|
the last 5 months 29th april 2010
caterham sold but still racing with the club (it wasn't going to anyone who wasn't going to race it), track it's progress with it's new owner Dan at caterhamdan.com - you can also see how to build a decent website rather than this 1990's relic.... My garage now has a 200bhp Honda V-Tec Elise S1. So that's twice the power and about 25% more weight. Add a higher centre of gravity, an engine behind the driver, a relatively soft set up and a fairly strong forward weight bias with the front splitter. It's interesting.
first track day at Snetterton was seriously grin inducing. After the snow and ice had melted the extra speed and roll was challenging but great fun. Managed 130 mph down the straight which was a revelation after only ever breaking 100 mph twice in 3 years with the caterham. Very weird to see scoobies drop off you down the straight, even the GT3 only just got by!
next track day was at Oulton Park. Again, once the snow had melted, it was so different to the caterham. Firstly, in the damp it's really hard work, the car feels like it has very little grip and the rear is more than happy to let go - need to work on this. But in the dry it was much more solid and I picked up confidence quickly. However the circuit is completely different, all the kinks and crests that were an easy flat in the caterham are now much more perilous. One of the instructors showed me some better ways to handle this and thought "they are probably all flat" but I didn't quite have the conviction to see through on his promise. Back to Oulton at the beginning of July to have another go.
no video yet as it's taking a while to set up properly in the car but a full season of track days booked - head to the calendar to see more.
photos: Renault took the wrong line at Old Hall, Elise was previously owned by a club member who spent some sensible time and money on it (including removing the ninja stickers and amp + sub), garage at Oulton, snow in Petts Wood, Matt and I grinning, snow, ice and a porsche at Snetterton.
and celebrity dancing on ice beckons after appearing in the April edition of caterham life.
|
