Student MX5 track project.

[sbridgey]

So after having such fun in my old clio 172 on track i decided to go RWD, initially I had an e36 328i but that proved to be a bit of a boat and not particularly good when driven really hard.

IMG_0042 by sbridgey, on Flickr


So i'd always really wanted an MX5 but never really been in the position to buy one, but as i was returning from a work placement year out I decided to go for it and buy one!


I picked this up with a few bits I wanted doing already done.

IMG_0070 by sbridgey, on Flickr


It had an OMP Corsica wheel, Koni shocks, Eunos seats, uprated speakers and set of 15 x 7 wheels, perfect.


The first thing to do was remove those hideous fog lights!

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


Followed quickly by fitting an old headunit I had lying around.

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


And then after a few weeks driving the heater hose at the back of the engine back broke as they do...

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


s**t loads of steam everywhere.... the car full of girls pointing at me was the least of my worries.


Once that was sorted it was time to get the car track ready. I wasn't enjoying the handling so bagged myself a set of these.

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


and some Federal RSR's ready for track.


Fitted the coilovers and its sitting at a nice height.

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


The next thing to be fitted was a Nissan Note splitter I was given.

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


Its looks alright and seems to reduce lift at high speed.


The next stage was to fit some new brake pads, I went for AXXIS Ultimates.


The first calliper I got to, the rear right was seized on the upper slider pin!

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


Annoying but I got a new one sent out and fitted cheaply.


Re-bled the whole system with ATE Super blue and the brakes are spot on!


Gave it a clean and all thats needed is an alignment ready for my first trackday of the year at Bedford Autodrome on the 15th of Feb.

IMG_0843 by sbridgey, on Flickr

IMG_0846 by sbridgey, on Flickr

IMG_0839 by sbridgey, on Flickr


Whats next?


Uprated ARB's and fixing some rust


More longer term, bucket seats, cage and harnesses.

 

[sbridgey]

I've also got myself a genuine Go Pro cage mount from G 172 for my style bar.

image by sbridgey, on Flickr


Hopefully going to get myself some good videos on track next month!

 

[_Tom]

"I had an e36 328i but that proved to be a bit of a boat and not particularly good when driven really hard."

Really? I love 328's and i'd have spent money on that..

 

[sbridgey]

I liked the 328i it was a really nice car, but for me it needed a lot of work to make it work well on track.

The MX5 is much better out of the box, and mods are much cheaper.

 

[_Tom]

I liked the 328i it was a really nice car, but for me it needed a lot of work to make it work well on track.

The MX5 is much better out of the box, and mods are much cheaper.

Cant argue with that..

 

[George@RTR_Parts]

Looking good Si

Those BC Racing coilovers mate?

Like you say, the price you can pick these cars and parts for them up is brilliant. Great VFM fun these :approve:

 

[sbridgey]

Cheers mate, yeah they are!

Parts are so cheap its brilliant!

 

[Chi]

I'll look forward to chasing this round Bedford

 

[daveski]

Look forward to watching sbridgey crashing this round Bedford...

 

[sbridgey]

I'll only crash when you're in the car Dave

Are you getting a drivers band?

 

[George@RTR_Parts]

Cheers mate, yeah they are!

Parts are so cheap its brilliant!

You rate them, you'll have to stick a mini review up of them after your track day mate

Look forward to watching sbridgey crashing this round Bedford...

:lolup:

 

[daveski]

I'll only crash when you're in the car Dave

Are you getting a drivers band?

Dunno mate, not sure if I'm even coming

 

[sbridgey]

You rate them, you'll have to stick a mini review up of them after your track day mate

Yeah i will! One the road they are firm but good so far.

Dunno mate, not sure if I'm even coming

MicKPM not putting a seat in for you?

 

[daveski]

Nope selfish ginger satchel.

Could come down in the 206 but it'll take about 4 years. 75bhp ftl.

 

[sbridgey]

What a knob! Damn gingers.

 

[Chi]

Jump in with me if you like? I can't buy a mate

 

[Matt W]

"I had an e36 328i but that proved to be a bit of a boat and not particularly good when driven really hard."

Really? I love 328's and i'd have spent money on that..

Exactly what I felt about mine. Really good car but very boat like. I also changed to an MX-5. I give it a year before you buy another clio.

 

[daveski]

Jump in with me if you like? I can't buy a mate

Surely you can offer cars to people to be your friend?

I doubt you're passing through Nottingham on your journey but if you are give me a shout.

