Roadsport A wanted ... maybe
Discussion
I'm seriously considering entering Roadsport A next year. A mate has just started and it seems a good series with clean(ish) racing.
I want to buy a race ready car and I don't mind what state it's in cosmetically, as long as it's mechanically sound.
I may PX my race ready E36 M3 Kumho car, but we'll see. Would like to keep that too if funds allow.
I plan to put the 7 on the road for a few months to get the hang of it first as I've only driven Caterhams at Brands and Combe, but hardly at all on the road, so don't have many miles under the belt.
Anyway, what can I expect to pay for a cosmetically challenged one it tip-top mechanical condition?
Cheers
I want to buy a race ready car and I don't mind what state it's in cosmetically, as long as it's mechanically sound.
I may PX my race ready E36 M3 Kumho car, but we'll see. Would like to keep that too if funds allow.
I plan to put the 7 on the road for a few months to get the hang of it first as I've only driven Caterhams at Brands and Combe, but hardly at all on the road, so don't have many miles under the belt.
Anyway, what can I expect to pay for a cosmetically challenged one it tip-top mechanical condition?
Cheers
Not sure you'll find a roadgoing Roadsport A (think it's now just called Roadsport) as they don't have lights/indicators up front, there is a daylight MOT but it always sounded a bit dodgy to me.
You're probably looking at £11k-£14k for a decent one with a recently refreshed engine with forged pistons and the like. The price will mostly depend on age as most will be somewhat cosmetically challenged!
I have a road legal Roadsport B spec (apart from the tyres) car for sale http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/480992.htm that you could upgrade to widetrack if you're interested (That would be all it'd need apart from a set of CR500s and the screen and lights removing, as it's had all the Minister engine work done).
You're probably looking at £11k-£14k for a decent one with a recently refreshed engine with forged pistons and the like. The price will mostly depend on age as most will be somewhat cosmetically challenged!
I have a road legal Roadsport B spec (apart from the tyres) car for sale http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/480992.htm that you could upgrade to widetrack if you're interested (That would be all it'd need apart from a set of CR500s and the screen and lights removing, as it's had all the Minister engine work done).
You may want to clarify the longevity of the car that you buy...
The 2007 Academy car (effectively Roadsport A & B start off in life as one) was a Rover K series engine with the new 'metric' chassis, the 2008 Academy car is the new Ford Sigma engine & new 'metric' chassis.
The current RSA class uses the Arch chassis & Rover engine, therefore Caterham will change the regs to allow the more recent Academy spec cars to continue through the ranks of the Caterham (approved) motorsport ladder. The result is that if you buy a current spec car you may only get 'one or two seasons' before you have to (possibly forced) consider changing the chassis (not really that probable) or the engine (most probably).
Interetingly the 'other' Caterham series (Graduates - not part of Caterham, but grew from the original Caterham Scholarship (pre Academy name) days) continue to run the Rover/Arch chassis and have already made allowances for the new metric chassis to race alongside this season.
The 2007 Academy car (effectively Roadsport A & B start off in life as one) was a Rover K series engine with the new 'metric' chassis, the 2008 Academy car is the new Ford Sigma engine & new 'metric' chassis.
The current RSA class uses the Arch chassis & Rover engine, therefore Caterham will change the regs to allow the more recent Academy spec cars to continue through the ranks of the Caterham (approved) motorsport ladder. The result is that if you buy a current spec car you may only get 'one or two seasons' before you have to (possibly forced) consider changing the chassis (not really that probable) or the engine (most probably).
Interetingly the 'other' Caterham series (Graduates - not part of Caterham, but grew from the original Caterham Scholarship (pre Academy name) days) continue to run the Rover/Arch chassis and have already made allowances for the new metric chassis to race alongside this season.
Cheers for the response guys 
It will definately be Roadsport A because my mate races there and we can reduce costs by teaming up and sharing transport costs, track-side set-up, tools etc, plus we get to race each other.
I realise that the RS-A's don't have lights and screen, but I have some I can fit temporarilly so that's not a problem.
I forgot about the new engines and chassis and this may force my hand as I'll stay in the series for a few years if all goes according to plan. This will mean a metric, Sigma engined car which forces the budget up somewhat.
I'll rarely have the time or money to do a full season, but will cherry-pick local events.
Cheers for the advice so far
It will definately be Roadsport A because my mate races there and we can reduce costs by teaming up and sharing transport costs, track-side set-up, tools etc, plus we get to race each other.
I realise that the RS-A's don't have lights and screen, but I have some I can fit temporarilly so that's not a problem.
I forgot about the new engines and chassis and this may force my hand as I'll stay in the series for a few years if all goes according to plan. This will mean a metric, Sigma engined car which forces the budget up somewhat.
I'll rarely have the time or money to do a full season, but will cherry-pick local events.
Cheers for the advice so far
peter-2006 said:
Also if the cars raced in grads and had any engine work done it is no longer able to race in Roadsport/B's without an engine rebuild. For roadsports the engines have to be rebuilt by Caterham or Minister and have MSA seals on.
The engine would need to be sealed by Minister but that doesn't mean it needs a rebuild, I'd expect anyone wanting to race would have the head refreshed in the off-season and that would mean doing the seals. In the case of my engine, being a Minster one, it has a Minister ref number so they know what spec it's to - a quick look would confirm nothing's changed.m3psm - it would definitely be worth checking what Caterhams plan is for RSA before you commit to anything. I suspect next year, RSB will be Sigma only and RSA K-series only then the year after that both will go Sigma only (not sure if the Sigma will fit the older chassis??) but that's a guess.
Cuzza said:
m3psm - it would definitely be worth checking what Caterhams plan is for RSA before you commit to anything. I suspect next year, RSB will be Sigma only and RSA K-series only then the year after that both will go Sigma only (not sure if the Sigma will fit the older chassis??) but that's a guess.
I'm helping my mate at Croft on the bank holiday so will have a chat with the organisers. It may be that I have to wait a year which isn't a big problem. I'll just do another season in the Kumho.If the K-Series will be able to race for another few years though I'll get one to keep costs down. I suspect there'll be few cheap K-Series once theSigma is race approved
Caterham's position on the K-Series Roadsport A is that they will support a stand-alone series as long there is demand. If you were more sceptical (which I am not necessarily) you might say that they will support the series until they can make a full grid of Sigma RSA, the earliest I can see this happening is 2011.
SimonY said:
Caterham's position on the K-Series Roadsport A is that they will support a stand-alone series as long there is demand. If you were more sceptical (which I am not necessarily) you might say that they will support the series until they can make a full grid of Sigma RSA, the earliest I can see this happening is 2011.
Good to hear they've clarified it, I guess it'll be two classes on the same grid?Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff