I am guessing that, by now, you would have read earlier editions of the track day basics series. These covered various aspects including safety equipment (Part One), car preparation (Part Two) and the driving aspects (Part Three). And if you haven’t perused them they are conveniently hyperlinked for you. I’ll give you a few minutes to open the links… (tick, tock, tick tock… ) now that you’ve done that I can proceed.
Now you’re hooked
So you’ve been to a few track days and the bug has bitten. Your hot hatch or saloon has taken a bit of a beating and your partner complains that the brakes feel a bit worn when they drive to work the next day. The inevitable has happened, your road car has outlived its usefulness as a track machine and you’re considering buying something quicker and more focused. Let me help speed up the process with the final part of this series: Ideal track day cars
First prize with a track toy is the ability to drive your (new) car to the track then drive it home again afterwards. Ideally it should be light, as lighter cars handle, brake and steer better than their heavier counterparts. What’s more, they are easy on consumables such as tyres and brake pads. With that in mind the very first in the list has to be a:
LOTUS 7 replica
This is probably one of the most copied sportscar designs of all time. Colin Chapman’s basic front-engine/rear-wheel drive layout, with the wheels at the extremities is the ideal platform for a track car. In fact, a Lotus 7 rep is the closest you can get to the single-seat racecar experience. If built properly these cars hardly bother the scales and can be as light as 500 kg, less than a third of what most modern hot hatches weigh. Like a single-seater it does away with unnecessary bits like a roof, windows or doors.
There are several chassis/engine combinations to choose from including many locally built options. If you are mechanically inclined you could even build your own 7 replica from a kit. This could be a fun project to take on with your kids and conveniently save you a few rands at the same time.
Seated that close to the ground and almost on top of the rear axle means you are always close to the action and can sense exactly what is going on underneath you. Lotus 7s are great for learning car control and developing a deft touch behind the wheel. If your budget extends a little further you may consider a:
LOTUS Elise
This is the modern-day equivalent of the 7, albeit with a few amenities such as doors and a roof. It holds true to the original’s ideals of being light and nimble. Unlike the 7 though, this car has a mid-mounted motor that makes it feel more like a high-end exotic.
Sadly these are not as wallet-friendly here in SA as in Blighty. The upshot of owning one of these is that it is less “weather sensitive” than a 7 so can be used more extensively.
Next up on the list is that perennial local favourite:
VOLKSWAGEN CitiGolf/Mk1
Everyone knows the modern-day Beetle; in fact most have either owned or driven one at some point in their lives. Despite the lack of power steering and ABS these cars are easy to handle within a track scenario. Front-wheel drive means that matters can’t get too out of shape for most drivers.
These are probably the most popular racecars in SA so you know there are good track-specific mods that one can perform on a regular Citi. Not only are CitiGolfs light to start with but you can easily shed a few more kilos.
Brakes are cheap for a Citi – pads up front, shoes at the rear – and so are body parts, in the worst-case scenario. Suspension kits don’t cost the world and are usually easily available. Spare rims and tyres, too, can be sourced easily. All of the above keep running costs down when compared with something more expensive/exotic.
Engines swaps are commonplace and VW specialist mechanics can drop a motor from virtually any other generation of Golf into a Citi’s engine bay. Therefore, if you’ve mastered the Citi as a track toy and want to more free up more power, you can upgrade the motor pretty easily.
Another FWD candidate that’s worth a look is the:
RENAULT Clio RS (182)
Thanks to Renault’s woeful track record (pun totally intended) the prices of second-hand Clio RS 182 models are not steep, in fact they can be very reasonable if you are willing to gamble on a high-miler.
As a veritable GTi Mk1 for the new generation, the Clio is a (relatively) light car with a great engine. The naturally aspirated 2,0-litre 16V mill is rev-happy and seemingly unburstable; it produces a healthy 132 kW in stock trim but good luck finding a standard car. The gearbox, too, takes a beating on down- and upshifts.
Best part of the Clio’s talents is its affinity to oversteer on lift-off. Dive into a corner a little too hot, shut the gas and get ready to wind on some opposite lock. Short of a powerful RWD this is the easiest way to go sideways.
Speaking of RWD, the next contender is where many lovers of drifting aim when opting for a track car:
BMW E30/E36
Okay, that’s two model lines and not one, but the rationale applies to both. BMWs have a great reputation for being driving machines. The E30 was even kitted with an LSD (even the mid-range models) – and that’s a handy piece of hardware to have on a track car. A BMW will also provide a decent level of comfort to and from the track.
More than that, you will have a decent dollop of power on tap if you can find/are keen on one of the larger-engined models. At the upper-end of these ranges there is the 325i (E30); I am guessing if you find a 333i or 325iS you’ll not be keen to track it. Prices go as low as R15 000 for running 325i examples.
In the E36 family you can even find an M3. Older M3s can be found for close to R100 000. You could even start with a modest 318i/320i and upgrade as your bank balance, or your significant other, allows. Or do as one guy I saw at a recent track did: buy an E30 with a blown engine and drop an American V8 in there – NICE!
Another RWD option that could easily fulfil dual roles is the:
MAZDA MX-5
Everything good you read about this car is true. From the adjustability with the throttle, to the feelsome steering action and ease of tail-out antics, the MX-5 is just that good. Such is their suitability to track work that there are entire race series in the UK, US and Australia that are dedicated to MX-5s.
Forget the unfortunate “hairdresser’s car” moniker. Anyone who’s piloted an MX-5 will attest to how good it really is. The sportscar basics are all in place, front engine – sitting mostly behind the axle line – rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission with a short shift action. Earlier models didn’t even employ any form of traction or stability control. Compact dimensions make these ideal track cars that are equally at home on a gymkhana course.
Once you have driven to the very edge of the car’s ability there isn’t a raft of electronics to wade through when the time comes to modify the motor. And with plenty of space in the engine bay there’s room for a larger powerplant (I have seen a 302 ci V8 in an MX-5) or some form of bolt-on forced induction.
In SA prices are the biggest drawback as they didn’t sell the same volumes as overseas markets, which means values have stayed buoyant.
Of course this list is just a starting point. Your budget may extend much further than the cars I have outlined here, or you may prefer a particular brand. Either way, happy hunting through the classifieds!
With special thanks to Frankys Funky Fotos for images used in this blog and earlier in this series.
