Single seater, Aerial atom or Caterham

[jenzo]

Hi all

Some thoughts/advice needed please....

I am keen to do a track day experience in the next few weeks, using a car prepped/owned by the organiser (e.g. Jonathan Palmer etc.)

Cars of interest: Single seater, Aerial atom or Caterham.

Any thoughts on some good, well priced schools/providers within an hour from London that people have had a good experience from - JP comes to mind, what about the Silverstone single seater experience, any feedback?

[jenzo]

Thanks guys. So the JP cars are not muted/tuned down versions of any variant; single seater, atom etc etc?

Guessing no rev limits either?

Are the Silverstone single seater cars any good - or a waste of time and money?

[jenzo]

This is great. Many thanks.

I think Palmer Sport half day as you say, with the Atom, single seater and karts is the way to go : )

upsidedownmark said:

When I drove them, the palmersports single seaters were formula palmer audi chassis with 'detuned' aero, and jag v6 engines. They're a bit more 'road' than race, somewhat more torquey / less peaky. However they do properly shift, and are fully flappy paddle 'race' gearboxed. There is a rev limit, but not what I suspect you're thinking - its appropriate to the engine, rather than to limit the power. Trust me they positively encourage you to give it beans. If you can I'd do the half day - 'prototype', atom, single seater and some filler fluff (karts) the two seater is epic, and if you can do it first you'll learn a lot for the single seater.

I believe the chassis is now ex F3000, and the engine the same.

Realistically anything you drive will have minimal/token aero. In order to get proper aero you need to run a low ride height with the wings close to the ground. The average punter will knock those off / break them, so they don't, plus most folks don't have the resources to notice / utilise the aero anyway.

2nd edit - palmersport atoms are 'modified' with the addition of flappy paddle box. Mainly I suspect because it stops the ham fisted from buzzing the engine. There's enough going on you're likely to be thankful for it rather than feel its a detriment.

Can't comment on silverstone cars - no personal experience. Usually there's a ton of folks jumping on these threads saying 'palmersport'.

Edited by upsidedownmark on Wednesday 2nd September 09:29

[jenzo]

Hi Andy, fantastic. What was the cost for a day hire of this C400 ? I will have a look into this hire : )

andyhaase1 said:

I cant speak for the FPA day other than it looks like great fun.
Me and a mate shared a race prepped caterham C400 2 weeks ago at brands hatch indy, it belongs to Boss Racing. This car actually races at the weekends in Colin's capable hands, and they hire it out in the week. We had a full day (on track from 9-5) and I wasnt particularly counting, but reckon we each got around 120 laps. It was AMAZING, 220 bhp ford duratec, approx 500kilos, sequential box etc, the only 2 cars that were quicker were mega power radicals in the hands of pros.
Andy