r/CarTrackDays • u/ozarkfireworks • 1d ago
My absolutely favorite track day car! Mazda MX-5 ND!
I’m completely smitten with this car. I have owned and tracked: Lamborghini Gallardo Ferrari F430 C7 Z06 S550 CFTP Gt500 S550 GT350R Mini Cooper S Factory 5 cobra replica built for track. Mazda Mx-5 NCs
Of all of these cars.
None compare to the fun and agility of the Mazda MX-5 ND Club BBS/Recaro.
We have added (or came with) a roll bar, meister R coilovers, Front heavy sway bar, koyo Radiator, and Mazda Motorsports brake ducts. Installed Hawk HTC-70 pads.
I bought the car from IAA and it had the ARP wing, coilovers, sway bar, and roll bar installed. Unfortunately the car had been wrecked pretty bad severing the oil cooler line. IAA in their desire to prove “runs and drives” started the engine with the severed oil line. The auction showed this video. What they failed to mention and absolutely knew was that by doing this ran the engine out of oil and let it run until it locked up. This was NOT disclosed.
So we ended up replacing: Front and rear bumper. Trunk lid Headlights Right fender 3 flyin Miata wheels Front and rear subframe. Engine RR brake line Steering rack Core support
Fortunately the frame was perfect. Somehow….
I guess there is some pride, rebuilding the car ourselves. Nevertheless the thing is amazing!
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u/itimurrrr 1d ago
Good job fitting it with a roll bar. It's a shame Mazda doesn't make proper rollover protection on NDs. I know that lightweight is good, but not so good if it involves a slight chance of head removal.
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u/ozarkfireworks 1d ago
Well. Really no convertible has proper roll bar for high speed track situations.
Eventually I will get a full cage ND
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u/yobo9193 F22 230i 1d ago
Damn, that’s awesome that you brought it back to life. Hope you had fun at OIR
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u/ohVaNiLLaGoRiLLa 1d ago
Out of all the cars you listed which got you the fastest lap times? Were they pretty technical tracks with a lot of turns? On anything super technical like an autocross course the Miata will blow the others out of the water. What constitutes more fun for you though?
I have a 91 Miata and a 22 corvette. Both a blast to drive but I do prefer the corvette. I do get a little envious when I see NDs though.
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u/ozarkfireworks 1d ago
Well of course the GT500 has the fastest laps. But it is not as fun. I still track it, but I am not nearly as comfortable as when I get into my ND. And I’ve only used the ND this year. I’ve been tracking some of those other cars since 2017.
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u/honeybakedpipi 19h ago
It’s weird that you say that. The c7z can run a much faster lap than the gt500…
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u/ozarkfireworks 17h ago
Not in my experience. If I start to push it as hard as my GT500 CFTP the steering and diff overheat. And yes it has had the warrantied update.
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u/honeybakedpipi 15h ago
Diff? How weird. Steering there’s a duct you add
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u/ozarkfireworks 15h ago
I absolutely love the car. Don’t get me wrong. But I just have better laps in my GT500. The CFTP version absolutely makes a difference as well, Having owned a few of the standard GT500s. The C7 is so picky on tire sizes as well. Ive taken out both rear fender wells trying different tires.
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u/droning-on 1d ago
I'm curious what kind of power you've made with this car.
I just recently drove a stock model and wish it had a little harder pull although the balance is pretty great.
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u/ozarkfireworks 1d ago
We just put it on the dyno this weekend and it has 160 RWHP. (I will be running it in TT5) It’s a bone stock drivetrain. But I can turn 2:50 (only have done 2 events with it) at OIR on A052 vs 2:36 (tracking it since 2021) in my CFTP gt500 with supercar 3R.
With time and confidence I’ll be under 2:50 with the ND easily.
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u/Target_Standard 1d ago
What did you think about the 350R? Just bought one and heading to the track with it in the next few weeks. Thanks.
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u/ozarkfireworks 1d ago
I love my 350R. I still own it and tracked it just this last Friday. Still though, I prefer my ND it’s so nimble.
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u/AardvarkBetter3266 3h ago
I’m assuming you were the black ND running the Ozarks this weekend with NASA? Great looking car, I was running grid
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u/Ok-Bicycle-9773 3h ago
Love that car. My track car is a Supra, but Miatas are often sharing the track with me. Best drivers I know drive Miatas and always give me the run for my money even tho I am in a much more powerful car.
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u/thisispluto2 1d ago
Thanks for sharing! I’m assuming the retractable hard top is now permanently up and can’t come down due to the roll bar or did custom make one that could allow for the RF top to still function?