Track days

debearnz · Post by **debearnz** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:23 pm

I'd like to get our car onto a track sometime, just for fun of course, where we can legally zap about and enjoy its performance in a safe environment. Does anyone know of any regular track days run?

Doesn't have to be an MX5 exclusive day, though having other MX5's there would be great. We have a '94 1800 manual which is basic with few mods, just enough to look good. Mechanically stock and is the most fun you can have on four wheels on the road!

chris · Post by **chris** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:42 pm

Hey mate

Playday on Track organize these quite often!

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:44 pm

Sometimes a rollbar is required for convertibles depending who runs it. Probably a good idea to have one never the less

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:03 am

Our apologies if you received this last week but it appears several people did not get it so hopefully it gets to you all this time

We have several events coming up at Hampton Downs including groups for Cars, Racing Cars, Bikes and Prestige.

The next Taupo event is Sunday 9 December and includes a Driver Training group, ideal for anyone wanting to try their first track day in a low key environment or to simply improve their driving skills, you will learn emergency braking, car control & how to drive more safely on the road or on a track.

The next Manfeild date is 24 November, see below.

HAMPTON DOWNS

CARS

SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER (fully booked)

THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER - TWILIGHT $75

Cars on track from 4.30pm to 7.30pm

SATURDAY 1 December (Fully Booked)

WEDNESDAY 12 DECEMBER TWILIGHT $75

Cars on track from 4.30pm to 7.30pm

SUNDAY 16 DEC $135

SATURDAY 12 JANUARY $135

WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY TWILIGHT $75

WEDNESADY 6 FEB (WAITANGI DAY) $135

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:56 am

Yeah the rollbar requirement for playday events is a pain in the bum a bit: Yes it is good to have one....but so are airbags and a range of other safety devices which aren't a requirement.

Sourcing a rollbar for an MX5 can be difficult (more so for the NB) but is a good investment.

dylann · Post by **dylann** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 4:51 pm

Keen on the twilight one on the 29th being my bday, any other mx5 owners heading down?

Snapfrozen · Post by **Snapfrozen** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 6:06 pm

I'd like to point out here something that A LOT of people overlook that can ruin a day.

Firstly, what I would consider a must. Make sure your car has been serviced recently. You'll be pushing it harder than what you would on the road, so oil etc that may not have been a problem previously, might be.

Secondly, but more importantly comes brakes. We're all bright enough to make sure we can stop, but its no fun doing 2 laps to find out they don't work anymore from brake fade. Invest in some good fluid and pads (Forget upgrading rotors/calipers/lines/MC/Booster etc for a road car that might see 1 track day a year).

Check the boiling point on fluid (I would recommend 600dC or higher, personally my 2 faves are Repco's 550dC Silverline (Dam cheap, and best value for money). Failing that, or if you don't mind the best, Motul 660dC fluid. Make sure your brake rotors are evenly worn, have no signs of cracks or are relatively new and brake pads are as above. I would recommend using BNT/Repco rotors, but buy good pads, find something that works well for cold and hot braking, and swap them in for your track days (20 mins work, for what could make/break your day).

That's it from me

Feel free to start a thread or PM me if you want more info

chris · Post by **chris** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 6:18 pm

Oh also note that these are TRACK DAYS not RACE DAYS

Big difference.

debearnz · Post by **debearnz** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 7:28 pm

Thanks WOT, the Saturday in January would probably suit us best.

I appreciate the advice re: brakes and servicing, I'm about to get the car serviced for the Summer, running Castrol Magnatec which is apparently better for the lifters.

A good mate owns Hibiscus Coast Service Center in Whangaparaoa, and he's a good bloke! A mad Pom, he's currently building a mid-engined VW Polo powered by an Audi A8 V8. It will be road legal, too. He's also building a Kawasaki Z1300 turbo. But too much detail to post here. He does all my repairs and servicing and was the first port of call after buying the car to get the timing belt etc. done.

I can't afford to do too much to the car, re': roll bars and really don't think I'd need one as the idea is not to race it hard, but more to get a lot more out of it in a safe environment and learn something as well. I've taken about 30kg out of it by replacing the battery with a Shorai, which saved about 11kg on its own, removing the air-con unit which saved about the same I guess, and do I really need the spare tyre?

It's got 15" alloys with good near new tyres that seem to have glue-like grip on the road and Momo steering wheel and pedals. The steering wheel being smaller makes the steering unreal precise!

