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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
8/11/16 12:43 p.m.
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What Kind of Fuel Economy Do You Get On Track?

We have been keeping track of our MINI’s fuel economy. Around town we get right around 25 mpg. Coincidentally, that’s exactly what the EPA says we should get.

During our Sebring track day—three 20-minute sessions—we used 7.571 gallons while covering 91.3 miles. (That distance includes driving to and from the …

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captdownshift
captdownshift GRM+ Memberand UberDork
8/11/16 12:50 p.m.

I used to get 7-8mpg on track back when I had my Subaru on corn syrup.

ross2004
ross2004 Reader
8/11/16 12:52 p.m.

Depends on the track, but we burn anywhere from 10 to 12 gallons an hour. Never figured it in MPG.

Tyler H
Tyler H GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/11/16 12:54 p.m.

I burn 8 gal/hour in our Civic race car, which is very roughly 14mpg.

akylekoz
akylekoz Reader
8/11/16 12:55 p.m.

With my 5.0 mustang I get about 10 gal/hr. Two miles per lap, 30 laps, 6 mpg. With the 2.3 race car its about double that at 5 gallons per hour 12 mpg. Same track relatively same speed. Can you tell how slow I am at two miles per lap?

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/11/16 1:01 p.m.

Oh man, a word problem!

I got into our new Fiat 124 Spider the other day and the fuel economy gauge said "14.2 mpg average". For a 40 mpg street car, we must have been working it a little hard

No odometer on the real track car, but I wouldn't trade its speed for efficiency. If I was running enduros, then we'd pay attention.

ultraclyde
ultraclyde UberDork
8/11/16 1:02 p.m.

Back when I was local autocrossing regularly I was getting about 9mpg from my 05 Mustang GT and about 8mpg from my wife's '05 Cooper S. That's just using the onboard meters reset just for the runs.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla UltimaDork
8/11/16 1:05 p.m.

Interestingly enough for my one 20 minute session I reset the onboard computer version. IT showed 7.8mpg. The whole tank netted 27.x on that one. I think that was 12 or 13 laps at Putnam. I probably spent 80% of the time WOT with the Forte after I got comfortable.

markwemple
markwemple SuperDork
8/11/16 1:07 p.m.

Is it wierd to say that I don't keep track?

bigev007
bigev007 Reader
8/11/16 1:16 p.m.

According to the trip computer, my 328is gets 6.0 MPG autocrossing. My Civic used to get close to 30.

AngryCorvair
AngryCorvair GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
8/11/16 1:18 p.m.

The saturns we ran in chumpcar would go 1 hour 45 minutes on 12 gal. At beaverun that was about 76 laps. I don't have data for other tracks handy.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla UltimaDork
8/11/16 1:24 p.m.
bigev007 wrote: According to the trip computer, my 328is gets 6.0 MPG autocrossing. My Civic used to get close to 30.

Auto-x'ing weekends (including 240 miles of round trip driving) net me 26-28. with AC and XM. and cruise.

bigev007
bigev007 Reader
8/11/16 1:28 p.m.

In reply to Bobzilla:

I'm not sure what I get for a weekend. I just like to reset it in grid shortly before my first run.

Kylini
Kylini HalfDork
8/11/16 1:30 p.m.

Autocross and rallycross net me 20-24 mpg tanks in my Miata. Considering how little of that tank is spent at the limit, it's pretty worthless for y'all track guys!

Bobzilla
Bobzilla UltimaDork
8/11/16 1:30 p.m.
bigev007 wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: I'm not sure what I get for a weekend. I just like to reset it in grid shortly before my first run.

I've done that too, but that return trip to grid usually brings me back up to 10.

Mike
Mike GRM+ Memberand Dork
8/11/16 1:31 p.m.

I'm driving a 2013 Honda CR-V EX manual. Running autocross in HS, I took some numbers. At first, I had fairly bald factory low rolling resistance tires:

Later, I picked picked up some new Bridgestone RE760 based on suggestions here.

If you are actually putting power down, it seems to cut efficiency. My times were actually just below the middle of the pack, which I felt was a fair showing.

Still:

Streetwiseguy
Streetwiseguy PowerDork
8/11/16 1:33 p.m.

Our Chumptegras are good for about 15 imperial mpg over 24 hours.

codrus
codrus GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/11/16 1:46 p.m.

I see about 6 mpg in my Miata on track. 340 rwhp and a turbo will do that. :)

KyAllroad
KyAllroad UltraDork
8/11/16 1:47 p.m.

20 minutes on the track burned through 1/4 tank in the 1.8 Miata. $ separate times so I think it's pretty accurate. Slightly interestingly a friend with a 1.6 Miata used about half as much fuel.

dean1484
dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/11/16 2:11 p.m.

924s 6.6 - 6.8 MPG
MR2 7.2 - 7.4
FC RX7 6.3 - 6.6
280Z 6.5 - 6.6

Since we did endurance racing I kept very accurate records of this.

iceracer
iceracer PowerDork
8/11/16 2:51 p.m.

My zx2sr got around 10. It would vary with the track and temperature.

trucke
trucke Dork
8/11/16 3:00 p.m.

When I tracked a 4age powered FX16 years ago, it would get 15 mpg.

wearymicrobe
wearymicrobe UltraDork
8/11/16 3:06 p.m.

Dodge Viper Built motor, 3.6 mpg at the track, 4.7 on DE days.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
8/11/16 3:33 p.m.

About 6.5 when I'm actually pedalling the RX8 reasonably quickly, about 7 if I'm not. And I get between 20-25 in normal street driving.

Karacticus
Karacticus GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
8/11/16 3:48 p.m.

The Z4 would get indicate 8-9 mpg for a tank of gas on track days, maybe even down to 7 at places like Road America.

What's really fun is to fill the tank for the drive home and watch the calculated miles to empty increase the whole trip home!

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