Anyone running a cheap track car?

[MikeFish]

Some food for thought there, thanks for all the info so far guys!

I'll definitely look into the 3-series option. How much weight can you easily get out of an E36?

A clio 172/182 would already be at ~170hp/ton before stripping any weight, whereas an E36 328 would be 138hp/ton before a diet.

A turbo'd MX5 would be about 200hp/ton!

Yes, but then you'd not only be homosexual, but you'd also be unable to do a trackday in the wet

You beat me to it; just think how many home hair cuts he could do in a day!

[FaisalJ]

Some food for thought there, thanks for all the info so far guys!

I'll definitely look into the 3-series option. How much weight can you easily get out of an E36?

A clio 172/182 would already be at ~170hp/ton before stripping any weight, whereas an E36 328 would be 138hp/ton before a diet.

A turbo'd MX5 would be about 200hp/ton!

Yes, but then you'd not only be homosexual, but you'd also be unable to do a trackday in the wet

You beat me to it; just think how many home hair cuts he could do in a day!

Ha. Wouldn't need a blow dry though, stick them in the passenger seat, top down and go for a blast!

Clio and E36 seem most promising, although there seem to be more clios about for sale, including some already prep'd ones.

[FaisalJ]

Floated the idea with a mate at work, looks like this could be a go-er once he's done getting married/honeymooning, so in March. Don't worry, I did question his priorities.

Audi TT idea is out I think, at least for now. Apparently you can do a couple of cheap mods that drastically change the understeer; haldex insert that gives 50:50 power split rather than front dominated, and revised bushes that tighten up steering. However, needs a fair bit of other attention, time and money to get it where you'd want it for track. Unless an already prepped one pops up cheap, we just wouldn't have the time or want to commit the cash required to modify a standard one.

So a clio 172/182 or E36 are looking to be most likely candidates. I'm still intrigued by the turbo-hairdryer MX5 option too. Seen some vids and it just looks so much fun!

Lots more already prepped clios about than E36's, which might swing it in favour of the Clio. Must be cheaper to maintain too. Ross, what do you make of this Clio?

http://r.ebay.com/dY8c0j

Thanks again for the info guys!

[RossDagley]

Looks a good car that for the money - I'd want a better cage but that's personal preference but it does look in good condition eh. Fair few miles on it - would need to check it's service history (dephaser been done etc). Can't really go wrong though for £2k eh!

[Bruce-m]

Me & my buddy went half's on a 306 GTI-6, we've stripped it right out, added bucket seats, harness, full exhaust system, it was already lowered with an induction kit, we've just brought some semi slicks ready for summer.
It's been a right laugh so far, we've done Zolder in Belgium, castle Combe and Goodwood with it, she only owes us about £350 each all in.
For the money we really can't complain, it's a right laugh and actually goes alright, we have it for when our skylines are set up inbetween races.

[marc1]

Need pics of the skylines buddy.

[Bruce-m]

My little Datsun

[marc1]

Awesome. love the tablet display idea.

[FaisalJ]

Holy <beep>!!!

More info pls

[Bruce-m]

Spec for the old girl

ENGINE:
• RSP forged bottom end with Eagle rods & RIPS baffled sump
• (HEAD) Ported inlet & exhaust ports + ported inner inlet ports + cut down valve guides + squish removed, Bigger Valves, Tomei solid lifter + valve springs & retainers + Head drain kit.
• Jun 270 duration + 10.25 lift cams
• RB26 Cam covers with Tomei baffles
• Japspeed front mount intercooler
• HKS S40i spark plugs
• Link G4+ ECU + HKS Twin spark
• Anti-lag, launch control, flat shift
• RSP induction kit + custom intake box
• Rising sun alloy intake pipe
• Splitfire Coil packs
• Nismo oil cap
• HKS Rad cap
• Tomei adjustable cam pulleys
• HKS Super drager Exhaust
• 1.5mm head gasket
• Greddy style plenum
• Apex performance 80mm Throttle Body
• Rising sun Custom twin catch can breather kit
• Samco boost hoses
• Samco water Hoses
• Japspeed Alloy RAD
• Sard 850cc injectors
• HKS SSQV BOV
• Turbo beanie + heat wrapped downpipe
• XS power Screamer pipe
• Tial MSV 46mm External wastegate
• GTX3582 turbo with ported shroud & TO4Z Billet Comp wheel (Tial 0.82a/r Turbine)
• Leadfoot racing Steampipe Greddy style top mount manifold
• RSP custom cold air box
• Devilsown DVC-30 water/methanol injection kit
• Nismo cooler thermostat
• 13 row mocal oil cooler
• 10 row mocal PAS cooler
• Accusump 8L system
• Nismo engine mounts
• Japspeed engine brace
• Electronic stabilizer
• Earthing kit
• Cold Fusion Nitrous wet kit (25bhp)
• Throttle body water bypass
• Various blue engine detailing

