Caterham Trackday: Where's a good place to start?

[tomperkins]

Hi there,

I've recently bought a Caterham and I'm planning on doing some trackdays.

I'm based in Hampshire so some of the circuits in the north are a little too far away.

Any tips on which circuits or companies are good to start with?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

[k20erham]

Hi Brands hatch is a good as any, just make sure you ok with noise, google trackdays and lots come up, I think MSV is based at Brands, some broker the events and charge more, well run and friendly.

[tomperkins]

k20erham said:

Hi Brands hatch is a good as any, just make sure you ok with noise, google trackdays and lots come up, I think MSV is based at Brands, some broker the events and charge more, well run and friendly.

Thanks k20erham. Any way of checking noise levels yourself before you go?

Also, does Brands have much run-off space?

[CharlesElliott]

Bookatrack is one of the best, very well run by Jonny and the team.

Brands is great, and not too far away. If you want lots of run off, then try Bedford Autodrome although personally I find it very boring - but I'm in the minority....

[kenno78]

Llandow was cheap and fun. I've also had a number of good experiences with Lotus on Track. Their trips to Abbeville and Croix are great and they don't have any noise restrictions.

[k20erham]

Hi if you go to most any trackday anywhere they will do a "static" test for you FOC which will give you an idea, but it's the on track drive by that they monitor all the time thats the killer,you get black flagged and thats it! rather depends on what your running, you can quieten down the ex a bit, (loose power too) but induction with throttle bodies with just a foam filter is really noisey and nothing short of an enclosed airbox cures that, fee day off work fuel ETC a lot to pay to sit on the wrong side of the fence, I think the 620R is going to struggle, so imagin paying 50K for a car that is marginal on noise!!!!!

[James.S]

Another thumbsup for Bookatrack, they also have instructors with a great deal of experience with Caterhams as well as running a fleet of their own.

Give Jonny a call - he will give you straight up advice.

[tomperkins]

k20erham said:

Hi if you go to most any trackday anywhere they will do a "static" test for you FOC which will give you an idea, but it's the on track drive by that they monitor all the time thats the killer,you get black flagged and thats it! rather depends on what your running, you can quieten down the ex a bit, (loose power too) but induction with throttle bodies with just a foam filter is really noisey and nothing short of an enclosed airbox cures that, fee day off work fuel ETC a lot to pay to sit on the wrong side of the fence, I think the 620R is going to struggle, so imagin paying 50K for a car that is marginal on noise!!!!!

Interesting, mine does have jenvey throttle bodies and a foam Caterham air filter with a powerspeed exhaust. I'm told its 96db and that the previous owner used to take it on some trackdays but it sounds like it could be a challenge.

[Ult-Jim]

I can recommend Abingdon Airfield near Oxford organised by Motorsports-events.com. Very well organised, friendly atmosphere, very safe, with lots of run off.

[tomperkins]

CharlesElliott said:

Bookatrack is one of the best, very well run by Jonny and the team.

Brands is great, and not too far away. If you want lots of run off, then try Bedford Autodrome although personally I find it very boring - but I'm in the minority....

Thanks for your thoughts CharlesElliott

[Ult-Jim]

Woodbridge in Suffolk, another runway. Never been there, but from some YouTube vids posted on here and Youtube, it looks like fun with plenty of space if the corner does not go to plan!

[k20erham]

HI I have a K20 Honda in mine and loves to rev,9500 red line coupled to a SAdev with geartronics paddle shift,having combated the noise issues they then decided they didnt like the flames from the ex on each gear shift!!! I have to show them YouTube to let them see my car was not faulty!!! After that they were fine!

[tomperkins]

k20erham said:

HI I have a K20 Honda in mine and loves to rev,9500 red line coupled to a SAdev with geartronics paddle shift,having combated the noise issues they then decided they didnt like the flames from the ex on each gear shift!!! I have to show them YouTube to let them see my car was not faulty!!! After that they were fine!

Sounds awesome, have you got a link to a video you can share?

[k20erham]

If you Google caterham Honda dyno it should bring up a short clip at a company called tour de force

[fergus]

k20erham said:

HI I have a K20 Honda in mine and loves to rev,9500 red line coupled to a SAdev with geartronics paddle shift,having combated the noise issues they then decided they didnt like the flames from the ex on each gear shift!!! I have to show them YouTube to let them see my car was not faulty!!! After that they were fine!

Which circuit/TDO was that?

[Steve Campbell]

Ult-Jim said:

I can recommend Abingdon Airfield near Oxford organised by Motorsports-events.com. Very well organised, friendly atmosphere, very safe, with lots of run off.

I've done 1 or 2 trackdays every year for the last 10 years with MSE. One of the better companies in my opinion. Abingdon is a good one to start if you've not done trackdays before. Loads of space, usually very good behaviour and not too demanding a track layout. Watch out for the chicanes near the earth bank...it's practically the only place you can hit anything if you come off...and I've seen 2 or 3 up the bank trying "too" hard :-). They wanr you about this in the briefing...but there's always 1 !!!

[tomperkins]

Steve Campbell said:

I've done 1 or 2 trackdays every year for the last 10 years with MSE. One of the better companies in my opinion. Abingdon is a good one to start if you've not done trackdays before. Loads of space, usually very good behaviour and not too demanding a track layout. Watch out for the chicanes near the earth bank...it's practically the only place you can hit anything if you come off...and I've seen 2 or 3 up the bank trying "too" hard :-). They wanr you about this in the briefing...but there's always 1 !!!

Thanks Steve, may we'll try that to start.

Presumably you stick to your favourite circuits for the one or two per year that you do? Which ones are your preferred tracks?

[k20erham]

Issues at Brands and Bedford Autodrome before, now sorted

[Steve Campbell]

I do 4 track days a year as that's what my insurance covers. I do Abingdon regularly as it's the closest and run by MSE ! Usually the first of the year as it's a good "shakedown" and get back into the groove, then sometimes at the end of the year as a last blast. Last year it snowed on the way to the circuit...I'm not doing one that early again :-)

I also do an "away" weekend with a few other guys (4*7's and an Elise) every year.

My favourite tracks for the 7, in order are :

Cadwell
Oulton
Le Mans Bugatti (I think mainly because it's Le Mans, not necessarily because the track is the best !)

I think Anglesey could sneak in the top 3 BUT it was a complete washout on last years trip. This year we are thinking we might try Folembray in France.

[Fishy Dave]

Hi Tom,

Guessing it was you that I met at Castle Combe on Saturday (I was driving the white w.black arches Caterham/red Boxster)? As a starting point I don't think you can go wrong with Motorsport Events trackdays, try Hullavington first (has a seperate handling circuit), then Keevil, then take your pick of anywhere in the country.

Dave