Pics & Vids-Donington Trackday last w/end
Discussion
Just thought you guys and gals would be interested in seeing the photos and video taken at Donington last saturday!
Here is a short write up first:
We arrived at 8.15 for the sign on and briefing and the first thing we noticed was the door to the pit garage that we had booked was broken. After the briefing my dad spent the next 10 mins on a plastic oil drum re-alligning the chain so the door would open and close, at approx 9.05, five minutes into track time he go it to work.
The weather was cloudy but dry, so as we had taken both the Caterham and 155 we decided to take the Caterham out whilst the weather was good. The screen was off, no wing mirrors as I am yet to treat myself to an aeroscreen so I was relying on others not catching me (silly thinking when there were two Lotus 2-11s and many track prepared evos!)
After ten or so laps I wasnt happy with the way the car was handling as it suddenly went into understeer mid corner, so I pulled into the pit garage and checked the tyre pressures. I decided to lower the fronts to 16psi and keep the rears at 18. What a transformation, ok so the steering was heavier but the car was far more balanced.
Just before lunch I realised that I was getting more confident and as a result faster, early morning I was taking Craner Curves at 80-85mph and by mid-day I was daringly doing 95-100mph albeit with the car feeling extremly light.
The afternoon went much the same, I was improving my lines and with only one person up hitting 115mph down the back straight which when you have no screen it feels like your head is about to be pulled right off.
Towards the end of the day we decided to take the 155 out, and at 3.30pm we started her up for a few gentle laps. My dad toook her out first and after two laps was certainly getting the feel. It was so chuckable, on the tigher corners you could turn the wheel apply a little throttle and have the car doing 4 wheel slides, this could be balanced on the throttle.
After six to seven laps we were really enjoying it, probably too much as on the back straight we got 100 out of her before braking sharply......nothing.....dad was driving and he was not amused, he managed to slow it down enough before turning sharply and avoiding the tyre wall! Hence post last week re: brakes.
The day ended well, we adjusted tyre pressures on the front as they were getting hot and treated the brakes with more respect. AFter our runn in the 155 we realised just how accomplished the Caterham 7 was, due to its light weight, the brakes, tyres and engine never get too hot even after 20 continous laps...however
The 155 was great fun and even the trackday organiser commented on it saying it would be a cracking car to take four people around the Nurburgring!
We didnt time the laps on the day (!) but having checked the videos the alfa was doing 1.41 average. In comparision the Caterham was achieving 1.32. So there is a 9 sec difference which isnt bad considering the Alfa is less than 150bhp/ton compared to the sevens 230bhp/ton.
Plans for the future:
CATERHAM
Sandblast 13" wheels and fit Toyo R888s alround - should make a massive improvement over the roadgoing 15" Toyo T1Rs. Will also lower the centre of gravity to reduce roll.
Fit thicker front Anti Roll Bar to improve grip and reduce understeer and promote Oversteer!
Arranging for mate who owns an races his 7 to adjust the camber and toe in/toe out on the front suspension to improve grip.
ALFA 155
Fit Ferrodo DS2500 Brake pads
Remove front spots and install ducting to cool the brakes
Fit 15" R888s to all 4 wheels
Hope you enjoyed the write up, here is a video of me in the Caterham tustling with another 7 and overtaking some cars.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqB_ZFJELRU
Here are some photos taken from the podium above the pits.
Lovely AlfaSud
Here is a short write up first:
We arrived at 8.15 for the sign on and briefing and the first thing we noticed was the door to the pit garage that we had booked was broken. After the briefing my dad spent the next 10 mins on a plastic oil drum re-alligning the chain so the door would open and close, at approx 9.05, five minutes into track time he go it to work.
The weather was cloudy but dry, so as we had taken both the Caterham and 155 we decided to take the Caterham out whilst the weather was good. The screen was off, no wing mirrors as I am yet to treat myself to an aeroscreen so I was relying on others not catching me (silly thinking when there were two Lotus 2-11s and many track prepared evos!)
After ten or so laps I wasnt happy with the way the car was handling as it suddenly went into understeer mid corner, so I pulled into the pit garage and checked the tyre pressures. I decided to lower the fronts to 16psi and keep the rears at 18. What a transformation, ok so the steering was heavier but the car was far more balanced.
Just before lunch I realised that I was getting more confident and as a result faster, early morning I was taking Craner Curves at 80-85mph and by mid-day I was daringly doing 95-100mph albeit with the car feeling extremly light.
The afternoon went much the same, I was improving my lines and with only one person up hitting 115mph down the back straight which when you have no screen it feels like your head is about to be pulled right off.
Towards the end of the day we decided to take the 155 out, and at 3.30pm we started her up for a few gentle laps. My dad toook her out first and after two laps was certainly getting the feel. It was so chuckable, on the tigher corners you could turn the wheel apply a little throttle and have the car doing 4 wheel slides, this could be balanced on the throttle.
After six to seven laps we were really enjoying it, probably too much as on the back straight we got 100 out of her before braking sharply......nothing.....dad was driving and he was not amused, he managed to slow it down enough before turning sharply and avoiding the tyre wall! Hence post last week re: brakes.
