Driving a Caterham on Track?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm going to Angelsey on the 16th of feb in a Caterham Superlight
The track day is open pit lane on the National circuit.
I'm looking for some advice on how to drive the Caterham and what sort of handling characteristics it has?
I've done a fair few track days in my mk2 Golf but I've not driven anything RWD with much performance before.
Are they twitchy or nervous at all?
The spec is as follows:-
Superlight, no screen or roof - 135bhp K-series engine. Caterham 6-speed gearbox and LSD. Big AP Brakes and widetrack suspension. Run on Yokohama A539.
I'm nervous about staying on the black stuff as the insurance excess is £1500!
Any advice much appreciated,
Sean
I'm going to Angelsey on the 16th of feb in a Caterham Superlight
The track day is open pit lane on the National circuit.
I'm looking for some advice on how to drive the Caterham and what sort of handling characteristics it has?
I've done a fair few track days in my mk2 Golf but I've not driven anything RWD with much performance before.
Are they twitchy or nervous at all?
The spec is as follows:-
Superlight, no screen or roof - 135bhp K-series engine. Caterham 6-speed gearbox and LSD. Big AP Brakes and widetrack suspension. Run on Yokohama A539.
I'm nervous about staying on the black stuff as the insurance excess is £1500!
Any advice much appreciated,
Sean
you need to be SMOOOOOTH with it. Smooth with the steering, smooth with the throttle, smooth with the brakes.
There's loads of grip and it'll turn on a sixpence so if you yank at the wheel you're going to spin.
There's no ABS and it's proper light so if you stab at the brakes you're going to lock the wheels.
There's no traction control, no weight over the driven wheels and it's got an LSD, so if you're binary with the throttle you're going to light up the tyres which means (best case scenario) a massive drift and (worse case scenario) a massive spin.
Driving a caterham is like making love to a beautiful woman..... [insert gag of choice here]
Jonny
BaT
There's loads of grip and it'll turn on a sixpence so if you yank at the wheel you're going to spin.
There's no ABS and it's proper light so if you stab at the brakes you're going to lock the wheels.
There's no traction control, no weight over the driven wheels and it's got an LSD, so if you're binary with the throttle you're going to light up the tyres which means (best case scenario) a massive drift and (worse case scenario) a massive spin.
Driving a caterham is like making love to a beautiful woman..... [insert gag of choice here]
Jonny
BaT
jleroux said:
you need to be SMOOOOOTH with it. Smooth with the steering, smooth with the throttle, smooth with the brakes.
There's loads of grip and it'll turn on a sixpence so if you yank at the wheel you're going to spin.
There's no ABS and it's proper light so if you stab at the brakes you're going to lock the wheels.
There's no traction control, no weight over the driven wheels and it's got an LSD, so if you're binary with the throttle you're going to light up the tyres which means (best case scenario) a massive drift and (worse case scenario) a massive spin.
Driving a caterham is like making love to a beautiful woman..... [insert gag of choice here]
Jonny
BaT
Hi Jonny, There's loads of grip and it'll turn on a sixpence so if you yank at the wheel you're going to spin.
There's no ABS and it's proper light so if you stab at the brakes you're going to lock the wheels.
There's no traction control, no weight over the driven wheels and it's got an LSD, so if you're binary with the throttle you're going to light up the tyres which means (best case scenario) a massive drift and (worse case scenario) a massive spin.
Driving a caterham is like making love to a beautiful woman..... [insert gag of choice here]
Jonny
BaT
You've been talking to my brother Ciaran. I thought you might be on here!
I'm always smooth with my inputs so shouldn't be a problem.
As I thought, no surprises. Thanx for the advice.
See you on the 16th
Sean
I think your biggest problem will be stopping looking like a cheshire cat as you will be grinning so much!!
All Caterhams, (mine is a R300 SV, but corner weighted, rake tested, 13 wheels, CR500's etc, vary with their limit handling as their specs and set ups vary so much, but as yours has a lsd, do not be tempted to use the power too early in the tighter corners as you fill find the nose drifting out. Also try a little trail braking or really more like trailing throttle on the entrance to tightening slower corners as this will keep the front tucked in.
A safe driving approach I find works well on a strange circuit is to leave your braking distances (relatively)long and so keeping your approach to the corner smooth and balanced,(it can still be very fast) then feel the feedback from your turn-in, to help get the corner right, both pre and post apex. The idea is to build speed to the max "around" the corner first, but wait to shorten braking distances until you get the entrance speed just right and are achieving consistent corner car balance and tidy exits. Only then bring your braking distances shorter, this avoids arriving at the corner too rushed to take the corner at best speed in a nicely balanced style.
