Caterham academy....
Discussion
Morning 
I'm doing the accademy this year, and would reccomend it to anyone
have a look at the accademy website but not right now as it's currently down
In response to your questions
Money, Dunno really as we've only just done the first event but in addition to the car I've bought
2 fibreglass seats £160 (Caterham ones are £550)
MSA transponder £100 (I got mine second hand they're about £200 new)
I upgraded my tow car £1500
I borrow a trailer but you'll probably want to buy one £1400
To be competitive you'll need to test at as many circuits as possible I've spent £500 on track days some have spent a lot more
Accomodation, again I've spent nothing but you may want to budget for a night in a hotel for each event
>> nomex race suit £200, Lid £250, boots £80, gloves £30, odds and sodds + VAT race wear came to £650, but you could easily pay £2k if you wanted
You'll get the money back on the trailer and transponder. Worth pointing out that I didn't have to buy any tools either
Experience, I'd only done one track day in a car before the season started and only did the accademy track day (included in the accademy package) before the first event (skint) some people had done 10 in their accademy cars, and I still managed a respecable 5th
Mechanical knowledge, I used to work in a garage so I'm probably not the person to ask. IMHO the build is ludicrously straight forward, I built mine in 43 hours. Caterham will build it for you for £2,500, but that's half the fun I think. When the accademy site is back up have a look at Charles Elliots build diary, he did it last year and had very limited mechanical knowledge when he started
>> edited to add stuff I forgot that I bought
>> Edited by Incorrigible on Wednesday 18th May 10:43
I'm doing the accademy this year, and would reccomend it to anyone
have a look at the accademy website but not right now as it's currently down
In response to your questions
Money, Dunno really as we've only just done the first event but in addition to the car I've bought
2 fibreglass seats £160 (Caterham ones are £550)
MSA transponder £100 (I got mine second hand they're about £200 new)
I upgraded my tow car £1500
I borrow a trailer but you'll probably want to buy one £1400
To be competitive you'll need to test at as many circuits as possible I've spent £500 on track days some have spent a lot more
Accomodation, again I've spent nothing but you may want to budget for a night in a hotel for each event
>> nomex race suit £200, Lid £250, boots £80, gloves £30, odds and sodds + VAT race wear came to £650, but you could easily pay £2k if you wanted
You'll get the money back on the trailer and transponder. Worth pointing out that I didn't have to buy any tools either
Experience, I'd only done one track day in a car before the season started and only did the accademy track day (included in the accademy package) before the first event (skint) some people had done 10 in their accademy cars, and I still managed a respecable 5th
Mechanical knowledge, I used to work in a garage so I'm probably not the person to ask. IMHO the build is ludicrously straight forward, I built mine in 43 hours. Caterham will build it for you for £2,500, but that's half the fun I think. When the accademy site is back up have a look at Charles Elliots build diary, he did it last year and had very limited mechanical knowledge when he started
>> edited to add stuff I forgot that I bought
>> Edited by Incorrigible on Wednesday 18th May 10:43
This is a competitor's website from last year, showing his budget:
www.academy-racer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11
Add on contingency for any damage, petrol to get to/from everywhere, B&Bs (unless you do it on the cheap and camp), food/drink for you and any crew you bring, etc. Many people also do trackdays at the circuits before the events, especially on ones they're not familiar with - more cost.
Click around and you'll find his build diary, etc.
The front of the pack is mainly people who've done lots of trackdays, some with caterham experience, so are pretty quick - it's certainly not a field of complete beginners.
www.academy-racer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11
Add on contingency for any damage, petrol to get to/from everywhere, B&Bs (unless you do it on the cheap and camp), food/drink for you and any crew you bring, etc. Many people also do trackdays at the circuits before the events, especially on ones they're not familiar with - more cost.
Click around and you'll find his build diary, etc.
The front of the pack is mainly people who've done lots of trackdays, some with caterham experience, so are pretty quick - it's certainly not a field of complete beginners.
sjg said:Worth mentioning that half the field are complete beginners though
The front of the pack is mainly people who've done lots of trackdays, some with caterham experience, so are pretty quick - it's certainly not a field of complete beginners.
Compare that to something like Locost racing, which will probably be more ecconomical, where the only beginner will be you
Incorrigible said:
Mechanical knowledge, I used to work in a garage so I'm probably not the person to ask. IMHO the build is ludicrously straight forward, I built mine in 43 hours. Caterham will build it for you for £2,500, but that's half the fun I think. When the accademy site is back up have a look at Charles Elliots build diary, he did it last year and had very limited mechanical knowledge when he started
You just need to be able to read
I helped a bit with Ben's build and as he says it is very straight forward.
good darts sir jacjac said:
Hello I have recently ordered an accademy car for next season - 2006. Can anyone offer any advise on running the car as a business advertising expence?
No chance if you're driving the car yourself. Obvious scope for abuse. Your business sponsoring another driver would be acceptable. Let me know if you'd rather do this than drive yourself next year
'No chance if you're driving the car yourself.'
How do you know? My tax advisors and accountants says it will be no problem. Have you personal experience of trying to put these expenses thru your business and been knocked back or something?
In my case its not Caterhams I'm racing but I don't see why that should make any difference.
How do you know? My tax advisors and accountants says it will be no problem. Have you personal experience of trying to put these expenses thru your business and been knocked back or something?
In my case its not Caterhams I'm racing but I don't see why that should make any difference.
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