First Trackday - Woodbridge 14 Nov
Discussion
I'm not, but woodbridge is epic. fast, wide and plenty of room to explore
obligatory youtube link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ibluLuJhk
obligatory youtube link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ibluLuJhk
I saw a video last night and I was loving the bushes that decorate the side of the track, that'll keep us on our toes So I drove up from London the night before and stayed about 15 minutes down the road to save me having to get up early and drive up in the morning.
After a decent fry up, I got there just before 8 and went over the car, took all the stuff out and walked around looking at the other cars that were turning up.
Had the briefing at 9 and then did the sighting laps, which was a bit of an eye opener because of how quick we went round. Came in and some people started to head onto the track, I sat around for half an hour or so and let everyone go out before heading out.
Took it pretty slow to begin with, I was concerned about holding people up and not checking my mirrors, and basically just have tunnel vision, but after doing my first lap, I started to relax and checking my mirrors was easier than I initially thought; apologies if I did hold anyone up. Came in after 15 mins, had a cup of tea before heading back out again. Went out a couple more times before lunch, each time I went out I was getting more comfortable and being able to think about where I wanted to be on the track and what was coming up next.
There was a couple of other mx5s so was trying to follow them round to get an idea of the track and the lines that they took. I wanted to get some tuition, but there wasn't any on the day.
Lunch came so got some more petrol, grabbed a burger and watched Thecarper doing his testing in the Radical.
Went out a couple more times after Lunch, but by two it was starting to rain pretty heavily so watched some of the other cars go round before driving back down to London.
I didn't manage to cook my brakes so either I wasn't driving hard enough or I have a better set up than I initially thought. I had wanted to change the brake fluid before going, but just didn't have time in the end. Nor did it overheat, I have had several problems with this since buying the car, but looks like the overheating has been solved now, but I guess I will only truly find out by doing a trackday in the height of summer, guess I’m going to have to do another one in the summer to double check
.
I would like to get a pair of bucket seats along with harness so I don’t have to brace myself so much when going round. If anyone has any suggestions I’m all ears, currently looking at the Cobra Monaco’s as they seem like a popular choice. Also on the list is a better LSD rather than the open one I have at the moment and get the car on a rolling road to get the turbo set up properly.
Already thinking about my next one so was looking at Bedford Autodrome in February, whilst trying to convince my friends to come down.
After a decent fry up, I got there just before 8 and went over the car, took all the stuff out and walked around looking at the other cars that were turning up.
Had the briefing at 9 and then did the sighting laps, which was a bit of an eye opener because of how quick we went round. Came in and some people started to head onto the track, I sat around for half an hour or so and let everyone go out before heading out.
Took it pretty slow to begin with, I was concerned about holding people up and not checking my mirrors, and basically just have tunnel vision, but after doing my first lap, I started to relax and checking my mirrors was easier than I initially thought; apologies if I did hold anyone up. Came in after 15 mins, had a cup of tea before heading back out again. Went out a couple more times before lunch, each time I went out I was getting more comfortable and being able to think about where I wanted to be on the track and what was coming up next.
There was a couple of other mx5s so was trying to follow them round to get an idea of the track and the lines that they took. I wanted to get some tuition, but there wasn't any on the day.
Lunch came so got some more petrol, grabbed a burger and watched Thecarper doing his testing in the Radical.
Went out a couple more times after Lunch, but by two it was starting to rain pretty heavily so watched some of the other cars go round before driving back down to London.
I didn't manage to cook my brakes so either I wasn't driving hard enough or I have a better set up than I initially thought. I had wanted to change the brake fluid before going, but just didn't have time in the end. Nor did it overheat, I have had several problems with this since buying the car, but looks like the overheating has been solved now, but I guess I will only truly find out by doing a trackday in the height of summer, guess I’m going to have to do another one in the summer to double check
. I would like to get a pair of bucket seats along with harness so I don’t have to brace myself so much when going round. If anyone has any suggestions I’m all ears, currently looking at the Cobra Monaco’s as they seem like a popular choice. Also on the list is a better LSD rather than the open one I have at the moment and get the car on a rolling road to get the turbo set up properly.
Already thinking about my next one so was looking at Bedford Autodrome in February, whilst trying to convince my friends to come down.
I went to Woodbridge for the first time earlier this year in my MX5. Excellent circuit, so I'm not surprised that you had a good time - perfect for a first timer.
I'll definitely be taking the Elise back there at some point.
Another obligatory Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh8KWkVnepY
I'll definitely be taking the Elise back there at some point.
Another obligatory Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh8KWkVnepY
Well done! Bug has bitten, I see?
Overheating will only really show itself in high summer, when I find I am running around with the fans going flat out and the temperature gauge close to the red. This time of year the cold airflow at speed will keep the car cool enough. Brakes - if standard then you probably weren't braking to the max. Seats and harnesses are a good idea, I have tried various seats in my car - if it is also a road car, then you will need to balance serious sides to the seats with being able to get in and out with the roof on. I would also advise against ditching the standard belts, as full harnesses are a pain on the road, so find a way of clipping harnesses in without removing your standard belts.
Bedford in February..... all I can say is it got snowed off on 31st January this year, as did Cadwell Park on 2nd Feb. Bedford is an old airfield, quite high up, very much a power track. I think you would have more fun in an MX5 at either Snetterton or Cadwell Park. The latter may look narrow, but it rises and falls and is awesome in a lower powered car that handles. Just a bit of a long drive from London. If you can bear to, either book last minute in Feb when you can see a good forecast, or leave it to March.
