The 100th Annual MX5 Trackday event.

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:58 am

Trackdays are a great safe way to learn how to drive your MX5 at it's limits without fear of the fuzz or someone coming the other way- You don't need to worry about having the fastest car or not having experience driving on a track- You just go as fast or as slow as you desire.

'TeamJelly' has proposed a get together at a track day to see who's turbo-charged wang is the biggest but other cars will be there too- I'm also keen to get back on the track.

One proposed event is on Sunday the 18th May at Hampton Downs through Play Day on Track (http://www.playdayontrack.co.nz/news.php) : $135

Another option is at Taupo organised by the Motorsport park itself (http://www.tauporacetrack.co.nz/events) either on the 7th of May or the 21st (both Wednesdays). $125

Both of these events are open test days or track days and aren't organised by me or the forum etc. This thread is just to try and get a decent group of MX5s together as a social event at a track day, learn about our cars, how best to drive them etc.

You will need
a) A car with a current WOF or motorsport card
b) A roll bar if in an MX5 when doing the Playday on Track event
c) A helmet and cotton overalls
d) Recommended fresh brakefluid, decent meat on the pads, fresh oil/filter and decent tyres.

Is anyone else keen to come along?

Teamjelly · Post by **Teamjelly** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:01 am

Re: Trackday

Roll protection is a sore point at Trackdays, as most won't let a softtop or even a hardtop MX5 race around the track.
I can bring a spare proper bolt in Rollbar if someone needs to borrow one just for the day.
Only takes around half an hour to fit and is Trackday approved.
Of course I can sell them to MX5 Forum members for a discounted rate as well. Fits both NA and NB Miatas.

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:29 am

Im in to come along, wont be racing. At hampton

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:18 am

Teamjelly wrote:Re: Trackday

Roll protection is a sore point at Trackdays, as most won't let a softtop or even a hardtop MX5 race around the track.
I can bring a spare proper bolt in Rollbar if someone needs to borrow one just for the day.
Only takes around half an hour to fit and is Trackday approved.
Of course I can sell them to MX5 Forum members for a discounted rate as well. Fits both NA and NB Miatas.

Any idea what the requirements are for the Taupo Motorsport Park test days?
Personally, I think people should fit a roll bar but in reality, if you are driving an old 80s starlet or civic on the track, with no requirement for roll protection and a fairly flimsy structure, you probably have as much risk as in an MX5 without a rollbar.

Teamjelly · Post by **Teamjelly** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 12:12 pm

Not sure about the Taupo Test day requirements for Softtop cars.
Will flick them an e-mail and see what they say

But I wouldn't race without at least a drivers rollbar

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:10 pm

Realistically these cars are near impossible to flip UNLESS you catch a wheel. Pretty much why I wouldn't recommend going out without a bar because if you go off track and something digs in... Luck won't be on your side.

Also you should consider that a bar is a few hundred bucks. I would like to think my life is worth more than a bit of cash. Hell, if I was held up I'd pay a lot more than a roll bar would cost

last_resort14 · Post by **last_resort14** » Thu May 01, 2014 12:14 am

How does a bit of oversteer go down at an "open test day"

Teamjelly · Post by **Teamjelly** » Thu May 01, 2014 12:47 am

Unless you're handbraking and linking every corner with smoke bellowing off the rears, no-one will care.
After all the whole point of trackdays is to drive it like you stole it
You always get a warning (or two) if you're drifting it too much
But fluid leakage is more of a concern - you can be pretty unpopular if the motor/gearbox/diff dumps a whole heap of oil on the track, and everyone sits around for a hour or two while it gets cleaned up

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Thu May 01, 2014 7:42 am

Hi Guys

I am real keen to bring wee1 along, not sure if I could make the 18th though. Car is getting some minor work and then will need a retune with you Jared.

Getting a slightly smaller hot side housing etc...

Mark.

PLSEME · Post by **PLSEME** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:23 pm

I Did a track day Easter weekend @ Hampton Downs, Great fun

the rain we had made it even better:lol:

last_resort14 · Post by **last_resort14** » Fri May 02, 2014 1:09 am

Teamjelly wrote:Unless you're handbraking and linking every corner with smoke bellowing off the rears, no-one will care.

