Sure!

 

Here are a few cars that fit these criteria:

-Track worthy while still streetable
-Room for 4 wheels/tires even with a full rollcage or rollbar


- Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
- Subaru Impreza STI
- Subaru Impreza
- BMW E30
- BMW E36/E46 (There are known rear subframe issues on both these cars, but parts to correct/minimize are available)
- Mini Cooper (New gen)
- Civic EF/EG/EK (Hatch for lightest weight/shortest wheelbase)
- Integra DC2 or DC5 (DC2 much better)
- Porsche 911
- Chevy Corvette (Fitting wheels/tires is difficult)
- Chevy Camaro
- Ford Mustang
- Nissan Sentra (Old school one)
- Mitsu Eclipse (1g or 2g)
- Lexus IS300 or Infiniti G35 (Rather heavy but works)
- Corolla AE86
- VW Golf
- BMW M Coupe

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Now, if driving to the track without 4 wheels/tires is okay with you, then these cars work. Some cars you could CRAM 4 tires/wheels in, but you probably wont be able to bring a passenger on the trip to the track. Keep in mind you can drive on the street with something like a toyo RA-1, provided it isn't in the wet, and you let the tires warm up before driving fast.

- Acura NSX
- Mazda RX7
- Nissan 350z
- Porsche Boxster*
- Honda S2000*
- Toyota MR2
- Toyota Supra
- Lotus Exige
- Lotus Elise*
- BMW Z3/Z4/M roadster*

* I would suggest against and open top car for a track vehicle. Tracking a convertible/roadster is fun every once in a while, but it gets dangerous at high speeds. Plus, it is difficult to fit a full-cage in cars like a lotus elise (especially if you are tall).

 

I thought the Elise was going to just trump on most cars on the track too, but I wasn't too impressed. MY stock RX-8 can keep up with them pretty well on Road Atlanta and Roebling Road raceways. They can barely pull away a tiny bit on the straights, but I can keep up on the curves. Plus, they cost about 10K more than my car.

 

Thats one that hasn't been brought up much... we haven't had an RX8 at our events yet... whats going on there? Is there not a big demand for tracking them, or do they mostly stick to Mazda Club events?

That would seem to me to be a very practical track-day car

 

I've been on the track with a few - they get along quite well. A little less power and weight than the G, comparable to the E36 M3 from what I can tell. I think they're a nice alternative, but have noticed that at least one used a lot of oil (2 QT +) during the day.

 

That's probably has alot to do with driver ability.

Once again I'm going to promote shifter kart racing. For 5-10k you can have a very nice setup that you don't have to worry about totalling at the track. I'd never wheel to wheel race a car that costs 30-40k unless I was swimming in money. Beside a 125 shifter is as fast or faster then any car on the list and you can easily fix it yourself when it breaks. I throw mine in the back of the van or pickup and go racing. It really is alot of fun. I was tracking the Elise and 350z before the kart and there is no comparison. The kart is a thousand times more fun and IMO safer.

 

five or ten grand huh? Maybe I should sell the Z, buy an old integra to drive day to day, and pick up a shifter cart..... hmmmm!

 

Nothing against carting, cause I know its a blast... but it probably depends on where you are located for that to be feasible... here in North Carolina, the only carting going on is on small flat circle tracks. VIR has/had a cart course, but you could only use their carts and it was ultra expensive.

Plus... we're not talking about wheel to wheel racing.

 

There are kart races on every big track in the SE. RA, CMP, Robling Road, TGP, VIR, etc... If you don't want to do wheel to wheel you can just go to practice instead of the race. With a kart it also opens up sprint tracks to you where they do not allow cars such as Jacksonville 103rd street infield at Daytona Barnsville track etc... I'd be willing to bet every road course that has track days for cars also has them for karts. All I'm saying is a kart is a very good alternative to road racing/ tracking a car I've seen a couple people ball up there daily drivers at track days and it's a shame. I don't understand why anyone would take a car to the track unless it's completely paid off and your willing to lose that investment over a simple driving mistake.

Some people I've taked to tell me they take it easy and there is no danger of wrecking their car. Someone actually told me this at RA last year. I laughed for like 2 hours.