 

[Scrooge]

Awesome, will better with some decent wheels!

 

[Chi]

Surely you can offer cars to people to be your friend?

I doubt you're passing through Nottingham on your journey but if you are give me a shout.

I'm coming from ch46 just pick a services and meet me en route

 

[sbridgey]

Exactly what I felt about mine. Really good car but very boat like. I also changed to an MX-5. I give it a year before you buy another clio.

Hmmm hopefully I can keep this car for a reasonable amount of time!

Awesome, will better with some decent wheels!

Yep, but student budget doesn't allow for new wheels

 

[DanielJames]

Cant argue with that..

You can, a 328i would slaughter an MX5 on track.

Someone should really tell Adrian Newey about that Nissan Note splitter...

 

[sbridgey]

You can, a 328i would slaughter an MX5 on track.

Someone should really tell Adrian Newey about that Nissan Note splitter...

There's no doubting the 328i would be faster, but it'd be wallowing everywhere and just not as direct and fun.

I'm sure he knows about it already! . But it does seem to make a difference believe it or not!

 

[DanielJames]

There's no doubting the 328i would be faster, but it'd be wallowing everywhere and just not as direct and fun.

I'm sure he knows about it already! . But it does seem to make a difference believe it or not!

He probably designed it lol.

Ahh 'fun' , the MX5 owners get out of jail free card

 

[sbridgey]

Haha, yeah that's the one! But the lack of ABS, PAS and TC mean driving on the edge takes a bit more skill and is more rewarding when it all comes together.

Trying to stop quickly on a greasy wet road does create brown skid marks though!

 

[Alex5]

The exact same thing happened with my heater hose when I had a mx5, I was driving then suddenly the engine overheated and lots of steam hole in the heater hose drained all the coolant!

 

[sbridgey]

The exact same thing happened with my heater hose when I had a mx5, I was driving then suddenly the engine overheated and lots of steam hole in the heater hose drained all the coolant!

Yep all my coolant fell out, it was annoying to say the least!

 

[MicKPM]

lack of ABS, PAS and TC mean driving on the edge takes a bit more skill and is more rewarding when it all comes together.

And so the excuses for the Clio beating him starts!

 

[Goodj]

Ahh 'fun' , the MX5 owners get out of jail free card

Yep.

Good to see this Mk.1 hasn't sprouted a dildo from the transmission tunnel!

EDIT: Or the "mandatory" Mr. Plow nose-job.

 

[sbridgey]

And so the excuses for the Clio beating him starts!

Yeah! I've s**t loads more too!

 

[sbridgey]

So I went on track. The car was superb, it wasn't the fastest car there but I reckon it was the most fun.

Hilariously sideways and squirmy in the wet and superb in the dry.

Here are a few videos.

 

[sbridgey]

I even let an old man drive it for a few laps.




(2 videos max per post)

 

[Euan94]

sbridgey what engine has this got, 1.8?

Looks like so much fun on track, definitely convinced me to get out on track in mine, bit annoyed i didn't realise this before this weekend seeming as bedford autodrome is only 5 mins away.

 

[sbridgey]

Yeah its a 1.8, shame you didn't realise would of been good to have another 5 to play with!

In the wet its quite sketchy(fun) due to the aggressive setup but in the dry its really nice and will keep with most things in the corners.

 

[Euan94]

Yeah looked like you all had a good day,

I think those videos proved to me the fact you can have just as much fun without being the fastest car, lots of people say it about mx5s but that looked great fun so uh, cheers!

 

[sbridgey]

Yep exactly, passengered in a clio and it just felt boring after being in the mx5.

Felt slower even though it was faster. Mx5's are just better.

 

[Goodj]

CSMX-track unity should be done this season

Saying that, MX5OC is doing a Snetterton day, just 5's

 

[sbridgey]

A CSMX trackday is good idea, who knows even TheEvilGiraffe might have bought one by then!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

A CSMX trackday is good idea, who knows even TheEvilGiraffe might have bought one by then!

A track ? Well, I am hilariously wealthy but I can't think of where to put it. Not until the hot tub pool sells ...

Yep exactly, passengered in a clio and it just felt boring after being in the mx5.

Felt slower even though it was faster. Mx5's are just better.

Might have just been my driving

 

[sbridgey]

A track ? Well, I am hilariously wealthy but I can't think of where to put it. Not until the hot tub pool sells ...

Grr you know what I meant! But if you want to buy a track be my guest!

Might have just been my driving

Possibly, but i'm not convinced.