Overheating will only really show itself in high summer, when I find I am running around with the fans going flat out and the temperature gauge close to the red. This time of year the cold airflow at speed will keep the car cool enough. Brakes - if standard then you probably weren't braking to the max. Seats and harnesses are a good idea, I have tried various seats in my car - if it is also a road car, then you will need to balance serious sides to the seats with being able to get in and out with the roof on. I would also advise against ditching the standard belts, as full harnesses are a pain on the road, so find a way of clipping harnesses in without removing your standard belts.
Bedford in February..... all I can say is it got snowed off on 31st January this year, as did Cadwell Park on 2nd Feb. Bedford is an old airfield, quite high up, very much a power track. I think you would have more fun in an MX5 at either Snetterton or Cadwell Park. The latter may look narrow, but it rises and falls and is awesome in a lower powered car that handles. Just a bit of a long drive from London. If you can bear to, either book last minute in Feb when you can see a good forecast, or leave it to March.
So I have a Mishimoto radiator and two Spax fans, so hoping that will still keep it cool even in the height of summer. As for brakes I've got vented discs with EBC pads, but I’m not sure about the brake fluid hence I wanted to change it, still might not have been braking hard enough though.
I was definitely going to keep the standard seat belts there are too many junctions in London and I know a harness would get wearing pretty soon. It’s not a daily driver so bucket seats shouldn’t be much of a problem getting in and out of the car, but I am concerned about how comfortable they will be sat in for a long time. As it’s my only car I occasionally use it to drive to 200 plus miles in a day and I still want a comfortable seat to sit in for journeys like that. It’s bad enough at the moment with a straight through exhaust and coil overs, the thought of an uncomfortable seat would take some of the enjoyment away from the car. So I was considering something like a Recaro speed which can recline, but they aren't cheap and don’t know if they would they offer enough support at track days, which is where it will spend the majority of its time.
I'll definitely look into both of those tracks, I don’t mind going up the night before and staying. It’s one less thing to worry about on the day and means I don’t have to worry about doing a lot of driving just to go to the track.
I was definitely going to keep the standard seat belts there are too many junctions in London and I know a harness would get wearing pretty soon. It’s not a daily driver so bucket seats shouldn’t be much of a problem getting in and out of the car, but I am concerned about how comfortable they will be sat in for a long time. As it’s my only car I occasionally use it to drive to 200 plus miles in a day and I still want a comfortable seat to sit in for journeys like that. It’s bad enough at the moment with a straight through exhaust and coil overs, the thought of an uncomfortable seat would take some of the enjoyment away from the car. So I was considering something like a Recaro speed which can recline, but they aren't cheap and don’t know if they would they offer enough support at track days, which is where it will spend the majority of its time.
I'll definitely look into both of those tracks, I don’t mind going up the night before and staying. It’s one less thing to worry about on the day and means I don’t have to worry about doing a lot of driving just to go to the track.
I'm neither a cooling system expert nor an MX5 expert. My TVR runs at an indicated 65-70 degrees on a long motorway journey at this time of year and frankly you need your thermals on. 5-10 minutes standing in traffic and it is up to 90 degrees, the fans are cutting in and the V8 heater does its job.
Summer on the motorway an indicated 80-82 degrees, but any slower stuff and it's up to 90 pronto.
On summer track days I drive as hard as I can and the car shows an indicated 90-95 degrees the whole time. Do remember that these systems are pressurised, so the coolant boils at about 115 degrees, not 100.
Seats - be patient and find what you want. Take advice on the MX5 forums, because you want them to be comfortable and easy to fit.
As for circuits, you will probably love Cadwell best. It always gets a half a dozen MX5s at least, which means you have a gang to play with. That makes it a lot more fun that just going round on your lonesome. Chase each other, take passenger rides and watch the lines and braking points of the other drivers etc etc
This is a view from an MX5 following my Chimaera at Cadwell - and I have 300 bhp......and am not hanging about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZCOXpZCWY
Summer on the motorway an indicated 80-82 degrees, but any slower stuff and it's up to 90 pronto.
On summer track days I drive as hard as I can and the car shows an indicated 90-95 degrees the whole time. Do remember that these systems are pressurised, so the coolant boils at about 115 degrees, not 100.
Seats - be patient and find what you want. Take advice on the MX5 forums, because you want them to be comfortable and easy to fit.
As for circuits, you will probably love Cadwell best. It always gets a half a dozen MX5s at least, which means you have a gang to play with. That makes it a lot more fun that just going round on your lonesome. Chase each other, take passenger rides and watch the lines and braking points of the other drivers etc etc
This is a view from an MX5 following my Chimaera at Cadwell - and I have 300 bhp......and am not hanging about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZCOXpZCWY
Good driver, noisy 2.5 litre car. He is helped by the traffic holding me up in that clip, but TBH lap after lap he was catching me through the bends, thanks to the chuckability of the MX5, while I pissed off away from him down the short straights thanks to the torque of the 5 litre Rover V8 in the front of mine.
The point is that this circuit is a lot of fun in a less powerful car. Three of us TVR owners did a track day there together last year, and the 430 bhp Cerbera couldn't lose my 300 bhp Chimaera, and I couldn't in turn lose a 215 bhp 4 litre Chimaera.
The point is that this circuit is a lot of fun in a less powerful car. Three of us TVR owners did a track day there together last year, and the 430 bhp Cerbera couldn't lose my 300 bhp Chimaera, and I couldn't in turn lose a 215 bhp 4 litre Chimaera.
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