Track Prepp'd MX5

[Sideways Rich]

I nipped up to Donington at the weekend to see the Mazda Championship as I'm considering having a go next year (it looked superb fun and very well run). In preparation I'm looking to buy a road-legal track prepp'd MX5 for some track days this year.

I missed out on this particular car - http://pistonheads.com/sales/2777075.htm which would have been absolutely ideal.

Where would be the best place to find something similar to the above car?

Thanks

[MX-5 Lazza]

What level of "track prepared" are you talking about? If it's a road & track car for road fun and track days then here and Nutz will probably be the best places to look but while these will be great for track days they probably won't be competitive in a race. For that you will need a stripped out racer with a full roll cage with door bars and the like - there are also strict rules about what can and can't be done to the cars.

There are a few MX5 racers (MAX5 and Ma5da championship I think) on Nutz so asking over there would probably find the right people.

[snotrag]

Paul Roddison ('rodders') in Sheffield has built quite a few race cars I think - he might know or have some for sale. Details will be on Nutz. IIRC He also has a race car for hire on a per event basis too I think.

[Sideways Rich]

MX-5 Lazza said:

What level of "track prepared" are you talking about? If it's a road & track car for road fun and track days then here and Nutz will probably be the best places to look but while these will be great for track days they probably won't be competitive in a race. For that you will need a stripped out racer with a full roll cage with door bars and the like - there are also strict rules about what can and can't be done to the cars.

There are a few MX5 racers (MAX5 and Ma5da championship I think) on Nutz so asking over there would probably find the right people.

Thanks for the response and helpful information, I guess I'm looking for a halfway house between a road car and a Mazda Championship car that I can use on road and track before potentially converting it to race in the Mazda Championship next year or selling it and buying one of the racers cars advertised on their site.

The car I referenced particularly appealed as it had most of the mods allowed under the rules (head skimmed etc) of the championship but i believe it was still road legal.

Thanks for the tipping me in the direction of MX5 Nutz.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Don't they need a full roll cage + door bars? Also, I'm not sure anyone races a road-legal car in any of the races...

[piefacemate]

I think Paul Sheard autos usually has some ex-racers available.

http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/paulsheardautoscon...

Alternatively, build your own; the modifications allowed are fairly limited so you shouldn't find it too difficult.

[snotrag]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Don't they need a full roll cage + door bars? Also, I'm not sure anyone races a road-legal car in any of the races...

They do need use a specific cage+door bars etc...

But also, I'm pretty sure that some of the race cars ARE road legal - theres nothing done to them that would prevent them passing an MOT I dont think?

(Whether you'd want to or not I dunno - you can't run a roof of any kind with the big cage I dont think).

[MX-5 Lazza]

When I say road legal I mean legal to use on the road i.e. tax, MOT, insurance

[GravelBen]

There is also road legal vs road sensible - ie I'd consider using a full cage on the road (with no helmet) more dangerous than doing trackdays with no rollbar at all. Half cages are generally ok though.

[Sideways Rich]

GravelBen said:

There is also road legal vs road sensible - ie I'd consider using a full cage on the road (with no helmet) more dangerous than doing trackdays with no rollbar at all. Half cages are generally ok though.

When I say road legal I guess I also mean - "weather proof" i.e. roof still attached for use during the great british summer! :-)

[iguana]

Sideways Rich said:

When I say road legal I guess I also mean - "weather proof" i.e. roof still attached for use during the great british summer! :-)

Very little room inside cars with cages that fit in the hoods & the drivers of those are pretty small, the race Mx5 ones that I've been in wont fit with hoods.

[roddo]

snotrag said:

Paul Roddison ('rodders') in Sheffield has built quite a few race cars I think - he might know or have some for sale. Details will be on Nutz. IIRC He also has a race car for hire on a per event basis too I think.

That will be me then............

Yes we hire/sell/build race cars, Mk1/3's available now. Yes you can have a road legal Mot/taxed race car.

Feel free to ring me on 07770 566599
Advise is free.......

Happy racing/trackdays
Paul

[jimbobs]

I'm on the same project myself. Bought a mk1 Eunos a couple of months ago and I'm gradually track prepping it.

The question I have is - is it possible to get a race-legal cage inside the hood?

I'm looking at future classics rather than Ma5da, so don't have to meet specific Ma5da cage regs. Just want to know if there is any type of cage that will fit and let me keep the hood.

Sorry for slight hijack - appreciate any advice.

[Sideways Rich]

roddo said:

That will be me then............

Yes we hire/sell/build race cars, Mk1/3's available now. Yes you can have a road legal Mot/taxed race car.

Feel free to ring me on 07770 566599
Advise is free.......

Happy racing/trackdays
Paul

Thanks Paul, I'll give you a shout

[Matt UK]

I tracked my Mk1 MX5. Only mods beyond good servicing / tyres were Gaz Gold Pros and good pads / discs / fluids.

I didn't put a roll bar on or even consider a cage, but I guess that's a personal preference.

[Sideways Rich]

Matt UK said:

I tracked my Mk1 MX5. Only mods beyond good servicing / tyres were Gaz Gold Pros and good pads / discs / fluids.

I didn't put a roll bar on or even consider a cage, but I guess that's a personal preference.

the roll bar is not a deal breaker for me by any means.

I've been scanning the classifieds but I'm struggling to find many track modified MX5's am I looking in the righ place, or are they all out enjoying the track day season?!

[towelie]

have you tryed mx5nutz? might be wortha look.. theres usually quite a few modded cars there! maybe something like this http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=7...

hope thats a help!

Edited by towelie on Monday 23 May 22:57

[Matt UK]

Sideways Rich said:

Matt UK said:

I tracked my Mk1 MX5. Only mods beyond good servicing / tyres were Gaz Gold Pros and good pads / discs / fluids.

I didn't put a roll bar on or even consider a cage, but I guess that's a personal preference.

the roll bar is not a deal breaker for me by any means.

I've been scanning the classifieds but I'm struggling to find many track modified MX5's am I looking in the righ place, or are they all out enjoying the track day season?!

You may well find that they are out there enjoying the season!

All I would say is that I started tracking mine as a standard car and added things here and there over time. Buy a nice straight car and it will be happy on track as standard, you can then upgrade from there. A lot of the mods make the car 'faster' but seeing as track days are not competitive, there is a lot to be said from keeping the car standard and enjoying the fun at slightly lower speeds. If tyres and geo are good and fluids are fresh, it's ready to be tracked!

[iguana]

The silver ones in Dan on Northloops car, Ive been on a fair few trackdays with him, its nicely prepped track car, you wont fit under the cage if you are tall tho.


Finaly after ages of saying it I'll be shoving an s/c mk1 in classifieds hopefully by the wk end if that floats yr boat.

[WWESTY]

Steve @ Goodwood is selling his track prepped MX5.

hth