Should I turn my 1.6 CRX (Mk2) in to a track car?
Discussion
Hi guys
Here's the deal: My CRX has been out for sale (in Norway) for a couple of weeks, but I'm not happy with what I'm getting offered. It's an amazingly fun car with proper driving enthusiast type of handling. Maybe a little twitchy if driven 8/10 on the street, but I imagine they are far more fun on the track when you're gunning 100% through the corners and chasing giants. I have never been on a track but am contemplating on going on my first one this season (nervous!).
So what I'm considering is building in a roll cage for safety, putting on some lightweight 16" wheels for better handling and other small steps. It already has full exhaust and quite lovely suspension (very firm in the corners, but comfortable still).
The track is 1 hour of motorway driving away and I'll have to drive the CRX there. The car will see little or no street use.
What kind of budget do I need? WHAT do I need? I don't think that the brakes need an upgrade... I'm not handy with tools, but I can change steering wheel, seats and other easy steps stuff (fluids etc.) myself.
Please advice. I always wanted to attend track days and this seems like a great opportunity to start.
PLEASE ignore the hideous wheels, I'm aware of them! Looking at misc. 16" packages at the moment...
Here's the deal: My CRX has been out for sale (in Norway) for a couple of weeks, but I'm not happy with what I'm getting offered. It's an amazingly fun car with proper driving enthusiast type of handling. Maybe a little twitchy if driven 8/10 on the street, but I imagine they are far more fun on the track when you're gunning 100% through the corners and chasing giants. I have never been on a track but am contemplating on going on my first one this season (nervous!).
So what I'm considering is building in a roll cage for safety, putting on some lightweight 16" wheels for better handling and other small steps. It already has full exhaust and quite lovely suspension (very firm in the corners, but comfortable still).
The track is 1 hour of motorway driving away and I'll have to drive the CRX there. The car will see little or no street use.
What kind of budget do I need? WHAT do I need? I don't think that the brakes need an upgrade... I'm not handy with tools, but I can change steering wheel, seats and other easy steps stuff (fluids etc.) myself.
Please advice. I always wanted to attend track days and this seems like a great opportunity to start.
PLEASE ignore the hideous wheels, I'm aware of them! Looking at misc. 16" packages at the moment...
Edited by caraddict on Tuesday 30th April 01:36
WeirdNeville said:
Regardless of what you think, brakes will be the first thing to suffer on a track day. It's money well spent, because if you cook them then you just have to pull the car off the track and wait for them to cool down - so you're not getting your moenys worth on the track day.
Add sticky track day tyres and you make the problem worse - the brakes work harder.
I would:
Remove all excess weight that's easy to pull out. Spare seats, trim, remove spare wheel etc before going on track. Don't swap parts for lighter ones unless it's cheap and easy, that can get costly quickly.
Buy wheels and tyres. Don't worry too much about tyres yet, use part worns or even the ones on it now for starters. best to learn the balance of the car on less sticky tyres. Sticky tyres pound on everything from suspension to bushings to brakes as they load everything up that bit more.
Go through the brakes and make sure they're up to 100% - new discs, uprated pads (Go with forum/owners club recommendations from people who do track days already), braided hoses and most importantly a complete fluid change.
It's worth servicing the engine too if you're going to be working it hard. Oil and filter at a minimum.
Then get out and enjoy yourself. The cars behaviour on track will start to point you to what you need to address next.
Neville is correct.. First thing to do is pads/fluid [so so important]/strip.Add sticky track day tyres and you make the problem worse - the brakes work harder.
I would:
Remove all excess weight that's easy to pull out. Spare seats, trim, remove spare wheel etc before going on track. Don't swap parts for lighter ones unless it's cheap and easy, that can get costly quickly.
Buy wheels and tyres. Don't worry too much about tyres yet, use part worns or even the ones on it now for starters. best to learn the balance of the car on less sticky tyres. Sticky tyres pound on everything from suspension to bushings to brakes as they load everything up that bit more.
Go through the brakes and make sure they're up to 100% - new discs, uprated pads (Go with forum/owners club recommendations from people who do track days already), braided hoses and most importantly a complete fluid change.
It's worth servicing the engine too if you're going to be working it hard. Oil and filter at a minimum.
Then get out and enjoy yourself. The cars behaviour on track will start to point you to what you need to address next.
It really does not matter which car you use on a track, all will be entertaining regardless of power.
As this would be your first track car book a trackday and maybe some instruction. Just check the brakes are not leaking or even better change the fluid to decent Dot 4. and make sure the pads are not at the end of their life. Go around the car and with your spanners and check the nuts & bolts are tight with a torque wrench, paying particular attention to the brake, suspension, steering, wheels fittings, have a good look at the tyres for cuts, damage etc. and check the pressures are ok.
Go on track day and after throwing yourself around the track all day you will soon find out what upgrades your car needs and only spend money on those areas. After a year or so the car will evolve into a usefull track car that suits you.
As this would be your first track car book a trackday and maybe some instruction. Just check the brakes are not leaking or even better change the fluid to decent Dot 4. and make sure the pads are not at the end of their life. Go around the car and with your spanners and check the nuts & bolts are tight with a torque wrench, paying particular attention to the brake, suspension, steering, wheels fittings, have a good look at the tyres for cuts, damage etc. and check the pressures are ok.
Go on track day and after throwing yourself around the track all day you will soon find out what upgrades your car needs and only spend money on those areas. After a year or so the car will evolve into a usefull track car that suits you.
WeirdNeville said:
Use yours first, see if they stand up to your use and driving style. The CRX is a light car. I'd imagine that so long as they're in good working order, the brakes will be good for normal tyres. I've tracked an MR2 and an MX5 and a 200SX on standard brakes, and all were fine.
If you go to semi slicks or sticky tyres you might need to up your braking capacity, but that's a way off yet.
Thanks, I will try that. What is your take on steel brake lines?If you go to semi slicks or sticky tyres you might need to up your braking capacity, but that's a way off yet.
s10mph said:
It really does not matter which car you use on a track, all will be entertaining regardless of power.
As this would be your first track car book a trackday and maybe some instruction. Just check the brakes are not leaking or even better change the fluid to decent Dot 4. and make sure the pads are not at the end of their life. Go around the car and with your spanners and check the nuts & bolts are tight with a torque wrench, paying particular attention to the brake, suspension, steering, wheels fittings, have a good look at the tyres for cuts, damage etc. and check the pressures are ok.
Go on track day and after throwing yourself around the track all day you will soon find out what upgrades your car needs and only spend money on those areas. After a year or so the car will evolve into a usefull track car that suits you.
Very good advice, much appreciated. Yes, I too think the best strategy is to start with a stock car and work it from there. However, I intend to buy a set of lighter wheels because the 17" I have now are uncomfortable and heavy feeling at slow speeds.As this would be your first track car book a trackday and maybe some instruction. Just check the brakes are not leaking or even better change the fluid to decent Dot 4. and make sure the pads are not at the end of their life. Go around the car and with your spanners and check the nuts & bolts are tight with a torque wrench, paying particular attention to the brake, suspension, steering, wheels fittings, have a good look at the tyres for cuts, damage etc. and check the pressures are ok.
Go on track day and after throwing yourself around the track all day you will soon find out what upgrades your car needs and only spend money on those areas. After a year or so the car will evolve into a usefull track car that suits you.
I initially wanted 16" but was recommended by the CRX/Civic guys to opt for 15" instead.
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