Caterham Academy 2014
Discussion
Hi Alexis
I saw your question in google and wanted to respond. Joined PistonHeads yesterday and signed up for Caterham Academy 2014 today (after many months of thinking abot it!).
So I'm a bit of a newby all round really.
It would be good to swap thoughts, learnings etc as we spend the next many months waiting for our cars.
Regards
Paul (PilotUK)
I saw your question in google and wanted to respond. Joined PistonHeads yesterday and signed up for Caterham Academy 2014 today (after many months of thinking abot it!).
So I'm a bit of a newby all round really.
It would be good to swap thoughts, learnings etc as we spend the next many months waiting for our cars.
Regards
Paul (PilotUK)
Hi Paul,
It seems we are in the same boat then as I'm a newbie to the world of Caterhams too...
Have you given any thoughts to colours? Do you have much experience in Caterhams? Apparently my kit arrives in September, are you building the car yourself?
I'm expecting the majority of 2013 to drag somewhat!
Cheers
Alexis
It seems we are in the same boat then as I'm a newbie to the world of Caterhams too...
Have you given any thoughts to colours? Do you have much experience in Caterhams? Apparently my kit arrives in September, are you building the car yourself?
I'm expecting the majority of 2013 to drag somewhat!
Cheers
Alexis
20 signed up for 2014 already? Wow that's keen! I signed up for 2013 over a year ago though so I was just as keen 
Caterham do OK considering the website is still advertising Academy 2012!
The 2013 group have their first get together next week - the seminar day, looking forward to it.
I have a bit of a blog and build diary if you want to see the ups and downs of my effort www.sevenracing.co.uk
Steve
Caterham do OK considering the website is still advertising Academy 2012!The 2013 group have their first get together next week - the seminar day, looking forward to it.
I have a bit of a blog and build diary if you want to see the ups and downs of my effort www.sevenracing.co.uk
Steve
Yes so I'm told... the demand is higher than ever it seems. Thanks for the link to your blog, it's one I haven't stumbled across and I'm quickly learning that it seems you can't have too much help with this sort of thing. Your blog is particularly interesting as you have decided to wrap the car, which is somthing I have considered, but when I made the call to Totally Dynamic for a chat through and a quote they told me the car would need to be painted in order for the vinyl to stick, but your car was delivered without paint? Wrapping the car yourself looks tricky?
Caterham are having no trouble. Guys like us just drop into their laps. The package really is a bargain though considering what you get. As long as the budget is sensible I'm really struggling to see a downside.
Your first seminar will be exciting. What is on the agenda?
Anyway, best of luck for your campaign! I will be sure to keep an eye on your progress via your blog, so make sure it's up to date!
Alexis
Caterham are having no trouble. Guys like us just drop into their laps. The package really is a bargain though considering what you get. As long as the budget is sensible I'm really struggling to see a downside.
Your first seminar will be exciting. What is on the agenda?
Anyway, best of luck for your campaign! I will be sure to keep an eye on your progress via your blog, so make sure it's up to date!
Alexis
Alexis135i said:
Yes so I'm told... the demand is higher than ever it seems. Thanks for the link to your blog, it's one I haven't stumbled across and I'm quickly learning that it seems you can't have too much help with this sort of thing. Your blog is particularly interesting as you have decided to wrap the car, which is somthing I have considered, but when I made the call to Totally Dynamic for a chat through and a quote they told me the car would need to be painted in order for the vinyl to stick, but your car was delivered without paint? Wrapping the car yourself looks tricky?
Caterham are having no trouble. Guys like us just drop into their laps. The package really is a bargain though considering what you get. As long as the budget is sensible I'm really struggling to see a downside.
Your first seminar will be exciting. What is on the agenda?
Anyway, best of luck for your campaign! I will be sure to keep an eye on your progress via your blog, so make sure it's up to date!
Alexis
The downside is that you will want to race every year for the rest of your life, and every year you will want to do something more expensive than the year before Caterham are having no trouble. Guys like us just drop into their laps. The package really is a bargain though considering what you get. As long as the budget is sensible I'm really struggling to see a downside.
Your first seminar will be exciting. What is on the agenda?
Anyway, best of luck for your campaign! I will be sure to keep an eye on your progress via your blog, so make sure it's up to date!
Alexis
Regarding the wrap, it was just something I wanted to see if I could do, it's turned out reasonably well but not perfect. It would be better to paint it first (to make it stick better) but then there is no cost saving. The only bit I've pre-treated is the bonnet as I want to make sure it sticks down properly around the louvres, so I've etch-primed the bonnet and will wrap it this weekend. The rest of the ali I just cleaned really well with isoprop wipes and it seems to be OK so far!
