1.6 K-series race spec

[analog_me]

Hi

I have a 1.6 K series that raced in France from 99 to 02, may be much later too. Spec wise it is the equivalent of a full spec superlight having all the extra option. The car certainly evolved over the years. Do you know what are the differences between the graduate, the super and mega??
Thanks

[CharlesElliott]

Graduate (or Classic Graduate) were the original scholarship cars running live axle and Ford or Vauxhall engines with approximately 100bhp.

Super Graduate was the standard 1.6K series car with around 120bhp using De Dion at the rear.

Mega Graduates was a somewhat homegrown spec. Widetrack suspension, 1.6K series with supersport cams and ECU and the VVC aluminium intake plenum. Most of them also run a close ratio 5 speed box.

[analog_me]

Thanks,

Was there another category for the 1.6 K series?
May be a superlight or superlight spec with 6 speed, LSD, dry sump, etc or is this the mega category?

Further more do you know which years the mega cars were competing ?

[andy97]

MegaGraduates are still competing in the Caterham Graduates Racing Club.
5 speed only; no LSD; standard flywheel; some have dry sump but not all; about 135 to 138 bhp.

Maybe this is what you have:
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/caterham/s...

Edited by andy97 on Saturday 1st June 10:50

[CharlesElliott]

I believe the French series was slightly different, back then Caterham supplied a few one make series abroad to try and get momentum. As is said, Megas are still racing. Caterham in the UK never had K series race cars with 6 speed boxes.

[Red Seven]

The Caterham “Roadsport A” category that ran until 2003 or 2004 used cars that were upgraded from Academy cars, with a spec that included super sport cams and ecu, long four branch manifold and system, 6speed, lsd and wide track.
Many also had dry sump and Stack dash.

I know a couple were converted to the Mega spec (because I bought an exhaust of one of them!), and I know of at least four that were then used as sprint/Hillclimb cars.
They were a great spec of car!

[analog_me]

That might be the case then, Roadsport A,

Ss cams, lighter flywheel, long 421 exhaust, wide track, zf LSD, 6 speed, big brakes, dry sump, quick track

Edited by analog_me on Saturday 1st June 20:55

[sfaulds]

CharlesElliott said:

Caterham in the UK never had K series race cars with 6 speed boxes.

I can think of 2 caterham UK series with k series and 6 speed gearbox without putting much effort in.

[CharlesElliott]

Sorry, Stuart, you are right - I was thinking only of the Academy cars.

I can only think of R300s.....what's the other one?

[Matt W]

Both the official Caterham Superlight R (later renamed R400) and Roadsport (later called Roadsport A) championship race cars introduced in 1998 had 6 speed boxes.

[CharlesElliott]

Thanks. And I was around at the time of Roadsport A so should have remembered that!

[BertBert]

My first ever race was in a Roadsport A at Castle Combe back in 2001. I was crap!

[Mike Cooper]

Hey BertBert

I was at Combe 2001, my brother won the Superlight race, a second at the Brands Finale won him the championship that year.

I did my one and only Roadsport race the previous year at Combe, bloody wet, started in second gear, finished tenth after a spin. An afternoon that taught me you can apply more oppo with only one hand on the wheel!