2012
09/03
More progress...
I had to take the day off today to deal with a few errands, so I decided to devote the rest of the day to more race prep on the 7.
First off was to replace the steel bolts that hold the rear wings on with nylon bolts. The universal advice is that steel bolts are not a good idea in a race context. Although they are standard use on the road, collisions are a little more likely on the race track, and we have been told to expect several wings to be lost during the season. Apparently, the steel bolts hold the wing on so well that when the wing leaves, it can take parts of the skin with it - not a good idea. Worse, the steel bolts might just about keep hold of the wing, leaving it dangling and rubbing on the wheel - meaning the end of th...
First off was to replace the steel bolts that hold the rear wings on with nylon bolts. The universal advice is that steel bolts are not a good idea in a race context. Although they are standard use on the road, collisions are a little more likely on the race track, and we have been told to expect several wings to be lost during the season. Apparently, the steel bolts hold the wing on so well that when the wing leaves, it can take parts of the skin with it - not a good idea. Worse, the steel bolts might just about keep hold of the wing, leaving it dangling and rubbing on the wheel - meaning the end of th...
2011
27/11
More building...
A little more work on the build today. Yes, I know the car is officially finished, checked by Caterham, and officially declared road-legal, but there is actually a little more to do.
You see, there are certain items that are considered necessary for racing, but which cannot be brought within the rules of the IVA test. These need to be attended to after the car is registered; it seems that the IVA test demands a stricter compliance with rules than is required for the rest of the car's life - utter madness. Also, some of the items actually increase the safety of the car, but in a way that is deemed unacceptable - again, utter madness.
So, today I re-fitted the pull handle for the fire extinguisher and connected the cable to the e...
You see, there are certain items that are considered necessary for racing, but which cannot be brought within the rules of the IVA test. These need to be attended to after the car is registered; it seems that the IVA test demands a stricter compliance with rules than is required for the rest of the car's life - utter madness. Also, some of the items actually increase the safety of the car, but in a way that is deemed unacceptable - again, utter madness.
So, today I re-fitted the pull handle for the fire extinguisher and connected the cable to the e...
2011
31/10
Reflections
I was asked on Tyresmoke.net whether I would have built the car differently, had I had the benefit of hindsight? A very good question!
Well, I'd certainly do it a lot more confidently, although that might be a good or a bad thing!
My build order (front suspension, engine, diff, rear suspension, lights, trim, interior) was actually forced upon me by the late arrival of the diff. I had planned to fit the diff before the engine, but with hindsight this would be much harder as you then need to line up the gearbox tail with the propshaft whilst inching the engine into place on its mounts. There's quite enough to watch and worry about while the engine is going in, getting the gearbox to slide over the propshaft as well would have been a ni...
Well, I'd certainly do it a lot more confidently, although that might be a good or a bad thing!
My build order (front suspension, engine, diff, rear suspension, lights, trim, interior) was actually forced upon me by the late arrival of the diff. I had planned to fit the diff before the engine, but with hindsight this would be much harder as you then need to line up the gearbox tail with the propshaft whilst inching the engine into place on its mounts. There's quite enough to watch and worry about while the engine is going in, getting the gearbox to slide over the propshaft as well would have been a ni...
2011
26/10
TTFN
It's gone :-(
It's in good hands though. Caterham collected it this morning to take it back to Dartford for the post build check, and to sort out the IVA and registration.
The driver was surprised to be back so soon after dropping the kit off - three weeks is the shortest he has seen. Apparently, he recently collected a car that had been with the builder for 7 years... and was still far from being finished!
Hope to see it again soon, but exactly when will be dependent on officialdom... :-(
It's in good hands though. Caterham collected it this morning to take it back to Dartford for the post build check, and to sort out the IVA and registration.
The driver was surprised to be back so soon after dropping the kit off - three weeks is the shortest he has seen. Apparently, he recently collected a car that had been with the builder for 7 years... and was still far from being finished!
Hope to see it again soon, but exactly when will be dependent on officialdom... :-(
2011
23/10
Movement
I've been attending to the little bits and bobs here & there recently. Caterham are collecting the car for its post-build check on Wednesday, so it needs to be ready by then. However, there is one headline achievement that I'm going to mention straight away, because I'm excited!
***The Caterham has moved under its own power for the first time***
Yes, it has propelled itself. It is therefore a "car". And I made it. And it works. This is a quite incredible sense of satisfaction, totally different from just collecting a new car from a dealership. I really do recommend this to anyone with a modicum of mechanical ability. Basically, if you like cars, if you enjoyed playing with Meccano when you were little, and if you aren't th...
***The Caterham has moved under its own power for the first time***
Yes, it has propelled itself. It is therefore a "car". And I made it. And it works. This is a quite incredible sense of satisfaction, totally different from just collecting a new car from a dealership. I really do recommend this to anyone with a modicum of mechanical ability. Basically, if you like cars, if you enjoyed playing with Meccano when you were little, and if you aren't th...
