First trackday...
Discussion
So I ventured onto Abingdon airfield today as I figured it was about time I discovered the Cerberas limits, or mine.
After a few sighting laps in a Caterham...
First session plan was to discover the braking areas and suss out the turning points etc. SO realistically this was point and squirt out of the corners whilst building up speed. I really just used second and third gear the whole time and kept my session times short.
Blimey it's quick. Even doing this cars were getting out of my way.
My second and third session were used getting used to the roll, grip etc and speed was getting built up. By the end of the day I was cornering with a vx220 and keeping up with him and powering past him on the straight. The only cars I was giving way to were a couple of quick Caterhams and an Aerial Atom.
The only damage to my car was one lost centre wheel cap - any idea where you get them from?
Oh and my wallet. I need better shocks/springs - the car rolled terribly, much more than the griffith I went in (however I could get on the power out the corners much earlier.)
After a few sighting laps in a Caterham...
First session plan was to discover the braking areas and suss out the turning points etc. SO realistically this was point and squirt out of the corners whilst building up speed. I really just used second and third gear the whole time and kept my session times short.
Blimey it's quick. Even doing this cars were getting out of my way.
My second and third session were used getting used to the roll, grip etc and speed was getting built up. By the end of the day I was cornering with a vx220 and keeping up with him and powering past him on the straight. The only cars I was giving way to were a couple of quick Caterhams and an Aerial Atom.
The only damage to my car was one lost centre wheel cap - any idea where you get them from?
Oh and my wallet. I need better shocks/springs - the car rolled terribly, much more than the griffith I went in (however I could get on the power out the corners much earlier.)
I did a track day at Bedford. There was a guy in a blue cerb, when I caught him up it was really rolling into the bends. It shocked me how much roll there was, and I thought he needed to upgrade the dampers and springs.
I cant believe you let a Caterham pass you, but still if it rolls like the other guys I'm not surprised.
I cant believe you let a Caterham pass you, but still if it rolls like the other guys I'm not surprised.
byker28i said:
So I ventured onto Abingdon airfield today as I figured it was about time I discovered the Cerberas limits, or mine.
After a few sighting laps in a Caterham...
First session plan was to discover the braking areas and suss out the turning points etc. SO realistically this was point and squirt out of the corners whilst building up speed. I really just used second and third gear the whole time and kept my session times short.
Blimey it's quick. Even doing this cars were getting out of my way.
My second and third session were used getting used to the roll, grip etc and speed was getting built up. By the end of the day I was cornering with a vx220 and keeping up with him and powering past him on the straight. The only cars I was giving way to were a couple of quick Caterhams and an Aerial Atom.
The only damage to my car was one lost centre wheel cap - any idea where you get them from?
Oh and my wallet. I need better shocks/springs - the car rolled terribly, much more than the griffith I went in (however I could get on the power out the corners much earlier.)
After a few sighting laps in a Caterham...
First session plan was to discover the braking areas and suss out the turning points etc. SO realistically this was point and squirt out of the corners whilst building up speed. I really just used second and third gear the whole time and kept my session times short.
Blimey it's quick. Even doing this cars were getting out of my way.
My second and third session were used getting used to the roll, grip etc and speed was getting built up. By the end of the day I was cornering with a vx220 and keeping up with him and powering past him on the straight. The only cars I was giving way to were a couple of quick Caterhams and an Aerial Atom.
The only damage to my car was one lost centre wheel cap - any idea where you get them from?
Oh and my wallet. I need better shocks/springs - the car rolled terribly, much more than the griffith I went in (however I could get on the power out the corners much earlier.)
Get yourself some decent adjustable shocks, wouldn't bother with Nitrons, I got some Gaz adjustable fitted to my Cerb about a year ago, took her round Brands few weeks ago and no noticeable roll at all, seems to corner almost flat, best of all Paddock Hill, end of the 100mph straight bend dips down then up, Cerb flys through there with no drama at all.
Shocks cost me somewhere just north of 600 quid from Andy at APM with new coil spring optimised for good road/track compromise. Car is a little bit lively on rutted country lanes round where I live, but on the track the handling is a dream!
Glad you enjoyed it Dave - I couldn't get the day off work unfortunately, but I must get a track day done soon. I think it's about time you used your 'reserve' and get some Gaz Gold fitted - give Derek at Absolutely Shocks a ring, you'll notice a big improvement. I had my suspension set up last week, Wheel alignment, camber, toe in etc, made a big difference, and I thought it was OK before! It's worth doing
The only Caterhams I let past were a superlight and a duratec engined one who was just so much quicker through the corners. But then it wasn't a race. I spent one session experimenting with braking to discover just how good the brakes were, if they faded, did cadence braking upset it. I tended to keep my runs to about 10-15 mins to avoid stressing the car too much. Total tracktime for the whole day for me was probably under an hour.
But the springs/shocks need doing. What about the drop links at the same time? I was thinking of the Steve Heath ARB drop links as they aren't expensive as well.
Do the standard springs need changing? Based on the amount of roll I'd say yes, but what's the prefered rate for fast but comfy road use with possible occaisional track days?
But the springs/shocks need doing. What about the drop links at the same time? I was thinking of the Steve Heath ARB drop links as they aren't expensive as well.
Do the standard springs need changing? Based on the amount of roll I'd say yes, but what's the prefered rate for fast but comfy road use with possible occaisional track days?
Edited by byker28i on Saturday 19th May 07:20
byker28i said:
But the springs/shocks need doing. What about the drop links at the same time? I was thinking of the Steve Heath ARB drop links as they aren't expensive as well.
Do the standard springs need changing? Based on the amount of roll I'd say yes, but what's the prefered rate for fast but comfy road use with possible occaisional track days?
Do the standard springs need changing? Based on the amount of roll I'd say yes, but what's the prefered rate for fast but comfy road use with possible occaisional track days?
Talk to Andy @ APM, he's been working closely with Gaz and a few Cerb' owners to develop the optimum shock/spring combination. They've been trying different set ups on John Wilson's Cerb' that's now racing in the TVR/Tuscan Challenge, using it a bit like a development mule from what I understand.
Glad you enjoyed it - good to hear of another Cerb' being used 'properly'.
Tim
[quote=Tangoed]I did a track day at Bedford. There was a guy in a blue cerb, when I caught him up it was really rolling into the bends. It shocked me how much roll there was, and I thought he needed to upgrade the dampers and springs.
quote]
That was me, but to be fair I was on a slow down lap after I had lost a cylinder!
quote]
That was me, but to be fair I was on a slow down lap after I had lost a cylinder!
There are the official pictures here:
www.photodirectuk.com/MSE07/12%20Abingdon%2018th%20May/11%20TVRs/index.htm
But it doesn't show as much roll as I thought or felt...
www.photodirectuk.com/MSE07/12%20Abingdon%2018th%20May/11%20TVRs/index.htm
But it doesn't show as much roll as I thought or felt...
byker28i said:
There are the official pictures here:
www.photodirectuk.com/MSE07/12%20Abingdon%2018th%20May/11%20TVRs/index.htm
But it doesn't show as much roll as I thought or felt...
www.photodirectuk.com/MSE07/12%20Abingdon%2018th%20May/11%20TVRs/index.htm
But it doesn't show as much roll as I thought or felt...
Doesn't look too bad sliding in your seat can make it feel a lot worse than it is. Love the pictures of the S4 having a bit of moment on the last two pages
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