Help Need to know what to do!

[jason.dawes]

Hi I'm a newbie who has aspirations to have fun on the track, middle aged no life etc etc, so was hoping you guys could help. What I'm after is a safe pretty quick car thats great for a beginner to learn the basics with, and not sure what to look for £2000 was my budget for the car plus I don't mine spending a couple of hundred a month sorting bits out.. not too bothered about MOT I can trailer the car there.
I've done the ebay and piston heads website stuff but too much choice when you do not know what makes a good track day car. I was thinking MK1 evo impreza or an e30 BMW but not sure what to look for can you help?

Thanks

[juliann]

There is a caged, rebuilt, race ready BMW E30 320i currently for sale for c. £2,500. Do a Google search for Production BMW and you'll find your way via SELOC to the classifieds section.

[jason.dawes]

thanks I'll have a look

[Munter]

For me it has to be light and RWD (although a lot of people will be happy with a FWD car). And after that I dont think it really matters as your not racing but out for fun.

Anyway my pick of the crop today would be this 200sx

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1159570.htm

[jason.dawes]

Thanks, never thought of a 200sx would it be good as is or need a lot of mods if so which ones would you do first

[Munter]

I'm not an expert on the 200SX. Although there are plenty at www.sxoc.com . Or try the jap chat forum on here.

However what I do know is there are loads of aftermarket performance parts for them. And being a nissan the odd Skyline part will happily bolt on e.g. brakes.

And they are very common in the drift community.

[GTWayne]

I would look at the participants lists on the various T/D organisers websites, that will give you an idea of the most popular cars used for track days. I am a dyed in the wool BMW man, but that is just me. The old favourite RWD V RWD ethos will rage on forever but in my experience, I have noticed those that express a strong preference to one or the other usually spent their early days driving that very type of car and so the seed was sown, just an observation and not a fool proof theory but may be worth bearing in mind

[A911DOM]

The way I went about it was to find a cheap car that I liked and then make it worthy of playing on the track.

(In my case, I chose a 944 which was a little rough round the edges and have now got some GAZ shocks, buckets / harnesses, and will do the usual brake fluid and pads - Ive also stripped it out to lose as much weight as possible)

BUT - I think to get going quickly and efficiently its well worth looking at something thats prepped (ie stripped out, with cage maybe, suspension, seat etc) and hit the ground running. You can find lots of usuable ex-race or track prepped cars which probably work out much cheaper, and definately much less labour intensive, that will be fit for purpose straight off.

If things work out well with mine and I have fun with it, I will seriously consider buying an ex-race 924/44 and then try and enter a few races with it over time. To actually prepare the car fully for race (with all the scrutineering etc would cost much much more and put it out of reach for me personally).

Having said all of this - a track day can be 'anything'. You could go and have fun in a fiat panda or a porsche 911.

The motor world is your oyster.

[jason.dawes]

well the hunt is on, still way too many to choose from, just been offered a 1.6 205 from a friend who has had it for years and it always seemed like fun, maybe a bit slow? the other ones I found where track prepared volvos on ebay an 850 and a s40 ready to go.

think I will keep looking

DO the cars have to have an MOT to go on the track?

What do people think about hiring one till I decide? if so where from which track and when?


AHHHH questions questions, does anyone know of a track day club near sheffield or anyone in sheffield/ Chesterfield I can have a chat with who does track days and can give me talk through on what car they have and why ?

I am better with seeing something as people explain to me the reason for doing it that way,


thanks for the help so far

[T89 Callan]

For a first timer definately buy a MK2 Golf GTi.

It is just about the easiest car to prep' to a reasonable track car and then gives you endless scope for improvement once you are up to speed.

I've trackday'd a few Golfs and they are just simple bomb proof fast and fun track day cars.

[t11ner]

I wouldn't go the Volvo route, whatever you get needs to be light and nimble to have a good chance of being fun on track. Also, the lighter they are the less they cost to run in terms of fuel, tyres, brakes etc - this can make be a big difference to your overall costs as the entry to the event is generally well less than half of your overall budget.

Best bet if you want a chat with people who already do this is to get to a trackday and have a look around. Circuit Days are running at Oulton this Friday and Donington next Friday. I'll be at Donny with a bunch of guys from Trackaction-Online, for variety of cars we do pretty well as we'll have a Westfield, 205 GTi, MR2 turbo, E30 beemer, E36 beemer, R26R Megane - come and say hello!

