Simplest Track Day Car £3k Non MX5

Simplest Track Day Car £3k Non MX5

Author
Discussion

egor110

16,818 posts

202 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
BeirutTaxi said:
Hi guys,

Any advice on how to avoid the dicks at trackdays? From what I've seen on YouTube and heard across various forums trackdays seem to attract hot headed tts. Not really looking to get in a tangle with someone and have my day ruined!

M
I think you just need to get a car and go for it otherwise you'll just go round and round in circles .

re avoiding dicks , pick a novice only track day , don't go out in the 1st session , if you can stay to the end as it's normally quieter and if someones being a bit full on just indicate left and let them pass.

ribiero

539 posts

165 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
BeirutTaxi said:
Hi guys,

Any advice on how to avoid the dicks at trackdays? From what I've seen on YouTube and heard across various forums trackdays seem to attract hot headed tts. Not really looking to get in a tangle with someone and have my day ruined!

M
I tend to give them the first 30minutes -> hour to crash or get asked to leave.

Novice trackday + instruction if you're really aprehensive though, instruction will improve you better than any mod.

MRichards99

304 posts

127 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
BeirutTaxi said:
Hi guys,

Any advice on how to avoid the dicks at trackdays? From what I've seen on YouTube and heard across various forums trackdays seem to attract hot headed tts. Not really looking to get in a tangle with someone and have my day ruined!

M
Lift off, let them through and put some space between you and the car in question. A few corners worth. I've never really had this (only done 4 trackdays) but I guess the worst are those quick on the straights but like snails through corners.

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
Nothing wrong with the advice above but something additional to consider:

If you buy a 2-seater sports car (MR2) you can go on Lotus-on-Track track days. The driving standards I see on L-o-T days are consistently the highest of organisers I have used over the years (MSV, Javelin, bookatrack).

E-bmw

9,106 posts

151 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
BeirutTaxi said:
Hi guys,

Any advice on how to avoid the dicks at trackdays? From what I've seen on YouTube and heard across various forums trackdays seem to attract hot headed tts. Not really looking to get in a tangle with someone and have my day ruined!

M
1. Keep your eyes open & your wits about you.

2. If you see one keep clear, slow down, let them go & pull in telling the TDO of the issue.

3. Sit out the first 30 min, you can bet money on that being the busiest & "red-mistiest" time of the session.

4. Enjoy.

Edited by E-bmw on Wednesday 10th July 19:52

BeirutTaxi

Original Poster:

6,627 posts

213 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
Thanks everyone. I'll do a Novice day first.

These are the sorts of tools I've seen on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZyaHE5XmtZM

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Wednesday 10th July 21:46

ribiero

539 posts

165 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
BeirutTaxi said:
Thanks everyone. I'll do a Novice day first.

These are the sorts of tools I've seen on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZyaHE5XmtZM

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Wednesday 10th July 21:46
You're always going to see the worst of trackdays.. Youtube is an echo chamber of this.

The "I had a perfectly normal and uneventful trackday" youtube's dont get enough hits to bother the algorithms that deliver vids to your "recommended" bar or searches.

AshVX220

5,929 posts

189 months

Thursday 11th July 2019
quotequote all
ribiero said:
BeirutTaxi said:
Thanks everyone. I'll do a Novice day first.

These are the sorts of tools I've seen on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/ZyaHE5XmtZM

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Wednesday 10th July 21:46
You're always going to see the worst of trackdays.. Youtube is an echo chamber of this.

The "I had a perfectly normal and uneventful trackday" youtube's dont get enough hits to bother the algorithms that deliver vids to your "recommended" bar or searches.
This, idiots on track days are very few and far between thankfully.

Don't go anywhere near an "action" day though as they draw a full compliment of idiots.
I've probably done about 20 track days and never had an issue, keep a good eye on your mirrors and get out of the way of the quicker cars, it's much better to have cars in front of you than behind you. It's not a race.

E-bmw

9,106 posts

151 months

Thursday 11th July 2019
quotequote all
AshVX220 said:
it's much better to have cars in front of you than behind you.
^^^^Wot 'e said.

You can learn lots from a car in front.

Good - Lines/entry speeds etc

Bad - Who to keep clear of.

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Thursday 11th July 2019
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
AshVX220 said:
it's much better to have cars in front of you than behind you.
^^^^Wot 'e said.

You can learn lots from a car in front.

Good - Lines/entry speeds etc

Bad - Who to keep clear of.
yes Don't ever be concerned about a quick lift off the throttle on the straights to let someone else through.

