Cheap MK8 Civic track car prep?
Discussion
I was all set on getting a GT86/MX5 as a track car but I realised that our Civic I've just replaced would make a great stepping stone for a track day car. It's a 2006 petrol 1.8 vtec in good mechanical condition. I was thinking of using it on track for a year, so I'm looking to make the minimal changes. It's got Goodyear efficient grip tyres, good condition pads/discs. I was thinking just service it, new brake fluid and change the front pads (any recommendations?). Is there anything else I should consider?
I'd give it a good service, including new brake pads, all the fluids (especially brake fluid), then take it out on a track evening to see how it goes and how much you enjoy driving it on a circuit.
Don't go spending lots on track tyres, suspension, bucket seats, cages etc until you sure that it's the car for the job.
Don't go spending lots on track tyres, suspension, bucket seats, cages etc until you sure that it's the car for the job.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Wednesday 26th July 11:15
i'm not sure id even do that. if its up to date on servicing, ie its had an oil and brake fluid change relatively recently, then have at it. all id check is that the fluids are all topped up to max (and check again at lunchtime)
yes, the tyres and brakes will overheat if you do a long session, but depending on how hard you push you might be absolutely fine. and if they do start to lose grip or braking performance, its time to come in to cool things down. better brakes and tyres mean you can stay out longer and push harder.
i would probably get a spare set of front pads, to use as spares if you manage to burn through a set in the morning.
other than that, its mechanical sympathy and heat management. keep the stints short, do a good warm up and more importantly, a decent cool down lap. build up to peak revs and be smooth on the inputs. and then when you do come into the pits, don't put the handbrake on, and be ready with a tyre pressure gauge to bleed out the excess pressure generated when the tyres get hot.
yes, the tyres and brakes will overheat if you do a long session, but depending on how hard you push you might be absolutely fine. and if they do start to lose grip or braking performance, its time to come in to cool things down. better brakes and tyres mean you can stay out longer and push harder.
i would probably get a spare set of front pads, to use as spares if you manage to burn through a set in the morning.
other than that, its mechanical sympathy and heat management. keep the stints short, do a good warm up and more importantly, a decent cool down lap. build up to peak revs and be smooth on the inputs. and then when you do come into the pits, don't put the handbrake on, and be ready with a tyre pressure gauge to bleed out the excess pressure generated when the tyres get hot.
Back in 2008 I had a MK8 Civic 2.2iCTDI sport that I took to trackday at RAF Valley, unlikely car you would thing but I had an absolute blast , yes the brakes got very hot in the afternoon after it dried out but it handled extremely well was better on the brakes and through the cornrers than a FOCUS st170 I was chasing plus I lapped my Bro in law in his Caterham (to be fair he wasn't trying really hard.
Just do it, if you do enjoy it then consider upgrades.
Just do it, if you do enjoy it then consider upgrades.
Yesterday my wife and I took the cheap Civic to Bedford and had a great time.
It was my wife's first track day and she had alot of fun and held good pace! The car did really well, we had one engine warning light that cleared itself and the brakes (fresh fluid and yellow stuff front pads) only faded once while I was getting used to the car/circuit and didn't happen again after I learnt to carry more speed. The car actually able to hold good speed in places and it was surprisingly adjustable by backing off the power mid corner to make the back step out alittle.
The 8yr old Goodyear efficient grip tyres showed their limits, After looking at the car this morning, the offside front has gone flat and casing metal threads are poking out! So it definitely needs four new tyres, I can get Michelin Pilot Sport 5s for only £115 each or is it worth looking at track day tyres? The car needs to be drive-able to the track.
The tracking also got knocked out (hopefully nothing bent!), it pulls to the left hard. I tried pumping up the flat tyre and testing and it still pulls. Can I get away with getting the tracking done before changing the tyres or is it a bad idea to have tracking done on badly worn tyres? I'm only thinking of doing the tracking first so I can gauge any hidden costs before buying 4 new tyres.
It was my wife's first track day and she had alot of fun and held good pace! The car did really well, we had one engine warning light that cleared itself and the brakes (fresh fluid and yellow stuff front pads) only faded once while I was getting used to the car/circuit and didn't happen again after I learnt to carry more speed. The car actually able to hold good speed in places and it was surprisingly adjustable by backing off the power mid corner to make the back step out alittle.
The 8yr old Goodyear efficient grip tyres showed their limits, After looking at the car this morning, the offside front has gone flat and casing metal threads are poking out! So it definitely needs four new tyres, I can get Michelin Pilot Sport 5s for only £115 each or is it worth looking at track day tyres? The car needs to be drive-able to the track.
