Mazda MX-5 NC track day! - Oulton Park

So here it is.. My (almost) stock Mx5 Mk. 3 on track for the first time at Oulton Park! We had a little spin in the rain and lots and lots of fun. The car performed brilliantly and did very well in keeping up with/overtaking some much faster cars. The suspension was the weakest point, you can see in the video in some of the faster laps how it is rolling on the stock Bilsteins and springs. The brakes were incredible, slowing the car from 90mph-20mph in a couple of seconds, and all with no brake fluid boil!
🔥 1000 Miles in my Mk3 Mx5:
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[@indegodawn]

Mate your videos are mad! Love the NC. Thinking about buying one myself. Keep doing videos, they are really good!!

[@CarThought]

Cheers mate, do it, epic fun for the price!

[@booktrunk]

Great video, fitted an aftermarket roll over hoop and going on my first track day this year, excited.

[@SplodgeMotors]

Great video, getting so excited for my first track day in a few days

[@valkyriedcain]

I'm so buying an NC now! Thanks to your vids I'll be able to do some of the work myself, Keep it up man, looking forward to more from you. :)

[@CarThought]

Thanks! They're not hard to work on, quite simple compared to more modern cars. Hope your search goes well!

[@bowenyang5827]

have my nc for about half years and never been on the track before, your video tempt me to a track day so bad!

[@CarThought]

bowen yang was so much fun after gaining a bit of confidence in the car!

[@steffydog]

Brilliant gents, well done

[@azavalos1]

Great fun boys, I might be doing my 1st track day soon in my nc 🏁

[@dgbourdon1325]

Well done fella's!

[@ivancorrea816]

Wow very nice car I also like your vids keep on doing them

[@CarThought]

Thanks Ivan!

[@user-pc8tb7hg1lHandlesRDumb]

relaxing and fun vid.

[@CarThought]

Glad that you enjoyed it. Don't think that Dave found it relaxing in the passenger seat though!

[@tmboosh]

Great effort guys

[@drewhender3999]

Been really enjoying the channel, looking at buying an NC2 for my next car 😊

[@JL-of3db]

Hi both, great vid, i'm at Oulton in March, looking forward to it!

[@CarThought]

Personally my favourite track so far!

[@G00neyBird]

Looked like fun👍, you might want to try the heel/toe technique, I enjoyed track driving more after I learned how.

[@CarThought]

That requires skill 🤷‍♂️😂

[@Brockthedog315]

The true red has to be the best Miata color ever. And easier to repair vs the mica colors. I hope to ride on a track someday with my NC 2010 but not in racing mode with others. Hahaha. Cheers for showing this.

[@CarThought]

Originally wanted black, but the red does pop more in videos!

[@Grind_Over_Matter]

Fun day, that's what it's all about. Watch out for your centre caps as the wheels can get so hot they pop out..i learnt the hard way :) Come to Donny 23rd, be there in the NC turbo ✌️

[@CarThought]

Anthony Bristol thanks very much! I actually have one where the snap fit has broken, so it's hanging in there! I'll take a look thanks! Will have to share some details on your turbo setup.. have some plans for mine...!

[@Grind_Over_Matter]

@@CarThought I have a BBR, and recommendation is... Don't go that route! Check Roddisons or Skuzzle for FI options as the BBR is a bit fragile. 👍

[@robmcilroy1894]

I'm keen on the fab9 setup .when I blow mine up it's definitely a 2.5 and money permitting, a fab9 turbo.

[@christopherwinwood9631]

I have a modified MX5 NC with improved suspension. In the extreme wet at Silverstone, the car was awesome. The Michelin Power Sport tyres were just brilliant. If you want grip in the wet those are the tyres you need In my opinion.

[@CarThought]

Christopher Winwood thanks for the comment, I’ve heard lots of good things about the Michelin’s! Same with the Uniroyal rain sports. Think I just drove too fast for the conditions on this track day.

[@sonofplato]

I've driven Knockhill a few times now in both dry and monsoon conditions but only on road tyres, for me the Continental Sport Cintact 5s were pretty damn good channeling c. 270bhp down with very little drama. Knockers is just bloody epic, short at 1.3 miles but very challenging.

[@whatfffd]

Very good video guys. Makes me want to go for a track day myself. Did you have traction control off the entire time in the dry?

[@CarThought]

whatfffd Thanks. Can't say it was tough to make, absolutely loved it! The NC was perfect for it. Only half off, there's a trick to turn it all the way off if you press and hold...!

