Track/Modify.........Or keep standard?

[Ruffy94]

Ive had my MK1 for just over 6 months now, still really enjoying owning it and it has been faultless. However i have always fancied doing some track days.

My dad and a couple of other people have kept on telling me that its too nice an example to start messing around with and I shouldn't really be thrashing it around a circuit either. Having Bedford Autodrome very close by and Silverstone and Rockingham within easy reach isn't helping matters.... Once the modifications start happening to turn it into something track suitable it's likely to be a long way from standard.

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Its a 97 mk1 with 93k on the clock, no rust with FSH. Standard mechanically apart from Pipercross induction. Couple of pics for you..

[J-Tuner]

Mine was very similar to that and then i started modifying :

http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?s...

before:


after:


Now have about 180bhp at the wheels and 178ftlbs peak torque. (nearly double the power).

you could sell it as a minter and by something cheaper and partially done and invest into that, or do what i did and steamed ahead anyway as the car was a known quantity.

Edited by J-Tuner on Wednesday 4th June 13:30

[VladD]

J-Tuner said:

That looks great.

[zoom star]

Keep the nice one as is, and get a rougher one and strip for racing, they are cheap as chips.

[cianha]

Do one track day as it is. You might not need to modify it at all to enjoy it on track. Mine's pretty standard.

[J-Tuner]

cianha said:

Do one track day as it is. You might not need to modify it at all to enjoy it on track. Mine's pretty standard.

I would agree at least one track day is required to know for yourself if its right or not. The lack of locking diff and the wing mirrors rubbing the tarmac on the corners was enough for me to start

That said though was epic fun power sliding round bedford on a damp track as standard

Cheers for the thumbs up vlad

[Ruffy94]

J-Tuner said:

I would agree at least one track day is required to know for yourself if its right or not. The lack of locking diff and the wing mirrors rubbing the tarmac on the corners was enough for me to start

That said though was epic fun power sliding round bedford on a damp track as standard

Cheers for the thumbs up vlad

Think i will have to try and get to one of Silverstone or Rockingham's taster sessions as its a good way of getting an idea without committing to a full day. Ive never even been up to Bedford Autodrome, which is odd given that ive lived in Bedford since 2004!

One thing that's on my mind is that i know my current suspension is getting a bit tired, so ive been trying to decide whether to upgrade it or replace it with standard stuff.

Had a quick look through the build log btw J-Tuner, looks like a well put together car, colour really works well too!

[MG CHRIS]

With the mx5 try for smaller circuits brands hatch/castle combe etc, more suited to the mx5 than big long straights at Silverstone for example. If you are planning on going on track then a few jobs are a must in my eyes.

1. full service
2. Replace brake fluid to dot 5
3 upgraded pads, discs can stay stock but better pads are essential don't want brake fade on track.
4. Tyres you will use a fair chunk of rubber on track make sure you have atleast 5mm of tread before going on track if below get a spare set of alloys and get a good set of tyres. Makes sense to do it if you are planning on doing it more often
5 braided brake hoses, massively improves brake feel don't need them but I would recommend them.
6 just go out and enjoy yourself.

[Ruffy94]

MG CHRIS said:

With the mx5 try for smaller circuits brands hatch/castle combe etc, more suited to the mx5 than big long straights at Silverstone for example. If you are planning on going on track then a few jobs are a must in my eyes.

1. full service
2. Replace brake fluid to dot 5
3 upgraded pads, discs can stay stock but better pads are essential don't want brake fade on track.
4. Tyres you will use a fair chunk of rubber on track make sure you have atleast 5mm of tread before going on track if below get a spare set of alloys and get a good set of tyres. Makes sense to do it if you are planning on doing it more often
5 braided brake hoses, massively improves brake feel don't need them but I would recommend them.
6 just go out and enjoy yourself.

I was wondering how 5's are on tyres tbh, can't imagine they're as bad as some cars given their fairly low bhp, guess it depends how sideways you want to get!

