Closest to Nottingham that can service / repair Caterham's?

[Phooey]

I'm not quite at the stage of looking at cars but always hankered after a Caterham after driving one at Palmersport. I'd probably want as new as possible hence haven't quite got the spare funds to buy yet. FWIW I have been thinking about a new to newish 420 (preferably with comfort seats - back problem) that would be 50/50 used on road and track. I don't own any tools or spanners and have no intention too, so just wondered if there was anyone in and around the Nottingham area (NG13) who is recommended to work on Caterhams

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

Phooey said:

I'm not quite at the stage of looking at cars but always hankered after a Caterham after driving one at Palmersport. I'd probably want as new as possible hence haven't quite got the spare funds to buy yet. FWIW I have been thinking about a new to newish 420 (preferably with comfort seats - back problem) that would be 50/50 used on road and track. I don't own any tools or spanners and have no intention too, so just wondered if there was anyone in and around the Nottingham area (NG13) who is recommended to work on Caterhams

Cheers

Comfort seats? In a Caterham?

[BryanC]

Following another Caterham owners suggestion, I'm about to ask David Drew Garages to change my k series cam belt. They do his routine servicing on his Fireblade.
DDG is on Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, so quite handy for me. NG12.

[Phooey]

BryanC said:

Following another Caterham owners suggestion, I'm about to ask David Drew Garages to change my k series cam belt. They do his routine servicing on his Fireblade.
DDG is on Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, so quite handy for me. NG12.

That's good to know - thanks. I used to often stumble past DD after a night out - TBI, The Aviary etc

[Tazio77]

McMillan Motorsport at Hinckley - what they don't know about Caterhams can be written on a pin head.

[Phooey]

Tazio77 said:

Hinckley

Cheers

Bit of a trek if booked in and it's pi55ing it down though.

Out of interest do any of the main dealers do covered collection?

[TommyRS_]

Would recommend NJ Potter near Market Harborough in Leicestershire.

[Tazio77]

Re Hinckley,

You pays your money, you make your choice, but if i didn't want to, or couldI'nt weil the spanners, i would want my car looked after by someone who knows the nuances of the car backwards, and dealers?, i wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

[ghibbett]

I will second McMillan Motorsport in Hinckley.

In fact, I'm off there next week for a flat-flooring and to have them look over my 420R.

[andy97]

Graham Probyn at Midland Race and Rally, Kingstone, near Uttoxeter looks after my race 7 and has worked on a few others.

Graham is a highly competent race engineer and mechanic who has worked on a variety of cars from Le Mans proto types to Mk2 Escorts via a host of single seaters and road cars. He understands car dynamics and engineering from first principles and will optimise the set up of your car for road or track as desired. There is no BS and he doesn’t charge the earth.

https://www.midlandraceandrally.com/

[6appeal]

There's the guys at Donnington also, they're good from recommendations I've received.

[andy97]

6appeal said:

There's the guys at Donnington also, they're good from recommendations I've received.

Which guys at Donington? Is there even a Caterham specialist there any more since Bookatrack was bought out by Ginetta (and rebranded as (Want2Race)and Caterham decided that they didn’t want their Midlands showroom in the hands of a perceived rival?

[Dr Slotter]

AFAIK, Simon (ex-Caterham Midlands/BaT) is still running the workshop at WtR. Last time my car was with him, admittedly last year, he had several Ginettas in the workshop as well as Sevens. They have been selling off some Caterham bits recently, but it still advertises 'Caterham experience' on their website, not to mention pictures of WtR branded Sevens for their drift days.

Edited by Dr Slotter on Tuesday 30th June 23:00

[andy97]

Dr Slotter said:

AFAIK, Simon (ex-Caterham Midlands/BaT) is still running the workshop at WtR. Last time my car was with him, admittedly last year, he had several Ginettas in the workshop as well as Sevens. They have been selling off some Caterham bits recently, but it still advertises 'Caterham experience' on their website, not to mention pictures of WtR branded Sevens for their drift days.

]

Simon, or Stuart?
I thought that W2R had moved away from Donington in May, but not sure.

https://www.want2race.co.uk/article/want2race-the-...

It’s not clear in this press release whether they have expanded into a new home as well as keeping their Donington Park workshop, or whether they have transferred locations. When I was at Donington last week, the Ginetta showroom (formerly the BookaTrack/ Caterham showroom was empty but didn’t think to look for the workshops around the back.

[Dr Slotter]

andy97 said:

Simon, or Stuart?
I thought that W2R had moved away from Donington in May, but not sure.

https://www.want2race.co.uk/article/want2race-the-...

It’s not clear in this press release whether they have expanded into a new home as well as keeping their Donington Park workshop, or whether they have transferred locations. When I was at Donington last week, the Ginetta showroom (formerly the BookaTrack/ Caterham showroom was empty but didn’t think to look for the workshops around the back.

Definitely Simon, Stuart had left a little while ago I think. I'd not seen that press release, interesting (and also annoying as it was convenient for me for them to be at Donington!).

[So]

Phooey said:

I'm not quite at the stage of looking at cars but always hankered after a Caterham after driving one at Palmersport. I'd probably want as new as possible hence haven't quite got the spare funds to buy yet. FWIW I have been thinking about a new to newish 420 (preferably with comfort seats - back problem) that would be 50/50 used on road and track. I don't own any tools or spanners and have no intention too, so just wondered if there was anyone in and around the Nottingham area (NG13) who is recommended to work on Caterhams

Cheers

I cannot think that they are hard to work on. Perhaps speak to Adrian Baciu - I can give you his number - who is ex Rolls Royce and does Porsche / Ferrari / Audi so I am sure he could spanner a Caterham. Based in Lady Bay.

[BryanC]

Follow up on my earlier post having today had an MOT and
K series cam belt and water pump at David Drew Garages, Lady Bay.

Not only did they collect and deliver ( Ross does live round the corner ! ) but I was highly delighted with the work, price and prompt completion.

Even better, I got a full overview of my car while it was on the ramps so planned maintenance for this coming end of season in hand. A few little extras dealt with too.
It appears they have a few regular classic / sports / track owners on the books so my Cat was easy.

Re earlier suggestions, I'm not inclined to travel to Market Harborough, Uttoxeter or even Donnington as i have better things to do than twiddle my thumbs for a day or incur taxi costs while my car is in care. Hardly local to me but suggestions appreciated.

2011 1.4K Orange Classic road use only.
Independent recommendation.