Track saxo...Yes? no?

  1. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #1
    I have got a mk1 saxo VTS....

    alot of my mates go on track days i would like to go with them an think i should turn my saxo into abit of a track slag! i have another daily driver as the vts was costing alot for the miles i do! so would it be a good idea to use the saxo?

    it is standard near enough!

    what area's of the car should i improve first is my main qauestion to everyone!

    i know i am not going to keep up with my frinds they have mad cars...astra van running over 300bhp....172 tuned by K-tec etc...

    Thanks for any help in advance!
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5
    #2
    imo take it on standard.
    They are pretty good round a track standard if your a decent enough driver.

    Take the back seats and belts out.

    Then see what you think after your first track day, then go from there.

    youtube.com/stevevts watch the donnington videos, there is a red standard vts in the videos from the first few sessions, hes not doing bad at all, they just bought the car the day before for a laugh. Wernt exactly the best drivers either.

    Guy said he was having loads of fun which is the main thing.
  3. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Steve View Post
    imo take it on standard.
    They are pretty good round a track standard if your a decent enough driver.

    Take the back seats and belts out.

    Then see what you think after your first track day, then go from there.

    youtube.com/stevevts watch the donnington videos, there is a red standard vts in the videos from the first few sessions, hes not doing bad at all, they just bought the car the day before for a laugh. Wernt exactly the best drivers either.

    Guy said he was having loads of fun which is the main thing.
    Great stuff thanks mate! i will have a look.. they are quick little cars...

    my local track is oulton park its about 20/30 mins away!
  4. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by RossRog View Post
    Great stuff thanks mate! i will have a look.. they are quick little cars...

    my local track is oulton park its about 20/30 mins away!
    Am trying to get down there at some point this year.

    Saxos are great fun little cars, long as you dont crash it and fuck the body work. They are cheap to maintain and repair tbh.

    Once you get the taste for track days then thats when i would start looking at changing for uprated stuff.

    My first time was at croft, car more or less standard, apart from koni suspension which tbh was worse than standard. Brakes were standard and was on cheap tyres.

    Think i had a back box on to for what difference that actually makes lol

    Was awesome fun, and then that was me hooked :|
  5. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #5
    I have been out on that track in my mates cars with them driving it ver very nice no massive long streights...a saxo would do well i think

    top speeds the cars were getting was 90-110 i think was early in the year haha
  6. Regular Poster Joined: May 2010 Shitty Redditch! Posts: 445 MK1 VTR Silver, 205 GTI track car, 306 S16
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by RossRog View Post
    I have got a mk1 saxo VTS....

    alot of my mates go on track days i would like to go with them an think i should turn my saxo into abit of a track slag! i have another daily driver as the vts was costing alot for the miles i do! so would it be a good idea to use the saxo?

    it is standard near enough!

    what area's of the car should i improve first is my main qauestion to everyone!

    i know i am not going to keep up with my frinds they have mad cars...astra van running over 300bhp....172 tuned by K-tec etc...

    Thanks for any help in advance!
    Hi, if you do a track day u will get addicted to it! I am first strip out your car and fit a strut brace and rollcage to strengthen the shell, then take it on the track, you will soon then find yourself tuning the engine and brakes lol
    In my opinon that's the best way because I ruined a 205 shell on track because I had no strutbrace and bent the struts out of shape lol I was giving it death lol
  7. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2009 Middlesbrough/Coventry Posts: 3808 Megane 225
    #7
    If you wanna take it furthur, first you want to reduce as much weight from the car as possible. Then upgrade brakes and suspension.