Just be careful to keep concentrating on driving your own car when following another (e.g. don't copy a Caterham's braking points!)! biggrin

C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Thursday 11th July 2019
quotequote all
MRichards99 said:
BeirutTaxi said:
Hi guys,

Any advice on how to avoid the dicks at trackdays? From what I've seen on YouTube and heard across various forums trackdays seem to attract hot headed tts. Not really looking to get in a tangle with someone and have my day ruined!

M
Lift off, let them through and put some space between you and the car in question. A few corners worth. I've never really had this (only done 4 trackdays) but I guess the worst are those quick on the straights but like snails through corners.
This. You're overthinking it.

You're not there to race, or to compare yourself to anyone.

If someone is annoying you, let them pass or take a trip through the pitlane to put some distance between you and them.

If they are being persistently annoying, raise it with a marshal.

BeirutTaxi

Original Poster:

6,627 posts

213 months

Thursday 11th July 2019
quotequote all
Okay thanks everyone for the replies.

Watching YouTube this evening and I've seen that marshals don't take kindly at all to drifting or bad driving! https://youtu.be/suThHKfKAx0

silverthorn2151

6,298 posts

178 months

Thursday 11th July 2019
quotequote all
MG zs180.

Some well documented tweaks to clutch and air intake and away you go.

Very well regarded by a number of driving coaches when we ran one alongside the Radical.

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

242 months

Friday 12th July 2019
quotequote all
Like Jim Bowen used to say, 'Look what you could have won':

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-2-0-Sport-MK3...

Furyblade_Lee

4,107 posts

223 months

Sunday 11th August 2019
quotequote all
Strange you are VERY anti MX5 because they are "rust buckets" they are actually not, for 3k you will get a show example, but are not fussed about RWD or FWD?????? Very different beasts.

I am not a fan of FWD if I am honest, would go RWD every time . One of the fastest cars for 3k would be an RX8 with weight stripped out of it and a set of List 1b tyres. Easy for 3k, maybe 2k? I doubt much would be quicker for the money, and the handling of them on the limit is fun and safe.

PTF

4,252 posts

223 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
Yeah a shame you're anti-MX5

I've just picked up a mk2 that has already been prepped for trackdays. Interior half stripped, TR Lane roll bar, coilovers, LSD, race seat and harness. It's not perfect cosmetically having seen a tyre wall once before and been repaired. 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.

They're very capable cars though. The engines are very reliable and they handle really well. The brakes are really good too and can put up with plenty of abuse as long as you put in decent pads and fluid.

TrotCanterGallopCharge

420 posts

89 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
braddo said:
Nothing wrong with the advice above but something additional to consider:

If you buy a 2-seater sports car (MR2) you can go on Lotus-on-Track track days. The driving standards I see on L-o-T days are consistently the highest of organisers I have used over the years (MSV, Javelin, bookatrack).
Lotus on Track require you to have at least a proper roll hoop, or manufacturer factory roll over protection. This means the Mk3 MR2 cannot go on L.O.T days. I asked them about it.




MRichards99

304 posts

127 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
braddo said:
Nothing wrong with the advice above but something additional to consider:

If you buy a 2-seater sports car (MR2) you can go on Lotus-on-Track track days. The driving standards I see on L-o-T days are consistently the highest of organisers I have used over the years (MSV, Javelin, bookatrack).
Lotus on Track require you to have at least a proper roll hoop, or manufacturer factory roll over protection. This means the Mk3 MR2 cannot go on L.O.T days. I asked them about it.
Can't you buy an aftermarket roll bar like you can for an MX5?

Dift

1,620 posts

226 months

Thursday 15th August 2019
quotequote all
Yes you can get cages for mk3 MR2s... significantly less options than the mx5s though.

Having had a track MX5 (mk2) and now a mk3 MR2, I would choose the mk3 MR2 everytime. Mate up the MR2 with a 2zz engine conversion (which a basic spanner monkey should be able to do on their drive for not alot of money), you end up with a cracking car (mid engined 190bhp and ~1000kgs) for around £3-4k.

I cant think of a better car than a 2zz MR2 for the price. You can pick up a cheap mk3 MR2 for £800-£1000 and enjoy it... before engine swapping.
Body panels bolt on and off too, so any bumps/dings can be easily replaced and they dont rust (other than the rear sub frames which isn't a difficult fix).


Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
silverthorn2151 said:
MG zs180.

Some well documented tweaks to clutch and air intake and away you go.

Very well regarded by a number of driving coaches when we ran one alongside the Radical.
Handles very well but limited numbers left/available now. i was very tempted in the past but a Megane R26 was just too good to miss at their prices