Where to buy track day (not race) car?

[brgbrm]

I'm not sure whether to keep my existing MR2, which is a vanilla rev3 na or sell it and get a track-oriented car, but I still want something that's road legal.

Do cars with proper roll cages require a crash helmet to be driven safely?

I know there are specialist websites for buying race cars, but what are the best places for buying track day oriented cars?

[brgbrm]

Oh, just found this which seems a good starting point:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/index.asp?g=5

[J-1]

Pistonheads is a good place to start until you find a make/model you like and then you can join owners clubs etc to see if there's any for sale.

I had a look about for a track car but couldn't find anything that ticked all the boxes (without spending a fortune!), so my plan is to make my MR2 track car.

What's your budget?

[brgbrm]

I'm not sure about budget, I'd happily spend a few hundred on the MR2, I can't say what I'd spend on say an mx5 replacement (say) as I'd want comparable performance. The rev3 is pretty slow by track day car standards, the only way I'm going to get decent lap times is by becominga lot better driver (which is one of th reasons I may be happy to keep it).

[loudandproud205]

There far from slow on track, I suggest driver training, am still taking it trtying to get to grips with my turbo

[brgbrm]

Hi Lee, thanks, yes I agree that I'm probably the weak link in the chain There's a great thread on here somewhere which I can't find about someone getting a sprint record at Goodwood with a Mk2, and I think he said he doesn't brake anywhere on the whole circuit!!

[dan4]

My rev 1 NA with exhaust and filter is fantastic on track! Best thing to do imho is take it our for a few sessions as it is and go from there...

It's cost me 170 so far for brake upgrades and wheels which il use next time. For now to give an idea with stock wheels, brakes and suspension my lowly rev1 NA with a passenger is 3sec a lap slower at lydden than my old track prepared CRX with integra type r engine, stripped out and huge suspension/braking mods!

[brgbrm]

Thanks Dan! I feel quite inspired to keeep it rather than going for something else. I've had it 5 years. The suspension seems bouncy to me (new oem dampers original oem springs). i'm not that fussed about braking because someone (I think it was on here) who seemed to know what they were doing said not much braking necessary at Goodwood (I think he must have very special car / skill level!).

My rev 1 NA with exhaust and filter is fantastic on track! Best thing to do imho is take it our for a few sessions as it is and go from there...

It's cost me 170 so far for brake upgrades and wheels which il use next time. For now to give an idea with stock wheels, brakes and suspension my lowly rev1 NA with a passenger is 3sec a lap slower at lydden than my old track prepared CRX with integra type r engine, stripped out and huge suspension/braking mods!

[dan4]

Braking and suspension should be the focus imho as you dont have the raw power of a turbo

Is yours a uk car? Mine seems very very firm on suspension for a stock car so il probably stick with the standard dampers and use some lowering springs

I have some rev2 brakes with grooved discs and EBC red ceramic compound pads, braided lines and a set of AD08 tyres ready to go on mine for the next outing

[brgbrm]

It is a UK car, yes.

I'm not too fussed about brakes myself as I brake too much too soon, and need to get out of that habit. Lack of balls I think properly fast drivers would probably say. I am thinking of getting turbo or eibach or trd springs perhaps. I assume though, as I'll get a garage to do it, it's going to cost quite abit?

Brakes and tyres sound very nice! I have new Kumho and Nexen on, sop nothing special, but the MR2 is very much for learning car feel with, that's all I want really, and if I can get good lap times at some stage, that would be great.

Braking and suspension should be the focus imho as you dont have the raw power of a turbo

Is yours a uk car? Mine seems very very firm on suspension for a stock car so il probably stick with the standard dampers and use some lowering springs

I have some rev2 brakes with grooved discs and EBC red ceramic compound pads, braided lines and a set of AD08 tyres ready to go on mine for the next outing

[dan4]

Id chuck turbo dampers and some aftermarket springs on it

Where are you based, what tracks could you attend? I may be somewhere you are at some point you see!

[brgbrm]

The dampers are almost new OEM so I I don't need to replace those. I am in Brighton, I generally just go to Goodwood, but I want to start going somewhere with more run off, I don't much like M-way driving at all so probably not much further than Brands.

Id chuck turbo dampers and some aftermarket springs on it

Where are you based, what tracks could you attend? I may be somewhere you are at some point you see!

[dan4]

I should be at brands at some point, fire me a pm if you do any there this year

[Keri-WMS]

...and me, I'm in Hastings and was at Brands on Monday as it happens! I can tag along with my weedy 3SFE and practice getting overtaken...

[brgbrm]

Oh, I don't know, i'm just reading an article in Track Driver mag about getting the most from a Junior Ginetta (100bhp/800kg). I'm doing one of these next weekend (29th Oct):

http://www.howfast.co.uk/

It's a great new product from MSV, I think, and if I do more than one day, the challange is just to see how much I can improve my times relative to myself ... in other words, I don't think power is everything

...and me, I'm in Hastings and was at Brands on Monday as it happens! I can tag along with my weedy 3SFE and practice getting overtaken...

[Keri-WMS]

I'd be happy with my 119bhp if the car was 800kg! But as far as I can tell it's 1,275kg.

[dan4]

Seems abit steep that...? 100 quid for an hour plus a hot lap, not huge value

I'm tempted by next novice brands day on sun 13th Nov, I'm no novice but I'm not on msv register so il get away with a few cheap novice days first! Il most likely book it next Thursday

Power is definitly not everything. Keri make use of carrying speed and you'll do fine

Il be the crazy one, I'm used to overtaking anywhere and everywhere

[Keri-WMS]

I've got standard suspension so I was making full use of the rumple strips! I also tend to be as heavy on the brakes as I can, kind of a bad habit as a form of long-term testing.

Carrying speed into Paddock Hill seemed a bit nerve wracking after watching the number of MR2 spins I've seen there (Youtube has 9 MR2's off there to 1 Subaru spin, my mate took an impreza so I did the search as a comparison).

As it turned out the corner was ok, as long as you properly reach the apex and let the car run wide - the odd bit was braking over the bump on the way in.

There were two more Mk2's there - guess where one of them span!

I did the £25=20min session as well, there were four of us (Mk2 MR2, Polo saloon with GT running gear, Impreza Turbo Estate and E36 325i Sport) so it was a cheap giggle. I would have thought the Nurburgring sticker would cause raised eyebrows, but apparently not.

By the time we got out on track we got about 17.5min...at least you know you won't have time to wreck the tyres!

[brgbrm]

I'm just back from the How Fast at Bedford, my best time (1 warm up lap, 2 timed laps) was 1.43.395 which isn't fantastic, but it's a starting point. It was the first time I've done a timed lap, and it was great fun!!

[CM1GT]

from experience id say if youve got any intention of using slightly more than sparingly on the road then its best to get a seperate car, by the time youve fitted bucket seats, harnesses, stripped the stereo, sound proofing, heat shielding, big brakes, firm suspension, fiesty clutch, loud exhaust, induction and engine work an mr2 becomes a very hot, noisy uncomfortable place to be for long journeys, that said mines still a hoot to drive and can embarress cars worth 10 times as much on track, but after over 4 years together its only an mot away from the classifieds