mx5cartalk.com

Picked up my NC3 from Boyracer earlier this year as a written off track only special. Lou had already repaired the cosmetics.

2012 NC3 MX-5
~40,XXX kms on pickup
6 Speed, LSD, PRHT, etc...
17" x 7" Fox Racing Wheels with very used A050's
16" x 8" FD RX7 Wheels

Issues:
Passenger A pillar has some damage -- meh
Windscreen cracked from flex of A pillar -- will get done one day
PRHT not working at moment -- likely will remove or fix with brackets after cage
Airbags gone in seats but have been stitched up. -- will be replaced in the future with race seats

Plans:
Thinking of a GT4 tribute theme of build as the end goal. (I can dream)
I'll be running time attack and if/when I go circuit racing I'll be likely running Extreme TT I hope (currently dominated by LS converted BMW and Nissans). https://www.facebook.com/extremett/

Fire extinguisher already fitted in place of passenger seat...
Nankang AR-1's for the FD wheels, coming soon...
Brake Pads (Hawk Blue for the front)
Coilovers (Yellowspeed or BC Racing for now)
Sway bars, bushes, etc...
Race Seat
Full cage, want to make it safe, usable in Extreme TT series and CAMS certified. Giving me options to run anywhere.
Lou tells me that this engine likes boost. Looking to put a big turbo on this little engine. Have a fabricator locally that I want to work with for this as long as it is economical and we don't reinvent the wheel doing it.
- thinking along the lines of a 3076R Garret, injectors, fuel pump, intercooler, EcuTek tuning, custom manifold and pipes, etc...
Upgraded brake kit

I am making a lot of assumptions from reading these forums and some of the interwebs, I don't assume to be wise and look forward to much input from the community here and around the traps. I hope to share my progress here.

So far I am pleasantly surprised by it's performance coming from a Golf R that does a 1:39 at Winton. Locally at the course at Logic Wodonga I am only 3 seconds off the Golf lap times. (59.5 vs 62.5 seconds)

Pickup up NC3 from Boyracer


Gave NC3 a wash


Tracking NC3 for the first time

Looks great

You have big plans. Maybe get the car to stop and handle well first. I am picking up an NC as well, and most likely mould the roof and do a one piece lightweight version.

Good luck with it all. I agree with lightyear, make it handle and stop first, then add the power

Thanks guys, and when you do a NC roof let me know lightyear. I'll be up for one by the time you get there...

The boost would likely be one of the last stages of the build. A big brake kit would come into it as the opportunities come along. This is going to take a lot of time to get my list done.

I am running this weekend at Wilby with the old tyres and new AR-1's. Will see about which parts I can order after this event.

I’d be interested in what suspension set up you go with?

Gobble Gobble!
Welcome to the forum Mr Turkey.
The car looks nice.

Struck a small snag, the trailer I was going to get seems maybe too small or something needs to change.

This is made by trailertec in Wodonga and should fit the car.
https://www.trailertec.net.au/service/car-carrying-trailers/

The car is stock height still but still won't clear the front bar. (see pics) I have plans to make it much much lower in future.

I could:
1. remove nose and try again (seems like a lot of bolts though to do each time I track it)
2. make a small pad for front wheels to lift nose a little over bar?
3. admit trailer is too small and get a larger one
4. ??? (open to options, let me know what you think)





Thanks in advance for ideas.
Chris

I would just reverse the car onto the trailer, or modify/remove that front bar on the trailer.

The car has 50/50 weight distribution, so just back it onto the trailer...hopefully it fits

Thanks for the suggestions, will try backing it on tomorrow.

Also getting the trailer checked over before I buy it too, might ask about the front bar mod.

Cheers,
Chris

Make ramps to bring the front higher. Brendan did this on his trailer. Even made a curve for the tyres to sit in.

Thanks lightyear

Backing on seems to work ok at moment, but adding a ramp will help when it gets coils soon. I might also get some mini ramps to help loading as the front is scraping when backing on from a flat surface.

Trailer seems perfect size for the MX5.

id be checking what kind of weight is on the towball with the car backed on. Thats a whole lot of weight aft of the trailer axle

Apu wrote:The car has 50/50 weight distribution, so just back it onto the trailer...hopefully it fits

No out of the factory MX-5 has 50/50 weight. Its a Mazda marketing con. They add a driver for a ND which is the closest one so far to 50:50. NC they had a heavier driver. NA/NB even heavier.

MrTurkey wrote:I am running this weekend at Wilby with the old tyres and new AR-1's. Will see about which parts I can order after this event.

Also regarding AR1's, I should really put my review up. Was not impressed with them. Slowest R-Spec I have run. There are S-Specs just as quick. Hankook RS4, Bridgestone RE71R etc.
If you are on a budget and are allowed to run Nitto NT01's in the class you plan to run in, do it. Quite often they can be had cheaper(In Sydney at least) than AR1's and they are far superior in Wet traction, dry traction, noise, tyre life, pretty much every metric you can measure a tyre by.