There are a few MX5's in the Hibiscus Coast but we never seem to have the time for extra socialising, being quite busy people, but we'd love to get together with others on a track day sometime.

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 7:29 pm

I'm booked in for 16th.
To shakedown the SC .... If it's fitted by then....

dylann · Post by **dylann** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:00 pm

Agreed thanks for the info, might put it on hold until I have to time to give it a proper service because like debear said, always busy up here on the coast haha.
Sort of overlooked it. Cheers

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:03 pm

dylann wrote:Agreed thanks for the info, might put it on hold until I have to time to give it a proper service because like debear said, always busy up here on the coast haha.
Sort of overlooked it. Cheers

Oil change then assume the brakes are all good, if not then you'll quickly adapt to brake less

Furai · Post by **Furai** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:10 pm

Angreal wrote:
dylann wrote:Agreed thanks for the info, might put it on hold until I have to time to give it a proper service because like debear said, always busy up here on the coast haha.
Sort of overlooked it. Cheers
Oil change then assume the brakes are all good, if not then you'll quickly adapt to brake less

My Dad once told me if you have to brake your not going fast enough. I dont quite have the gems to try that theory...

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:32 pm

Take note....
Playday conditions....

RULES FOR OPEN CARS

All open cars (i.e. soft top convertibles) must have roll protection, either factory fitted such as: Boxter, S2000, Z3, Z4, 350z, 370z & Elise etc. or suitable aftermarket roll protection if it is not Factory fitted.

So if you dont have a rear bar then you will be a spectator only on the day!

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:28 am

Go get intouch with Don at Autoways, (http://www.autowayservices.co.nz/HomePage) he has a pretty simple rollbar setup for about $300 I think, only takes a couple of hours to fit, and Play on Track will allow you to run with it.

don't get style bars, they don't like those.

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:49 am

Donovan wrote:Go get intouch with Don at Autoways, (http://www.autowayservices.co.nz/HomePage) he has a pretty simple rollbar setup for about $300 I think, only takes a couple of hours to fit, and Play on Track will allow you to run with it.

don't get style bars, they don't like those.

One that will fit under a hardtop? Thats a pretty good price.. I'd rather have a bar that works, than not. My current one isn't really a roll bar imo, I'd rather not risk it as it is.

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:53 am

Just rang Don yesterday but he isn't back until next Monday- Last time I talked to him he didn't have any bars made up so would need to make a new batch.

I had one in my previous MX5 (It was more like $350 in 2009...so would be more now)- They are functional, if a little ugly....but the price is good and yes, they fit under a hardtop.

Perhaps we could gather all people interested and get a batch made up for a group discount?

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:54 am

Yes, they fit under the hard top, I have one in my car

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:55 am

And I just checked, I paid $300 back in Nov 2010

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 12:42 pm

The major downside of the Don bar is you can't put your seat all the way back - well, its major for us tall folk.
-unless he's changed the design??

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:43 pm

tomtikki wrote:The major downside of the Don bar is you can't put your seat all the way back - well, its major for us tall folk.
-unless he's changed the design??

Depends on the design you are talking about, as I have seen two of them, one with a single cross bar, which stops the seat from going all the way back a little bit, and then one like mine which has two cross bars, that stops it going back even further.

Doesn't worry me, as I am a short arse.

Timmo · Post by **Timmo** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:07 pm

True, but you only loose a very minimal amount (the diameter of the bar..call it 5cm?)- I had the single cross bar design, am ~ 180 cm
I've put a lot of thought into coming up with an alternative design but you have to move away from a 'self install' bar quite quickly or start interfering with the seatbelt mechanism.

Putting the vertical bars down and bolting them to the rear bulkhead using the existing holes is a pretty good solution and keeps both material and installation costs/hassles down.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:05 pm

something like this?

https://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?de ... 200%20DIAG

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:08 pm

Here's the install process for it

http://www.blueridgemiataclub.org/techn ... /index.htm

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:38 pm

Donovan wrote:something like this?

https://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?de ... 200%20DIAG

This is exactly the bar I want!
Doesn't affect seat travel, visibility is good, looks good, should do the job and the crossbars don't get in the way of putting up the soft top. Perfect. - I don't want to start something guys, it's just personal preference.

Iv printed a few pics of it a while ago to take to a fabricator .... I just havn't got around to it yet .. I don't want my bubble burst ... $$ ...

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