Wednesday 5th September 2012

PH Blog: keep it simple, stupid

If you're going to race like this it's handy to have a car you can fix with a hammer and zip ties

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So I was at the presentation for a new car (to remain nameless) the other day and we got the full technical onslaught about just how sophisticated it'll be with computer controlled this and adaptive that. And I just suddenly started feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and thinking do we really need all this?

Hammers and Gaffa tape just out of shot

OK, it's a bit of a Luddite attitude but chatting with F40 ownerNigel Chiltern-Hunt one of the things that struck me was his assertion that servicing it really is relatively simple due to the lack of electronics. OK, it's an intimidatingly complex car but it's still a mechanical device and one that, on the whole, can be fixed with skill, patience and a box of spanners. As Stuart pointed out when we were talking about it, what hope for the enthusiast Veyron buyer 20 years hence of doing the same?

This mindset probably wasn't helped by spending the weekend up to my neck in Caterhams. Now, I realise a car like that is a pretty extreme example of going back to basics. But from driving to servicing the Seven proves the worth of keeping things simple.

Dan's Roadsport after the first race...

As I found out, Caterham racing very much is a contact sport. Just check out the lead photo on this blog - yes, that's two Academy drivers sending bodywork flying literally beneath chequered flag.

I jokingly asked Caterham's business development manager Dave Ridley how much of the firm's business model is based around replacement body panels over race weekends and though he took it as intended he laughed that they do see 'spikes' in demand. No bloody wonder either - there were cars in my Roadsport race that finished without any bodywork at all, a pattern repeated across the six grids of Sevens that raced over the weekend. Minor nudges and flying panels are part and parcel of close racing but there were also major pile-ups in the Academy race and my car getting a major shunt in the final corner of my first race that more or less took the front end off it.

Caterham pit garage always busy

Keeping all these lunatics on track was an incredibly hard-working team - a big shout to Brett, Mark (who looked after my car all weekend), 'Fighty Mike', Lee, Aaron, Rob and parts man Darren - well versed in creative ways of getting battered Caterhams back up and running. Between them they fixed an astonishing 40 cars over the course of the weekend, with more dropping by for minor repairs or just advice, and to their huge credit every car damaged in the first day of racing was back on the grid for the second. Seeing the state of some of them you'd have been staggered. But such is the beauty of a car that can be fixed with hammers, creatively applied trolley jacks, Gaffa tape and zip ties and be back out and racing the next day. Try that on carbon fibre and see how far you get.

Just as well you can fix 'em easily....

Technology has its place. But it's nice to see a pit garage where spanners and good old-fashioned oily hands reign supreme and there's not a laptop in sight.

Dan

 

 

Race pics: Rick Wilson/Caterham

[fatboy18]

Have to say this is my biggest fear of track days, your words 'Lunatics'.
I personally do not believe it should be a contact sport and anyone who does come into contact with another car should be heavily penalised. If they want to do a bit of rubbing or push hard through a corner causing damage to another car then they should be thrown off the track and told to go and do Banger racing or get a job on Top Gear smashing up caravans.

Many racers and teams are on a really tight budget and to see their pride and joy smashed up because the mist has come down from one or two drivers is unacceptable in my eyes. I know we have seen F1 drivers throw a hissy fit now and again as do other drivers at various levels of the sport, but it really needs to be stamped out in my book.

Hill climbs are the better option if you value your car, if you go off and stuff it its your fault, not anyone else's.

[fatboy18]

Dare I say it but even at Baltimore last weekend in the ALMS series the 93 Viper shot down the inside on a hairpin bend as the Ferrari was turning in and contact was made, the Viper held the line pushing the Ferrari out of the way, then after the bend the chap in the Fezza was so cross he turned into the Viper again.

Really hacked me off as the Viper is not in the points at the moment as they are still doing shake down testing, so it was a bloody stupid move by the Viper. He did get a stop and go penalty that put him last in the group, but with stupid moves like this I would want the driver to repair my car! That might make em think twice!

[fatboy18]

DonkeyApple said:

fatboy18 said:

Have to say this is my biggest fear of track days, your words 'Lunatics'.
I personally do not believe it should be a contact sport and anyone who does come into contact with another car should be heavily penalised. If they want to do a bit of rubbing or push hard through a corner causing damage to another car then they should be thrown off the track and told to go and do Banger racing or get a job on Top Gear smashing up caravans.

Many racers and teams are on a really tight budget and to see their pride and joy smashed up because the mist has come down from one or two drivers is unacceptable in my eyes. I know we have seen F1 drivers throw a hissy fit now and again as do other drivers at various levels of the sport, but it really needs to be stamped out in my book.

Hill climbs are the better option if you value your car, if you go off and stuff it its your fault, not anyone else's.

Funny, I've just read this article and my first thought was that the standard of driving must be terrible.

Bet there would be fewer incidents if there was no team of mechanics to fix it for you after.

I have to say that I really do find the 'contact sport' attitude a bit sad. It seemed to start in the mid late 60s as money began to pour into club sport and certain people found that they could beat faster but poorer competitors by costing them off the track. Then the touring car guys really took it to a new level to cost out troublesome privateers.

I recall Hoy being very proud to claim this was his tactic for getting rid of faster but poorly funded drivers.

You can see it creeping into the historics as well now.

st happens but clearly sometimes st is made to happen.

Exactly right

Even the wonderful Mr Hamilton in F1 has made some bad judgements (allegedly) I remember a particular incident at Monaco, there was no way he was going to get round the bend on the inside but went for it anyway, I guess the frustration took over. Brit car or (banger racing as I see it) really is a demolition derby, you see it all the time with cars riding each others bodywork, it may be fun for the crowds to watch but it annoys the hell out of me. All drivers need to be more accountable for their actions.

As for Caterham racing being put in a bad light, No not at all, its most levels of track racing, Just look at most F1 starts!