2012
13/05
Curburough Sprint, 12 May 2012
Yesterday we assembled at Curburough, near Lichfield in the Midlands where I grew up, for the second of our sprints.
After the gentle introduction that was Aintree, Curburough presents a new range of challenges - far more complex than the three bends of Aintree. So on the one hand, there is a lot more to think about and less time between the corners to do it in, but on the other hand there are fewer long straights to make the preceding corner crucial to a good time. More to work out, therefore, but also more latitude to experiment without ruining everything.
Preparation was, err, "interesting" this time. Faced with a childcare crisis as my wife needed to be elsewhere all weekend, but blessed with family near to Curburough, we dec...
After the gentle introduction that was Aintree, Curburough presents a new range of challenges - far more complex than the three bends of Aintree. So on the one hand, there is a lot more to think about and less time between the corners to do it in, but on the other hand there are fewer long straights to make the preceding corner crucial to a good time. More to work out, therefore, but also more latitude to experiment without ruining everything.
Preparation was, err, "interesting" this time. Faced with a childcare crisis as my wife needed to be elsewhere all weekend, but blessed with family near to Curburough, we dec...
2012
06/05
Aintree Sprint, 28 April 2012
Last Saturday (28 April) was our first real competitive event, a "sprint" at the Aintree course.
For those that don't know, a "sprint" event is one where we each take to the track alone, and drive along a defined course. The person with the best time wins, simple as that. The Academy starts with three sprints, to get us used to motorsport and the way that it is organised before we are thrown into a proper full race with 25 other Caterham 7s buzzing around us.
For me, the first surprise was that Aintree was a motorsport venue. To me, it is a place for racing horses, not cars. It turns out that my knowledge of motorsport history is severely lacking, as it is a former home of the British Grand Prix in the 50s and 60s and a famous ...
For those that don't know, a "sprint" event is one where we each take to the track alone, and drive along a defined course. The person with the best time wins, simple as that. The Academy starts with three sprints, to get us used to motorsport and the way that it is organised before we are thrown into a proper full race with 25 other Caterham 7s buzzing around us.
For me, the first surprise was that Aintree was a motorsport venue. To me, it is a place for racing horses, not cars. It turns out that my knowledge of motorsport history is severely lacking, as it is a former home of the British Grand Prix in the 50s and 60s and a famous ...
2012
27/04
Testing, Testing...
(Just a quick note before I set off for the Aintree Sprint tomorrow, am insanely busy with work at the moment...)
We all nipped up to Castle Combe for a test day last week. To say it was wet would be an understatement! In a way, that was good; I've not pushed the 7 much in proper wet conditions, so the day gave a lot of experience in that. I think I did more opposite-locking in one day than I have in my entire driving career to date!
We all nipped up to Castle Combe for a test day last week. To say it was wet would be an understatement! In a way, that was good; I've not pushed the 7 much in proper wet conditions, so the day gave a lot of experience in that. I think I did more opposite-locking in one day than I have in my entire driving career to date!
2012
30/03
Finishing Touches
I decided that even with the race stickers fitted, there was still a last vestige of taste about the car. So I've fixed that with two choice additions.
The tax disc holder was a Christmas present, and the Union Jack has been hanging around for a while.
The tax disc holder was a Christmas present, and the Union Jack has been hanging around for a while.
2012
25/03
Stickering up
The Caterham Academy is sponsored - there are companies out there who pay good money to be associated with it. Whether that money makes it cheaper for us to take part, or just lines Caterham's coffers, I don't know, but either way it is in the Academy regulations that we must display the prescribed stickers in the prescribed places.
We were given the stickers last week. Today is such a lovely day that I decided to slap them on. Here's some photos, a timelapse, and links to some of the sponsors who are lovely people whose websites you should visit and whose products you should all spend lots of money on.
We were given the stickers last week. Today is such a lovely day that I decided to slap them on. Here's some photos, a timelapse, and links to some of the sponsors who are lovely people whose websites you should visit and whose products you should all spend lots of money on.