I think the most common track day driving problem, when in unsophisticated but fast cars on tracks you are not fully familiar with, is arriving at too many corners simply not ready for the corner.
So learn to drive around each corner (particularly noting things like run off area, barriers etc)as best as you can, consistently, only then should you shorten your braking distances down to the minimum.
That way there should be no suprises! and have fun, Anglesey is a tricky track to learn as some of the corners (depends on which track layout) are blind, adverse cambered, and the longer faster ones hairy!
All Caterhams, (mine is a R300 SV, but corner weighted, rake tested, 13 wheels, CR500's etc, vary with their limit handling as their specs and set ups vary so much, but as yours has a lsd, do not be tempted to use the power too early in the tighter corners as you fill find the nose drifting out. Also try a little trail braking or really more like trailing throttle on the entrance to tightening slower corners as this will keep the front tucked in.
A safe driving approach I find works well on a strange circuit is to leave your braking distances (relatively)long and so keeping your approach to the corner smooth and balanced,(it can still be very fast) then feel the feedback from your turn-in, to help get the corner right, both pre and post apex. The idea is to build speed to the max "around" the corner first, but wait to shorten braking distances until you get the entrance speed just right and are achieving consistent corner car balance and tidy exits. Only then bring your braking distances shorter, this avoids arriving at the corner too rushed to take the corner at best speed in a nicely balanced style.
I think the most common track day driving problem, when in unsophisticated but fast cars on tracks you are not fully familiar with, is arriving at too many corners simply not ready for the corner.
So learn to drive around each corner (particularly noting things like run off area, barriers etc)as best as you can, consistently, only then should you shorten your braking distances down to the minimum.
That way there should be no suprises! and have fun, Anglesey is a tricky track to learn as some of the corners (depends on which track layout) are blind, adverse cambered, and the longer faster ones hairy!
jleroux said:
jpivey said:
Best advise as its a bookatrack day would be to have a session of instruction with the oldest instructor in the world, Great Uncle Howard Hunt
It's true - the first session of tuition he ever gave was stood in front of the car holding a flag :-)Jonny
BaT
seanlazyass said:
I understand the basics of RWD car control but was hoping for some detailed advice/experience on how a caterham handles on track?
1- utterly beautifully.2- this is a problem as you will be looking to sell the golf after about half a lap!
3- this would be expensive enough, but a boggo caterham even up to SL is not really any quicker on track than a well sorted Golfy, so you will want a powerfull caterham, which unfortunatly is not cheap ;(
norasport said:
I think your biggest problem will be stopping looking like a cheshire cat as you will be grinning so much!!
All Caterhams, (mine is a R300 SV, but corner weighted, rake tested, 13 wheels, CR500's etc, vary with their limit handling as their specs and set ups vary so much, but as yours has a lsd, do not be tempted to use the power too early in the tighter corners as you fill find the nose drifting out. Also try a little trail braking or really more like trailing throttle on the entrance to tightening slower corners as this will keep the front tucked in.
A safe driving approach I find works well on a strange circuit is to leave your braking distances (relatively)long and so keeping your approach to the corner smooth and balanced,(it can still be very fast) then feel the feedback from your turn-in, to help get the corner right, both pre and post apex. The idea is to build speed to the max "around" the corner first, but wait to shorten braking distances until you get the entrance speed just right and are achieving consistent corner car balance and tidy exits. Only then bring your braking distances shorter, this avoids arriving at the corner too rushed to take the corner at best speed in a nicely balanced style.
I think the most common track day driving problem, when in unsophisticated but fast cars on tracks you are not fully familiar with, is arriving at too many corners simply not ready for the corner.
So learn to drive around each corner (particularly noting things like run off area, barriers etc)as best as you can, consistently, only then should you shorten your braking distances down to the minimum.
That way there should be no suprises! and have fun, Anglesey is a tricky track to learn as some of the corners (depends on which track layout) are blind, adverse cambered, and the longer faster ones hairy!
Thank you very much for your reply. Excellent info!All Caterhams, (mine is a R300 SV, but corner weighted, rake tested, 13 wheels, CR500's etc, vary with their limit handling as their specs and set ups vary so much, but as yours has a lsd, do not be tempted to use the power too early in the tighter corners as you fill find the nose drifting out. Also try a little trail braking or really more like trailing throttle on the entrance to tightening slower corners as this will keep the front tucked in.
A safe driving approach I find works well on a strange circuit is to leave your braking distances (relatively)long and so keeping your approach to the corner smooth and balanced,(it can still be very fast) then feel the feedback from your turn-in, to help get the corner right, both pre and post apex. The idea is to build speed to the max "around" the corner first, but wait to shorten braking distances until you get the entrance speed just right and are achieving consistent corner car balance and tidy exits. Only then bring your braking distances shorter, this avoids arriving at the corner too rushed to take the corner at best speed in a nicely balanced style.
