Love this topic cheers for keeping this all logged, planning on tracking mine a bit next year so very helpful. Your car looks the dogs too.
A question for you if you don’t mind 
Are you running an oil cooler? All I see in the US is people saying these cars need an oil cooler but I haven’t seen it discussed much on the UK side, cheers.
Nah mate no need for an oil cooler I think.
I guess for racing and hardcore stints at track days, yeah probably worth doing. But for me I’d rather keep the engine oem, less leaks, less pressure issues. And stick to sensible session times. 20 mins max sessions and all be ok, well have been for me. Gives the oil, gearbox, tyres and brakes some time to cool.
I have got a cooling scoop on the underside to help with box oil temps.
I’m curious. So please forgive what might seem a stupid question.
Have you considered wrapping or ceramic coating the manifold, cat (if any), pipes etc to minimise heat transfer from them to the gearbox?
Good idea - done it on my civic years ago but was when I was changing to a 421 manifold, so while it was off it was a no brainer.
Think would be a bit tricky in situ on standard bits, plus might degrade the oem cat earlier than normal? Good pt though
Nice thank you, I guess my follow up questions would be what oil do you run? I’m running Mobil1 3000 whatever its called, how often are you changing it?
What gearbox cooling scoop do you recommend? Cheers again
Box oil is Millers 75w 90 and same for LSD (LS for LSD). CRX I think it is? The yellow labelled one anyway. Annual changes for the box.
The scoop I got off a bloke years ago, called Andy Leslie. I think it’s available at a few places now though.
As for engine oil, whatever Oakmere Mazda put in there each year! It’s 5w 30 though - I checked the grade. Probably castrol.
I wouldn’t wrap my manifold but I have considered getting it ceramic coated by Zircotec but cost at the moment is stopping me from getting it done!
The scoop is definitely worthwhile.
Brands hatch GP ticked off the list finally.
Not just saying it cos its an iconic track, but what a track it is. Quite possibly my favourite UK track so far…maybe.
The Recaros felt good, nice to finally have a bit of bolstering even though it’s nothing major.
Was a mix of downpours and dry spells which came back fairly quickly to be honest, with the sun and wind. Not much fun in the wet with Zestino but in the dry it’s totally different. Also took the free 30 mins tuition which genuinely was a real game changer, got that early on at 10.30 so I could put it to good use.
Hi, sorry to go back a couple of years in your thread, but I want to ask about your seat upgrade prior to the recaro’s. I feel the seats have low lateral grip and with the air bag, heated and Bose, options are limited.
How did you find the seat long term with the alcantara? Would you do it differently if you did it again? For example the side bolsters in alcantara instead of the centre?
Thanks in advance
I’d do it exactly the same way mate. Maybe add a but more padding to the base but apart from that they were really good. Instantly felt stuck to the seat rather than sliding around and they looked miles better, pretty much the same as 124 abarth seats. As for bolstering, that wasn’t any better but there’s not a lot of room to play with in there - seats still felt a but narrow and flat. Bolstering would need changes to frame to have any real support.
Thanks, that helps a lot. Think they are the perfect modification for the seats without going down the replacement route. Like the recaro’s but boy they are expensive even 2nd hand😳
Correct!
The time has come for a big (ish) bill. After 20 track days and 32k I don’t think that’s too bad to be honest.
Car is with @rodders the main man, for a new clutch/flywheel as I noticed it slipping very very slightly at Brands Hatch last month. It only happened at high revs in the higher gears when I had a passenger. And only in the middle of the day, weirdly. Seemed fine the rest of the day. But as we know, clutches only get worse so with Oulton park and Zandvoort in mind (coming up in Nov) I thought I should use whatever availability Paul has in Oct, to get it done.
Glad to hear the clutch friction plate is well worn, so I’ve been driving it properly at least. Unfortunately also needs a flywheel, but it’s good practice to replace it at the same time as the clutch so it’s a good thing really. As Richard F said (not sure if he’s on here?) on youtube, the Mazda stamped LUK part is an eye watering £1100 plus VAT for the flywheel. Non Mazda stamped, but LUK you’re looking at £550 ish so that’s some saving - thanks Paul and Richard.
Looking forward to Oulton on the 11th Nov and Zandvoort 1st Dec now.
Decent day for a wet one at Oulton. Chucked the ps5’s on and braved the morning rain.
Wet morning followed by a drying out, but never dry, afternoon.
As can see in the video it got less sketchy right up to the end of the day when I left at 4pm.
Track was dead, everyone seemed to have gone home by 3 after numerous red flags
Was good to try the fd swap at a comparable track. First time I’d been to Oulton since the fd swap. Much better out the slow corners and up the hill. Even had to use 5th for a couple of the fast bits.
Despite the rain I decided to turn the TC off. Genuinely think the car is a bit of a hazard to itself when the TC is on, on circuit. Even then I dont think it is ever fully off. As you can see at the end of my video last corner 
Another Euro trip done in the MX-5, took it all in it’s stride.
Ferry to Rotterdam, day trip to Bruges, couple of nights near Amsterdam for a city day and (attempted) Ajax match. Then a track day at Zandvoort on the Monday and a ferry home.
First time at Zandvoort and I’d go back. Very steep banked turns were fun and lots of elevation changes. Quite wide too so fairly forgiving. The pit straight was a bit much for the mazda and it was properly cold with the wind chill. Managed to get a fairly dry chunk of the day until it rained non stop from 2pm. Also took advantage of the tuition which made a big difference as usual.
Love the pictures, very envious of your day on track at Zandvoort.
Trying to resist track days, and the inevitable mods that come with it.
Although there’s no harm in getting a spread sheet list going 
I only just realised yesterday its used in F1. Doesn’t seem that kind of venue but I don’t follow F1, it bores me.
Going through and ticking off as many tracks as I can with this MX-5 before I get bored of doing them. Great cars on track, so much fun, unlike my Golf GTi which isn’t a patch on the mazda for fun.
hey. just came across this thread of yours. i know your number plate! didnt know you were floating around on here 
thank you for this particular post, i am in the same area of thought myself. also thanks for the 3.58, i was wondering where that ratio came from (saw SPS offer it).
you are right, they are hard to find. and bloody expensive! and thats before its been fitted