Grubbster said:
I have a bit of a blog and build diary if you want to see the ups and downs of my effort www.sevenracing.co.uk
Steve
This is a great read, thanks. Steve
I would love to take part in the academy at some point.
Alexis
Sorry I've been so slow to respond. I did warn you that I'm new to this web-site and the forums - but I hope to access it more regularly in future.
I'm also totally new to Caterhams, in that I've never driven one, but always admired them when seeing then on the road or track. I meant to have a drive before signing up for the Academy, but a proposed price increase by Caterham brought the signing up date forward. I will still have a track day trial to check that I can fit in properly and drive the thing round a track without frightening myself too much before finally committing the rest of my money.
I fully intend to build the car myself and have been told that it should arrive in late October 2013. I chose this route partly because I think it will be fun to build one's own car but also to give me an oportunity to learn how it all goes together which may be handy if it gets broken. It also helps to reduce the costs, as my budget which definitely be restricted by other commitments.
As regards the colour, I have not decided yet. I am told that black for the wheelguards (is that the right name for them?) is a good choice as they are often knocked off and although Caterham have lots of spare ones on their support truck, they all tend to be black!
I am also interested in the wrap option, but need to do more research before deciding.
On the subject of research, this is one thing I have been doing during this year. I went to the race meeting at Snetterton to see the 2012 Academy cars in action and to chat with one or two of the drivers. I have also been reading the information in some of the websites (Thanks Steve and others). This is a fantastic resource that will help a lot with the decision making. I hope to attend many of the events in 2013 to learn even more.
I'm hoping that by keeping busy, 2013 will pass quite quickly at least until October when my car should arrive.
Paul
Sorry I've been so slow to respond. I did warn you that I'm new to this web-site and the forums - but I hope to access it more regularly in future.
I'm also totally new to Caterhams, in that I've never driven one, but always admired them when seeing then on the road or track. I meant to have a drive before signing up for the Academy, but a proposed price increase by Caterham brought the signing up date forward. I will still have a track day trial to check that I can fit in properly and drive the thing round a track without frightening myself too much before finally committing the rest of my money.
I fully intend to build the car myself and have been told that it should arrive in late October 2013. I chose this route partly because I think it will be fun to build one's own car but also to give me an oportunity to learn how it all goes together which may be handy if it gets broken. It also helps to reduce the costs, as my budget which definitely be restricted by other commitments.
As regards the colour, I have not decided yet. I am told that black for the wheelguards (is that the right name for them?) is a good choice as they are often knocked off and although Caterham have lots of spare ones on their support truck, they all tend to be black!
I am also interested in the wrap option, but need to do more research before deciding.
On the subject of research, this is one thing I have been doing during this year. I went to the race meeting at Snetterton to see the 2012 Academy cars in action and to chat with one or two of the drivers. I have also been reading the information in some of the websites (Thanks Steve
and others). This is a fantastic resource that will help a lot with the decision making. I hope to attend many of the events in 2013 to learn even more.I'm hoping that by keeping busy, 2013 will pass quite quickly at least until October when my car should arrive.
Paul
Wowzers, is it really a year since I joined up for the 2013 season!! It's like a conveyor belt of people - you guys with a year to go all excited and thinking how you can get through the LONG wait! Us, now with built cars and all the kit, getting sooo close now! And the 2012 lot just finished off but now stepping up to Roadsport with upgraded cars.
My tip - read around as much as you can if you're going to build. The more you know before hand, the better. Get along to some 2013 events and talk to some of us... you'll get lots of different points of view and things to look out for. Take loads of pictures of the cars as well - especially under the bonnet. You'll still not take pictures of the things you really need to - so also ask about what to look for!
You've made a good choice with the Academy - they've got the format sorted now with 2 sprint events and 5 races. People have been calling for that for a while. Don't underestimate how important it is that the series is totally made up of people new to racing. It means that everyone is in the same situation. Any other series, and you'll be against people who've established themselves, made friends and entered their cliques. You'll have 55 other people all looking to make friends and all with at least one common interest!
Allow for nearly the £3K that Caterham charge to build the car for you even for a self build. You'll not save much once the whole process is over. However, building it is fun for the most part but also incredibly frustrating at times as well. You do have a great sense of achievement and a good understanding of the car. It gives you more confidence to get stuck in with your car and you'll have a good set of tools for the race track which you will know how to use!
