Tin Top RWD Track Day Car - £2-3k?

[rossyl]

Hi All,

I have an MX5 and do Sprints running in the road-going class. But the trips too and from the track are tiresome, noisy, too warm. Ideally what I'd like is an MX5 with a tin top and air con!

I'm after a relatively standard car that's good for the track without changing too much. Any thoughts?

Here's what I'm after:
- £2-3k
- RWD
- Tin Top
- Cheap to repair (cheap parts, cheap labour)
- Simple under the hood (not too many electrical gremlins etc)

I'm concerned BMW parts might be far too expensive.

RX8, having read Seiben's thread, the RX8, whilst it can take a pasting, it does through its toys out of the pram. Flooding the engine, throwing codes, being upset if you spin backwards and the engine revolves the wrong way etc...

Cheap to run is hugely important. Tin top for comfort and safety.

So...recommendations please

Thanks
R

[rossyl]

What about a roll bar and a rear shunt on the motorway, when I'm not wearing a helmet. I always felt that was more unsafe.

[rossyl]

I've read numerous times of people hitting their head on a roll a bar. It seems fairly risky to me.

The "solution" is to pad it, which in my mind isn't a solution. If I pad a cricket bat and hit you with it....it's still going to do a hell of a lot of damage.

Example: https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=245980


I think let's leave that debate...back to the topic....!!

RWD ,tin tops that are cheap to run and fix please.

[rossyl]

iguana said:

Sold it yesterday, could have been ideal.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport...

Ps generally parts aren't more expensive on old (non M) BMWs any more than old mx5s

Thanks, how often did you get through tyres? Also, generally how often did it break...from big things to little

[rossyl]

Hi All

To respond to many thoughts.

300bhp/ton said:

I suppose first it's worth considering some points.

1. Will any other vehicle for this use really be less tiring or quieter?
2. I'm not sure I get the "too hot" bit. Can't you just put the roof down? Plus we are coming into winter now.

A drop-top without air con can actually be hotter with the roof down. Strange, I do agree. But, when you have zero shade and the sun is as it was this summer, and beating down on you, having the roof up was actually cooler.

Noise - i've actually fixed this significantly in the MX5 by replacing the upper and lower gear lever boots. Made a huge difference. Seriously before that we were shouting at each other to be heard.



An MR2 with a hardtop i think is a questionable improvement on a MX5 with a hardtop.

300bhp/ton said:

If it's a dedicated track car, why not look at something more purpose built. Probably still a few older classics that might be viable and kit cars. Maybe something that has been used for rally or track events already.

That won't work for many Sprint regulations. You cannot strip the car out if you want to go in the roadgoing class. That's why BMWs and Porsche's aren't an option i think as they seem to require a complete strip out to be viable.

ribiero said:

to add something in a little leftfield, what about an is200 ?

can be lightened up, beams engine isnt terrible, rear wheel drive..

Had a look and the decent engined version is a Auto box in the UK.

Evoluzione said:

OP seems to have done a runner, but (as an NC owner with roll over bar) I'm struggling to see how you can manage to hit your head on it? The top bar is behind the head rest.

In an NA the seats are very flimsy and not too tall, your head could easily go above the headrest. In fact, generally your head can quite easily touch the roof, dependent on your build, and you don't need to be a giant for that. For example, with my helmet on, I cannot sit in my normal position in the MX5, I have to tilt the seat back.

Car wise - I think my options are:
RX8 or 350z. Though a 350z does seem a heavy car.

If I get a RX8 i would need to go into the higher categories due to the way wankel engines are categorised. Also not being able to sping backwards and the flooded engine stuff has made me wary.

I therefore might just go whole hog and get a 350z but think i might wait another season.

2019 season i think i will stick with the MX5 and upgrade the coilovers.

[rossyl]

Hi All

To respond to many thoughts.

300bhp/ton said:

I suppose first it's worth considering some points.

1. Will any other vehicle for this use really be less tiring or quieter?
2. I'm not sure I get the "too hot" bit. Can't you just put the roof down? Plus we are coming into winter now.

A drop-top without air con can actually be hotter with the roof down. Strange, I do agree. But, when you have zero shade and the sun is as it was this summer, and beating down on you, having the roof up was actually cooler.

