Safety equipment is probably the
best thing to do if you intend competing in events regularly.
Whilst accidents in general are rare, and rollovers even rarer,
when pushing the limits it's better to be safe than sorry.
A rollbar should
be high on every competitor's priority list. A four-point
harness is also recommended, not only for the
added safety, but the tightness improves the "feel" for the car
you have through the seat, and allows a more relaxed grip on the
steering wheel; both of which will increase your handling abilities.
Before spending money on performance gear, it's worth remembering
that the largest performance gains can generally be made through
driving technique, and using the existing full capabilities of
the car. If you're not revving it to the redline on every gearchange,
there's no point modifying the car for power gains (and those
power mods are usually related to freeing up airflow at the top
end anyway). Likewise, if you aren't experiencing brake fade,
don't bother spend money upgrading the braking system.
Save those funds for driver training and more seat time. Tighten
the nut behind the wheel first. Once you can recognise
the shortcomings of the standard car, then you are in a better
position to decide how to improve it.
Power: Everyone wants more
power, but without spending a lot, it's hard to get significant
gains from the MX-5. The superb handling of the stock car is hard
to improve on. The best performance improvements for the track
(beyond driving technique) are probably tyres and brakes.
Wheels: Many drivers keep
one set of fancy wheels for the road, and use their original rims
to mount a set of track tyres on. Why? Weight and cost –
the stock MX-5 alloys are very light weight, which aids handling
and ride, and their small size (at least on the early cars) means
that track tyres are relatively cheap. High performance track
tyres increase braking grip, allow higher cornering speeds, and
consequently you can carry that cornering speed onto the next
straight. They also wear rapidly and make a lot of noise, so aren't
ideally suited to everyday driving.
Brakes are also
critical on the track, where you will use them harder than you
ever could on the road. Fresh brake fluid is necessary as it absorbs
water with age, lowering its boiling point. Choose a good DOT4
grade fluid, bleed it regularly, and flush it about once a year.
The OEM brake pads are quite good for most purposes, but there
are lots of options for higher performance pads. However, some
of these racing pads will not work as well when cold, so are not
suited to the street.
For more power, an exhaust system
and a cold air intake
are a good start. Beyond that, the returns for the money spent
get proportionately smaller. As the old racers' adage goes: Speed
costs. How fast do you want to go?
Popular handling upgrades
are performance (adjustable) shock absorbers, shorter and stiffer
springs, and larger anti-sway bars. These can improve handling
sharpness and cornering abilities, but if your car is used on
the road it's wise not to go too hard or low, or the ride, comfort
and ground clearance can be unbearable. If the suspension is so
stiff that you are bouncing over bumps on the road, your handling
and grip will be decreased as you lose contact with the road surface.
What works for the track isn't always best for the road, so if
your MX-5 is a daily driver, a compromise will have to be reached.
Wheel alignment is also highly recommended and
very cheap, and the MX-5's suspension is fully adjustable. If
you go to events regularly it's wise to run more camber than you
would on the road, to prevent the outside edges of the tyres from
wearing prematurely.
For each area of modification or upgrade, there are numerous options
and brands to choose from. To find out what works (and equally
what doesn't), ask a fellow competitor at an event for suggestions.
If you have any more questions feel free to contact your Club
Captain.
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Modifications for Motor Sport