The day ended well, we adjusted tyre pressures on the front as they were getting hot and treated the brakes with more respect. AFter our runn in the 155 we realised just how accomplished the Caterham 7 was, due to its light weight, the brakes, tyres and engine never get too hot even after 20 continous laps...however
The 155 was great fun and even the trackday organiser commented on it saying it would be a cracking car to take four people around the Nurburgring!
We didnt time the laps on the day (!) but having checked the videos the alfa was doing 1.41 average. In comparision the Caterham was achieving 1.32. So there is a 9 sec difference which isnt bad considering the Alfa is less than 150bhp/ton compared to the sevens 230bhp/ton.
Plans for the future:
CATERHAM
Sandblast 13" wheels and fit Toyo R888s alround - should make a massive improvement over the roadgoing 15" Toyo T1Rs. Will also lower the centre of gravity to reduce roll.
Fit thicker front Anti Roll Bar to improve grip and reduce understeer and promote Oversteer!
Arranging for mate who owns an races his 7 to adjust the camber and toe in/toe out on the front suspension to improve grip.
ALFA 155
Fit Ferrodo DS2500 Brake pads
Remove front spots and install ducting to cool the brakes
Fit 15" R888s to all 4 wheels
Hope you enjoyed the write up, here is a video of me in the Caterham tustling with another 7 and overtaking some cars.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqB_ZFJELRU
Here are some photos taken from the podium above the pits.
Lovely AlfaSud
Edited by v6ter on Sunday 16th March 08:19
Edited by v6ter on Sunday 16th March 15:39
v6ter said:
Plans for the future:.....
CATERHAM
Fit thicker front Anti Roll Bar to improve grip and reduce understeer and promote Oversteer!
If you fit a thicker front anti-roll bar you'll make the understeer worse, not better.CATERHAM
Fit thicker front Anti Roll Bar to improve grip and reduce understeer and promote Oversteer!
You might be better off leaving it alone and living with a slight tendency toward understeer anyway. This allows you to counteract by the use of throttle application.
I know this may sound counter-intuitive.
If you make the car into one with a natural mid corner oversteer characteristic you may find that you are unable to get back on the throttle as early. It might feel more entertaining to drive, rally car style, but your lap times could be slower.
From reading you post it would seem that you worked around the understeer anyway.
Aren't trackdays ace!
Geoff.
spyder dryver said:
v6ter said:
Plans for the future:.....
CATERHAM
Fit thicker front Anti Roll Bar to improve grip and reduce understeer and promote Oversteer!
If you fit a thicker front anti-roll bar you'll make the understeer worse, not better.CATERHAM
Fit thicker front Anti Roll Bar to improve grip and reduce understeer and promote Oversteer!
You might be better off leaving it alone and living with a slight tendency toward understeer anyway. This allows you to counteract by the use of throttle application.
I know this may sound counter-intuitive.
If you make the car into one with a natural mid corner oversteer characteristic you may find that you are unable to get back on the throttle as early. It might feel more entertaining to drive, rally car style, but your lap times could be slower.
From reading you post it would seem that you worked around the understeer anyway.
Aren't trackdays ace!
Geoff.
Thanks for the advice, they guy who is setting the car camber and toe settings has said that the thicker front ARB will help improve the handling. The standard 1/4 inch ARB just isnt up for the job the Red 5/8ths when combined the the geometry changes will improve the cars handling no end. I think I should have not said reduce understeer though becuase I can see your point.
My car is a standard Roadsport so set up for the road i.e. safe(ish) driving, the general consensus is ditch the standard ARB and fit an upgraded one. I suppose on its own with out any changes to the suspension its likely to make things worse.
I will have to wait and see I guess.
h4muf said:
Great paul!
It`s a black top zetec,running on 45`s,omex 3d ignition.
Gaz shocks allround,etc,loverly thing.
It may need a brake upgrade before track use though,only got solid discs on her.
Whats your set up mate?
Standard roadsport, bilstein shocks (non adj), 1.6 K-series with 52mm TB, Mems ECU. Future plans are to fit a VVC in. It`s a black top zetec,running on 45`s,omex 3d ignition.
Gaz shocks allround,etc,loverly thing.
It may need a brake upgrade before track use though,only got solid discs on her.
Whats your set up mate?
Re: Your brakes, they should be fine as they only have to stop 500-600kgs! More than adequate, just make sure your fluid has been changed and the pads are a decent make and have plenty of meat left on them
Edited by v6ter on Monday 17th March 09:03
v6ter said:
h4muf said:
Great paul!
It`s a black top zetec,running on 45`s,omex 3d ignition.
Gaz shocks allround,etc,loverly thing.
It may need a brake upgrade before track use though,only got solid discs on her.
Whats your set up mate?
Standard roadsport, bilstein shocks (non adj), 1.6 K-series with 52mm TB, Mems ECU. Future plans are to fit a VVC in. It`s a black top zetec,running on 45`s,omex 3d ignition.
Gaz shocks allround,etc,loverly thing.
It may need a brake upgrade before track use though,only got solid discs on her.
Whats your set up mate?
Re: Your brakes, they should be fine as they only have to stop 500-600kgs! More than adequate, just make sure your fluid has been changed and the pads are a decent make and have plenty of meat left on them
Edited by v6ter on Monday 17th March 09:03
lee.
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