BTCC driver as well (sadev Sequential with flat shift)
Matt
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