Lightyear Fastback Carbon Fibre Endurance Race Car
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: melbourne aus
Lightyear Fastback Carbon Fibre Endurance Race Car
Here is my slowest MX5. But don't be fooled, it's not slow. My other 2 MX5's are turbo charged, this one isn't. And yes I know it's a turbo forum. There are some things that still apply to building a budget friendly track/race car that others might like.
It started out as a cheap and nasty standard silver 2003 MX5. We have the sport model only here in Australia.
I did the basic things- full service with new seals, belts, hoses, water pump, etc. B.C coilovers, big front sway bar, lightweight flywheel h.d clutch, Torsen diff. Then had a cage welded in and stripped and painted the cage and interior.
The first round of the state sprint series was on the following week, so I assembled the car over the next few nights. Besides throwing on a spare fastback, it's was just put together to use and test.
Then I threw in some good brake pads and fluid. Got the wheel alignment done, threw it back on the trailer and took it to Phillip Island. The car went really well and won its class. Very happy with the result and time considering it was just hacked together. It was quicker than all the MX5 club competitors that had an event there the week before. So it's got pace.
Stole a pic to show it on the track.
Then I pulled it back apart to paint the outside black, and put the carbon fibre doors, fastback and trunk on. Vented hood, wing, splitter, etc.
I made some vac infuse carbon fibre doors. The pic shows the alloy window frame in place. And my new door "handle". You might need to zoom in to see it. I also trimmed all the excess weight from the door latch and the hinges.
It started out as a cheap and nasty standard silver 2003 MX5. We have the sport model only here in Australia.
I did the basic things- full service with new seals, belts, hoses, water pump, etc. B.C coilovers, big front sway bar, lightweight flywheel h.d clutch, Torsen diff. Then had a cage welded in and stripped and painted the cage and interior.
The first round of the state sprint series was on the following week, so I assembled the car over the next few nights. Besides throwing on a spare fastback, it's was just put together to use and test.
Then I threw in some good brake pads and fluid. Got the wheel alignment done, threw it back on the trailer and took it to Phillip Island. The car went really well and won its class. Very happy with the result and time considering it was just hacked together. It was quicker than all the MX5 club competitors that had an event there the week before. So it's got pace.
Stole a pic to show it on the track.
Then I pulled it back apart to paint the outside black, and put the carbon fibre doors, fastback and trunk on. Vented hood, wing, splitter, etc.
I made some vac infuse carbon fibre doors. The pic shows the alloy window frame in place. And my new door "handle". You might need to zoom in to see it. I also trimmed all the excess weight from the door latch and the hinges.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 515
Total Cats: 93
From: melbourne aus
I cut out one piece windows, painted a border in them to hide the alloy frame and stuck them in. Then drilled a hole in the window so the door can be opened from outside. Did some trimming and got the door skins to line up and bonded them on. Now the doors are solid with no flex. I will weigh them, but at a guess I would say ~ 8 pounds complete with hinges.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 515
Total Cats: 93
From: melbourne aus
The paint is industrial 2k. It's very tough paint. I am doing the whole outside with it as well. Doesn't give a professional finish, but it will be fine for a race car.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 515
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From: melbourne aus
I will paint a new fastback roof and trunk and that will finish basic paint job. Then I will do the stickers and stripes. Add aero, paint the other wheels. Then race the thing.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 515
Total Cats: 93
From: melbourne aus
I have one if the first production fastbacks on the car now. Next is to paint one black and leave it on.
its a blast to drive on the streets even without a turbo. Weighing under 2000lbs probably helps. When it gets its final fastback I need to get some ducts in the back side windows and most likely one or two electric inline blowers. The Windows don't open at all.
its a blast to drive on the streets even without a turbo. Weighing under 2000lbs probably helps. When it gets its final fastback I need to get some ducts in the back side windows and most likely one or two electric inline blowers. The Windows don't open at all.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 515
Total Cats: 93
From: melbourne aus
The car is loaded up and ready to go. I think I will struggle to get a 1:36 with the RS4's and tall diff ratio. But as always will give it my best shot. I bought some alloy flexible duct so I can make it a bit cooler inside while driving. Will just poke it out the side window and point the other end at me.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 515
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From: melbourne aus
Quick note on the track day from last Monday- I went up with Hankook RS4's, and a pair of old R specs just incase. I really needed 4, but I could only bring the 2, plus the other 2 are really bad. After sliding around and doing a 1:38.6 on the RS4's, I bolted the old R specs on the front. Then set up the car for understeer (Max wing angle, stiffen up the front,etc) knowing the front would have way more grip, and to try and balance out the car. It dropped 2 full seconds to a 1:36.6 with only 2 R spec tyres. Thats half a second off the outright MX5 club record. And 6th fastest on the day against some pretty wild cars. So pretty happy with that.
Last edited by lightyear; Mar 20, 2018 at 07:41 AM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: melbourne aus
Not sure how to fix the quality of the pic. Maybe click on it.
The side mounts for the wing are made because I am not a fan of regular wing mounts. Even with swan neck you are still disturbing air leading to the wing. Plus you have end plates byway, so why not make them bigger and use them to hold the wing? To make them is pretty simple, you just use a solid board in the right spot, and laminate a bunch of carbon fibre or fibreglass over it and down to the car. This is my new updated version, it's for a full 65" wide wing.
The side mounts for the wing are made because I am not a fan of regular wing mounts. Even with swan neck you are still disturbing air leading to the wing. Plus you have end plates byway, so why not make them bigger and use them to hold the wing? To make them is pretty simple, you just use a solid board in the right spot, and laminate a bunch of carbon fibre or fibreglass over it and down to the car. This is my new updated version, it's for a full 65" wide wing.
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I've always heard you don't want overhang above the splitter because the splitter creates an increase in air pressure above it. This pushes down on the splitter but will push upward upon any surface that overhangs it, creating lift that counteracts the splitter. This is why they use vertical air dams on so many cars that are limited by production noses.
<But don't take this guy's word for it. Check on it yourself to be sure.
<But don't take this guy's word for it. Check on it yourself to be sure.
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