The tracking also got knocked out (hopefully nothing bent!), it pulls to the left hard. I tried pumping up the flat tyre and testing and it still pulls. Can I get away with getting the tracking done before changing the tyres or is it a bad idea to have tracking done on badly worn tyres? I'm only thinking of doing the tracking first so I can gauge any hidden costs before buying 4 new tyres.
firstly, great effort! any car is a track car at heart lol.
not surprising you found the limits of the tyres... efficient grip are definitely not sporting tyres... PS5s would be far better.
though, if you're using it as a track car, i'd perhaps try some track tyres - they'll handle the strain of track work far better, whilst also providing more grip, ad the expense of a slightly harsher on road ride and slightly more noise. they're still very useable on the road though.
have a look at accelera 651 sports from tyrestreets - in a common size they'd only be about £80 each.
personally, i'd do the tyres before the alignment - if you get caught with cords showing on the road, it'll be a fine and points. but both tyres and tracking need doing - hopefully if you do need any new suspension parts they wont be expensive on an old civic.
not surprising you found the limits of the tyres... efficient grip are definitely not sporting tyres... PS5s would be far better.
though, if you're using it as a track car, i'd perhaps try some track tyres - they'll handle the strain of track work far better, whilst also providing more grip, ad the expense of a slightly harsher on road ride and slightly more noise. they're still very useable on the road though.
have a look at accelera 651 sports from tyrestreets - in a common size they'd only be about £80 each.
personally, i'd do the tyres before the alignment - if you get caught with cords showing on the road, it'll be a fine and points. but both tyres and tracking need doing - hopefully if you do need any new suspension parts they wont be expensive on an old civic.
E-bmw said:
solamanda said:
The tracking also got knocked out (hopefully nothing bent!), it pulls to the left hard.
You say the tracking "got knocked out", how did it get knocked out, as I doubt it will turn out to be a simple tracking adjustment if it "just happened".Great work OP, it sounds like you're going about things the right way - get out and driving first, then work on upgrades later. Way too many people never end up going on track because the car is "still not ready".
Having had various iterations of track car (although interestingly nothing FWD so this logic may be flawed) - I'd go for decent road tyres rather than track orientated. For me, less grip = more fun and because the limit is much lower you spend a lot more time at the limit of grip which will bring your car control on enormously.
Best of luck with it!
Having had various iterations of track car (although interestingly nothing FWD so this logic may be flawed) - I'd go for decent road tyres rather than track orientated. For me, less grip = more fun and because the limit is much lower you spend a lot more time at the limit of grip which will bring your car control on enormously.
Best of luck with it!
solamanda said:
E-bmw said:
solamanda said:
The tracking also got knocked out (hopefully nothing bent!), it pulls to the left hard.
You say the tracking "got knocked out", how did it get knocked out, as I doubt it will turn out to be a simple tracking adjustment if it "just happened".I'll jack it up later to have a look. My local japanese specialist does tracking and tyre fitting so they should be able to sort it all in one visit. I might lean towards road sports tyres as I intend to do more winter track days.
The plan is still to get a Gt86 in a year, so just need to keep the civic running until then.
I feel its probably extra amusing if I add that our road cars are an E63 and 340i
The plan is still to get a Gt86 in a year, so just need to keep the civic running until then.
I feel its probably extra amusing if I add that our road cars are an E63 and 340i
the civic is arguably a better track car than both of those, the other will be far too heavy to make much fun with and will vaporise tyres and brake pads.
if its just a track car, get some proper tyres... my mate raced at donington in the pouring rain on fresh nankang NS2Rs, he was fine. especially if you're only making 160bhp or whatever. the only thing they dont really like is standing water, but you wont be driving any car quickly through standing water anyways.
plus being fwd you dont have to worry too much about massive oversteer moments in the wet. but, if it is dry, track tyres will be heaps better than performance road tyres.
if its just a track car, get some proper tyres... my mate raced at donington in the pouring rain on fresh nankang NS2Rs, he was fine. especially if you're only making 160bhp or whatever. the only thing they dont really like is standing water, but you wont be driving any car quickly through standing water anyways.
plus being fwd you dont have to worry too much about massive oversteer moments in the wet. but, if it is dry, track tyres will be heaps better than performance road tyres.
Office_Monkey said:
Saw you (or your mrs) putting the laps in, in fact one of our group reckoned you were doing more laps than anyone!
The diesel 330 estate was flying too!
We were definitely getting alot of laps in. After over a decade of motorbike track days, open pit lane was a treat! The diesel 330 estate was flying too!
An action photo...
What happened yesterday after a neighbours cleaner drove into it....
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