Brands is about 90 miles and Castle Combe more like 110 unfortunately so I doubt i will be visiting either

[upsidedownmark]

They're very easy on tires.. and tires are cheap! They can be surprisingly fast in standard form if you're a decent pedaller, but more importantly fun. They're also pretty robust. Just get on with it frankly, and stick with standard road tyres.

[J-Tuner]

Yeah get yourself to a taster session. I would say though for your first full day go to bedford. Yes its track that lends itself to cars with lots of power but there are some nice technical bits infield also. You will also have the benefit of a nice flat track so no camber to worry about and also probably the most run off available of all the tracks in the uk - so you would be very unlucky to bin it. It will allow you to have a proper play with a degree of confidence.

Thats just my view anyway and what i did

Another easy mod that you can do now for the first track session without much issue is a master brake cylinder stopper from Jass. Makes a noticable difference, takes 2 minutes to fit and is easily reversible

[VladD]

J-Tuner said:

Another easy mod that you can do now for the first track session without much issue is a master brake cylinder stopper from Jass. Makes a noticable difference, takes 2 minutes to fit and is easily reversible

PH is doing a great job at making me feel stupid at the moment. What does the stopper do and who is Jass?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Another track that is perfect for MX5s and is close to you is Silverstone Stowe. It's a small infield circuit inside the main GP circuit and is fantastic fun - probably my favourite track. I've been there is an underpowered 1.6 Mk1 with uprated suspension and track tyres and Lotus Exiges had to let me past as I was lapping quicker than them! I couldn't get near them on the 2 straights but I was so much faster on the technical bits they had to let me past to avoid having be hassling them lap after lap

[Ruffy94]

Snetterton and Mallory are also 1hr 30 mins away so they would be potential trackdays too. Snetterton seems to have quite a few evening sessions which is good for me and would like to get to Mallory before it gets into any more difficulties!

Although I think a more local one for my 1st one is a good idea in case the car doesn't survive...

Doesn't the brake cylinder stopper prevent it from flexing (stronger braking, will feel more solid etc)? Or do I need to do more research?

[J-Tuner]

VladD said:

PH is doing a great job at making me feel stupid at the moment. What does the stopper do and who is Jass?

The stopper bolts to the top mount of the drivers side shock and has a threaded rod that is adjusted so its pressing tight against the master cylinder. When you brake hard there is some flex in the bulkhead, the cylinder moves and can give a slightly softer feel to braking. Fitting one of these helps give a more positive pedal feel This does actually make a difference on the mx5 without a doubt.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Snetterton is quite big and quite fast. It's been improved lately with an infield section but it's still quite fast. Mallory is ok but not the most exciting. Basically a tear-drop with some kinks.

IMO airfield days tend to be the best. Abingdon isn't far from you and is very good fun.

[J-Tuner]

I personally find that airfield days shred your tyres a lot more and are more likely for the car to get pebble dashed. Last one i pulled a 4inch nail out of a nearly new toyo! Wouldn't catch me on one these days unless its someone elses car

Edited by J-Tuner on Thursday 5th June 14:53

[skinny]

not much to add, apart from i think MG Chris meant Dot 5.1 rather than DOT 5

one of the best mods i found for trackdays, although not the easiest / cheapest was a proper bucket seat. makes a big difference when you aren't hanging on to the steering wheel or bracing with your knees round the corners. as for the rest of the car, you'll still have fun in a stock car. you won't be as fast obviously as you would in a modified car, but trackdays aren't about going fast.

[g40steve]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Mallory is ok but not the most exciting. Basically a tear-drop with some kinks.

Mallory is perfect for the mx5.

Looks a simple track but is quiet technical, has everything that comes round quickly so you can perfect your lines.

Donington for me is where I would be going

[Ruffy94]

Donington is getting on for 2hrs unfortunately with traffic etc. Spent quite a few years up north, so would love to get to Croft at some point in my life (having attended a lot of meetings there with my dad when I was a kid). But living down south its just not realistic unless I win the euromillions tonight and I can start racing!