[@Kiieerrann_xx]

Great video. I've booked my first novice track day in July at Oulton. What's the script with the garages? How do you know you've got one? Cheers

[@CarThought]

When I went bud it was first come first serve so you have to get there early! 👌 Only makes a difference if it’s raining really!

[@waynesimpson2074]

Thanks for the upload. I can't be sure but it doesn't sound like you're doing any heel'n'toe on your down-changes which is especially needed in the rain...scary.

[@CarThought]

No heal and toe, the synchromesh is so good I don't think you need to! The torque and rear wheel drive in the rain is far more problematic as you could see coming out of the corner!

[@waynesimpson2074]

@@CarThought Hmm? With respect; H'n'T is not just for ease of gear selection, especially with a light-weight RWD car like the MX5...in the wet. I'm not saying your spin on the corner exit was related to H'n'T or lack there of. Perhaps a little track tuition may persuade you, if you have the time or the money? Talking to a few more experienced drivers at a meeting often reaps dividends. That appalling wet weather at the end of your day would have been ideal H'n'T practice time. There are quite a few good YT videos on the subject.

[@CarThought]

@@waynesimpson2074 Yeah I am planning to do more track time, lots more to come. Thanks for the comment, I'm not the best driver in the world but was getting the hang of it by the end of the day! The last session was a shame, but 4/5 on my first track session in the car and it was all in one piece so think it was the right decision to call it a day!

[@alexlee-isted5046]

Nice video! Did my first track evening in my NC at Donington a month ago and it was so much fun! I had the same as you with the tyres. The lips started to melt over but it has scrubbed away since. I still had plenty of overall depth left. Out of interest how many laps/how long did you stay out for each time? I only did about 6 laps a time before a cool down lap and heading in for 20 minutes. There was only one time when the brake pedal suddenly seemed to give way a couple of inches that scared me. Is that what brake boil is? I had fresh fluid, stainless steel lines and new (but bedded in 300 miles) EBC yellowstuff and EBC grooved discs as my set up and still had this towards the end of the evening.

[@CarThought]

Alex Lee-Isted Thanks very much! Almost identical, 6 laps, 20 mins but I didn't bother with the cool down lap.. oops! Haha. I can't say I had any give in the brakes at all, I was leaning on them pretty hard all day, didn't get near to what I think they would do. What brake fluid are you running? Mine is ATE TYP 200. Might be a little bit of air in your lines maybe? That is normally the cause of brake boil.

[@alexlee-isted5046]

@@CarThought Not sure on the fluid to be honest. When the car next gets serviced and MOT in Feb I might specify some higher grade fluid. Only planning on doing 2-3 track days a year although it's a second car so could get tempted into more haha! It's the additional costs of tyres and brakes that make it expensive and assuming no other mechanical issues from track use. Wicked cars though! I imagine with 200-250bhp they would be perfect but it's a big chunk of change to get that sort of power.

[@DWS1435]

It rains too much there!

[@steveowrx500]

Turn the TC off. If it engages it takes a couple of seconds to sort itself out. I usually do an outlap, two fast laps and and in lap. Gives the car a chance to cool. also, get an app called lap trophy. Keep your phone in your pocket and it works out your lap times. I took my almost stock NC to snetterton, brakes and discs had been uprated and did 2.41. Subsequently fitted a new rear box and Gazshocks. Going again next week and hoping to knock 4 or 5 seconds a lap off.

[@adrianbyrne6676]

Hi Dom. Great vids. Very useful. Just bought my Dads 06 NC, looks just like your one here and will be tracking it at Snetterton in June. It is standard. Is yours standard here or upgraded brakes or anything? Just wondering if I need to fit EBC green stuff or anything. Cheers!!

[@CarThought]

At the time of filming this video the car had some mintex racing 1166 endurance pads in and they were incredible! Other than that, it was completely stock at the time.

[@adrianbyrne6676]

@@CarThought thanks!!

[@MrJim1972]

Great video! What mounts did you use for your two cameras? Are they gopros? Thanks :)

[@CarThought]

It's actually just the one GoPro with some editing. Suction mounted to the top of the windscreen behind the mirror. Then that was wire locked to the roof release latch with 2x steel wires as each track has different regulations on suction mounts. Thanks for the comment!

[@MrJim1972]

Car Thought Thanks for the reply! Off to Oulton tomorrow for my first track day with a friend and his Subaru BRZ, we’ve got a couple of gopro cameras, hoping to do something similar to your vid.

[@CarThought]

MrJim1972 look forward to it!

[@davidr2975]

Do you think your lsd came in handy when taking the tight cornering?

