My year in video

[Synchromesh]

Just before I head to the pub, thought I'd share with you guys some of the best bits from a year of track days. Still a newcomer to the hobby and gaining experience with every day I do. Come 2014, I've already got Oulton Park booked, and hope to do many others besides. Hopefully see some (more) of you there. Happy new year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmeJlsPKONY

[TheThing]

Brilliant.

[Terzo204]

Great vid - Looking forward to the 2014 season now

[eracing2011]

Mine is a slightly shorter video capturing 2011, 2012 and 2013 moments.
I had fun putting the video together but way more than that driving the tracks...

Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSEtBhxGYk

[james_gt3rs]

Awesome video! Need to get myself a gopro and do the same.

Out of interest which did you find better: mk2 MR2 or the MX5?

[Synchromesh]

james_gt3rs said:

Awesome video! Need to get myself a gopro and do the same.

Out of interest which did you find better: mk2 MR2 or the MX5?

I'd recommend the 'Mobius' camera from ebay - I got one for less than £50 and the quality is nearly as good as a (what, £200?) GoPro.

Ah, that question again...here is my previous response from last time I answered that question. In fact, since writing it, I drove both cars back-to-back for a second time, and my thoughts were confirmed.

Synchromesh said:

I've driven my old mk2 MR2 on track back-to-back with a friends mk1 MX5. They're both good track cars, but very different in character.

The MR2 feels more precise, clinical and accurate, but is slightly heavy and leaden on its feet. It has lots of grip but on the stock setup but will start to understeer slightly at the limit. If you're committed you can push it into oversteer, but it's very snappy in the dry. Neither are fast, but the MR2 has quite a bit more poke than the MX5, so will feel less lost on the big open (generally ex or current airfield) circuits. Superb driving position and forward visibility too.

The MX5 feels more pointy and darty but is a much more softly set up car, so you'll definitely need a stiffer setup for track work. Being a soft top, you'll also want a decent cage for safety and rigidity. It has much lower levels of outright grip (that's 185 section tyres for you!) and a more neutral balance, but is child's play to catch when it goes.

Overall, the MR2 would lap much quicker, but for occasional or casual track days, the MX5 might be more of a giggle.

So really it's hard to say which is 'better'. Away from the track, the MR2 is more practical and IMO looks better, but you get a T-bar or sunroof rather than a proper soft top. Both are mechanically bombproof (for their age), although the MX5s are much rustier. It's also worth noting that while on track the MR2 felt considerably quicker, on the road this is less apparent as all the MR2's power is above 5000 revs, whereas the MX5s are (a bit) more linear in their delivery.

Me and a friend are currently considering buying a track day car to share over the summer, and we'll probably go for a mk1 MX5. This is mainly because I've got the MR2 T-shirt now, and an MX5 (being a few hundred kilos lighter) should be less hard on consumables.

[HoggyR32]

Good video mate.

Makes me want to crack the MX5 out!

[BullyB]

eracing2011 said:

Mine is a slightly shorter video capturing 2011, 2012 and 2013 moments.
I had fun putting the video together but way more than that driving the tracks...

Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSEtBhxGYk

It says you have not made the video available on mobile devices?

[Synchromesh]

BullyB said:

It says you have not made the video available on mobile devices?

I think that's because I've put music to it

[eracing2011]

On my video, that is definitely the case...
Copyrights due to music prevent it being available on mobile platforms... a bit rubish but it is as it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrSEtBhxGYk

[BullyB]

Synchromesh said:

BullyB said:

It says you have not made the video available on mobile devices?

I think that's because I've put music to it

I see, I will flash the Mac up then

[james_gt3rs]

Synchromesh said:

So really it's hard to say which is 'better'. Away from the track, the MR2 is more practical and IMO looks better, but you get a T-bar or sunroof rather than a proper soft top. Both are mechanically bombproof (for their age), although the MX5s are much rustier. It's also worth noting that while on track the MR2 felt considerably quicker, on the road this is less apparent as all the MR2's power is above 5000 revs, whereas the MX5s are (a bit) more linear in their delivery.

Me and a friend are currently considering buying a track day car to share over the summer, and we'll probably go for a mk1 MX5. This is mainly because I've got the MR2 T-shirt now, and an MX5 (being a few hundred kilos lighter) should be less hard on consumables.

Interesting... I'd like to try these cars at some point, I own a mk3 MR2, and I've driven a mk1 MR2, would be nice to compare these two to the MX5.

[Synchromesh]

james_gt3rs said:

Interesting... I'd like to try these cars at some point, I own a mk3 MR2, and I've driven a mk1 MR2, would be nice to compare these two to the MX5.

I'd love to try a mk3 - do you track yours?

[james_gt3rs]

Synchromesh said:

I'd love to try a mk3 - do you track yours?

I've so far done Cadwell and Castle Combe. Will have to plan some more this year