Mk 1 MX5 as a track car

[Busa_Rush]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 16 March 2012 at 00:10

[MonkeyBusiness]

Speak to Phil at Performance5 (www.performance5.com).

Also you might get lucky at a breaker such as Autolink for a rollbar/cage.

[Raify]

I use a Mk1 as a track car, it's perfect for the job.

It's a standard 1.8 engine the only mods are handling, brakes and a cage. Fortunately for me, I found it with the cage already installed. They do come up every so often, but I understand that the Hard Deuce / Dog (something like that) half cage is the best one. Performance 5 do them.

I wouldn't like to do track days without one, I don't like the idea of going into a gravel trap sideways without one.

With the brakes, I tried a load of different pads and settled on Axxis ultimates with standard discs. Braided hoses made a huge difference.

[matt uk]

Busa_Rush said:

I'd like to focus on reliability and handling ideally. She'd like to learn how to flick the tail out round a bend, do donughts, have fun on track but at speeds where she can catch a slide and enjoy it. My Dax is a bit mental to learn with.

1) Buy a good Mk1
2) Make sure tyres are good
3) Visit WiM to ensure geo is set up properly
4) Enjoy track time

I have to admit, I've only just bought mine and due to my own impatience skipped straight from 1) to 4). I will go back to 2) and 3) soon though.

For what you seem to be looking for, I'd start with a base car. You can always evolve the car over time and wear and tear bits need replacing.

[Rackattack]

Hi, I have a mk1 1.8 and went to see Phil (performance5)at the weekend about uprating my suspension early next year, then venturing onto the track (only been go-karting as a teenager before, so should be fun). He was very helpful and friendly with advice, so as monkeybusiness says its well worth giving him a call.

[Munter]

My upgrades for track use:
1)New pads.
2)High temp fluid.
3)Stiffer ARBs
4)Hard Dog roll bar. Several options depending on what you fancy.

Thats it really. Make sure you start with an Import 1.8. MK1 UK 1.8s do not have an LSD.

If you start with a 1.6 you'll get smaller disks/calipers and might want to upgrade to the 1.8 ones, and any LSD will be a viscous type and shagged.

[Herman Toothrot]

I run a 260bhp Eunos as a track car, standard brakes are fine with 5.1 fluid & Axxis Ultimate pads, 195/50/15" tyres are cheap and provide more than enough grip. I have P5 Puredrive / Protech coilovers and a WIM fast road / track alignment. Car grips, turns, handles etc perfectly with 130bhp more than stock power. Last track day I only got passed by an R400 all day and then I sat on his bumper for the next 7 laps

If you end up with a turbo a big rad & oil cooler are needed.

[pikeyboy]

i have std mk 1 1600 with rear cage, ohlins coilovers lightweight wheels race seats shoiuld be a2wesome on trackdays. my last one was pretty std and perfromed very well indeed, you just have to drive smoothly and carry speed through the corners to maintain momentum on the straights. very reliable too...

[Munter]

pikeyboy said:

very reliable too...

I think one of the MAX5 racers was quoted as saying his car was "depressingly" reliable.

http://www.max5racing.com/

[pikeyboy]

Munter said:

pikeyboy said:

very reliable too...

I think one of the MAX5 racers was quoted as saying his car was "depressingly" reliable.

http://www.max5racing.com/

i can quite beleive it, its a bonus to be honest as the last thing i want to be doing at a trackday is mending the car.

[zac510]

Herman, do you have a LSD (surely you would) and what type? Know anybody with the Quaife Torsen diff?

[Herman Toothrot]

zac510 said:

Herman, do you have a LSD (surely you would) and what type? Know anybody with the Quaife Torsen diff?

I did the only sensible thing and bought a 1.8 Eunos as a base car. Torsen LSD as standard.

[Munter]

Imports are not hard to come by. People like www.dandycars.com import them. But you pay through the nose for it. Theres so many about you just need to find one locally using all the usual routes.

OnlyMX5ives sells em: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/profile.asp?m... So he might have something appropriate. Otherwise check out e-bay.