TRANSMISSION:
• Redline Heavy duty Gear shock oil
• Nismo Gearbox Mount
• Trust/Greddy GTR dog box With custom Leadfoot racing shifter
• Competion clutch Stage 5 - 4 PUK
• Andy Robinson Race cars 1 piece lightweight prop
• Conceptua tuning extended + Baffled Diff casing
• Shimmed Diff
• 10 row Diff & Gearbox coolers

WHEELS
• Japan Racing JR-3 9.5J front - 10j Rear Alloys running with Toyo R888 265/35 Front - 285/30 Rear
+
• Japan Racing JR-3 9.5J front - 10j Rear Alloys running 27/64 Slicks medium compound for track days
+
• AWC Alloys (Ultralite Nurburgrings style) 8.5J front - 9.5J rear for road use

BRAKES
• DB 345mm brembo grooved front Discs + EBC Blue NDX over sized Pads
• 350Z rear Brembo calipers running CRN Grooved 327mm rear discs + Blue NDX rear pads
• Motul 660 racing Brake fluid
• Conceptua tuning Braided brake lines
• Brake Ducting
• Brake stopper

SUSPENSION:
• Whiteline Front + Rear Sway bars
• HSD Mono Pro Coil overs
• Nismo lower front + rear chassis braces
• Do-luck sill braces
• GTR Rear strut brace
• Front strut brace
• Japspeed lower front strut brace
• SuperPro Steering rack Poly bushes
• SuperPro Sub frame poly bushes
• SuperPro Diff poly bushes
• SuperPro front upper inner poly bushes
• SuperPro Front + Rear lower arm Poly bushes
• Whiteline front camber adjusters
• SuperPro rear camber adjusters
• Custom HICAS removal kit
• Conceptua adjustable front tension rod arms
• Conceptua adjustable rear traction rods
• CRN Custom front drop links
• Nismo Ztune suspension braces

EXTERIOR:
• Vent front + rear arches
• Jun 400r front bumper + Side skirts
• Trust rear valence
• GTR Base spoiler with ARC Magic blade & Custom spiel plates
• GTR Grille
• Custom undertray/splitter
• Custom side skirt Air Dams
• 400r Arch Extensions
• Border Carbon Fiber Bonnet + 400r bonnet lip + raised at rear
• Ziax Carbon Tailgate
• Custom Rear Diffuser & Flat boot floor
• Custom alloy front + rear Canards + front corner spliters
• Carbon Nismo bonnet lip
• Vortex Generators
• DTM style Carbon wing mirrors
• HID Hi + Low Conversion
• DW front tow eye
• FIA Pull switch
• Polycarbonate windows + vents
• Japspeed single wiper conversion with euro wiper

INTERIOR
• Andy Robinson race cars Custom Kevlar Bucket seats
• EARS 5 point harnesses
• FIA 4.0L 4 jet fire extinguisher
• FIA pull switch + master kill switch
• OMP Suede steering wheel
• Custom Acer Tablet dash set up + shift light
• Custom heater matrix set up
• EGT gauge pod mounted by A-pillar
• Various silver dash detailing
• Leadfoot racing custom lightweight steering column
• Leadfoot racing Custom 6 point Roll cage + gussets

WEIGHT REDUCTION (1190kg)
• Space framed front end
• Air con & All Sound Proofing removed + Dash
• Rear seats, Door cards & All Carpets removed
• All Seat belts + roof lining + various interior panels & Elec Arial + stereo removed
• Jack + Spare wheel removed
• Spare wheel well removed
• Parcel shelf + speakers & wiring removed
• Rear wiper & Hicas motors + wiring removed
• All exhaust + Manifold heat shields & various unused brackets around car removed
• Complete Hicas removal inc ECU & wiring
• Various wiring like heated seats removed + No ABS or S/R
• Elec front window motors + Switches
• Various Carbon panels (see exterior) + Polycarbonate windows

ICE
• None!!

SECURITY
• TOAD CAT 1 Alarm + immobilizer
• RAC Tracker

PERFORMANCE (mapping being finished mon, figures are based on last map)
• 710bhp @1.8bar
• 575ft/lbs @1.8bar

ToDo List
NEXT MODS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
• FRP doors & GTX3788 turbo wheels

[PhilT]

I like this thread even more now!!

[RossDagley]

sounds like a cheap track car to me

[FaisalJ]

That thing is just shy of 600HP/tonne!

We've gone a little off piste now but its worth it! Any videos of it in action?

On the cheap track car front, don't kick me off the forum, but I, er...I kinda sort of joined the cliosport forum!

Purely for research purposes! I shall be going undercover by wearing a burberry hat whilst surfing the forum.

Can't believe I'm considering a French hatchback!

Ross made me do it.

[RossDagley]

I've had peugeots for 15+ years, the last of which would leave stock rs4/5/6/7's for dead - don't hate

I'm also on the Clio sport forum. If you need a hand being guided through chavtown do let me know!

[Bruce-m]

Gotta say while the skyline is crazy fast, the little pug even with its 180bhp is a lot of fun, she handles so well, is very reliable and sooooo cheap to run.
Plus with it low cost to buy if we stick it in a barrier we will just laugh and leave it where it lies