Track Day Prep

[insideline]

I am taking my Mk1 1.8 on it's first trackday at Donington in December. I have done previous trackdays but in very track specific machinery such as BEC's and my old Caterham 7, I would be interested to hear any thoughts on what preparation I should do for the MX5.

As the car is standard (and SWMBO wants it to stay that way) I am going to concentrate on...

Tyre Pressures
Fluids
Brakes (visual check)

Anything else?

Also as the car doesn't have a roll bar fitted I was going to fit my hardtop.

Thanks

[MX-5 Lazza]

Prep is no different from the other cars you mention. Just make sure everything is right i.e. oil, coolant, brakes. Make sure nothing is loose inside the cabin. The stock seats offer very little lateral support and your knees will be sore by the end of the day from bracing yourself against the transmission tunnel & door panel

I wouldn't bother with the hard top. Track days are best with the roof down anyway and a hard top offers no roll protection at all. Somewhere there is a video of an MX5 with a hard-top in a roll and the top comes off as soon as it touches the ground.

[Evangelion]

However I have been told by several people that in their opinion the car feels better with a hardtop on. Extra rigidity?

[insideline]

I've only driven the car once with the hardtop on, and it did 'feel' more rigid but not sure if it actually is. I'd certainly rather do the track day without it as the top down experience definitley adds to the fun.

Thanks for the comments.

[snotrag]

I'd also not bother with the hardtop.

One thing that could be very worth it would be a Cg-lock - about £30 and I wouldnt be without one now they really hold you in well compared to a standard belt.

A 'foamectomy' on the seat back is free, completely reversible and piss easy too, and makes a real difference to how well the seats hold you in (if its a Mk1 with the early 1pc seats at least, not sure how it works on other seats.)

[The Tea Boy]

snotrag said:

A 'foamectomy' on the seat back is free, completely reversible and piss easy too, and makes a real difference to how well the seats hold you in (if its a Mk1 with the early 1pc seats at least, not sure how it works on other seats.)

couldn't recomend it more! and after you have done the track day you can always make it 'standard' again, but my swmbo prefers it as it holds her in better too and has asked me to do the passengerside too

http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[JQ]

Another vote for the CG Lock here. Used it today and it really held me tight. Takes about 2 mins to fit.