Steve H

[Matt_N]

jason.dawes said:

well the hunt is on, still way too many to choose from, just been offered a 1.6 205 from a friend who has had it for years and it always seemed like fun, maybe a bit slow?

Obviously it will lack a bit of straight line punch, but with a good suspension set up and some decent tyres it would be very handy through the corners.

Mk2 Golf Gti is also a good safe bet.

For £2k ish Id say you want to be spending £1k on a car, then another £1k prepping it - new brake pads / fluid, new suspension / possibly bush re-fresh, decent set of tyres, bucket seat / harness.

[Matt_N]

jason.dawes said:

well the hunt is on, still way too many to choose from, just been offered a 1.6 205 from a friend who has had it for years and it always seemed like fun, maybe a bit slow?

Obviously it will lack a bit of straight line punch, but with a good suspension set up and some decent tyres it would be very handy through the corners.

Mk2 Golf Gti is also a good safe bet.

For £2k ish Id say you want to be spending £1k on a car, then another £1k prepping it - new brake pads / fluid, new suspension / possibly bush re-fresh, decent set of tyres, bucket seat / harness.

[Matt_N]

jason.dawes said:

well the hunt is on, still way too many to choose from, just been offered a 1.6 205 from a friend who has had it for years and it always seemed like fun, maybe a bit slow?

Obviously it will lack a bit of straight line punch, but with a good suspension set up and some decent tyres it would be very handy through the corners.

Mk2 Golf Gti is also a good safe bet.

For £2k ish Id say you want to be spending £1k on a car, then another £1k prepping it - new brake pads / fluid, new suspension / possibly bush re-fresh, decent set of tyres, bucket seat / harness.

[jason.dawes]

Cheers Guys,

Thinking I'l go to the Donnington one as suggested and have a around for a golf to have alook, been offered the 205 but it's a bit rough around the edges and not too sure if its safe if you get me!

thanks for the help

Jason

[kusee pee]

I'd advise going with RWD - there's more scope for learning a greater range of driving skills. E30/E36 or 200SX are pretty good but I'd suggest a mk1 MX5 which will teach you all you need to know but and at a safe speed.

[timarnold]

Yes I agree with those who say Mazda MX5. What you want is an early 90's Eunos 1.6i; that's the one they use to convert to the MX5 racer. They are RWD, light, handle superbly, not exceptionally fast but fast enough; a great learning car yet a car that even experienced racing drivers find fun to drive. There are a few here ranging from £795 to £2000!. You should get a good one for circa £1200 - £1500... no need to have it race prepped, at least to begin with... just have it checked over, make sure the brakes, suspension, etc are sound; maybe stick some decent tyres on it and it will be ready to go. The engines are 'bullet-proof' 150,000 miles is just about run-in ready for track use. And you probably won't lose any money on it either!

Edited by timarnold on Thursday 20th August 11:11

[Dr Imran T]

it works out cheaper to purchase a car that has had all the prep work done to it..

Have a look in the PH classified MS section for track cars. I used to have a 200sx turbo and infact have one sitting on my drive now! however i wouldn't take it on track until I had changed a fair few parts..

My brother and I track a Rover Coupe Turbo which is very competitive but it has ended up costing us quite a lot to get it to a 'half' decent track spec (carbon roof/big brakes/bracing etc etc)

it is fwd but that is not a problem when the car is pretty light and has a good ATB diff plus suspension mods..

you could try some of the old honds like a prelude 2.2 vtec - nice chassis and cheap.. MX5 is a superb rwd machine too

let us know how you get on..

[jason.dawes]

Well booked my day off at work now, and searching through pistonheads and ebay plus all local freepapers and autotrader for the right car, nice golf mk2 on ebay part track prepared and a prepared pug 205 on ebay that did not make it's reserve.

140341205503 ebay item number escort
290342300320 ebay item number Peugeot

have a look and let me know I'm thinking all the big stuff done suspension brakes etc...

Donnington here I come! on foot though AAARRRR!!!!!

I connot find something half decent thats not battered...

[jason.dawes]

Don't know why but has anyone ever thought of a Tigra for the track? cheap light and seem to handle quite well?