Good luck - and make sure you take the time to enjoy yourselves.
My tip - read around as much as you can if you're going to build. The more you know before hand, the better. Get along to some 2013 events and talk to some of us... you'll get lots of different points of view and things to look out for. Take loads of pictures of the cars as well - especially under the bonnet. You'll still not take pictures of the things you really need to - so also ask about what to look for!
You've made a good choice with the Academy - they've got the format sorted now with 2 sprint events and 5 races. People have been calling for that for a while. Don't underestimate how important it is that the series is totally made up of people new to racing. It means that everyone is in the same situation. Any other series, and you'll be against people who've established themselves, made friends and entered their cliques. You'll have 55 other people all looking to make friends and all with at least one common interest!
Allow for nearly the £3K that Caterham charge to build the car for you even for a self build. You'll not save much once the whole process is over. However, building it is fun for the most part but also incredibly frustrating at times as well. You do have a great sense of achievement and a good understanding of the car. It gives you more confidence to get stuck in with your car and you'll have a good set of tools for the race track which you will know how to use!
Good luck - and make sure you take the time to enjoy yourselves.
i am currently arguing within my brain what I should do for Caterham ownership and Academy is something i had/am considering. However it seems a bit strange that if you order now for the next season you do not get car until late in the year? Wouldn't it be better if you could get car for summer and have a chance to get used to driving/enjoy it when the weather is fine?
I can understand that in theory spec could change but just surprised they dont try to get cars out asap.
I can understand that in theory spec could change but just surprised they dont try to get cars out asap.
Yep - it's frustrating! Guess there's two factors at play. 1. It means they sell shed loads of cars in their off season! 2. As you say, they make spec tweaks and all the academy cars have to be the same. For e.g. our cars for this season had a different diff carrier and an all ali radiator. These were only released late in the year and had some had their cars earlier, there would have been differences in the cars on the grid.
I think the other factor on keeping things level is to not let someone have all summer to go to track days etc.
If you're thinking of buying a Roadsport anyway, then the Academy car is actually a cheaper way of buying a track spec car than just buying the standard car and upgrading it. BUT you have to wait for it to be delivered...
I think the other factor on keeping things level is to not let someone have all summer to go to track days etc.
If you're thinking of buying a Roadsport anyway, then the Academy car is actually a cheaper way of buying a track spec car than just buying the standard car and upgrading it. BUT you have to wait for it to be delivered...
CheesyUK I mailed Caterham anyway and as expected the answer was (summation) 'to not give anyone an advantage for having car for ages'. So basically if you build you cant suck and be really slow.
At least I know you can do a build of a caterham in under 4 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIeVfMq5Tho
At least I know you can do a build of a caterham in under 4 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIeVfMq5ThoA leisurely 17 mins for my build http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg9-pITYwB0
Also, a tonne of info, including some build diaries on my blog http://www.academyracer.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg9-pITYwB0Also, a tonne of info, including some build diaries on my blog http://www.academyracer.co.uk
CheesyUK said:
A leisurely 17 mins for my build http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg9-pITYwB0
Also, a tonne of info, including some build diaries on my blog http://www.academyracer.co.uk
I can certainly second that. I'm also an academy 2013 racer and have chatted with Cheesy and a few others. Cheesy's site and videos really helped my build along - the manual can be a little cryptic but the videos (video diaries especially) make it a lot easy to visualise.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg9-pITYwB0Also, a tonne of info, including some build diaries on my blog http://www.academyracer.co.uk
Top tip - just search for Cheesy Caterham and he's filled the first two pages!
-Tom
Those of you who are signed up to the Caterham Academy 2014 might be interested in joining a facebook group I set up the other week... The 2013 candidates (and others, myself included) seem to have found it a useful place to share tips, advice and even to buy/sell items relevant.
Follow the link below. Hopefully see you there!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/609118852459946...
Follow the link below. Hopefully see you there!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/609118852459946...
Hi Alexis
Can you join the group even if you are not taking part? It's something I want to do in the future, so be good to get background info, technical stuff etc. etc.
I also want to go to as many of the Academy race meetings as possible next year in my in my Superlight, so be good to know when/where they are too :-)
Cheers
Mike
Can you join the group even if you are not taking part? It's something I want to do in the future, so be good to get background info, technical stuff etc. etc.
I also want to go to as many of the Academy race meetings as possible next year in my in my Superlight, so be good to know when/where they are too :-)
Cheers
Mike
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