Help & Advise wanted/needed - Caterham Academy!!
Discussion
I am seriously considering entering the academy in 2005. At present I know very little about it (I have contacted Caterham for info) and have no track/racing experience. Is the academy right for me?
Also are all the car identical? I know the engines are but are you allowed to change other components, suspension etc.
When I get the car will it be ready to race? will I need to add other items to it? Will I need to spend money upgrading the car?
As you can see I know next to nothing so any advice would be welcome
Thanks
Also are all the car identical? I know the engines are but are you allowed to change other components, suspension etc.
When I get the car will it be ready to race? will I need to add other items to it? Will I need to spend money upgrading the car?
As you can see I know next to nothing so any advice would be welcome
Thanks
Parf7
The Academy has a very good reputation and as you probably know was sold out in July for 2004.
It's a good introduction to motor racing as they take you through the ARDS test and you get to do a mixture of sprints, hillclimbs and circuit races.This helps people decide what aspect of motorsport they prefer.
The only extras/options on the basic price related to paint, roll cage etc and build costs if you decide not to do it yourself. In addition to this you will need to budget for a trailer and test days( if you want to be on the pace)
The cars themselves are identical in terms of performance and the best driver ( not the car) will win.
I was new to motor racing 15 months ago and went into the Caterham Graduates- see www.graduates.org
I would recommend this route if you know it's circuit racing you are interested in. Lots of support, very friendly and substantially cheaper. Typically a car will cost you around £9k or there are higher classes if youb want more performance.
Hope the above helps.
MikeW
The Academy has a very good reputation and as you probably know was sold out in July for 2004.
It's a good introduction to motor racing as they take you through the ARDS test and you get to do a mixture of sprints, hillclimbs and circuit races.This helps people decide what aspect of motorsport they prefer.
The only extras/options on the basic price related to paint, roll cage etc and build costs if you decide not to do it yourself. In addition to this you will need to budget for a trailer and test days( if you want to be on the pace)
The cars themselves are identical in terms of performance and the best driver ( not the car) will win.
I was new to motor racing 15 months ago and went into the Caterham Graduates- see www.graduates.org
I would recommend this route if you know it's circuit racing you are interested in. Lots of support, very friendly and substantially cheaper. Typically a car will cost you around £9k or there are higher classes if youb want more performance.
Hope the above helps.
MikeW
By all means have a look at my site which covers my experiences to date from my first visit to Caterham in March, through ordering, waiting (!), building and now, just back from a successful SVA!!!!
It's www.academy2004.org
Charles
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Academy 2004
>> Edited by elliottc on Wednesday 26th November 19:46
It's www.academy2004.org
Charles
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Academy 2004
>> Edited by elliottc on Wednesday 26th November 19:46
The other thing worth pointing out about the Academy is that although it is held out as "for novices", in practice, a number of ex-karters or people with huge trackday experience have signed up, and won the championship easily (I think several of the champions over the last few years have won EVERY round).
This is entirely within the rules, but possibly comes as a bit of a surprise to people who think that none of their competitors will have driven on a track before!
However, if you want a way into motorsport for reasonable cost, aren't sure whether sprinting, racing, or hill climbing is best for you, and want guidance all the way through the process, I don't think there are many better routes.
This is entirely within the rules, but possibly comes as a bit of a surprise to people who think that none of their competitors will have driven on a track before!
However, if you want a way into motorsport for reasonable cost, aren't sure whether sprinting, racing, or hill climbing is best for you, and want guidance all the way through the process, I don't think there are many better routes.
Parf7
The academy is well worth doing and I would not worry if you have not done track days or racing.
This was my first year in a 7 and first track day I did was at the start of the year.
The sprints are good for learning before the races started. Most people this year were not very impressed with them until it came to the races when they looked back and understood why we had done them......for one thing racing ends up being alot more expensive!!!!!
-Apart from car cost (save cost don't get it painted or at least go for standard wing colours)
-£800 - 1500 Trailer if you are not going to drive to events
-£1000 Race Gear (boots, race suit etc)
-£100-200 each. I would plan for a test/track day at each venue if you want to be competitive.
-Insurance some people took this out others just set the money they would have spent to one side. This one is totaly down to preference. Since the exces is norm 1500-2000 you can get stung even with insurance.
-Hotel/B&B/tent
-Tyres - as set will last a year but it is worth buying some cheap scrubed ones anyway. I didn't but was lucky it did not rain at any of our last events since I was down to the stops with my fronts.
-Fuel
It is not cheap but is still prob one of the cheapest ways of getting into racing with you hand being held at the same time to make sure you are where you need to be when you should be with all the document you should have.
Parf7 where are you in the uk ?? If you are near I would be more than happy for you to buy me a pint so I can tell you about the carnage........i mean fun from my academy year. (me wiltshire)
<a href="http://caterham-academy.co.uk/phpBB2/">http://caterham-academy.co.uk/phpBB2/</a>
www.nbracing.com
>> Edited by nuttynat on Monday 8th December 21:32
The academy is well worth doing and I would not worry if you have not done track days or racing.
This was my first year in a 7 and first track day I did was at the start of the year.
The sprints are good for learning before the races started. Most people this year were not very impressed with them until it came to the races when they looked back and understood why we had done them......for one thing racing ends up being alot more expensive!!!!!
-Apart from car cost (save cost don't get it painted or at least go for standard wing colours)
-£800 - 1500 Trailer if you are not going to drive to events
-£1000 Race Gear (boots, race suit etc)
-£100-200 each. I would plan for a test/track day at each venue if you want to be competitive.
-Insurance some people took this out others just set the money they would have spent to one side. This one is totaly down to preference. Since the exces is norm 1500-2000 you can get stung even with insurance.
-Hotel/B&B/tent
-Tyres - as set will last a year but it is worth buying some cheap scrubed ones anyway. I didn't but was lucky it did not rain at any of our last events since I was down to the stops with my fronts.
-Fuel
It is not cheap but is still prob one of the cheapest ways of getting into racing with you hand being held at the same time to make sure you are where you need to be when you should be with all the document you should have.
Parf7 where are you in the uk ?? If you are near I would be more than happy for you to buy me a pint so I can tell you about the carnage........i mean fun from my academy year. (me wiltshire)
<a href="http://caterham-academy.co.uk/phpBB2/">http://caterham-academy.co.uk/phpBB2/</a>
www.nbracing.com
>> Edited by nuttynat on Monday 8th December 21:32
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