Thought I would share footage of my first time on track with the 25th anni.
Handles much better than expected with just Eibach springs. Chassis can easily take another 50bhp.
Day was very very hot, the factory RE050A didn’t stand a chance.
Hit like if you like it!
PS: a lot of mates commented about my re-adjusting of the crown jewels… It’s all in the name of aero dynamics. Every little (really) helps.
Hi Alan - I was there too, in my little white Mk1! - came across and chatted with you about your (neighbour’s) Mk1, tyre pressures, and general MX-5 shit.
Thanks so much for sharing that footage - I’ve watched it twice and re-lived every metre of the amazing circuit! That was an epic catch at 8’28" - the first “25 mph” hairpin after joining the circuit.
You’re right, it was an absolutely stonking hot day. My weedy Kumho 185/60 14s did a sterling job all day long, but by mid afternoon were squealing louder than ever, getting really grained up - and starting to lose grip. And for the first time ever, in 28 years of '5 ownership, I saw my temp gauge creep right up to max. - three laps at a time was the limit.
I also blagged a three-lap ride in the black Jag F-Type - 5.0 litres of brutal, uncompromising supercharged V8 gorgeousness. Lots of electronic driver aids keeping it all under control though - I think I was having more fun in my sub-130bhp 1.8! At the end of the long main straight I was just on 100mph - the Jag was touching 145-150.
For anyone that’s never done a track day - do it! The biggest fun ever. This wasn’t an MX-5-specific day (though with seven or eight there, they were definitely the most popular car in the pit lane) - just a general track day for all comers. But a hugely safe circuit, with massive run-off areas, no barriers or anything to hit, some awesome long straights, sweeping curves, and some tricky technical series of bends.
Hope you had a good day Alan, and got home safe.
Steve
it was nice to meet you Steve and I hope it wets your appetite for some more track action.
A good mixture of cars there but have to say that a previous event I attended had even more diverse selection of cars; How about a 15year old Fiat Panda? At the end of the day, as long as you are having fun and not getting in the way of others (unlike the Novice Black MG Rover on our day) then that’s what it is all about. Learning and fun at the same time!
As to my’epic’ catch as you call it… I would have held it and drifted up the circuit if I only had 100bhp
Regarding your overheating… Don’t know if you had done it or not, when you’re driving, turn the heating onto max and the fan to max. This will help keep the water temp down albeit making the cabin much hotter.
Hopefully catch up at another event in the near future.
Nice looks like a great day was had. I hope to do a trackday myself soon.
Yep, every cooling-down lap the heater was on full blast - kind of counter-intuitive given the temperatures on the day!
you should have left it on during the whole track time, not just cooling down.