MX-5 Track Day Car

[WildCards]

I've been thinking about the posibility of a track day car since doing Japfest, and after reading peoples views on another post here i'd like some advice from anyone in the know.

I'm thinking of buying a 1.6 115bhp early MX-5 and stripping it, then adding/upgrading a cage, coilovers, discs/pads, wheels, tyres, exhaust and induction. My questions are with a full cage, is there anyway of weather proofing it? would standard size brakes be up to the job, given the better disc/pad combo and am I missing anything off my shortlist above? I don't want a turbo, or hoooge power figures, just something reliable, fun and roadworthy.

Cheers

Edited by WildCards on Tuesday 6th June 16:08

[turbo-tastic]

Why not go for the cheaper MK1 MR2??

And have just as much fun with that, with the possibility of doing the MR2 challenge should you want to do a competitive yet cheap race

edit: And you can get a hard top version, which is weather proof from the factory

Edited by turbo-tastic on Tuesday 6th June 16:36

[MrFlibbles]

turbo-tastic said:

edit: And you can get a hard top version, which is weather proof from the factory

A mk1 mr2? you sure?

[turbo-tastic]

I see we have new quote and edit font stuff, very swish

My MR2 never leaked, and it was the T Bar. But I think mine was the exception rather than the norm Still wish I'd never sold it.

And its more weather proof than an MX5 of similar vintage

[mekondelta]

Wildcards, YHM....

[steve_evil]

I'd go for the MX5 any day over the MR2.

[WildCards]

Thanks for all the comments so far guys (I'll check my emails tonight). Anyone got any weather proofing ideas?

At the moment this idea is strictly fantasy, alot needs to happen before I make any movements towards this. Testing the water so to speak.

[System-G]

A bit biased, but I'd also say go for a MK1 MR2

My track car is the lighter sunroof (moonroof as Toyota call it) model. In standard form the 1.6 4A-GE engine puts out 122bhp - a tad more than the 1.6 MX, but probably not noticable on track.

A decent condition MK1 will set you back less a grand. I paid £280 for mine and spent £1200 replacing and upgrading bits for use on track including replacing all the front end panels. I still have the rear arches to do though.

For around £3k you could get a pretty good Supercharged version of the MK1 MR2. Ours has a over-sized pulley and a few other bits. Put it on a rolling road on Sunday and it got 180bhp at the fly and 160lbft of torque The previous owner had it on track a few time and I'm sure we will too...

[WildCards]

I'm only interested in N/A fun really, i'm not particularly mechanically minded but reckon I could get around a normal engine, I can't be bothered with anything extra to worry about anyway. I'll have a butchers at the MR2 aswell, can anyone tell me if there are any particular shops/sites that specifically do stuff for these cars. I want everything to be bolt in, not fabricate to fit where necessary. Too much hassle.

[benjc]

WildCards said:

I've been thinking about the posibility of a track day car since doing Japfest, and after reading peoples views on another post here i'd like some advice from anyone in the know.

I'm thinking of buying a 1.6 115bhp early MX-5 and stripping it, then adding/upgrading a cage, coilovers, discs/pads, wheels, tyres, exhaust and induction. My questions are with a full cage, is there anyway of weather proofing it? would standard size brakes be up to the job, given the better disc/pad combo and am I missing anything off my shortlist above? I don't want a turbo, or hoooge power figures, just something reliable, fun and roadworthy.

Cheers

Edited by WildCards on Tuesday 6th June 16:08

There are plenty of full cages that enable full hood use. They normally get taken off imports before they are sold to "normal" drivers. Check Ebay or talk to Andrew Stott at www.autolinkuk.co.uk (he also races in the MAX5 series, so should be able to offer some good advice). Make sure there is also a harness bar on the cage, as it can be a bit tricky to find suitable metal to provide an anchor.

Personally I would add steel braided brake lines, a master cylinder bace (makes a massive difference to the feel), maybe a brake 1.8 conversion, but I never felt the need even when I turbocharged.

Earlier 1.6s missed a fair bit of chassis bracing, so I would also upgrade that too.

[benjc]

Ready made track/race 5 for 5k:

www.max5racing.com/2ndhandcarsforsale.html

[WildCards]

Thanks Benjc. Good info there mate and thanks for the link, but i'm not in the buying mood just yet, i'll wait until the summers over than look at this as a winter project.

[System-G]

Check out www.mr2mk1club.com for info on the MK1 MR2 as well as track prep guides, buying guides etc... It's quite an old format, but all the info is in there.

Also www.imoc.co.uk and head over to the forums. The MK1 club uses a section as it's own forum, but we are closely linked to the IMOC (International MR2 Owners Club) and a number of club track days are organised.

Let me know if you need any specific help

[benjc]

WildCards said:

Thanks Benjc. Good info there mate and thanks for the link, but i'm not in the buying mood just yet, i'll wait until the summers over than look at this as a winter project.

No probs mate, the page that the link points to normally has doner cars on it ready for tweeking.

I actually prefered mine when it wasn't turbocharged on track it was more about the line and the turn in, nailing a perfect corner is far more rewarding (IMHO) than blitzing everything in a straightline. It was also much more forgiving whilst an incredible amount of fun. On the road the turbo ruled though, very little could keep up with a 995kg car with 230hp.

To me the perfect 1.6 car to start with would be a 93 s-spec Eunos Roadster....comes with bilstien suspension, all the chassis bracing, strut tower brace (bit of a mis-nomer on a 5), lsd, and very light BBS alloys.

Hope that helps a bit more!

Thanks

Ben

[MrFlibbles]

So how much for a decent MX5 with a trubo conversion Ben?

I didnt realise they could have as much as 230 bhp (as per your profile)...

Mail me offline if you prefer.

[benjc]

MrFlibbles said:

So how much for a decent MX5 with a trubo conversion Ben?

I didnt realise they could have as much as 230 bhp (as per your profile)...

Mail me offline if you prefer.

Well, I sold mine for £5,500 a couple of months back, which was about how much it cost to do the conversion, so it makes more finacial sense to buy one ready done.

Mine was a 1.6FM2, but the 1.8FM2s can make over 250bhp out of the box.

Have a look at www.flyinmiata.com for a bit more info. There are also loads of guys on the MX5oc who are happy to give rides in FI 5s....I do miss mine, but I am rather fond of the 2 now .

[juzzyp]

I think the 5 makes an excellent track car as does the MR2, but it depends what you want. I would opt for the MX5, yes I am slightly bias being a MK2 MX5 owner with impending turbo conversion but I think you'll be able to do a lot more with it and have a bundle of fun and laughs. A good and healthy 1.8 will do the business or a nice pre-93 1.6 MK1 should give you the thrills you need for a track blat.

as for you Ben, I know you're in denial and you "really" want the 5 back - we're get you back out in one, I'm sure the Audi is fun (or you're making it fun) but I know you must lust after that black beauty you owned.

(enough dramatisation - Justin)

[WildCards]

Thanks everyone