Monday 2nd July 2012

PH Blog: Brands spanking

The 12-wheeled, twin-engined alternative to that new 911 and a date with the Brands GP...

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The value of stuff is an ongoing PH obsession. You just have to look at any car review we’ve got on the site and see how quickly someone comes in and kicks off the “How much? You could have a <insert 911 variant, classic BMW M car, possibly even used Ferrari of choice> for that!”

Just like putting your bike on a rack...

It’s a game we all like to play of course. On occasion we get the chance to do it for real too, like now. So, you’ve got around £70K to spend on a four-wheeled plaything. What are you thinking? A 997 GT3 perhaps? What about a brand new Jaguar XKR? Or, seeing as we’re really talking a proper, daft plaything how about something like an Ariel Atom, a KTM X-Bow or a Lotus Exige with a whole load of track-friendly bells and whistles?

Or what about half that for a white van? Bear with me here…

Fun as all of the above cars may be the places and opportunities to really enjoy them are becoming ever more limited. There are places in the UK – Scotlandsprings to mind – where you can still enjoy a proper car in some proper landscape. And there are of course plenty of tracks where you can really let it hang out. Sod’s law most of these places are a decent schlep from where many of us live and work. And the realities of driving long distances in these kind of cars to reach terrain on which they can really work doesn’t necessarily add up.

Caterham heard it was our first time towing...

Step up PH’s latest fleet acquisition (OK, temporary acquisition) and just over half of that £70K budget. Yes, it’s a posh van. But even at a fairly burly £40K it leaves plenty of room in the budget for a trailer and something interesting to stick on it. And, much as you might sling your mountain bike on a rack and head to Wales or some skis in the boot and drive to the Alps, we’re going to put that idea to the test with the aid of a trailer and a Caterham.

The pitch is that you use the comfy, leather-upholstered and relatively frugal van for the boring bits of motorway that lead to more interesting places to drive something like a Caterham. In the first instance for us that’ll be the Alps. And then a track or two, kicking off with a visit to Brands Hatch and my first ever go on the full Grand Prix layout.

First chance to drive the full Brands lap...

I’m especially excited about this. I’ve driven the Indy circuit many times. As has anyone who’s done even one track day there. Not like it takes long to get round is it. And I’ve always gazed longingly at the blocked off exit at Surtees leading to Pilgrim’s Drop, Dingle Dell and those other mythical places beyond.

There’s nothing like being told you’re not allowed to do something to make it sound even more enticing and the severe restrictions in place on usage of the GP loop mean opportunities to enjoy it are strictly limited. But Club MSV has kindly agreed to let us have a play and I’ve got some explaining to do when the question of why we’re coming back from our European tour a little early. We’ll be there on 11 July and if you fancy joining us Club MSV still has a few places left.

Brands GP - soon to be featuring PH

In the meantime I need to get swotting up on my ‘proper Brands’ track knowledge. I’ve been there once for a photoshoot and it looks mega. I can’t wait to give it a proper go in ‘our’ Caterham… Lap videos, advice, links and tips gratefully received if you’ve been lucky enough to drive it already!

Dan

[gionascm2]

Very cool! I like it.

[b14]

Nice - spec of the Caterham?

Be very careful re security of the trailer, as they are a strong draw for thieves (see Evo's Radical + trailer being taken, despite trailer locks etc being deployed).

[Zumbruk]

Eminently sensible. At the end of a track day, the last thing I want to do is climb back into a noisy, hot, uncomfortable {whatever} for a 2 hour drive home. I trailer my cars to track days & sprints behind a Disco 3.

[dapearson]

Better still, buy a Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer, fit ramps and winch the Caterham into the back of the van!

[Jamie VTS]

Nice what a fantastic set up - Pack some bikes, dive gear and that would perfect!

[CDP]

dapearson said:

Better still, buy a Citroen Relay/Peugeot Boxer, fit ramps and winch the Caterham into the back of the van!

It won't fit will it?

[Graham]

Pah do it properly 7.5 tonner with tail lift, sleeper cab, living compartment with kitchen etc. not forgetting the 20x24ft awning that bolts to the side... bung a tuscan racer in the back and a few spares and you've spent about 25k...


ok my truck was only 5k complete with the awning, and it only gets 16 mpg but i get to play trucker as well... 30k would buy you a seriously nice 2nd hand race transporter :-)

[dapearson]

CDP said:

It won't fit will it?

Yes. All you need to do is take the rubber trim off the back doors. It's tight, but a caterham will fit without removing the rear wings.

The van needs to be a LWB model too. The nosecone will then be about an inch or two away from the bulkhead.

Several people that race use this setup. You can sleep in the van once the car is out, plus you can do 70mph on the way there/back. You also don't need to have a licence for towing (if you passed after 1996).

Discreet too. No flashy covered trailer to attract attention.

[dapearson]

I'm sure he won't mind me posting this. One of the lads from Caterham Grads has just finished converting a Citroen Relay to carry his car.

[Twincam16]

Graham said:

Pah do it properly 7.5 tonner with tail lift, sleeper cab, living compartment with kitchen etc. not forgetting the 20x24ft awning that bolts to the side... bung a tuscan racer in the back and a few spares and you've spent about 25k...


ok my truck was only 5k complete with the awning, and it only gets 16 mpg but i get to play trucker as well... 30k would buy you a seriously nice 2nd hand race transporter :-)

[Furyblade_Lee]

I mean, what SPOON builds a housing estate next to a racetrack? Thats asking for the noise police that is....

[cure]

I still think the vw van you have there is too expensive, although I would maybe find it a bit less disturbing if the leather on the rear seats wasn't that ugly. Great 12-wheeler nevertheless.

[WorAl]

Unless I've read it wrong, that was £40k for a van, yes? £40K? It's a van FFS.

[Zumbruk]

Furyblade_Lee said:

I mean, what SPOON builds a housing estate next to a racetrack? Thats asking for the noise police that is....

And what kind of spoon buys a house next to a race track, then complains about noise?

And they get free entry tickets to *everything* ...

[PILCH 23]

It nearly makes sense.

If you had a reasonably priced, reliable and economical van then you'd have funds for a nice trailer and a good driver focused car. I'd also add a motorbike and mountain bike in the van too. It can be a bit dreary sitting on the motorway in a noisy van going slowly but a good stereo could help with that.

[RichardR]

I don't quite see the logic of a van rather than a more comfortable / civilised diesel 4x4 etc. (for appropriate towing capacity) as the tow car unless you're planning to sleep in it?

[sinbaddio]

Strikes me someone's gonna have a whole heap of fun in the very near future!

[tylerama]

Zumbruk said:

And what kind of spoon buys a house next to a race track, then complains about noise?

And they get free entry tickets to *everything* ...

Do they ? The lucky buggers ! Out the back of Brands you can just see the closest houses to the track.

[tylerama]

Such a shame Dingle Dell has been straightened out, the old DD was fantastic, a very short and fast right left right, almost chicane. I remember watching sportscars round there in 1987, I was 8 years old :-)

[Sivraj]

Bugger you sneeked in first,
Just picked up my T4 camper conversion this weekend (no where near £40,000)with plans to build and MEV exocet (£3- £4000)for a bit of on/off track fun. Maybe even a little two wheel fun if the funds allow (maybe and old blade or R1).
Let me know how you get on or if you have any trouble with your trailer (recomendations would be welcome on the security side).