Claire Helen Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Hi all, I am looking at doing some track days at events next year and wanted to know if anyone else does this and peoples opinions of the best cars to use! I want something cheap so if anything happens I won't be too upset, I have my Supra as a daily and wouldn't want to take that on a track just incase!! I also own a Celica GT 2.0 but not sure this would be great for a track, someone has suggested a MX5. Any help appreciated Also does anyone know any good track day events to go to in the UK? I know BHP Performance you can do up to 6 sessions for something like £30 each! Also Kleers Brandshatch are doing a November night time track session I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 MX-5 or MR-2. Both will be reliable and parts aren't too expensive. Steer well clear of anything FWD if you want to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Another MX5 vote. They are very well supported for this purpose, and parts are cheap. They can also be turbocharged for reasonable money, once you feel the engine is holding you back. The 200sx is also another great, but are more expensive, with higher running costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I can recommend brands hatch track wise, really enjoyed my track day there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Im slightly biased....... another vote for MX5 Here is mine at Castle Combe And with the missus driving Yes its slow, but the handling is great in these cars and they are just so much fun to chuck into corners with very little regard for the speed and whether it will exit the corner In all seriousness, its a great car on track, usually the slowest thing out there, but wow can it play catch up in the corners! Mel managed to overtake an MR2 at Castle Combe exiting Quarry We visit Castle Combe (a little scary considering lack of run-off in places), but still a love track and Thruxton quite often (pop in if you are in the neighborhood). In fact we are at Thruxton tomorrow with the MX5 and the GTR. MX5 has only got coilovers, seats, harnesses, rear half cage, some minor brakes bits and wheels/tyres done. Still testing the suspension, pictures were road settings so still a fair bit of roll, but have some new settings to test for tomorrow which should get her cornering flat. I enjoy driving the MX5 on track just as much as the GTR... GTR is great for the fast aspect and the MX5 is great for learning the track, RWD and to just have a bit of fun on track. EDIT Thruxton is £190 for the day open pit lane, fridays are usual empty and good fun Castle Combe is £190 for the day open pit lan, but can get busy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Another vote for an MX5 I will also second Brands Hatch, a great circuit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Another vote for an MX5 I will also second Brands Hatch, a great circuit Not driven it, been passenger a few times.... Want to do the full F1 circuit, but noise regs for GTR worry me Thruxton, as above is a great little circuit, harsh on noisy cars again, Mazda passes easily at 80db and the GTR just makes it at 90db static. Lots of run-off and in the MX5 you are foot-flat for at least 1/2 the lap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 For trackdays check out the usual suspects :- http://www.msvtrackdays.com/ http://www.trackdays.co.uk/ http://www.bookatrack.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Not driven it, been passenger a few times.... Want to do the full F1 circuit, but noise regs for GTR worry me Driven quite a few times and also had a few passenger rides, not driven the full circuit yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Driven quite a few times and also had a few passenger rides, not driven the full circuit yet. GTROC had a deal on the full circuit, but 92db limit on drive-by, so I was worried, everyone else knew they would not survive a lap. At least at Silverstone they are friendly and come have a chat about noise and ask you to short shift in certain areas. From what I have been told Brands is ruthless, black flag and go home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I have done a few track days by the way of corporate invites and by far the best was the Palmer Racing day, you get a full day or racing in various race cars including a single seater cosworth jag and you are pushed to your limits (any beyond in my case!) the V8 Ariel Atom is incredible, I also liked the Caterham The day is fully recorded onto a memory card to take away and show your pals your skills or lack of them ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cered Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 MX5 mk1 1.8 (post 1994) ideally UK model with the rear subframe bracing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 My local is Brandshatch and yeah I've seen, as well as heard that they are quite strict with black flags. I know BHP at Lydden hill is quite easy to jump on and doesn't cost the earth, £30 a turn is cheap and its at an event so you can see other cars, that's what I am looking for really. Rather than doing whole days, attend an event and jump on for a session that isn't going to cost the earth. Again with the Kleers evening event (was Kleers Wednesdays) at Brandshatch Its like £20 a session. Not going to Santa Pod so doesn't matter too much about speed, have heard MX5's are good. Do you need to kit them out with a roll cage, or extinguisher etc if you are only doing track days, not actual racing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 What is peoples opinions on the Celica GT, I know its FWD but I already have it which makes it easier lol, plus toyota parts aren't a problem as my dads a mechanic and gets it all trade price. If its not suitable then I won't bother, but just like to know what people think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 MR2 would be better than a Celica the mk3 is a great car to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cered Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 50% of the fun on track days is taken out with FWD. FWD can be fun though, but you'd want something small and agile, think Ford Puma, EK9 Civic etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 My local is Brandshatch and yeah I've seen, as well as heard that they are quite strict with black flags. I know BHP at Lydden hill is quite easy to jump on and doesn't cost the earth, £30 a turn is cheap and its at an event so you can see other cars, that's what I am looking for really. Rather than doing whole days, attend an event and jump on for a session that isn't going to cost the earth. Again with the Kleers evening event (was Kleers Wednesdays) at Brandshatch Its like £20 a session. Not going to Santa Pod so doesn't matter too much about speed, have heard MX5's are good. Do you need to kit them out with a roll cage, or extinguisher etc if you are only doing track days, not actual racing? You want a rollbar at the least with an MX-5. I would not want to roll one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Not a fan of the MR2, driven a couple and don't do it for me generally. Maybe go for a car that isn't jap may be another option, although the MX5 has got allot of thumbs up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 50% of the fun on track days is taken out with FWD. FWD can be fun though, but you'd want something small and agile, think Ford Puma, EK9 Civic etc My first car was a puma, that car was good fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 What about a RWD old BMW? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cered Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 My first car was a puma, that car was good fun! I want one still, S1600 or FRP body, RWD conversion with a Focus ST/RS 5pot engine would be incredible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I want one still, S1600 or FRP body, RWD conversion with a Focus ST/RS 5pot engine would be incredible... You can buy an Audi S2 for a fraction of the price, and they're easily converted to RWD. Plus the Audi 5 pot is in a different league to the Ford/Volvo one. (although they do share a common heritage) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 I still reckon the MX5 is a good buy The FWD I think would be good to start with, but you would get board of it quickly. For me, if you are learning, it has to be RWD... I did look at a Honda CRX, cheap and Clio cups, mini coopers and Suzuki Swifts can be bloody quick once they are setup correctly. Can do half day sessions at CC and Thruxton I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 The RX-7 FD had one of the best production chassis for track days ever, they are a work of art. Buy a spare engine or two though, and jerry cans in bulk, for the fuel MX-5 for fun on the cheap though. Having had various serious race series run around them the knowledge is already there to make them work well on a track, and they are simple and cheap to run. Forget FWD, difficult to work on, and always a compromise, no serious competition car designer would want to be hamstrung by FWD. They only do well in Touring Cars because the rules are designed to flatter them, and the makers have few RWD cars to show piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 S2000 is another that has a good chassis and engine, but parts are more costly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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