sutty_32 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 With regards to tyres, I really wouldn't bother with cheap whatever you can find road tyres, they can cook in a 2/3 laps, making the day a little pointless as you keep having to pull in, don't forget track days aren't cheap (£130+) so you want as much time out there as possible! We have gone the route of buying 2nd hand race tyres, lots of race teams will only scrap the tyres, so will happily let them go for a fairly reasonable price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 There used to be a company advertising in Fastcar & Redline selling Ex BTCC slicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick w Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 205 gti preferably the 1.9 go like f..k and handle amazingly could go for its bigger brother which i think is the 305 or six as there not as desirable but basicly the same but with a boot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Bigger brother was I think the 309 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longlandy Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 porsche 944 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hiatt Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Just wondering.. how did your mates mind take the leap from 'I want a track day car' to 'I know, I'll ask my mate with the cart sprung Land Rover, he's bound to know!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidW Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Just another thought on this. Given the likely problems to be found and created in a car bought for £1k and driven to within an inch of it's life added to the cost of trackdays, particularly if the car fails at the start of the morning session. How about hiring something as a package at the track. Stick with low end caterhams or clio sport etc and it might not be too expensive and would be a better drive than a cheap banger? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Just wondering.. how did your mates mind take the leap from 'I want a track day car' to 'I know, I'll ask my mate with the cart sprung Land Rover, he's bound to know!' Because it does donuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 Mmmmm, donuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 I would have said I have a good condition Toyota MR2 mk2 that is mostly striped out for weight and would need a 'more fun' engine in it, a small safety fuel tank and a radiator to get a simple, cheap track day car. However, given your mate's lack of car know how there is no point going for anything worth going for as if it goes wrong, breaks or needs improving then he is going to be a bit useless. How about a Series 2/3 SWB with a V8? Lead him away from the black top to the bottomless brown squishy stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticbadger Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Just another thought on this. Given the likely problems to be found and created in a car bought for £1k and driven to within an inch of it's life added to the cost of trackdays, particularly if the car fails at the start of the morning session. How about hiring something as a package at the track. Stick with low end caterhams or clio sport etc and it might not be too expensive and would be a better drive than a cheap banger? David Obviously you've never been to a track day in a sub-£1000 car, or even better with some mates with sub-£1000 cars. Just because the car is cheap doesn't mean it has to break every 5 minutes, a well prepped cheap car should last all day with only a total lack of brakes to show from it. It's all about cooking the poor thing, getting it running again and then doing it all again, and again. I've been to track days where mates have melted pistons, or hit the wall and still drove home. It's also impressive what a total lack of mechanical sympathy and lack of fear can do for your lap times. Just ask the guy in the mint M3 EVO that I out braked into Quarry one day in my Sierra. On the tyres side I would strongly advise buying a full matching set of brand name road tyres. I used Uniroyal and Falken on my Escort Mk1, they wear OK (the Falkens did 3 years of track days), grip OK and are predictable. Stay clear of 'track day' tyres like Yokohamas, I've seen a friend destroy a set of Yokos in one day. Also ref. my first paragraph, budget on a set of uprated brake pads and decent brake fluid, or you WILL die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicks90 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 dont forget the fiat coupe turbo, absolutely wickedly fast little car that can easily be bought for less than £1k. loads in scrappies to steal parts from and they handle pretty good too. or buy a saab 9-3 turbo and put it on a massive diet! They arent great on rust, but that aint a major factor really - but the engines are brilliant. In fact i reckon the 2l turbo would be a hoot stuck in a swb series instead of the usual v8 conversion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_warne Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 FF, If you're on a tight budget you want to go light: it'll be easier on tyres, fuel and brakes. I'd agree that a hot hatch or an MX5 is the way to go but then I like light cars. True, you won't be the fastest person out there but that isn't half the fun - you'll get bored very quickly if you go out there an dominate everything. Have a look on Pistonheads as quite a few sheds come up that should fit the bill. I've got a Lotus Elise and it's a complete blast to drive: sticky tyres, rose jointed wishbones, higher rate springs, Nitron dampers, uprated ARB, quick ratio steering rack, uprated brakes, a warm engine soon to be replaced with a hot engine (160 bhp soon to be 200-210 bhp) and less than 750 kgs. However, you won't get one for the budget..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hiatt Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Because it does donuts! Good clip I did a sprint (The Sprint Royale) and a RWYB in my racer last year, quite fun. Sometimes it's interesting to use a car not designed for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsie Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 just had the same dilemma myself.Ended up with a 2003(03) clio sport 172 stolen recovered with cracked bumper and bust halfshaft for £1000.Was at javelin trackday at oulton this weekend Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 just had the same dilemma myself.Ended up with a 2003(03) clio sport 172 stolen recovered with cracked bumper and bust halfshaft for £1000.Was at javelin trackday at oulton this weekend Paul Hooligan. But isn't that going over to the dark side... Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 I've got a Lotus Elise I've got a new pushbike, neither of them is a <£1k trackday car ya muppet That said, I've also got two Land Rovers on the road, beat that I've had a squint through the local breakers, a few good spots there - slightly dented Bimma3's, a little MG with scraped doors, what with all the suggestions here it's down to my mate pulling his finger out, having a few beers and going on eBay and seeing what shape of bargain appears on his drive when the hangover clears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Should be able to get a decent ish 1500 Midget for that sort of budget, might not be what he had in mind but the classic racing scene is pretty good and the parts for modifying are fairly cheap. More to the point it'll hold it's value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty_wingnut Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 A Merc 190 would be my choice, cheap as anything to buy and if you know where to look the parts are cheap enough as well. Worth buying the correct base vehicle though, aiming for a 2ltr as a minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtydiesel Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Bmw 535, ours owes us nearly £20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsie Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Hooligan. But isn't that going over to the dark side... Nigel ,not my fault Nigel.Its actually Alistairs car because he didnt want to trash his triumph Hope you are ok Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticbadger Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Having thought about this at length I was going to post a detailed list of what was needed to make a sierra a decent track car, but then I found this on Pistonheads: BMW M50 It needs some work, but a lightened E30 3 series with a 2.5 E34 engine has got to be fun - that'll be 200hp in a 900kg car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fozsug Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Having thought about this at length I was going to post a detailed list of what was needed to make a sierra a decent track car, but then I found this on Pistonheads: BMW M50 It needs some work, but a lightened E30 3 series with a 2.5 E34 engine has got to be fun - that'll be 200hp in a 900kg car! Thats looks like it could be fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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