Caterham Graduates Classic Race Car - Project

[CaterhamDan88]

Hi All,

I won a Pistonheads competition in 2013 which allowed me to race in the Caterham Academy for the season and after racing in the Clio 182 Series for 2014 I decided I wanted to return to Caterham's one day. I have finally managed to buy a Caterham and am in the process of refurbishing it ready to race in the Graduates Classic Championship.

The car seems to be mechanically sound and this is a good base to start from.

I thought I would upload some pictures and progress during the project if anyone is interested.

Here is my last report for Pistonheads on my Academy season - http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/cat...

[CaterhamDan88]

Caterhams can be quite pricey to buy but fortunately for me this car came up for sale. Due to its condition I managed to get it for a reasonably cheap price.

Yes I will check out the Mag 7s. This car is a Classic Caterham and only has 100bhp so it may get beaten up in the Mag 7 series. That's the good thing about the Classic Graduates Championship. All cars are the same which puts the onus on the driver to perform then.

I'll update with some pictures etc

[CaterhamDan88]

Here are some photos of the car the day I purchased it. The damage is quite bad in a couple places and the general paintwork condition isn't the best. Bearing in mind it has been raced recently and not many race cars are in A1 condition.
It will need a lot of work to get it looking nice again but luckily for me my Dad works for a car bodyshop. Sod's law says if I repair it, the first race someone will end up hitting me. Ha

The main areas which are poor and the side skin by the exhaust and the corners of the rear panel.















I'll upload stage two which was cleaning the car and removing all the stickers.

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Friday 15th April 09:33

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Friday 15th April 09:34

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Friday 15th April 16:01

[CaterhamDan88]

Altrezia said:

Pics pics pics!

I am interested too - just have nothing to add. Keep it up =)

Cool Pictures uploaded.

[CaterhamDan88]

Thurbs said:

ool, I started in 2015 and found (and still find) it really competative. How did you get on? I am not sure it was a championship that year?

Out of interest, why did you move away from the Clios? Having raced in other series I cant find anything to match it so far for close racing and healthy grids.

Hi,

It's a great series and loved racing in it. I raced in 2014 and it was a series then. Unfortunately due to budget I had to stop. My car was road legal with an MOT and I drove the car to the event and back home again. I needed to buy a trailer really to commit 100% and couldn't at that point afford to. I moved back to Caterhams because I fell in love with them after 2013 and wanted to get one ever since. Although I would race a Clio again tomorrow if I could. Very fast and love the on the limit feeling in the car.

How did I get on? - I qualified 2nd at Silverstone, only to be out qualified by a one off entry by a Silverstone instructor. He blew his engine in Qualifiying so I was promoted to Pole Position slot. First ever race in a tin top, I was chuffed with that. Transition from Caterhams to Clios took a few laps to get into with the racing. Eg Rubbing etc I finished the first race 4th, missing the podium by a couple tenths. Second race was hit off on the first corner but managed to comeback and finish 13th. I out qualified previous stock hatch champions so all in all it was a great weekend for my 6th ever race.

Picture of my Clio -


How are you getting on? The grids are still massive and looks really competitive from what I've seen

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Friday 15th April 09:46

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Friday 15th April 09:50

[CaterhamDan88]

Matt W said:

Hi Dan, I'm not sure if you are aware of this thread from when James owned your car

Looking forward to you joining us on the grid soon.

Thanks Matt - this was a good read. Looking forward to joining you guys soon

[CaterhamDan88]

HustleRussell said:

Ouch, those driver name stickers pulled off a lot of paint didn't they?

I forgot about the spare wheel fitting boss, it was always hidden behind the big title sponsor sticker on the rear panel...

Yes they did James lol.

It would be hidden by most title series sponsor stickers but this years wouldn't hide it.

[CaterhamDan88]

Graham said:

Looks quite rare for a racing caterham, it has all 4 mudguards on it !!

One good point Graham

[CaterhamDan88]

Thurbs said:

I did a couple of races last year and didn't do too well (at the back and slow). A winter of car work, setup and growing some balls I am now in the top 10 but not near the sharp end yet. I need a small tank and to shed some more weight (currently at 1130kg with the minimum at 1070).

Interestingly when I race other series, they seem tame in comparison.

I must say you were brave driving to and from the circuit. Of the five weekends I have raced, the car would have only driven home after two.

Sounds like you are heading towards the sharp end now! Yeah you need to shed some of that weight on the car as 60kg over isn't ideal. Enjoyed the footage at Donington Park - looked like an action packed race.

Just realised - you're driving my old car. Good to see its still racing.

Clio when I had it:

[CaterhamDan88]

Thurbs said:

And last weekend: (sorry for the thread hijack)

I bought it off Stuart who I think sold it to you. Matt Finchum built it if I am right? John Sheilds who used to work with Matt now looks after the car.

How does the Caterham differ on budget? I had assumed they would be more.

Ok looking a bit different now then. Good to see it again!

Yes Matt built the car, I bought it off Matt and then sold it to Stuart.

The Caterham was cheaper than the Clio to buy because of it's condition. Running costs are very low. (Tyres should last all year, brakes pad should aswell) Entry fees are more than the 750MC but Graduates come with hospitality (lunch, drinks etc). Caterham racing is brilliant, lots of slipstreaming and close racing.

[CaterhamDan88]

Caterham Graduates Championship sounds like a great place to race from what I've heard. I can put you in touch with a couple guys who race in either the Sigma or Sigmax championships. All depends whether you want to keep your Roadsport spec or spend money on upgrading to Sigmax. If your engine is in good condition, has good power and mechanically sound then stick with your car.

Follow this link - it explains the differences between Sigma and Sigmax - http://www.graduates.org.uk/info.asp?s=classes

I'll be updating with some more pictures when I can.

[CaterhamDan88]

HustleRussell said:

Four seasons in graduates here. I think now I've moved on I'll spend several years trying to find an equally good championship but ultimately end up where I started. For me it seems to be as good as it gets. Great bunch of people, great cars, good parity, healthy grids, great driving standards, minimum chequebook action... A great format to the weekend, races on Saturday and Sunday, excellent calendars with the amazing annual overseas round...

I can scarcely believe somebody like me can have four races at Spa Francorchamps and two at Zandvoort in four seasons, and I'm equally grateful to have raced at pretty much all of the wealth of great circuits we have on our little island (plus Anglesey)

All that and I was able to do it all on such a low budget.

One of the reasons I have decided to join was after listening to your views on what the Graduates is like. Hopefully I experience the same

[CaterhamDan88]

Following getting the car back home, I decided to start by stripping off the stickers on the car and then give the car a good clean and polish. It is already looking much better but I can now see the full extend of the damage to various places on the car.

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Sunday 17th April 16:09

[CaterhamDan88]

Hi All,

I've been a bit slow updating this. The car has now been repaired, resprayed and rebuilt. I'm just putting the final touches on the car and it will be complete.

I'll update with some pictures!

Edited by CaterhamDan88 on Thursday 19th May 15:07

[CaterhamDan88]

HustleRussell said:

Updates please! Which event are you aiming for to make your debut? Have you driven it yet?

Yes planning to be at one or two events this year.

I've only driven the car twice. Once after buying it and the second time was a track day at Brands! Really enjoying the car!