Why is the MX5 class so popular in QLD?

Postby **Boyracer** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:28 am

A few of us NSW people have been having a discussion about MX5 racing down here and how to get more cars on the track.

Generally Prod. Sports is not doing very well here(apart from the 1 hours)...and in Victoria there are only a handfull of MX5s racing..

So why does it work so well up there?

zoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoom** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:37 am

Cos they are great cars

Maybe it is to do with people using them as a track car after they see how they perform on the road, and in sunny QLD there might be more people who do try them on the road :?:

Theres my guess

Boags · Postby **Boags** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:35 am

Because a lot people with brains and money move to QLD when they retire. There is a lot of disposable income around, and a good comunity of racers - not just in MX5s.

fish · Postby **fish** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:31 pm

I think it has just evolved from a few things

1. the costs are relatively low

2. The AASA one day events are great value for money and don't req a cams license which makes it very easy to have a go and see what you think.

3. there is probably on average a race meeting at least once a month

3. the guys racing them are a great bunch of guys who are all friends on and off the track.

these are just a few points there a lot more that other guys racing may add

Cal , Neil etc

AJ · Postby AJ » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:36 pm

racing, money, brains & all that have nothing to do with it...................one simple reason............it's 15 degrees warmer up here than anywhere else at any given time of the year

Cal · Postby **Cal** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:43 pm

Because the very first MX5 race cars in Australia were built up here a very long time ago. The dude that used to own GP Cars built Brian Ferrabee's car many years ago. Henri and Doug's (now Tony B's 2nd car) followed. I guess Don Lake might have been next. In any case, it didn't really take off until 03-04.

When I ran BRG at my 1st Top Gear meeting in 04, I ran into the Lacey's who Neil and I had raced karts with in 00-03. Then there were more from karts...Tony ect. About this time numbers started to grow rapidly. Cars started turning up from down south all the time.

When Tetley gave us our own class at Top Gear with less restrictions than CAMS, it was set for success. The other thing is the group really are a great bunch of people. The racing is close and people from all other classes come and talk to us and want to become part of the fun. It just goes from strength to strength. I don't know what you can do Lou, but selling your car to a Qlder is a bad start. :mrgreen:

Cal.

Postby **Okibi** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:21 pm

I'd love it if we had a limited modification spec miata style category over here in WA but there's just not enough people/interest.

I think it's so successful in Queensland because there are enough people driving around to create interest and make it a competitive field.

You're more likely to build a race car if there's a field of 40 people to compete against than if there were 4.

bigdog · Postby **bigdog** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:48 pm

Boags'MX5 wrote:Because a lot people with brains and money move to QLD when they retire. There is a lot of disposable income around, and a good comunity of racers - not just in MX5s.

So why did you end up there Boagsy??

neil d · Postby **neil d** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:59 am

Value for money for me is one of the main drivers. This Sunday we have a top gear meeting which Costs $110 to enter, we get 5 races and a qualifying. We always get min 15 - 20 MX5's on the grid and we don't race for sheep stations.

When you consider a front running Improved Production car will cost you close to $100K and no one to race it's no wonder that for $30K you could build a front running car that is still legal :roll:

to drive to the track and you have 20 -30 people to compete against. It also helps that you mexicans sell your cars cheap to us Banana Benders

Neil

Have a look at the results from the V8 round and see how close the racing is!

http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/resul ... 007.QRI.R1

Postby **Boyracer** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:20 am

Thanks all,interesting stuff.

Do you reckon if there was a Spec. Miata style control class there would be interest? Say with cars that should come in at under $15k ready to race.

Only wish we had a Top gear style meeting here,the closest we have is the FOSC and the entry fees are still high compared to yours.

I think there will be quite a bit more discussion...NSW really needs something...

Speaking of all our cars heading up that way..

http://www.aus-cartalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=26354

Cal · Postby **Cal** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 3:46 pm

I think a spec Miata thing could work, but really aren't you better off just encouraging people to build 2F cars? I'd say it would take a lot of years to get a full field of fresh cars. Also, then they are eligible for Prod Sports and all the 1hrs.

Has that car been sold to a Qlder too?

Cal.

Postby **Boyracer** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 3:52 pm

Cal wrote:I think a spec Miata thing could work, but really aren't you better off just encouraging people to build 2F cars? I'd say it would take a lot of years to get a full field of fresh cars. Also, then they are eligible for Prod Sports and all the 1hrs.

Has that car been sold to a Qlder too?

Cal.

The other cars would still be able to run in Prod. Sports and 1 Hours...it's just the initial cost factor and trying to keep the performance equal...

Building a 2F can be extremely expensive if you want a front running car.

That car hasn't been sold yet but if you know anyone interested.

MX5-SP · Postby **MX5-SP** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:41 pm

AJ wrote:racing, money, brains & all that have nothing to do with it...................one simple reason............it's 15 degrees warmer up here than anywhere else at any given time of the year

...coudn't agree with you more AJ. Well put.

SKYHI · Postby **SKYHI** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:49 pm

Sorry, browsing through some old posts because it's sloooow here at work.

Most of the points raised here are valid but for me the reason I got involved was purely good value for my money.

What you guys need in NSW is to get the organisers at Wakefield to run something like our Top Gear meetings under the AASA banner.

Build it and they will come :mrgreen:

Red 2f MX5 · Postby **Red 2f MX5** » Tue May 27, 2008 4:26 pm

A quick 2F car is not that expensive to build compared to other classes of racing.
$30 000 which is cheap in racing terms builds you a pretty good car.
Or buy something like Neils car for around $25 000. I think thats a steal.
I tossed up what class to build my MX5 to and decided on 2F because of how many and how close the racing is in the QLD series.
A 2F car is not that quick but definantly not slow. Plenty quick enough to have some fun in especially when there is a dozen of the same spec cars running around you.
I can't wait to get my car up to QLD and have a run with the QLD guys.
There are so many race meetings you can do in these cars. I have built mine to do the FoSC meetings, the 1 Hour's and a couple of trips to QLD a year. I have done a couple of Prodsports state rounds but have not really enjoyed them as in a 2F car you are continually looking in your mirrors for GT3 cup cars etc to lap you.
I am a Sydneysider and very keen to see a MX5 series up and going here. I think it would take a while to get like the QLD series, but it could be done.
About a 6 round series would be great.
Cheers
Brett