GETTING STARTED IN MX-5 RACING

[mazmad]

The MX-5 Club of NSW has compiled some information to help the budding MX-5 racer navigate the maze of racing opportunities and regulatory requirements.

This information addresses the questions you need to consider, which are:

What licence?
What safety gear?
Which race series?
What class?

GETTING STARTED IN MX-5 RACING

[evil_weevil]

Good thread!

we need some more drivers in MX5 challenge.

[Guran]

Credit where it's due. Great work by mazmad in pulling this info together!

[evil_weevil]

So will you be joining us Bryan?

[evil_weevil]

Evening all,
If anyone is interested got a discussion thread here viewtopic.php?f=68&t=60132 for the 2014 series.

Would love some feedback, ideas and comments.

Cheers,
Chris

[Nuddy]

I have just read through GETTING STARTED IN MX-5 RACING
Under Which race series? is info on ProdSports, MRA, FoSC, MSC and iRace.
Strangely there is no mention of the MX-5 Cup.
It seems to me that the MX-5 Cup races would be the easiest and best way to get started in MX-5 racing.

[mazmad]

Hi Nuddy

Yes back in the day when we put that info together the Cup didnt exist, time for that info to be updated

The Cup is far and away the best avenue to get into racing, the boys are doing a great job behind the scenes and the racing looks terrific. Wish I was there!

[Nuddy]

I watched the first cup round at Wakefield and got enthused to get into it.
I will start with club days and maybe supersprints and work towards getting under 1:16 at Wakefield.
Then I can apply for entry to cup races.

[Nuddy]

Overdue for that update.
I clicked on the Modern Sports Cars website link and found that: "we cannot justify continuing in light of the current direction at Wakefield Park. At this time, the Modern Sports Cars category will cease to exist." No doubt date on it so i don't know when that happened.
Next I clicked on the iRace website link and found" tech2U".
2 out of the 5 are gone. We still have FOSC, Prodsports and MRA + now MX-5 Cup.

[Guran]

I've just updated this webpage. I'm not involved in MX-5 racing so please advise if there are any further changes required (eg. are the costs accurate?). For starters, it seems that ProdSports now has time-based classes ... although it seems only one MX-5 competed in 2016 and haven't looked up results for 2017.

http://nsw.mx5.com.au/motorsport/start-racing

[Nuddy]

CAMS licences are now $310 and $490
CAMS log book costs $105
AASA National Racing Licence costs $150
AASA Vehicle Passport costs $50
For MX-5 Cup you need AASA National Racing Licence and Vehicle Passport or CAMS Circuit Racing Licence and CAMS log book.
For Prodsports you need CAMS licence and log book. CAMS do not recognise AASA.
MX-5 Cup rounds run by the MX-5 Club of NSW cost $230 entry including timing.
MX-5 Cup rounds run by Motor Racing Australia cost $260 entry + $30 Dorian hire, total $290 unless you have your own Dorian.

[Nuddy]

Prodsports.
They have a event at Wakefield on 12th and 13th August with $390 entry fee and $130 for a carport (for 2 days).
Apparently you hire the Dorian direct from Lisa so i don't know what that costs. So it is $520 + Dorian for the 2 days or $260/day +Dorian.
There is a test and tune day at Wakefield on Friday 11th for $150 if you book online in advance so you can make it a 3 day event for $670 + Dorian Hire.
I have seen Dorian hire through the event organisers costing $15, $16.50 and $30/day. I'm guessing Lisa charges $15 and organisers pass this cost on with or without a markup.
The MX-5 Club of NSW uses Mylaps timers and includes the cost in the entry fee.

[Nuddy]

PRODSPORTS:
Eligible vehicles are those which comply with the 2017 CAMS Manual Group 2B Class
I, Group 2B Class II, Group 2B Class III, Group 2F or Group S regulations, and GT
homologated vehicles complying with the relevant national regulations for the year of
competition based on the specification that they will be raced as. CAMS Class 2B
freedoms cannot be applied to GT vehicles.

4.2 Vehicle Class System
(a) The following classes will apply in 2017;
• GT Sports – All GT log booked cars and all 2B cars faster than Class A.
• Class A – 2B cars with lap times to be advised.
• Class B – 2B cars with lap times to be advised.
• Class C – 2B cars with lap times to be advised.
• Class F – All 2F, Group S and Porsche 944 Challenge cars.

Class Minimum Lap Times for 2017
The following table lists the minimum lap times for each track for each class as defined above in
section 4.2 (a). Please refer to section 4.2 for full details on Class structures and minimum lap
times.
Bathurst SMSP
GP Circuit
Wakefield
Park
Phillip
Island
GT Sports 2.10
Qualifying
Minimum
No Minimum No Minimum No Minimum
Class A 2:15 1:33 0:59 1:33
Class B 2:25 1:38 1:03 1:38
Class C 2:35 1:43 1:08 1:44
Class F N/A N/A N/A N/A

Where a minimum lap time applies for GT Sports, any lap times faster than the minimum lap
time will be dropped and will not count for qualifying positions. The qualifying position will be
based off the fastest lap time above the qualifying minimum.

Chart didn't translate but yuo will get the idea.

[Nuddy]

Seven drivers in 5 MX-5s in Prodsports 2016
6 drivers in 4 MX-5s entered for Bathurst this year, looks like one did not get there.

[Nuddy]

Looking at Prodsports it appears to be a bit of a Porsche-fest.
You can only run a turbo if turbo came standard on that model so for MX-5 that means you must have a SP if you want to run a turbo.
Originally you could only use the stock turbo, intercooler etc. But I think they relaxed the rules a little, allowing a slightly larger turbo with an intake restrictor. So unless you have a SP you are stuck with Naturally Aspirated. NC 2.5 is allowed.
Prodsports is supposed to be 'entry level' but doesn't work out that way for MX-5s so It's great we have MX-5 cup.