Simplest Track Day Car £3k Non MX5

[Humour]

PTF said:

Yeah a shame you're anti-MX5

There is a little rust, but not much compared to many MX5s i've seen. The sills seem to be mostly rust free, as are the arches. The underneath could do with some wire brushing and underseal here and there, but mostly it's ok.

Maybe that's because this one has been used almost exclusively as a track car for the last 5+ years, so hasn't seen any winters for a long time.

If the car of choice will be used for TD only, I wouldn't focus too much on rust, provided ofcourse its not a complete rust bucket.

Most dedicated TD cars do very little on road mileage and less still winter wet/salted roads mileage. What Im getting at is that rust can be tackled little bits at a time throughout ownership, as the car is unlikely to deteriorate significantly just sitting around (assuming its under a weather cover at least, not parked on long grass under a tree lol).

In my experience I have a dedicated TD machine that over the last 5 yrs has most issues addressed, including rust, just left with superficial surface rust around rear arches on a 21yrs old car left to address, could do with a respray but not strictly necessary for its intended purpose. Having it sit around most of the year round, particularly in winter does help alot in terms of degradation though.

Food for thought, obviously starting with the best shell possible is best, but personally I would pick a car with some rust but most TD related upgrades done then just repair the rust. Much cheaper strategy this way imo.

Edited by Humour on Monday 19th August 16:33

[CABC]

Humour said:

If the car of choice will be used for TD only, I wouldn't focus too much on rust, provided ofcourse its not a complete rust bucket.

Most dedicated TD cars do very little on road mileage and less still winter wet/salted roads mileage. What Im getting at is that rust can be tackled little bits at a time throughout ownership, as the car is unlikely to deteriorate significantly just sitting around (assuming its under a weather cover at least, not parked on long grass under a tree lol).

In my experience I have a dedicated TD machine that over the last 5 yrs has most issues addressed, including rust, just left with superficial surface rust around rear arches on a 21yrs old car left to address, could do with a respray but not strictly necessary for its intended purpose. Having it sit around most of the year round, particularly in winter does help alot in terms of degradation though.

Food for thought, obviously starting with the best shell possible is best, but personally I would pick a car with some rust but most TD related upgrades done then just repair the rust. Much cheaper strategy this way imo.

Edited by Humour on Monday 19th August 16:33

good post, esp last sentence.

my own 5 died because of snc crank seal not the surrounding rust. at 30yrs old it was otherwise still racing around whereas most other types of car never even get to 30yrs old.

[PTF]

Humour said:

PTF said:

Yeah a shame you're anti-MX5

There is a little rust, but not much compared to many MX5s i've seen. The sills seem to be mostly rust free, as are the arches. The underneath could do with some wire brushing and underseal here and there, but mostly it's ok.

Maybe that's because this one has been used almost exclusively as a track car for the last 5+ years, so hasn't seen any winters for a long time.

If the car of choice will be used for TD only, I wouldn't focus too much on rust, provided ofcourse its not a complete rust bucket.

Most dedicated TD cars do very little on road mileage and less still winter wet/salted roads mileage. What Im getting at is that rust can be tackled little bits at a time throughout ownership, as the car is unlikely to deteriorate significantly just sitting around (assuming its under a weather cover at least, not parked on long grass under a tree lol).

In my experience I have a dedicated TD machine that over the last 5 yrs has most issues addressed, including rust, just left with superficial surface rust around rear arches on a 21yrs old car left to address, could do with a respray but not strictly necessary for its intended purpose. Having it sit around most of the year round, particularly in winter does help alot in terms of degradation though.

Food for thought, obviously starting with the best shell possible is best, but personally I would pick a car with some rust but most TD related upgrades done then just repair the rust. Much cheaper strategy this way imo.

Edited by Humour on Monday 19th August 16:33

Ta. As it happens i've been poking around it since i got it. I had a nose through the inspection bungs in the rear arches into the inner sills and was presented with lovely, grey, fresh, un-rusty metal. I couldn't believe it! So the only rust on it appears to be some surface stuff on the seams along the bottom (no doubt where jacks have taken the underseal off). I'm a bit happy with that!!

[BeirutTaxi]

Off topic, but how are these guys still not banned from all trackdays?!? I hope I never find myself on the same trackday!

https://youtu.be/10dC0EA2uCg

[ribiero]

BeirutTaxi said:

Off topic, but how are these guys still not banned from all trackdays?!? I hope I never find myself on the same trackday!

https://youtu.be/10dC0EA2uCg

Ah yes! chamber and combustion the car click-bait kings!! To give them teeny credit, I think they do it as far away from other track-day users as possible.

[Frimley111R]

ribiero said:

BeirutTaxi said:

Off topic, but how are these guys still not banned from all trackdays?!? I hope I never find myself on the same trackday!

https://youtu.be/10dC0EA2uCg

Ah yes! chamber and combustion the car click-bait kings!! To give them teeny credit, I think they do it as far away from other track-day users as possible.

From the outside it rarely looks that dramatic though. I don't see the problem with them tbh. I'd say they are far more skilled than most track dayers given their ability to get those sliding and always bring them back.

[egor110]

Frimley111R said:

ribiero said:

BeirutTaxi said:

Off topic, but how are these guys still not banned from all trackdays?!? I hope I never find myself on the same trackday!

https://youtu.be/10dC0EA2uCg

Ah yes! chamber and combustion the car click-bait kings!! To give them teeny credit, I think they do it as far away from other track-day users as possible.

From the outside it rarely looks that dramatic though. I don't see the problem with them tbh. I'd say they are far more skilled than most track dayers given their ability to get those sliding and always bring them back.

Just look at his quick lap of the ring to see he can go quick .

[AshVX220]

I know one of those guys, he was an apprentice at my company for a while when I took responsibility for early careers. He is extremely quick and his car control is excellent. Yes, what they get up to on track days is something I would want to avoid, but they are very handy behind the wheel.

He used to race Mk1 MR2's and in one race at Brands he qualified on pole but found himself at the back (30th place) after a shunt, he still managed to get 4th in the 15 lap race. It is on youtube, but I don't want to post it, in case he's trying to maintain separation between his real name and the C&C stuff.

[braddo]

BeirutTaxi said:

Off topic, but how are these guys still not banned from all trackdays?!? I hope I never find myself on the same trackday!

https://youtu.be/10dC0EA2uCg

Honestly, go and spectate at a few track days to see for yourself.

Have a wander around the paddock and it's easy to ask a sample of people how the driving standards are if you give them a compliment on their car to start a conversation. You could also see for yourself whether you see any red flags that stop the session while you're there.

As well as being (hopefully) a bit of enjoyment to see/hear/smell cars being driven properly, you will soon get some comfort that only few track days are like a Castle Combe action day ttfest.

You might even blag a couple of passenger rides if you want!