mx5cartalk.com

Hi all,

Long time lurker - figured I'd make a thread to share my ride with everyone and keep track of everything I've done to my NB.

A bit of background to start of with, my previous car was VW 9N3 Polo GTI. It was a little pocket rocket, with a nice little turbo motor up front. I started hitting the track with this car and soon I was hooked. With a tune and some bolt ons, it was pretty quick and able to keep up with some much more expensive cars. However, I soon learned that FWD wasn't the most enjoyable way of going around a track (especially with an open diff and 350+nm) and after 3 years decided to part with it and get a proper (read: FR) car.

On the shortlist was the MX-5, S2000, S15 Silvia etc.

Along came a super clean 2001 NB8B with 58,000kms - after a quick test drive I just had to snap it up.

I've done a few things here and there to it since I picked it up but have only had the chance to hit the track once. My goal is to beat my Winton PB in the Polo (1:42) which I know the car can do easily with a bit more seat time. Currently, the car is sitting on a 1:47.9 - partly due to having a blocked radiator which resulted in it overheating every time I did a hot lap! Need to get back out on the track ASAP!

Current mod list:
- BC BR coilovers
- Carbing 3 point front and 2 point rear strut braces
- Ultra Racing fender braces
- Front and rear Whiteline sways
- Hankook RS-3s on stock 16s (6uls soon to be fitted)
- AGI 4 point cage
- Sparco Sprint V on Garagestar rails
- Nardi Deep Corn 330mm
- K&N Typhoon intake (for the bwahhhp)
- EBay 76mm alloy radiator






Look forward to meeting some of you hopefully at the track/meets/wherever.

Jase

Welcome to the forum.

Awesome NB8B with some nice mods. I started doing track days in FWD cars too which was fun but as you did quickly learnt that RWD was MUCH more fun. You actually need to drive the car and have some car control with a RWD so it adds to the driving experience and fun factor.

Did you notice a difference with the fender braces? Iv considered these on and off but never really looked into them too much. Like the Nardi wheel too, thinking of getting a boss kit for my NB since the stock wheel tends to get in the way sometimes due to having long legs haha.

Also what size are those Hankook RS3's? I was considering getting these but all the websites Iv looked at didnt mention the correct tyre size.

Talk to beavis with the white Nb8b. With a few simple mods, you will be doing very low 1:40's.

4.1 Torsen, remove your rear swaybar, and all your braces. 15x8 or 9's with Nitto NT01's or go better if you can afford it.
Light flywheel, good alignment and corner weight by Nick at Lux racing. And full exhaust and extractors

Very nice our cars are alike.

i am a full 10 seconds slower than you.

speed freak wrote:Did you notice a difference with the fender braces? Iv considered these on and off but never really looked into them too much. Like the Nardi wheel too, thinking of getting a boss kit for my NB since the stock wheel tends to get in the way sometimes due to having long legs haha.

Also what size are those Hankook RS3's? I was considering getting these but all the websites Iv looked at didnt mention the correct tyre size.

When I first got the car, the scuttle shake was pretty bad over bumps. I can honestly say that the strut bars, fender braces and cage have eliminated most of it (car still shakes over massive bumps/imperfections in the road).

I'm a pretty long legged 190cm guy so I had no option but to get a smaller wheel, I couldn't heel and toe with the stock wheel in place

My RS3s are 205/45/16, same size as OEM.

lightyear wrote:Talk to beavis with the white Nb8b. With a few simple mods, you will be doing very low 1:40's.

4.1 Torsen, remove your rear swaybar, and all your braces. 15x8 or 9's with Nitto NT01's or go better if you can afford it.
Light flywheel, good alignment and corner weight by Nick at Lux racing. And full exhaust and extractors

All of this stuff is on the cards, will definitely try disconnecting the rear sway at my next outing.

narita wrote:Very nice our cars are alike.

Thanks man, I'm pretty sure my Sparco used to be yours.

jasonc23 wrote:

speed freak wrote:Did you notice a difference with the fender braces? Iv considered these on and off but never really looked into them too much. Like the Nardi wheel too, thinking of getting a boss kit for my NB since the stock wheel tends to get in the way sometimes due to having long legs haha.

Also what size are those Hankook RS3's? I was considering getting these but all the websites Iv looked at didnt mention the correct tyre size.

When I first got the car, the scuttle shake was pretty bad over bumps. I can honestly say that the strut bars, fender braces and cage have eliminated most of it (car still shakes over massive bumps/imperfections in the road).

I'm a pretty long legged 190cm guy so I had no option but to get a smaller wheel, I couldn't heel and toe with the stock wheel in place

My RS3s are 205/45/16, same size as OEM.

Nice I will look into them further. Scuttle shake can be pretty bad with a stock car but Iv gotten rid of most of it with coilovers and a roll bar, the fender braces sound like it will reduce it further.

About the same height as me, I can manage with the stock wheel but a smaller one would be much better.

Ill have to investigate these RS3's and ring up some tyre shops. I looked again last night and they only seem to list big sizes from 17" onwards. Good to know they come in the factory size. Do you like them?

speed freak wrote:Ill have to investigate these RS3's and ring up some tyre shops. I looked again last night and they only seem to list big sizes from 17" onwards. Good to know they come in the factory size. Do you like them?

They grip really hard once warm and when they do let go it's really progressive. They can struggle a little when they're cold or in the wet but that's to be expected of a tyre of this type. They're also really noisy on the freeway but the grip is worth it.

jasonc23 wrote:

speed freak wrote:Ill have to investigate these RS3's and ring up some tyre shops. I looked again last night and they only seem to list big sizes from 17" onwards. Good to know they come in the factory size. Do you like them?

They grip really hard once warm and when they do let go it's really progressive. They can struggle a little when they're cold or in the wet but that's to be expected of a tyre of this type. They're also really noisy on the freeway but the grip is worth it.

Awesome thanks for that

Some footage from the recent Circuit Club day. This was the quickest lap for the day (1:46.5) but it wasn't very tidy, a lot of time to be had especially through turn one, the boobs and sweeper. Was a bit messy through the final S and even let off before the start finish so hopefully I can dip into the 45s easily next track day.

No changes to the car, hopefully I'll have a torsen and some fresh tyres for my 6uls next trackday so I can get rid of the skinny stockies.

narita wrote:Very nice our cars are alike.

i am a full 10 seconds slower than you.

More seat time!

Swapped out my Sparco Sprint for a Bride Exas III and picked up some Enkei Compes. 15x8 +20 (w/ a 5mm spacer). Got bored and took some photos.

Looks good man, love those enkei compe's.

that looks fantastic, loving the way it sits in the front 3/4 shot. The deep corn Nardi/Bride full bucket is a winning combo too.

more updates please im liking this alot

Thanks guys!

Further updates:

- Replaced the Toyo T1Rs with some Yoko AD08Rs (wow what a street tyre!)
- Replaced the 3.6 open with a 3.9 torsen

Has made the car that much more to drive (the torsen especially, can now do mad skidzzz)

Excited to see how the car will do at Winton at the AROCA day coming up.