Mk1 MX5 that actually gets used!

So 2 videos first just to prove that this is not another MX5 that gets covered in stickers and "s t a n c e d" and never driven.

So it's a '96 MK1 1.8 with the important bits, torsen diff, coilovers, harness, and a bucket seat.

First is one of the track sessions at Japfest in May.

First time on track so was very cautious. Wish i had gone faster now.

And last wednesday at Santa Pod.

I know it's only doughnuts and figure 8's but we all have to start somewhere.

I have already booked the August DWYB so it gives me plenty of time to grow some balls and get on the big track.

The boring this is how my car started and this is what it looks like now part will follow shortly.

 

So i made the decision last year that i was board of standing at the side of racetracks with a camera taking pictures of drift cars. So i decided it was time to finally get a driving licence and my own car and spend some time ON the track rather than at the side of it.

So there i am with a few thousand £ burning a hole in my pocket. I could of been sensible and got something like a fiesta for learning to drive and using after i passed my test, and some sort of S13/14 for track use. But i don't always make sensible decisions, so instead i thought that an MX5 would fit the bill perfectly (i am slightly biased after my wife had 2).

I knew i wanted a MK1, 1.8, and NO rust. It took a few weeks but eventually i found this.



Within a couple of weeks i was onto my second bucket seat, a Sparco Evo 2.



Then i started to swap over bits from my wife's car to my car along with a few bits i had picked up with my spare cash.

This included

D2 Racing coilovers,
mTech Drilled and groved discs,
TR Lane harness bar,
A Garage Vary splitter.

I then attempted to learn how to roll arches.



The rears were perfect, only 1 very small crack on the lacquer. The fronts were a disaster.

Because of this i thought that wide fibreglass arches would be a great idea.



So car car looked like this for a few months, i failed my driving test, and then put the car in a ditch the first time the rear really stepped out on me. The ditch also removed my GV lip for me.

Then after another few months i finally passed my driving test.

I then took the car to Japfest for it's first show and track time. I had a great time but the car started to develop an overheating problem. I spent a while trying to diagnose the problem then it magically fixed itself after i brought a new rad.



So i fitted the new rad which is about 3 times as thick as the standard one.



Fitted a temperture gauge and a sensor in the top rad hose. And finally fitted my P5 framerails that i had brought about 9 months before.

It was then time to get my car to Santa Pod and start learning how to drift.



I took 4 tyres with me, 2 on the boot lid, 1 in the boot, 1 on the rear shelf and still had room for tools, fluids and a passenger.

At the start of the day i was awful. I went from 45psi to 55psi and it made it easier to doughnut. Blackett gave me some pointers to stop me flapping my arms around so much and then i started to improve.

When i started to try and do figure 8's i too heavy footed when the car transitioned and kept spinning. I didn't get as much seat time as i wanted to because in the heat the car kept overheating. It was a shame as loads of people were overheating and the playpens almost never had a queue. By the end of the day i had the figure 8's sorted, but by then i was too hot and tired and out of tyres.

And that brings this up to date.

 

The rears will go on at some point but that will be when i need them. Once i get to a stage where i NEED more power, i will be able to run with wider wheels/tyres and will need the metal of the rear arches cut so they won't foul the tyres. I'm also trying to spend equal amounts on modifications and driving, so spending money on that would be pointless at the moment.

I still have the aircon in so still have the second fan. It brings the temp down quick once it gets a little bit of air flowing to it. I think it was just a combination of really hot day and learning in the playpens. If it still gets hot when i'm at the the August DWYB (i should be on the big track next time) then it's probably time to replace the waterpump as it's the only thing in the water system i haven't changed.

Cheers