1st trackday in the '5
Discussion
1st thing, Cadwell park is amazing, I rate it up there with Goodwood (and I really love Goodwood). Such a lovely flowing circuit which is beautiful.
The weather was crap. Rain all day, occasionally you’d see a line drying, then on the next lap where the dry line had been, you’d find a small river flowing. It made it to be an interesting day.
We had a few offs during the day (not me, but other participants), but there was no damage on any car which is a blessing.
The conditions levelled the field a lot. A lot of Elise where running on 888’s so were cautious in the morning with the water, this meant I was certainly not left behind by any. This is mainly due to the fact, the MX5 is such a composed little car. Enter a corner to quick, give the throttle a little poke, out comes back, speed drops and when your happy straighten her up.
In the end, I wasn’t driving to be quick, merely to have fun… I don’t think I have ever done that before, and it was brilliant.
I am sure in the dry, I would have been left behind by most if not all of the Elise, but the rain was a blessing. I learned so much about the car. I was effectively drifting it round Mansfield, and through the twisty bit at the top at the end of the day, much to the amusement of the spectators.
Compared to my old Elise, it is slow, woolly and un-communicative, but lets not forget the Elise had >20k spent on it. Is this car a twentieth of the Elise? NO, is it half the Elise no. It’s an amazing car, and I am very very impressed.
No wonder the gays and women want it for themselves
Issues of the day, were tyres rubbing when under load through corners (now sorted), and oil. It likes to drink, and smoke is visible coming out of the exhaust under acceleration and deceleration. Hopefully this is the valve seals rather than worn piston rings, as I’ve not long had the car. (any ideas for this? Best options for fixing it?) Car has done 52k.
I think I will be fixing this one up, and then selling it on in the Autumn next year, for a supercharged/turbo MX5. I’m very smitten with the MX5.
Pictures to follow... oh and my Video camera died everything corupted...
The weather was crap. Rain all day, occasionally you’d see a line drying, then on the next lap where the dry line had been, you’d find a small river flowing. It made it to be an interesting day.
We had a few offs during the day (not me, but other participants), but there was no damage on any car which is a blessing.
The conditions levelled the field a lot. A lot of Elise where running on 888’s so were cautious in the morning with the water, this meant I was certainly not left behind by any. This is mainly due to the fact, the MX5 is such a composed little car. Enter a corner to quick, give the throttle a little poke, out comes back, speed drops and when your happy straighten her up.
In the end, I wasn’t driving to be quick, merely to have fun… I don’t think I have ever done that before, and it was brilliant.
I am sure in the dry, I would have been left behind by most if not all of the Elise, but the rain was a blessing. I learned so much about the car. I was effectively drifting it round Mansfield, and through the twisty bit at the top at the end of the day, much to the amusement of the spectators.
Compared to my old Elise, it is slow, woolly and un-communicative, but lets not forget the Elise had >20k spent on it. Is this car a twentieth of the Elise? NO, is it half the Elise no. It’s an amazing car, and I am very very impressed.
No wonder the gays and women want it for themselves
Issues of the day, were tyres rubbing when under load through corners (now sorted), and oil. It likes to drink, and smoke is visible coming out of the exhaust under acceleration and deceleration. Hopefully this is the valve seals rather than worn piston rings, as I’ve not long had the car. (any ideas for this? Best options for fixing it?) Car has done 52k.
I think I will be fixing this one up, and then selling it on in the Autumn next year, for a supercharged/turbo MX5. I’m very smitten with the MX5.
Pictures to follow... oh and my Video camera died everything corupted...
Edited by Dift on Wednesday 24th November 13:56
MX-5 Lazza said:
Good stuff but... you had the top up???
Lazza, I know I know. I hang my head in shame, but as part of my defence the camera is mounted quite high, so wasnt sure if it would have got wet... in hindsight, the camera never worked anyway so should have just put the roof down.tell you what, if i could fit under my hood i'd have kept it up too - might have cracked open a window 
cadwell is awesome isn't it tho i prefer it in the dry, when you carry a bit more speed round there it gets a lot more entertaining! i like a nice easy track like castle combe when it's wet
cadwell is awesome isn't it tho i prefer it in the dry, when you carry a bit more speed round there it gets a lot more entertaining! i like a nice easy track like castle combe when it's wet
I was there in the blue Roadster running in the 3rd session. I was pleased to see you keeping pace with the 'quicker' machinery in your group.
