Caterham for track days and weekend use
Discussion
Hi there
I'm looking to get a second hand Caterham for use next year, to do maybe 6+ track days next year and use as a fun car for the weekend. Went to Caterham Midlands and they were really nice people and the cars seem great fun. They suggested an ex. Roadsport A/B car or Academy car. I always en-visioned myself having a Superlight as these are designed for track days, but they suggested that maybe one of the Roadsport/Academy cars would be preferable for a first Caterham. The only thing that really worried me about the Roadsport A/B car or Academy cars is the speed as would prefer a little more grunt! So I just had a few questions, firstly does anyone know the differences between the Roadsport A, Roadsport B and Academy cars as they all seem similar? Also any suggestions on what Caterham would be best for what I indend to do? Help from previous owners or people who have been in similar situations would be much appreciated!
Thanks
I'm looking to get a second hand Caterham for use next year, to do maybe 6+ track days next year and use as a fun car for the weekend. Went to Caterham Midlands and they were really nice people and the cars seem great fun. They suggested an ex. Roadsport A/B car or Academy car. I always en-visioned myself having a Superlight as these are designed for track days, but they suggested that maybe one of the Roadsport/Academy cars would be preferable for a first Caterham. The only thing that really worried me about the Roadsport A/B car or Academy cars is the speed as would prefer a little more grunt! So I just had a few questions, firstly does anyone know the differences between the Roadsport A, Roadsport B and Academy cars as they all seem similar? Also any suggestions on what Caterham would be best for what I indend to do? Help from previous owners or people who have been in similar situations would be much appreciated!
Thanks
Hi,
Any of them would be fine and driven well will blow most things away.The academy and roadsport B cars are very similar-the Roadsport A has a 6 speed box, LSD and engine upgrade (I think)
You really don't need a huge amount of HP
Caterham Midlands are always very good and know what they are talking about
Any of them would be fine and driven well will blow most things away.The academy and roadsport B cars are very similar-the Roadsport A has a 6 speed box, LSD and engine upgrade (I think)
You really don't need a huge amount of HP
Caterham Midlands are always very good and know what they are talking about
If I had a Roadsport B with the 120bhp can Caterham re-map the engine to put the power up to maybe 130-140ish? As I don't want to change the exhaust as may exceed track day noise limits. Are there any differences at all between the Academy cars and the Roadsport B cars? Are the Roadsport A cars road legal? Don't think I've seen a Roadsport A car for sale whilst I've been looking, but maybe they would be better for what I want.
Academy cars are the same as a standard Roadsport with 120bhp standard road suspension Roadsport B are the same engine/suspension setup as academy cars but have a rear anti roll bar and stickier tyres some may also have a brake bias valve.
There are 2 different Roadsport A one has widetrack suspension stiffer springs and dampers and has a 138 bhp engine 6 speed gearbox and a LSD.
The other is the current race type which has the same engine/gearbox/diff as Roadsport and Academy but has the stiffer springs and dampers and widetrack suspension.
All can be made road legal very easily
The 120bhp cars can easily have the engine upgraded to 138bhp spec which is called a supersport kit which consists of cams, ecu upgrade.
There are 2 different Roadsport A one has widetrack suspension stiffer springs and dampers and has a 138 bhp engine 6 speed gearbox and a LSD.
The other is the current race type which has the same engine/gearbox/diff as Roadsport and Academy but has the stiffer springs and dampers and widetrack suspension.
All can be made road legal very easily
The 120bhp cars can easily have the engine upgraded to 138bhp spec which is called a supersport kit which consists of cams, ecu upgrade.
Edited by peter-2006 on Saturday 17th November 18:08
I saw somewhere that the Roadsport B car also has uprated valve spring caps with new collets? Do you know how much the Supersport kit is as that sounds great. The Roadsport A does sound a lot more like the car I would like. Do you know what year they changed the Roadsport A to the same engine/gearbox/diff as the Roadsport B and Academy? As by the sounds of it I would like the Roadsport A with the 138bhp, 6 speed and LSD! But maybe just the Roadsport B would be good enough, it's too hard to decide!
The last year they raced was 2005. So I guess they must have still been making them upto 2002. The current Roadsport A was previously called Roadsport Inter for the racing that spec started in 2004.
The Roadsport B has a minor upgrade to valve springs caps/collets for reliability in racing
Supersport kit is here: https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product_info.php?p...
The Roadsport B has a minor upgrade to valve springs caps/collets for reliability in racing
Supersport kit is here: https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product_info.php?p...
RoadSport A's are a great spec. The Supersport engine, 6 speed box, and LSD are certainly nice to have, but there are not that many around.
