Can i track this

Author
Discussion

CGraham

Original Poster:

11 posts

157 months

Friday 12th March 2021
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Hi all

Im looking at a 2002 1.8 k series caterham with circa 26k miles on the clock with good service history but not been tracked.. being new to the Caterham world and this being a 20 year old car do you think taking it on track would be ok or am i asking for trouble ,how robust are they at this age ?

Your thoughts appreciated
Graham

andy97

4,729 posts

228 months

Friday 12th March 2021
quotequote all
CGraham said:
Hi all

Im looking at a 2002 1.8 k series caterham with circa 26k miles on the clock with good service history but not been tracked.. being new to the Caterham world and this being a 20 year old car do you think taking it on track would be ok or am i asking for trouble ,how robust are they at this age ?

Your thoughts appreciated
Graham
Just get it checked over, and set up, preferably by an outfit or person that knows what to look for in a track Caterham and go for it. Being such a lightweight car it should have been pretty under stressed so shouldn’t be suffering from too much wear issues if it has been looked after.
Where are you based? Plenty of people will be able to recommend decent help.

CGraham

Original Poster:

11 posts

157 months

Friday 12th March 2021
quotequote all
Thanks Andy

Im in Cheshire so Oakmere not too far away.. thanks for the wise words

andy97

4,729 posts

228 months

Friday 12th March 2021
quotequote all
CGraham said:
Thanks Andy

Im in Cheshire so Oakmere not too far away.. thanks for the wise words
See if Oakmere will do a pre-purchase inspection.

BertBert

19,519 posts

217 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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There's no reason in general not to track old cars! Both my 69 911 and 63 Elan area very happy there.

A caterham is born for the track so provided it's all together and it's checked for issues like any other car to go on track, it'll be great!

Bert

Tazio77

224 posts

268 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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Nothing against Oakmere, but I'd take it to someone who has the relevant experience of setting up a car for the track.

Stuart70

3,984 posts

189 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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I had my 2002 R300 on the track regularly. Oil change, brake pads and tyres.

All good fun

AndrewGP

2,011 posts

168 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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I completely agree with the above posters, Caterhams are very at home on track so it'd be a shame not to.

As said, a decent inspection to make sure the suspension, brakes and tyres are all good is a must. The only other thing I'd add is it's most likely a wet sumped car (which is sensitive to oil level on track), so make sure the oil level is at max throughout the day. The K Series dipstick is a bugger to read correctly though due to the crappy little piece of yellow plastic on the end.

Wah00

79 posts

133 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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I’d take it to Kendrick Motors in Llangollen , ask for Clive or Robert . By the way it’s only 20 mins from Chester.

Gulf7

318 posts

64 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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Find out what the roll bar requirements are for the TDO you're going to go on track with. For example, some require a full roll cage, and others require the track day roll bar as a minimum...

BertBert

19,519 posts

217 months

Sunday 14th March 2021
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Gulf7 said:
Find out what the roll bar requirements are for the TDO you're going to go on track with. For example, some require a full roll cage, and others require the track day roll bar as a minimum...
I think it's only the L7 club that had those requirements I'm not sure if they still do. I've not come across any other TDO that does.

Gulf7

318 posts

64 months

Sunday 14th March 2021
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BertBert said:
I think it's only the L7 club that had those requirements I'm not sure if they still do. I've not come across any other TDO that does.
L7C require the track day bar as a minimum. Lotus on Track require an FIA bar (track day bar with petty strut) as a minimum.

BertBert

19,519 posts

217 months

Sunday 14th March 2021
quotequote all
Gulf7 said:
BertBert said:
I think it's only the L7 club that had those requirements I'm not sure if they still do. I've not come across any other TDO that does.
L7C require the track day bar as a minimum. Lotus on Track require an FIA bar (track day bar with petty strut) as a minimum.
Well, well, well! Apparently...

LoT said:
All cars that are registered after 1995, with the exception of Lotus, VX220/Speedster, Alpine, Ferrari, McLaren & Porsche must be fitted with a full 6 point approved roll-cage, unless prior approval is given in writing by Paul Golding.

Gulf7

318 posts

64 months

Sunday 14th March 2021
quotequote all
BertBert said:
Well, well, well! Apparently...

LoT said:
All cars that are registered after 1995, with the exception of Lotus, VX220/Speedster, Alpine, Ferrari, McLaren & Porsche must be fitted with a full 6 point approved roll-cage, unless prior approval is given in writing by Paul Golding.
There's a specific clause for Caterhams:

LoT said:
Caterham type vehicles must be fitted with a full 6 point approved roll-cage at Spa Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Dijon, Le Mans, Bilster Berg & Zolder. At all other circuits Caterham type vehicles must be fitted with an FIA/Motorsport UK/FFSA/RACB approved Roll Over Protection system(ROPs), although we recommend a full FIA approved roll-cage.
I have the track day roll bar but don't want to drill my car for a petty strut (without which Caterham have confirmed that the track day bar isn't FIA approved). So I'll be doing track days with L7C.

Edited by Gulf7 on Monday 15th March 07:00

BertBert

19,519 posts

217 months

Sunday 14th March 2021
quotequote all
Gulf7 said:
I have the track day roll bar but don't want to drill my car for a petty strut (without which Caterham have confirmed that the track day bar isn't FIA approved). So I'll be doing track days with L7C.
Understood. although the petty strut hole isn't that onerous. I drilled mine back in the day.

Gulf7

318 posts

64 months

Monday 15th March 2021
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BertBert said:
Understood. although the petty strut hole isn't that onerous. I drilled mine back in the day.
I think on a new car it requires holes drilling doesn't it? It also means you can't take a passenger out on track.

Edited by Gulf7 on Wednesday 24th March 20:05

BertBert

19,519 posts

217 months

Monday 15th March 2021
quotequote all
I'm not all that well up on modern ones, specifically the current track day roll bar. Has it been FIA approved with a bracing mechanism? The original FIA bar just has one straight strut with one bush in the side to bolt it to.

But yes, it stops you taking a pax.

BertBert

19,519 posts

217 months

Saturday 20th March 2021
quotequote all
Just reread this as I didn't read it properly.I'm surprised that the roll bar has to be drilled. The original fia bars had a bush welded in As you'd expect.

My suspicion is that this isn't correct and that the bar you are looking at isn't an FIA bar. And doesn't work with a strut.

But it's only a suspicion!

Bert

mic

376 posts

239 months

Saturday 20th March 2021
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Its the side interior panels that need to be drilled for the mounting bush.

justleanitupabit

203 posts

113 months

Saturday 20th March 2021
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Tazio77 said:
Nothing against Oakmere, but I'd take it to someone who has the relevant experience of setting up a car for the track.
The MD of Oakmere has been racing Caterhams for years....