    Then move on to breathing mods and even cams
  8. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by geoffgti88 View Post
    Hi, if you do a track day u will get addicted to it! I am first strip out your car and fit a strut brace and rollcage to strengthen the shell, then take it on the track, you will soon then find yourself tuning the engine and brakes lol
    In my opinon that's the best way because I ruined a 205 shell on track because I had no strutbrace and bent the struts out of shape lol I was giving it death lol
    I have got a strut brace in my garage off my old gti! i better get it on the car! haha....an i may have a look for a bolt in cage...but i am not sure how seep i want to go if you know what i mean!
  9. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by geoffgti88 View Post
    Hi, if you do a track day u will get addicted to it! I am first strip out your car and fit a strut brace and rollcage to strengthen the shell, then take it on the track, you will soon then find yourself tuning the engine and brakes lol
    In my opinon that's the best way because I ruined a 205 shell on track because I had no strutbrace and bent the struts out of shape lol I was giving it death lol
    no need for a roll cage imo.
    Only real way to damage the struts is by bouncing off massive curbs and big pot holes tbh
  10. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Uppingham, Rutland Posts: 9569 mk1 JP4'd VTR, '16 Fabia Monte Carlo
    #10
    id just strip it to start off with, if you like it, upgrade suspension/brakes/tires and if you get the bug start getting carbon fibre/fibre glass panels
  11. L-plater Joined: May 2010 Blackwood Posts: 56 Mrk 2 VTR.
    #11
    yesss! ha
  12. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #12
    i got a few things i need to do 1st sort out an exhaust..an get the car running right too..simple air filter but i am really up for giving it a go!
  13. Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 swansea Posts: 1356 vts
    #13
    they are a fun project, what people have said is right go on track then decide, but im sure you will love it as most do
  14. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 East Devon Posts: 7472 Clio RS200 Cup, Twingo RS133, Triumph Street Tripl
    #14
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Steve View Post
    no need for a roll cage imo.
    Only real way to damage the struts is by bouncing off massive curbs and big pot holes tbh
    Roll cage is a must imo if its going on the track, just takes one mistake and your out, and as we all know saxo's are not the strongest cars in the world, my priorities would be 1st Full Cage 2nd Bucket seats with 4 point harness' 3rd Uprated brakes 4th Suspension then finally engine mods.
  15. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #15
    saftey first! sounds like a plan but its alot of money if i don't like it!
  16. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2008 Down't road from Sheffield Posts: 4641 Was:16v 106 XS ..... Now: Import 1.8 MX5
    #16
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Jordysport View Post
    Roll cage is a must imo if its going on the track, just takes one mistake and your out, and as we all know saxo's are not the strongest cars in the world, my priorities would be 1st Full Cage 2nd Bucket seats with 4 point harness' 3rd Uprated brakes 4th Suspension then finally engine mods.
    If the tyre wall is close to the track, chances are, it's not a particularly fast corner, fast corners generally have a fair bit of run off.

    Personally, I wouldn't (and didn't) bother with a cage until later on, yes it's good for stiffening the shell, and yes, it's good if you roll, although the chances of doing so are quite minimal.

    And anyway, look at Alex's VTS when he rolled it at Mallory, that stood up quite well.
  17. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #17
    suspension, tyres and chassis should always be done before brakes as these control weight transfer and give brakes a much easier time and allow you to stop quicker..
    1 user thanked this post:
  18. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2007 Southend, Essex/Thetford, Norfolk Posts: 4203 Seat Mii Toca/VW Polo Gti 6c 1.8 turbo
    #18
    How much are you lot paying for track days in the UK? I had a look a while back and it wasn't costing me much more doing a nurburgring weekend trip than doing a full UK track day?!
  19. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 East Devon Posts: 7472 Clio RS200 Cup, Twingo RS133, Triumph Street Tripl
    #19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by RossRog View Post
    saftey first! sounds like a plan but its alot of money if i don't like it!
    Totally agree

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by titchster View Post
    If the tyre wall is close to the track, chances are, it's not a particularly fast corner, fast corners generally have a fair bit of run off.

    Personally, I wouldn't (and didn't) bother with a cage until later on, yes it's good for stiffening the shell, and yes, it's good if you roll, although the chances of doing so are quite minimal.

    And anyway, look at Alex's VTS when he rolled it at Mallory, that stood up quite well.
    Its not what you do its what some other idiot does who's at the track day. tbh its up to you if you want to risk your life by banking on the car standing up because one other saxo that rolled stood up well.

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hard_corejoeboy View Post
    How much are you lot paying for track days in the UK? I had a look a while back and it wasn't costing me much more doing a nurburgring weekend trip than doing a full UK track day?!
    Llandow is about £70 odd for me, and petrol up there etc, about £35.
  20. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2008 Down't road from Sheffield Posts: 4641 Was:16v 106 XS ..... Now: Import 1.8 MX5
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Jordysport View Post
    Its not what you do its what some other idiot does who's at the track day. tbh its up to you if you want to risk your life by banking on the car standing up because one other saxo that rolled stood up well.

    The chances of you coming off because of something someone else does are pretty slim. In fact, i'd say you're more likely to come off the road (be it through your own actions, or anyone elses) and roll than on a trackday, purely because a trackday is an infinite amount more controlled than on the road, and the people who go generally don't want kicking off track and don't want to loose a hundred odd quid for nothing.
  21. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 7508
    #21
    Deffo
  22. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 561
    #22
    My priority would first be a cage with some harnesses

    Not cheap, but its always good to have some extra safety Especially in a saxo.
  23. Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shropshire/North Wales Posts: 605
    #23
    Yea its alot to think about....my main worrie would be if i put a cage in the decided i do not really want to do too many track days then i am stuck with a saxo with a cage...

    guess i could just look for a bolt in cage!...

    i'd only really want like a half cage i think,