2011
20/11
Back to School
50-odd blokes descended on Caterham Midlands yesterday for the "2012 Academy Seminar", which could alternatively have been dubbed "Everything You Wanted To Know About The 2012 Academy But Were Too Afraid To Ask".
For me, this also gave a chance for a really long run in the 7, two hours there and two back adding 200 miles to the 7's tally and taking it to 400 miles... close to the 500 at which I can get rid of the running-in oil and put the proper Motorsport stuff in there instead. I seemed to be the only 7 in the carpark, though!
The run was useful to start getting the hang of the car. It is really quite different to any other that I driven, mainly due to the lack of space inside (perhaps I should slim down a bit?) and the very low ...
For me, this also gave a chance for a really long run in the 7, two hours there and two back adding 200 miles to the 7's tally and taking it to 400 miles... close to the 500 at which I can get rid of the running-in oil and put the proper Motorsport stuff in there instead. I seemed to be the only 7 in the carpark, though!
The run was useful to start getting the hang of the car. It is really quite different to any other that I driven, mainly due to the lack of space inside (perhaps I should slim down a bit?) and the very low ...
2012
15/02
A Testing Day
CAT : Academy Events
TAG :
COMMENTS : 0
Today was the "ARDS day" for my group, i.e. the day we take the "Association of Racing Drivers Schools" test. Quick spoiler: I passed! (as did everyone!)
I'm now a qualified racing driver, able to take part in competitive motorsport events in the UK. That feels quite odd, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.
The day was actually great fun. I did have to get up at a horrible time of the morning, due to Caterham's insistence that we all had to report to Castle Combe race circuit at 8am sharp (which we didn't, in fact). Other had to get up at worse times, though. One strong mug of coffee later and I was able to understand the concept of signing a bit of paper to say I was there.
We were then divided up into four groups of about...
I'm now a qualified racing driver, able to take part in competitive motorsport events in the UK. That feels quite odd, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.
The day was actually great fun. I did have to get up at a horrible time of the morning, due to Caterham's insistence that we all had to report to Castle Combe race circuit at 8am sharp (which we didn't, in fact). Other had to get up at worse times, though. One strong mug of coffee later and I was able to understand the concept of signing a bit of paper to say I was there.
We were then divided up into four groups of about...
2012
03/03
Set Up Nice and Proper
Today was the "Setup Day", where we were to learn the mysterious art of fine-tuning the car to suit the driver and the track in question. The venue was the Dartford factory, so I decided to drive my Caterham back to the factory where it wasn't made... nostalgia and all that.
The day started well - coffee, cakes, and chat. The cakes even had little Caterham logos on them - sweet! I refrained, though - lightness is everything. A good chance to catch up with everyone, including Tor, Alex and several others whose names I would remember just as well if I'd been reading their blogs for months like I have been Tor's & Alex's...
We also met Rachel Horgan, one of the official photographers for the Caterham racing series and wife of a f...
The day started well - coffee, cakes, and chat. The cakes even had little Caterham logos on them - sweet! I refrained, though - lightness is everything. A good chance to catch up with everyone, including Tor, Alex and several others whose names I would remember just as well if I'd been reading their blogs for months like I have been Tor's & Alex's...
We also met Rachel Horgan, one of the official photographers for the Caterham racing series and wife of a f...
2012
17/03
The Handling Day
CAT : Academy Events
TAG : Caterham, Academy, Handling Day, Silverstone, Sideways, Slalom
COMMENTS : 0
Our first (slightly) competitive event, the first event at which all the cars were needed, the first event with (almost) all of us in racing kit, today was the "Handling Day".
The intention was to help us get used to the style of a race day, and to teach us about the limit handling of our Sevens. In that regard, it was moderately successful.
I was looking forward to it because it sounded like good fun. In that regard, it succeeded in spades. I've had an absolutely fantastic day. Most of the time, I was grinning ear to ear (which is quite rare these days). I want to go back and do it all over again.
Rewinding slightly, the day started at 8am in a designated car park in the middle of the Silverstone race track. The instructions...
The intention was to help us get used to the style of a race day, and to teach us about the limit handling of our Sevens. In that regard, it was moderately successful.
I was looking forward to it because it sounded like good fun. In that regard, it succeeded in spades. I've had an absolutely fantastic day. Most of the time, I was grinning ear to ear (which is quite rare these days). I want to go back and do it all over again.
Rewinding slightly, the day started at 8am in a designated car park in the middle of the Silverstone race track. The instructions...
2012
18/03
More photos from yesterday
CAT : Academy Events
TAG : Caterham, Academy, Handling Day, Silverstone, Caterham Drive Experience
COMMENTS : 0
Some more photos from yesterday's handling day at Silverstone...