Caterham Supersport kit here:- https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=137_142&products_id=412&osCsid=4b80e4401ac3f822ca02ca0880a86f39
The Supersport kit is good, but a more flexible approach could be available here:- http://www.dvapower.com
This one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/290458.htm maybe a little untidy, but a great spec for the price.
Caterham Supersport kit here:- https://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=137_142&products_id=412&osCsid=4b80e4401ac3f822ca02ca0880a86f39
The Supersport kit is good, but a more flexible approach could be available here:- http://www.dvapower.com
This one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/290458.htm maybe a little untidy, but a great spec for the price.
Edited by Red Seven on Sunday 18th November 10:46
I would say get an Academy car and use the CR322's for a year.
You learn so much with the limited grip and by the end of the year at most track days you would be the one of the fastest there - it gets a bit frustrating on the straights some times with a Superlight infront of you powering away and no where near as fast in the corners where you catch up (where he still should be much quicker). Otherwise you will get a quick car and imagine you are driving near limit because you are quick when in actual fact you are still miles away.
A chap who did the academy this year owns a CR300 which is mighty quick but finds he can and does drive his academy car much much quicker!
It's true what they all say - in the begining all the speed is in you not the car!
You learn so much with the limited grip and by the end of the year at most track days you would be the one of the fastest there - it gets a bit frustrating on the straights some times with a Superlight infront of you powering away and no where near as fast in the corners where you catch up (where he still should be much quicker). Otherwise you will get a quick car and imagine you are driving near limit because you are quick when in actual fact you are still miles away.
A chap who did the academy this year owns a CR300 which is mighty quick but finds he can and does drive his academy car much much quicker!
It's true what they all say - in the begining all the speed is in you not the car!
I am fairly sure that the 'Caterham supersport kit' on their website doesn't have the uprated valve caps nor mechanical tappets/lifters and is geared towards road users. I would suggest that if you intend to do track work possible races, then you should really consider both.
The road valve caps can start to 'split' with high revs... causing it to open up and drop a valve with ensuing random slapping of valve, piston, liner, etc
The road valve caps can start to 'split' with high revs... causing it to open up and drop a valve with ensuing random slapping of valve, piston, liner, etc
From what I've heard and what Caterham told me is that the Roadsport B would suit me for a first Caterham for road and track. The Roadsport A sounds good but haven't seen many advertised and also Caterham themselves didn't think it would be worth the extra money for what I will use it for, maybe it would be something I would consider in a year or so.
If in time I felt I needed more power out of the Roadsport B car then it would probably be a good idea to get the Supersport upgrade kit as it has the upgraded valve springs caps/collets so should be more reliable.
Are the DVAPower upgrades considered to be any good compared to the Caterham upgrades?
If in time I felt I needed more power out of the Roadsport B car then it would probably be a good idea to get the Supersport upgrade kit as it has the upgraded valve springs caps/collets so should be more reliable.
Are the DVAPower upgrades considered to be any good compared to the Caterham upgrades?
hbwold said:
Are the DVAPower upgrades considered to be any good compared to the Caterham upgrades?
Value for money, Dave's upgrades are better and his work is highly regarded. The only possible downside to a DVA Power upgrade is, if you think you might want to sell your car back to Caterham or part exchange it for another, they won't take modified cars (unless factory modified).My engine is heavily modified by Dave (227bhp/167lbft).
Hi,
I've bought a Roadsport A as my first Caterham this year. As already mentioned it's a great spec for the price. 6 speed, LSD, dry sump and Supersport kit. It's pretty much the same spec as a superlight minus the big brakes & carbon bits.
These are great value as ex-racers tend to be valued slightly lower than road cars. Given that I personally do more road miles than track work I'm contemplating softening the suspension though it's by no means rock hard.
Overall I'm delighted with it. There's aways going to be temptation to go for something more powerful, but having had a passenger ride with a pro driver I've come to the conclusion that my money would be better spent on driver training than engine upgrades.
Good luck with your search
Charlie
I've bought a Roadsport A as my first Caterham this year. As already mentioned it's a great spec for the price. 6 speed, LSD, dry sump and Supersport kit. It's pretty much the same spec as a superlight minus the big brakes & carbon bits.
These are great value as ex-racers tend to be valued slightly lower than road cars. Given that I personally do more road miles than track work I'm contemplating softening the suspension though it's by no means rock hard.
Overall I'm delighted with it. There's aways going to be temptation to go for something more powerful, but having had a passenger ride with a pro driver I've come to the conclusion that my money would be better spent on driver training than engine upgrades.
Good luck with your search
Charlie
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff