Best starting point for track work

Le Taco · Postby **Le Taco** » Wed May 20, 2015 9:24 pm

Hey guys and girls, firstly ill introduce myself.
My names Ben, im 20 and a full time mechanic. My current car is a nissan 300zx which im selling to fund a dedicated track car and decided on a mx5.

on topic
after doing a fair bit of research probably on the wrong sites* I still cant find info that will give me a soild choice on which chassis to buy for my plans (looking at na's) whether to go for the na6 or the na8. The info I found has said to go for the na8 as its a better starting point and worth the extra money (stronger chassis, bigger brakes bigger motor)
But as I plan to fit a full cage, bigger brakes and building a motor. Am I better off saving the money and getting a na6?
Which has more aftermarket support or is everything interchangeable?

Plans are sprints and hill climbs

Thanks
Ben

** sorry if this is in the wrong section

Postby **NitroDann** » Wed May 20, 2015 9:31 pm

nb8b import, or flood damaged

Le Taco · Postby **Le Taco** » Wed May 20, 2015 10:04 pm

Why look at the nb8b's? (im open to buying anything just chasing more reasioning)
And an import/flood damaged was my goal to find

Ben

Black_Penguin · Postby **Black_Penguin** » Wed May 20, 2015 10:48 pm

Most powerful stock motor, biggest standard brakes, most standard bracing, 6 speed standard.
Pretty much most parts are interchangeable between NA/NB.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Wed May 20, 2015 10:53 pm

What competition you want to enter is the starting point for these decisions. Classes and regs for sprints and hillclimbs are different from state to state. Tell us what state are you in, Ben, and we can point you to the competitions that might fit. Then you can work out what sort of car would work best for you. Depending on classes and the types of cars you might be up against you can find equally good arguments for NA6s, NA8s or NBs in either stock, modded or turbo guise. The most fun and the best competition is not necessarily in the highly modified or turbo classes. The battles have always been pretty fierce in stock NA in NSW and Vic.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Thu May 21, 2015 6:49 am

seat time is the best starting point.

I agree with others go NB. Whilst almost all parts from a NB can be translated to a NA the question would be why?

However look at Guran's skill in a stock NA and see what they can do with skill and seat time.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Thu May 21, 2015 8:11 am

Coaching.

Any MX5, on street tyres.

Seat time.

Coaching (gained me 6 seconds at one track).

lightyear · Postby **lightyear** » Thu May 21, 2015 8:14 am

NB8B has ABS, 6 speed, VVT motor, biggest brakes, etc, etc. And you get to sell the bits you don't need for more than the early ones. Like seats, roof, etc.

Or buy an NA chassis with all the NB8B bits.

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Thu May 21, 2015 10:04 am

Spend the dollars on an already built 2F spec NB. Can be had for around $15k, all the work done and you won't build a car cheaper than one already done.

Have a look at the club sites my105.com, and the prodsports web sites and facebook pages for Qld and NSW, you should find a few cars up for sale that will save you plenty of time and money. Whilst it isn't the same as building a car yourself, someone has already made the mistakes you will, corrected them, and done the hard yards developing the car.

A good 2F car will already have the cage, the good suspension and mechanical bits, plus should come with the log books. Will be able to run in whatever competition you want, sprints, hill climbs, time attack and door to door if the bug bites.

It will also be easier to sell if you find you don't want to play anymore, or upgrade to something else.

Plus the car will be more than quick enough for you to get yourself into trouble with, and also to learn how to drive a race car and get the most out of it.

Le Taco · Postby **Le Taco** » Thu May 21, 2015 11:49 am

always forget about my105, quick look and just out of budget(nothing a bit of saving wont fix)
Might just meet up with the local owners get to know you all and try to get to the next track day. For now

Ben

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Thu May 21, 2015 12:07 pm

Ben where are you located?

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu May 21, 2015 12:13 pm

manga_blue wrote:What competition you want to enter [& what state] is the starting point for these decisions.

+1

Le Taco · Postby **Le Taco** » Thu May 21, 2015 2:06 pm

Hunter valley, nsw
ive only done sprints but wouldn't mind getting into door to door racing

not on a f1 budget by any means but not a shoe string either

And as for class, I guess ill have to see what I like (going to different class events) not so much interested in big power happy to go fast around corners

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Thu May 21, 2015 2:22 pm

Le Taco wrote:always forget about my105, quick look and just out of budget(nothing a bit of saving wont fix)
Might just meet up with the local owners get to know you all and try to get to the next track day. For now

Ben

What the asking price is and the price paid with a wad of folding are two very different amounts :wink:

kazama · Postby **kazama** » Thu May 21, 2015 2:31 pm

Black_Penguin wrote:Most powerful stock motor, biggest standard brakes, most standard bracing, 6 speed standard.
Pretty much most parts are interchangeable between NA/NB.

From memory the NB's had slightly revised/improved suspension geometry as well