I think the most common track day driving problem, when in unsophisticated but fast cars on tracks you are not fully familiar with, is arriving at too many corners simply not ready for the corner.
So learn to drive around each corner (particularly noting things like run off area, barriers etc)as best as you can, consistently, only then should you shorten your braking distances down to the minimum.
That way there should be no suprises! and have fun, Anglesey is a tricky track to learn as some of the corners (depends on which track layout) are blind, adverse cambered, and the longer faster ones hairy!
iguana said:
seanlazyass said:
I understand the basics of RWD car control but was hoping for some detailed advice/experience on how a caterham handles on track?
1- utterly beautifully.2- this is a problem as you will be looking to sell the golf after about half a lap!
3- this would be expensive enough, but a boggo caterham even up to SL is not really any quicker on track than a well sorted Golfy, so you will want a powerfull caterham, which unfortunatly is not cheap ;(
Not sure about the golf thing. The superlight is very quick straight out the box. Much better with proper tyres (ACB10s). You have to work hard to get a golf to the same level.
Regarding the advice on driving a caterham, it's all good, but might be a little overdone. If you just build up in standard track day style, you'll be fine. Don't forget, in comparison with most rwd cars, the caterham is brilliantly chuckable, adjustable on the throttle and quite forbearing of bad things!!
Bert
Regarding the advice on driving a caterham, it's all good, but might be a little overdone. If you just build up in standard track day style, you'll be fine. Don't forget, in comparison with most rwd cars, the caterham is brilliantly chuckable, adjustable on the throttle and quite forbearing of bad things!!
Bert
jleroux said:
you need to be SMOOOOOTH with it. Smooth with the steering, smooth with the throttle, smooth with the brakes.
There's loads of grip and it'll turn on a sixpence so if you yank at the wheel you're going to spin.
There's no ABS and it's proper light so if you stab at the brakes you're going to lock the wheels.
There's no traction control, no weight over the driven wheels and it's got an LSD, so if you're binary with the throttle you're going to light up the tyres which means (best case scenario) a massive drift and (worse case scenario) a massive spin.
Driving a caterham is like making love to a beautiful woman..... [insert gag of choice here]
Jonny
BaT
.....give her too much poke and she'll light up early! There's loads of grip and it'll turn on a sixpence so if you yank at the wheel you're going to spin.
There's no ABS and it's proper light so if you stab at the brakes you're going to lock the wheels.
There's no traction control, no weight over the driven wheels and it's got an LSD, so if you're binary with the throttle you're going to light up the tyres which means (best case scenario) a massive drift and (worse case scenario) a massive spin.
Driving a caterham is like making love to a beautiful woman..... [insert gag of choice here]
Jonny
BaT
Sounds like some good advise, and someones going to have a lot of fun. Jealous.
- IM currently saving/planning/researching to buy a locost with the intention of taking it to some trackdays, and possably in the future racing it.
- I love the look of the car, and simple layout and engine and quite looking foward to it.
Daniel
- IM currently saving/planning/researching to buy a locost with the intention of taking it to some trackdays, and possably in the future racing it.
- I love the look of the car, and simple layout and engine and quite looking foward to it.
Daniel
I've had a single session in a BaT Cat late last year, although I am used to RWD:
Firstly the clutch will be a pain, but you'll get used to it.
Next, the brakes aren't servo assisted so you do need to properly press on them to get them to work.
Start getting into the caterham about 5 minutes before you want to set off. If you're not used to harnesses it'll take you ages.
Laugh at the heated rear screen switch.
As for the handling, it should be a good introduction to RWD as any. It telegraphs spinning from miles away.
And finally to re-iterate what everyone else is saying, be smooth. This is for everything, steering, brakes and throttle. Do NOT panic. If you feel the rear stepping out do NOT lift off, as it will almost certainly cause a spin. Gradually back off the throttle.
And finally finally, BaT have several instructors, so if you happen to not like the style of one, there are others.
Firstly the clutch will be a pain, but you'll get used to it.
Next, the brakes aren't servo assisted so you do need to properly press on them to get them to work.
Start getting into the caterham about 5 minutes before you want to set off. If you're not used to harnesses it'll take you ages.
Laugh at the heated rear screen switch.
As for the handling, it should be a good introduction to RWD as any. It telegraphs spinning from miles away.
And finally to re-iterate what everyone else is saying, be smooth. This is for everything, steering, brakes and throttle. Do NOT panic. If you feel the rear stepping out do NOT lift off, as it will almost certainly cause a spin. Gradually back off the throttle.
And finally finally, BaT have several instructors, so if you happen to not like the style of one, there are others.
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