[Herman Toothrot]

Busa_Rush said:

Thanks, some usefull stuff here. So I'm looking for a 1.8 Eunos import - are there specific companies which import them ?

Gf said she wants flames up the sides . . . ummmmmm, not sure that's going to happen

There are so many already in the country I'd just look in the classifieds on here on www.mx5nutz.com I went for the youngest mk1 Eunos I could find a 1997 car when I built mine, but if I was to do it again I'd go for a '94 - '95 car as the Torsen is supposed to be a bit more aggressive and the engine is slightly better suited to forced induction. The engine issue won't be of interest unless your going turbo as the 96'-'97 engine has about 3bhp more as standard then the '94 / 95 one. I also think the earlier cars are of a slightly higher quality, they seem less prone to rust and have little differences like chromed bolts ont he engine that the laster cars lost.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If you want to go drifting/do-nuts etc then an LSD is essential but if you just want to go around a track fast than it really doesn't make much difference at all, in fact it will probably make it more likely to slide in the wet.

I have a Mk2.5 Sport with LSD, Intercooled SC, Hard Dog Deuce rollbars & P5 Puredrive suspension and it's a pretty damn quick track car now. See my vid of the recent Mazda on Track trackday at Brands. It shows all the passes I saw during the day - passing loads of cars including RX8s and an S2k and only being passed by 2 cars - a MaX5 race car and a modded RX8 (which only passed me because I cocked up my gearchange - 4th to 1st instead of 5th at 100mph sure slows you down a lot )

[philmar]

MX-5 Lazza said:

If you want to go drifting/do-nuts etc then an LSD is essential but if you just want to go around a track fast than it really doesn't make much difference at all, in fact it will probably make it more likely to slide in the wet.

I have a Mk2.5 Sport with LSD, Intercooled SC, Hard Dog Deuce rollbars & P5 Puredrive suspension and it's a pretty damn quick track car now. See my vid of the recent Mazda on Track trackday at Brands. It shows all the passes I saw during the day - passing loads of cars including RX8s and an S2k and only being passed by 2 cars - a MaX5 race car and a modded RX8 (which only passed me because I cocked up my gearchange - 4th to 1st instead of 5th at 100mph sure slows you down a lot )

Sorry completely off subject!, but what camera are you using in that video Lazza?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Just a cheap Canon MD101 digital camcorder mounted to my roll bars using a Manfrotto Superclamp.
The video quality is actually very good but I've had to compress it a LOT so I can upload it to youtube from my home broadband which is only 512Kb.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Wednesday 17th December 23:02

[philmar]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Just a cheap Canon MD101 digital camcorder mounted to my roll bars using a Manfrotto Superclamp.
The video quality is actually very good but I've had to compress it a LOT so I can upload it to youtube from my home broadband which is only 512Kb.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Wednesday 17th December 23:02

Cheers for the info. I may have to invest in one of those superclamps, already got a sony mini dv camcorder.

[MX-5 Lazza]

philmar said:

Cheers for the info. I may have to invest in one of those superclamps, already got a sony mini dv camcorder.

I usually mount it to my roll-bars but in that pic it's mounted to the roof rail on the PlanetMX5 Motorsports project car. It actually worked pretty well like that, not anywhere near as much vibration as I thought it would have.

[hms]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I usually mount it to my roll-bars but in that pic it's mounted to the roof rail on the PlanetMX5 Motorsports project car. It actually worked pretty well like that, not anywhere near as much vibration as I thought it would have.

Talking of the track cars which we were, the planet track car aka the Hornet, is an L reg 1.6 Eunos.
Bought off ebay for £750. Service her ourselves, road legal, chucked out carpets and aircon. GAZ suspension from Absolutely Shocks and WIM track set up. It's an absolute hoot to drive. As Lazza said, the key is carrying the speed through the corners.
Touch wood, only had one problem, the water thermistor failed, £20 for a new thermistor, job done.
The 1.6 seems a little 'revier' than a 1.8, with more options if we want to go FI. Idea is to do the track car on the cheap, keep it na and road legal, (Although the na part may change!), and use it as often as possible.
Well recommend one for a track car.
h