Noise - i've actually fixed this significantly in the MX5 by replacing the upper and lower gear lever boots. Made a huge difference. Seriously before that we were shouting at each other to be heard.



An MR2 with a hardtop i think is a questionable improvement on a MX5 with a hardtop.

300bhp/ton said:

If it's a dedicated track car, why not look at something more purpose built. Probably still a few older classics that might be viable and kit cars. Maybe something that has been used for rally or track events already.

That won't work for many Sprint regulations. You cannot strip the car out if you want to go in the roadgoing class. That's why BMWs and Porsche's aren't an option i think as they seem to require a complete strip out to be viable.

ribiero said:

to add something in a little leftfield, what about an is200 ?

can be lightened up, beams engine isnt terrible, rear wheel drive..

Had a look and the decent engined version is a Auto box in the UK.

Evoluzione said:

OP seems to have done a runner, but (as an NC owner with roll over bar) I'm struggling to see how you can manage to hit your head on it? The top bar is behind the head rest.

In an NA the seats are very flimsy and not too tall, your head could easily go above the headrest. In fact, generally your head can quite easily touch the roof, dependent on your build, and you don't need to be a giant for that. For example, with my helmet on, I cannot sit in my normal position in the MX5, I have to tilt the seat back.

Car wise - I think my options are:
RX8 or 350z. Though a 350z does seem a heavy car.

If I get a RX8 i would need to go into the higher categories due to the way wankel engines are categorised. Also not being able to sping backwards and the flooded engine stuff has made me wary.

I therefore might just go whole hog and get a 350z but think i might wait another season.

2019 season i think i will stick with the MX5 and upgrade the coilovers.

[rossyl]

C70R said:

Honestly OP, as someone who has spent a fair amount of time driving a track car to/from tracks (most decent tracks are 2-3hr+ from Central London), if you can't tow then make sure you buy something which is suitable for the schlep because otherwise it will get old quickly.

It's all fine and well to spend £3k on the ultimate, hardcore, stripped, polybushed MX5 for the 5-6hrs you'll spend on track during the day. However, you don't want to find yourself then stuck in it for 2-3hrs on the return journey, when it's revving its nuts off at 80mph, the seat is making your backside numb, it's boiling/freezing, and the exhaust/road noise is giving you a headache.
That's a way to fall out of love with trackdays very quickly, and the very reason I'm getting a more civilised one next time.

That's the reason for this thread.

The MX-5 I have and currently drive to and from Sprints is standard. But it's still very hot, very loud and not very comfortable.

Hence a tin top.

Also, something that's a little lost on here, is that this is for Sprints not Track Days. That's a big difference. As I cannot strip the car out, unless I then want to enter a different class, spend money on roll bars etc. I want a standard car and the regs require a standard car.

A lot of people don't get the REGULATIONS point and the different requirements once you start stripping the car out.

I'm in London, so cannot trailer. Any car needs to drive there and back.

Plan remains...MX-5 for next year. The year after maybe an RX8!

[rossyl]

seiben said:

Sorry - missed this thread the first time around but I think you might have misunderstood this a bit? I don't know which series you will be running in, but based on my experience (which you reference earlier in this thread):

• In the Javelin series there's a 1.5x multiplier on rotary engines, putting us in the 1800cc-2000cc group along with Clios, Civics and the like. The car is competitive in this group.
• The 'spinning the engine backwards' thing happened only once, when I spun the car at high speed and forgot to put my foot on the clutch. This threw an EML, which was the work of 10 seconds to remove with a ten quid OBD reader - no other issues. I have spun the RX8 many (many! ) times before and since, and it's always restarted and got back up to pace without a hiccup. I once did similar with an MR2 which really didn't want to restart afterwards, so there's nothing to be wary of with rotaries here AFAIK.
• We've never flooded it - just run the engine for a minute or two once you switch it on from cold, job's a good'un. Bear in mind during a sprint it will have 20+ hot starts during the day (plus a couple of cold starts in the morning and after lunch) and again this has never been an issue.

I get that the RX8's not for everyone, but there seems to be a deal of irrational fear around them. Keeps the prices down, at least

Thanks very much. That's made it much more appealing. I read about you spinning it and just thought, no way!