MX5 based kit track car build

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:21 pm

Well, some of you know that for the last couple of years I have been into MX5's having built a few track cars and worked on numerous.

I have owned a few myself and made a few fastish ones, I have a 1.6 with a 2860 turbo and 250hp, but it is a bit peaky!

Wanting to always build a kit car, I thought I would use parts from a car I broke to build a lightweight MX5 based track car.

After a few conversations and a trip to MEV HQ last year, we took our van to pick up a Mevster chassis kit on Monday

Chassis fitted nicely in the van

Target weight is 650kg so with a 1.8 at 140hp should be quite quick

Post by **Ben** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:27 pm

at first glance I thought you were fitting the van with an mx5 chassis

Post by **Stuart** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:59 pm

Interesting but can I ask why?

The kit car with 650kgs and 140bhp works out at less BHP per tonne than the 1.6 with 250hp (where's the dyno chart?

)

I understand that some guys like to spanner in sheds and endlessly bugger around with cars, but wouldn't it be a better example of what your business/engineering skills can do it you chucked that '250hp' engine in the chassis instead?

Not trying to piss on your chips. This is a serious question.

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:34 pm

Thanks for your interest Stuart.

Yes, my turbo Mk1 has slightly more bhp/T, the key is weight.

As I have found with the Metro, 150hp and 750kg it is very quick and importantly very easy on fuel, brakes, tyres etc. That is very important in this day and age obviously as this impacts on costs.

The turbo car I have recommissioned is a proper Flying Miata car with Link AFMless management, large willwood brakes, uprated everything so would have cost close to

russ979 · Post by **russ979** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:56 pm

Nice thread eddy!
I understand both sides of this. Yes as advertising Fast eddys speed shop an ultimate track weapon is going to show what you are capable of. But I also can see the benefits of and personally think a cheap, reliable, economical, fun track car is a ruddy good idea.

Put it this way...As a married family man I could not shell out 10k+ in one go for a track toy. 3k on the other hand is not beyond the realms of reality.
So good luck eddy I will keep an eye on this thread.

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:08 pm

russ979 wrote:Nice thread eddy!
I understand both sides of this. Yes as advertising Fast eddys speed shop an ultimate track weapon is going to show what you are capable of. But I also can see the benefits of and personally think a cheap, reliable, economical, fun track car is a ruddy good idea.
Put it this way...As a married family man I could not shell out 10k+ in one go for a track toy. 3k on the other hand is not beyond the realms of reality.
So good luck eddy I will keep an eye on this thread.

Thanks Russ,

Fact is that many MX5 bodies are getting tired now, the MK2 and 2.5's have a serious problem in some areas and lost are becoming unfit for use. Some are restorable at high cost. The running gear is pretty bullet proof until people try to get big power out of them and run into problems. The design on the MX5 running gear having 2 subframes connected by an alloy spine is clever and the MEV chassis bolts to the original points that the MX5 body would do which is clever.

This will not be a road car to save hassle of IVA etc, but will have basic lighting and indicators and everything required for a track car.

I know enough about MX5's now and obviously have the skills/facility to build cars to spec for customers

Eddy

Billy · Post by **Billy** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:15 pm

Build me one eddy

russ979 · Post by **russ979** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:17 pm

Billy wrote:Build me one eddy

Only if you want it in fast eddy white!;):D

Billy · Post by **Billy** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:19 pm

russ979 wrote:Only if you want it in fast eddy white!;):D

I'd need a bigger seat in it than eddys

Monster · Post by **Monster** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:33 pm

Will definitely watch this with interest as sounds like a great track car. I also (for obvious reasons) can really see the benefit of light weight on brakes/tyres/fuel/general running costs so it makes a lot of sense.

However, I also sit on the other side of the fence when talking about light cars and their power to weight ratios. Probably because I'm a fat knacker! But it always crosses my mind that a 750KG weight becomes 840kg with a driver, and more with a passenger so suddenly the p/w is much different.

But that's not to detract from this at all, I'm a big fan of MX5s, a big fan of P/W and can't wait to see this on track. Hurry up and get it done Eddy