gm's unhealthy obsession with mx5s - squeezing in a few last drives before Exo goes into hibernation

[spartacus]

I think you're doing the right thing, the market seems depressed ATM, so anything you do to broaden your potential buyer base has got to be worth while. I know you've had to put the labour into it but I think you'll make more money selling the go faster bits separately too, I've never got the money back for stuff like that on a modified car.

Cheap coilovers ARE crap, they won't last long, the adjusting collars will seize up within weeks and even when they do work, the generic damper will be the wrong rate for your car and the cheap bushes will wear quickly and make them rattle. On roads in the UK you'll have to go a long way to beat a set of Eibach springs with decent dampers, although you know that already!

Good luck with the sale.

 

[loserone]

Daily it.  Who needs a hatchback?

 

I used to have s tow bar for one, I forgot who I gave it to

[Sir Snipes]

7 hours ago, gm said:

A bit more fettling this evening, this time the front suspension 

As before, standard mazda on the left, kyb with eibach lowering springs on the right

So let's bung them on and see how it looks

yep, bit of a gap there too

three fingers in the front

and the full kit kat in the rear

Roll it out of the garage for a proper look

definitely a bit awkward, let's go for a quick drive and see if it will settle things down ?

.

.

.

 

nope, still looks odd but, and this is a big BUT, how does it feel on the road ?

well, obviously, it's nothing like it was before BUT it's actually really good. Totally different but still composed, controlled, smooth and capable in the corners - I'm astonished ! I've spent so long with a modified 5, I'd forgotten just how good they are as mazda intended.

I may just have to keep this as a daily (the exhaust has to go though)  

 

Back to normal under the bonnet too 

You haven't mixed up the springs (back to front) as the nose would be slammed and its arse up. It looks good, probably a bit higher than you may imagine but Japanese cars, even Supras and Skyline GTRs, always sit high unless heavily modified.

It will settle down a bit. 

 

[gm]

Might as well have a bit of fun before it sells

only forty quid for two hours on track  

[Mr Laurence]

That seems really cheap! What safety equipment do you need to do it?

[paulplom]

Just an approved helmet and a valid uk license. Kids over 12 are allowed to be passengers for an extra tenner.

[gm]

12 minutes ago, Mr Laurence said:

That seems really cheap! What safety equipment do you need to do it?

It is ! Ok, it’s maybe not the finest circuit in the world but it’s not bad for a bit of fun. Fairly twisty and short so suits the mx5 to a tee. 
they run it as open pit so you can do as many laps as you like, an excellent opportunity to get out on track and see if you like it  

[Mr Laurence]

That’s brilliant! Thank you! I don’t have a helmet and I doubt I’d be able to get one before the 27th, but Teesside is only about an hour from me. I may have to go to the next one

[gm]

i may be able to help you there  

[gm]

Go on, you know you want to 

 

 

[gm]

I might have been asking a bit much of those rainsports, esp at 8:45 ! 

[Mr Laurence]

17 minutes ago, gm said:

i may be able to help you there  

Wow, that’s an incredibly generous offer! Thank you. I already had Monday booked off work too so Ireally have no excuse

[gm]

10 minutes ago, Mr Laurence said:

Wow, that’s an incredibly generous offer! Thank you. I already had Monday booked off work too so Ireally have no excuse

Autoshite trackday ! Can't wait

 

Helmet wise, the ones on the top shelf are both available, both size xl so you might need to wear a buff / scarf thing underneath but will do the job. Paulplom or his lad will be using the silver and black one, the other is mine. 

[paulplom]

How much fuel will you go through in 2 hrs? Mine only seems to take £40 to fill.
Can you top up on site?

[gm]

There’s a BP just over the road, top up when you get there and you’ll be fine for a couple of hours. There’s a maccy d’s there too which is handy, the on site catering is a bit basic 

[Mr Laurence]

As grateful as I am to [mention]gm[/mention] for letting me borrow a helmet, I’ve been looking to see if I can find one of my own. I’ve seen this one and I was wondering if it would be okay for track days? Has anyone here bought one  before?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Y26CYYD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wrWfFbGAS5F91

[paulplom]

£180! I just paid £42 delivered Friday.

[Mr Laurence]

That is a lot less - is that one a motorcycle helmet though? Are there any differences?

[paulplom]

Not as far as I'm aware. As long as they're approved for road use.

[paulplom]

i may be able to help you there  

Strange. I keep tomato soup, pot noodles and beans in my cupboard.

[Tickman]

22 minutes ago, Mr Laurence said:

That is a lot less - is that one a motorcycle helmet though? Are there any differences?

At Knockhill the requirement is a helmet that is for road use, if you started competing then it might be different but withing reason any helmet will do.

[gm]

I’ve never had anyone examine my helmet  

[gm]

2 hours ago, Mr Laurence said:

As grateful as I am to [mention]gm[/mention] for letting me borrow a helmet, I’ve been looking to see if I can find one of my own. I’ve seen this one and I was wondering if it would be okay for track days? Has anyone here bought one  before?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Y26CYYD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wrWfFbGAS5F91

I wouldn’t be spending that kind of money unless I was competing, a decent motorbike helmet will do the job, the only problem is finding one that fits - I went to a bike shop and tried loads on to find the right one.

anyway, have you booked up yet ? it will very likely sell out so don’t delay 

[gm]

8 hours ago, paulplom said:

12 hours ago, gm said:

i may be able to help you there  

Strange. I keep tomato soup, pot noodles and beans in my cupboard.

maybe my garage is just very tidy ? 
(it is the kitchen, there’s a CD player and amp in another cupboard  )

(edit) see !

[Mr Laurence]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I had a feeling this may have been the case, so I’m glad I didn’t drop nearly £200 on that helmet. I’ve not booked my ticket yet: I’ve got a friend (who also owns an mx5) who was interested in going too but already has plans for Monday. I might still go, but I don’t know how likely it is given that this would be my first track day. Do these normally happen every month? I’ll try and make the next one.

Apologies, I hope that you and Paul have a good time though

[gm]

I’d say try to come along to this one where you will ‘know’ someone, I’ll happily take you out as a passenger or sit in with you and offer advice 

[Mr Laurence]

Thank you! I appreciate the offer a lot. If I’m not at this one, I’ll definitely be at the next!

[gm]

A bit more track day prep this morning :

i did think about refitting the bucket seats but will do this one as a 'stock' mx5

but the comfy seats are just not up to it. Time for a "foamectomy"

these seats belong in a late mk1 or mk2 car and do feel like you are sitting on rather than in them.

four bolts out and flip it over

another four bolts and the runners are off (six bolts for me as crappy later seats)

ping off all of those rusty metal rings and peel the base cover back

that big lump of foam is our target

and we shall need to employ Mazda Special Service Tool #BRdKnF

just like slicing a Hovis

Don't dip this in your soup

a quick tidy up

cover back on

and securely fixed in place

 

look at all that space we've created

if you have original mk1 seats (all in one backrest) then you can take things further

ping off four more rings and fold the backrest flap towards the front of the seat

lift the flap and you will see a 'swim float' size cushion that can be removed

more cable tie action and it's ready to reassemble 

back in the car, can you see the difference ? 

nope, me either, but I am now sitting lower which surely means FASTER

with my fancy* eBay belt lock, I'll be setting lap records 

nice easy mod, works best on mk1 seats but definitely worth doing on these too

 

[paulplom]

I'm not sure I'll bother with that mod. I have trouble getting out in the 1st place!

 I'll try a sit in yours first.

[loserone]

What do you have against being comfortable, @gm ?