Unfortunately that was the plan

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Sat May 03, 2014 9:32 am

Even though I haven't got a turbo charged wang as in the reqiurements by Timmo, would still be keen to go along provided I have the free time on which ever day it runs on.

Both Hampton and taupo require you to have roll protection, you need a MSNZ cage in your car at Hamptons if you want to take passengers, but only roll over protection at Taupo, and supposedly a harness, but they usually peetty flexible on that on. Hmptons aren't flexible at all.

Taupo is the better track in my opinion, and is a halfway point for AKL and WTGN people.

They have a trackday session for sale on trademe for the 25th of May for $2k for the day.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue May 06, 2014 11:26 am

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =723697860

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Tue May 06, 2014 12:39 pm

Doubt we'd get the numbers to make it cheaper than just going to one of their test days though?

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Tue May 06, 2014 12:45 pm

Oh man I'd love to hire the track just for myself (yeah I'm antisocial). Lotto is sure to pay off one of these days

GRUVBB · Post by **GRUVBB** » Tue May 06, 2014 1:15 pm

Timmo wrote:Doubt we'd get the numbers to make it cheaper than just going to one of their test days though?

I second Timmo on this one.... Was hard enough to get 6 cars to go for a free cruise. Only cost was petrol and time.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue May 06, 2014 8:09 pm

GRUVBB wrote:
Timmo wrote:Doubt we'd get the numbers to make it cheaper than just going to one of their test days though?
I second Timmo on this one.... Was hard enough to get 6 cars to go for a free cruise. Only cost was petrol and time.

Ahh, but your thinking small scale, could always extend out past the forum, and 20 cars means it is only $100 per car, or the max 30 cars and it is $67 per car

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Tue May 06, 2014 8:33 pm

Yeah but we need to prove we get numbers at least once otherwise we could simply end up paying $500 each!

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Tue May 06, 2014 8:36 pm

After some track days ive been to it'd almost be worth $500 as there'd be less/no muppets on the track. Some people just cant drive.

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Wed May 07, 2014 8:34 am

That's true but it takes less than a minute of driving near a Muppet to determine who they are and back off. Just a reminder, track days aren't race days. There is no passing under brakes or around corners etc.

Anyway, the preference seems to be a weekend (i.e. Playday on track event) at HD rather than mid week at Taupo?

Who can make the 18th?
Donavan
TeamJelly
Timmo
Harlan?
Mad Kiwi (maybe)

Warrior (not driving)

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Wed May 07, 2014 9:50 am

Timmo wrote:track days aren't race days. There is no passing under brakes or around corners etc.

WWHHATTT!!!

Think you meant to say track days aren't SUPPOSED to be race days.

There isn't that much difference to most people between a track day and a race day other than the staggered start.

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Wed May 07, 2014 10:14 am

Dem's the rules (for play day on track anyway)....granted, if someone is clearly pulling to the side on a corner then you can pass.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Wed May 07, 2014 10:28 am

I know they are the rules, just saying they aren't usually followed (or enforced that much), except for the newbies to the playday sessions.

harlansmart · Post by **harlansmart** » Wed May 07, 2014 12:16 pm

Donovan's 100% right - not that it concerns me as I'm away on a mission that weekend - sorry team.

Donovan wrote:I know they are the rules, just saying they aren't usually followed (or enforced that much), except for the newbies to the playday sessions.

marcellarius · Post by **marcellarius** » Wed May 07, 2014 2:35 pm

Donovan wrote:I know they are the rules, just saying they aren't usually followed (or enforced that much), except for the newbies to the playday sessions.

That's unfortunate. Track days are dangerous enough without impatient tossers with a faster car trying to overtake through corners. At the last track day I attended I had someone in a Holden appear from nowhere and attempt to overtake through turn 9 at Pukekohe

The 100th Annual MX5 Trackday event.

The 100th Annual MX5 Trackday event.

Who is online