[@CarThought]

Honestly couldn’t say mate. Would have to compare the open diff to LSD side by side. With stock power and the car on stock suspension as it was in this video I doubt anyone would notice the difference 👍

[@jacko64366]

May have missed this but do you have DSC turned off or left on ?

[@CarThought]

Both, it was quite invasive before the long straight when it was on.. then I span when it was off 🤷‍♂️

[@RobWhittlestone]

The car looks immaculate, Dom. Good news about the stock brakes, so a big brake kit might not be money well spent. But it sounds like some better suspension would be worthwhile. I'm thinking of getting some H&R adjustable coilovers for my 2009 2.0l NC Sport. I'm concerned about doing the job myself (limited tools and no help) so may have my garage do it. They also look after the alignment and the approval by the vehicle authorities here, which explains the cost. Have you done anything to the engine? I fitted a K&N filter which should breathe better at high RPM. Great video & great fun! All the best, Rob in Switzerland.

[@CarThought]

Hi Rob, yes coilovers are happening soon, then i can get some stickier rubber. Maybe with some higher entry speeds into the corners a big brake kit such as those from AP racing might be needed. I know some people with 6 pot front calipers and 4 pot rears and they say they are worth it. No engine mods for me yet, I think manifold and ecu remap would be a good start though as throttle input is limited by gear as stock.

[@BikingAntics]

Hey, at 5:45 you mention turning traction control off 'half way' How do you do that? I have the same car, same model, same year as yours and I didn't know you could do that! Please share 🙏

[@CarThought]

Hi, it's a much contested topic amongst the community, but your DSC off button has 2 'stages' and nobody is 100% sure on the difference, a lot of users don't believe what the manual says. Short press on the button (1 second) (DSC off light is on) - DSC is off, but many think an emergency mode is still active. Long press on the button (5 seconds or more)(DSC off and second traction light is illuminated) no assistance at all. To reactivate, you have to turn the car off and back on. Just be weary as you saw in the video, NC's tend to snap on oversteer. I definitely would not recommend turning DSC off on the road! Have fun!

[@dielaughing73]

​@@CarThought yeah I'm not sure if there's still some intervention on the 'off' settings but partially off is DSC off only (TC still on). 'Fully off' is traction off too. Try launching in the wet with DSC off (but traction on) and you'll still get wheel hop. BUT it won't stop you spinning out because that's a stability issue not a traction control issue.

[@davidr2975]

Have you ever driven a triumph tr6? And you had, how does it compare to your mx5 before your modifications. . ,

[@CarThought]

Afraid not mate! Bit before my time although I really appreciate the TR6 and TR7!

[@mihaiserbanescu8676]

I bought an nc. Just gonna leave this here.

[@hamptonboles4259]

Did you have to add a roll bar? If so which one did you get?

[@CarThought]

No roll bar needs to be added on the NC as one is fitted standard. I do not believe this to be the same for NB or NA models, these would have to have a retrofit. Also if you want to run slicks on track you’d have to check with the organisers as these normally require a cage or upgraded roll bar even for an NC.

[@An4rkistic]

From what I’ve read, the roll hoops on the mk3 mx5 are purely aesthetic? GC fabrications do a roll bar, but due to the layout of the mk3 the rear stays can’t go back far enough to guarantee safety. As a track car I’d look at a half cage as fitted by Paul sheard autos.

[@CarThought]

An4rkistic I don’t believe them to be purely aesthetic. Please see my latest video here where you can see the steel structure beneath the covers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/epDTk2uGopZsrZI . Paul is one of the UK suppliers for safety devices roll-cages which you mention, and I would have to agree these are extremely good cages as most mx-5 race series list these as certified to meet race specification. However, I am not sure if UK insurance companies would insure a car with that sort of cage in it on the road..? as this may raise some eyebrows 😂 Not sure! Paul may also do different cages now and my info may be out of date as it’s been a while since I checked!

[@An4rkistic]

Yes you’re right, after further reading, I concur, the mk3 roll hoops are indeed structural and appear to have been designed to offer some protection in a roll over. Mazda have not stated this officially, I’m guessing to protect against potential lawsuits.

[@Speedwelltuning]

Your car looks very high up almost 4x4 like. How come you haven’t sorted the ride height?

[@CarThought]

Stock UK ride height on the Billsteins! Pandemic has put the suspension plans back a little, but it is coming!

[@Crimbo1986]

Maybe worth doing a few of the drift days at Oulton just so you can get to grips with it over the limit they are great fun, here is a clip of me in a friends mk1 mx5 teaching him m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2TVpHqKapiSqq8 Enjoying your vids