Tuesday 21st September 2010

PH Fleet Update: On Track At Rockingham

We take our Caterham Seven, M6 (and Defender-and-trailer) for some fun at 'The Rock'

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It's a hard life on PH, chained to a computer keyboard all day writing and reading about cars, and generally feeding the ravenous beast that is the internet, so any chance to let our hair down on a track day is always appreciated (not much hair to let down in your case, Riggers - Ed), especially when it's on a 'school day'.

Oh all right, writing and chatting about cars all day is not even remotely a chore, but even then a chance to get out of the office to blow away those high-speed cobwebs is always great, and the chance to meet like-minded PHers is a bonus.

It was in this spirit that myself, Garlick and editor Chris-R met up at the PH Rockingham track day on Monday, Chris in the PH fleet M6 and Garlick and me towing the PH Caterham Academy racer with our ever-dutiful Defender.

Chris-R rapidly realised that the M6 would eat its tyres in minutes should he plumb the depths of its undoubted pace, so he kept its track action to a minimum, sharing instead the Caterham passenger seat with Mr Garlick as I did my best to scare them out on the twisty, technical and challenging turns of 'The Rock'.

Riggers in 'doing stuff' shock

Mind you, the 125bhp and meagre grip on offer from Academy-spec ultra-hard compound tyres doesn't exactly make the little Seven an exhilarating thrill ride from the passenger seat, despite it being enormous fun from behind the wheel.

Fortunately, I was able to provide a little extra spice for my passengers. As the car was fresh from the final round of the PistonHeads.com Caterham Academy championship at Mallory Park (read all about it on PH soon), its passenger seat and belts were still in the back of the Landie and I had to replace them in situ.

Being chucked around Rockingham with a seat and belts installed by somebody as mechanically inept as me must surely have added an extra adrenaline rush to the whole experience...

Garlick: are you sure those belts are bolted in tight?

'There's a start button here somewhere...'

[kriss]

I have never thought of hitting Rockingham for a track day. I have a similar kit car with a Bike Engine, and thinking about it, I reckon its a corker if you use the inside tracks.

How did Riggers get on?

[TuxMan]

Good track alround and defo suited the smaller cars but still a blast !!! great to see Pistonheads organise this event and i hope we see many more !!!! those that did not make the effort to go missed out on a cracking day !!!

[ArosaMike]

Hope you gave some people a flavor of the Academy mate :P.....well....the good bits and not the roly poly bits

Well done on Sunday by the way. There's no way your fellow hacks can poke fun at you for your driving anymore! When you're sitting in that LMP1 Audi cockpit in a couple of years, remember where it all began

p.s. I hear rumors of a possible Croft appearance?

[HowardB]

any choice bits on video?