As you say, the conditions were a great leveller as the M3 in my group will testify
Of course I had the hood down all day, but that's mostly because I can't bear banging my helmet on the roof with it down. It is quite an experience driving on track with the top down in pouring rain. At one point I thought my wipers had stopped wiping the rain off, but I eventually realised that the water was on the inside of the windsceen
As you say, the conditions were a great leveller as the M3 in my group will testify Of course I had the hood down all day, but that's mostly because I can't bear banging my helmet on the roof with it down. It is quite an experience driving on track with the top down in pouring rain. At one point I thought my wipers had stopped wiping the rain off, but I eventually realised that the water was on the inside of the windsceen
Edited by Monumental on Thursday 25th November 22:19
I was wondering whose the other mx5 was... I certainly liked the little cage you have. I did have a little nosey at your car. It's pretty much where I would like mine to end up (minus the dinks )... but I do want to get another Elise too.
I think i'll be happy with some lightweight wheels and decent rubber for now, see whats around in the January sales
)... but I do want to get another Elise too.I think i'll be happy with some lightweight wheels and decent rubber for now, see whats around in the January sales
Monumental said:
Ha, it's not too hard to spot the huge dent in the front wing! I am assuming that it's the result of the attention of the size 9 of a drunken passer-by since it had nothing to do with me. Very annoying! 
I thought it was some cool track induced battle scar 
They did a good job of it too! Glad you enjoyed the day, it was my favourite trackday ever. I do love the rain in an mx5
Dift said:
Monumental said:
Ha, it's not too hard to spot the huge dent in the front wing! I am assuming that it's the result of the attention of the size 9 of a drunken passer-by since it had nothing to do with me. Very annoying!
I thought it was some cool track induced battle scar 
I haven't driven Cadwell yet but Knockhill in Scotland is good fun and the old Anglesey track was good too (haven't been there since they changed it). Donny is a good track too but a lot faster.
I actually prefer some of the airfield tracks. Colerne, Abingdon & Woodford are all very good fun.
I actually prefer some of the airfield tracks. Colerne, Abingdon & Woodford are all very good fun.
What tyres are you running? I did a day at Bedford in the rain in Oct 2009, about a month after I got my MX5, and apart from the circuit being a bit dull (and very power-oriented) the crappy tyres on mine simply didn't grip.
Know what you mean about the comparison to the Elise though; it's not as fast, not as cool, but the fun factor is right up there. I was intending to get another Elise but ended up with a Boxster alongside my MX5, which is a far more sensible combo
Know what you mean about the comparison to the Elise though; it's not as fast, not as cool, but the fun factor is right up there. I was intending to get another Elise but ended up with a Boxster alongside my MX5, which is a far more sensible combo
Running proxes 4 I think. I can well imagine on a circuit like Bedford and Snetterton a standard 5 could be a bit dull.
But on a cold wet cadwell, I honestly couldn't think of a better car. It was perfect, it slid around with amazing grace.
Even on the way home in the snow it was very well behaved (although it looks like a snow plough).
But on a cold wet cadwell, I honestly couldn't think of a better car. It was perfect, it slid around with amazing grace.
Even on the way home in the snow it was very well behaved (although it looks like a snow plough).
MX-5 Lazza said:
You didn't enjoy Bedford? I really liked it there! Mind you, I do have a fair bit more power
To be honest, I don't think I'd have enjoyed it with more power and grip, even. Featureless and the lap is so long. I haven't done loads of tracks, but Mallory, Rockingham and Snetterton were definitely more enjoyable.Jobbo said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
You didn't enjoy Bedford? I really liked it there! Mind you, I do have a fair bit more power
To be honest, I don't think I'd have enjoyed it with more power and grip, even. Featureless and the lap is so long. I haven't done loads of tracks, but Mallory, Rockingham and Snetterton were definitely more enjoyable.Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff