R300 enable road use

[Ash 996 GT2]

Hi all

Hope you can help

Thinking of buying an R300 but it will have to be able to be driven to and from the track.

It's a 2010 model Duratec.

Ay idea what I need to do to enable this and the costs involved?

Thanks in advance everyone.

[Caterhamfan]

Ash 996 GT2 said:

Hi all

Hope you can help

Thinking of buying an R300 but it will have to be able to be driven to and from the track.

It's a 2010 model Duratec.

Ay idea what I need to do to enable this and the costs involved?

Thanks in advance everyone.

Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't the R300 a standard road car, are you thinking of buying an ex-racer

or do you mean the SP/300.R ?? http://www.caterham-spr.com/

[Ash 996 GT2]

I am looking at a race car.

[Shaun_E]

You would have to put it through IVA. You would need lights, horn, hand brake (tricky!), etc. and then all the bits of trim needed to pass IVA (cover up sharp edges, etc.) I think it unlikely it would be worth it compared with buying a road legal R300

[gbperformancecar]

I wondered about this with my R300 race car. But I think by the time you add all the costs up then it is not really financially viable.

I had a Roadsport B before the R300, for the first year or two I used it over summer and did a few hundred miles a year, but on the 3rd and 4th year I did not really use it much on the road. Of course when I sold it then I really fancied going back out on the road again!

If you intend to do quite a few miles on the road then I would suggest getting a road version, but if you are like me and do mainly track days and the odd weekend run then go for a race car. Also the race car has a full rollcage and harnesses which is nice to know before you set out on track

[petery]

The work involved to make a race car usable on the road isn't worth doing. The best thing to do would be buy a road car then add the track bits, cage etc. that you want. also leaving the race cars to be raced in the race series to keep the numbers up is better

[rubystone]

Ash, is that what you mean?... That you want to buy an ex racecar...or that you want to turn a road car into a racecar?..the former is infinitely more difficult than the latter....

[Ash 996 GT2]

rubystone said:

Ash, is that what you mean?... That you want to buy an ex racecar...or that you want to turn a road car into a racecar?..the former is infinitely more difficult than the latter....

I was thinking of getting a racer and making it road legal so I don't have the hassle of a trailer.

But from what everyone has said, not looking like an option.

Thanks all for your input.

[rubystone]

Ash 996 GT2 said:

I was thinking of getting a racer and making it road legal so I don't have the hassle of a trailer.

But from what everyone has said, not looking like an option.

Thanks all for your input.

The reverse is easier...my R500 was developed from road to race... and back again...if you buy an Academy car and some Grads, they are still road registered. Or ask a team to handle the logistics...there are some good ones around. Stuart Faulds isn't too far from you for instance....

[HustleRussell]

Ash 996 GT2 said:

I was thinking of getting a racer and making it road legal so I don't have the hassle of a trailer.

But from what everyone has said, not looking like an option.

Thanks all for your input.

I am on a super tight Caterham racing budget, my race car is also road legal already, and I'd never even think about driving it to a trackday let alone a race weekend. It just isn't possible to have an enjoyable race weekend without the comfort of a nice tow car with a boot full of wheels, spares, tools and fuel (unless you're paying somebody else to transport these which would defeat the object). Also when you grow accustomed to having a boot full of wheels, spares, tools and fuel for race weekends, you don't want to do trackdays without a simular level of preparation.
My trailer and tow car were less than £3k all together, and they have reliably and comfortably conveyed myself, my luggage, and my car to every single event I have ever entered (touch wood).

[BertBert]

But it's perfectly possible to do track days driving a Caterham there and back. It's a bit of a punt obviously if you break it to get it home, but I used to do all my track days driving there and (often!) back.

OP are you looking to race a road legal ex-race R300 or track day it?

Bert

[Ash 996 GT2]

I am looking for a car I can train in.

[James.S]

If it is something to sort your track driving out I would look at a Raodsport A or Grads car. Quick, Road legal and you won't be worried about gravel rash. You will save yourself around 10k as well.

A well peddled RSA/Megagrad will still be one of the quickest hings round most circuits.

Or - look at doing some BAT days in one of there 300's.

If you decide to go R300 and trailer it then speak to Stuart Faulds - sure he has Trevor Fowells 2010 Champ car which was a monster for sale.

Best of luck
J

[HustleRussell]

BertBert said:

But it's perfectly possible to do track days driving a Caterham there and back.

Certainly, I've done it several times- one particular trackday at Snetterton stands out as it was in early March and it was a 260 mile round trip to get there and back, with the journey there and back being completed in darkness and near-zero temperatures. On the way back the differential was threatening to grenade itself, too- whining louder than the engine and adding to the jeopardy!
However, now I've experienced the luxury of a tow car full of gear, I'd never go back. My Caterham is a much simpler old thing than an R300, too.

[rubystone]

I always drive to track days and lash my slicks onto the rollcage. It sharpens the mind about not driving at 10/10ths...

I know that if I bought a trailer I'd then end up racing the thing and I have enough grief from Mag 7 friends about not racing to give them even the slightest hint I may be thinking of doing that