Advice on a race/ track day 7 please
Discussion
Hi
I am considering buying a 7 for the occasional race and track day and any advice would be appreciated. I already race a Formula Vauxhall Lotus single seater (badly - I am always at the back of the grid, but what great fun!) half a dozen times a year in the Monoposto series but I know that to improve I need some instruction. As a result I was considering getting a car to take on track days that would give me a similar "feel" to the single seater but could be used with an instructor in order to learn circuits and build cornering speed.
I would like the car to be road legal for the occasional blat and, as I live very close to Donington (1 mile) and Mallory, it would save the hassle of trailering the car short distance).
I would also like the option to race the car 3-4 times a season at the Midlands circuits - Donington, Mallory, Silverstone and maybe Cadwell and Oulton - and have thought about the 750mc series, although I am not wedded to this.
The choice of cars and mods is bewildering. The purchase budget could be about 12K. Any advice or shared experience would be welcome.
PS. I have also thought about Lotus Elise & Boxster (but delete racing options!) and even a 2 seat dedicated Sports Racer such as a VanDieman MultiSport or Nemesis Vauxhall Supersport (but delete road blat!)
I am considering buying a 7 for the occasional race and track day and any advice would be appreciated. I already race a Formula Vauxhall Lotus single seater (badly - I am always at the back of the grid, but what great fun!) half a dozen times a year in the Monoposto series but I know that to improve I need some instruction. As a result I was considering getting a car to take on track days that would give me a similar "feel" to the single seater but could be used with an instructor in order to learn circuits and build cornering speed.
I would like the car to be road legal for the occasional blat and, as I live very close to Donington (1 mile) and Mallory, it would save the hassle of trailering the car short distance).
I would also like the option to race the car 3-4 times a season at the Midlands circuits - Donington, Mallory, Silverstone and maybe Cadwell and Oulton - and have thought about the 750mc series, although I am not wedded to this.
The choice of cars and mods is bewildering. The purchase budget could be about 12K. Any advice or shared experience would be welcome.
PS. I have also thought about Lotus Elise & Boxster (but delete racing options!) and even a 2 seat dedicated Sports Racer such as a VanDieman MultiSport or Nemesis Vauxhall Supersport (but delete road blat!)
You should be able to pick up an accademy car for that price
Try- www.caterham.co.uk/showroom/preowned/c7showroom.php?tid=6
Try- www.caterham.co.uk/showroom/preowned/c7showroom.php?tid=6
having run FVL, caterhams and westfields - you won't get the FVL feel in a 7. Quite different to drive.
If you are after a good instructor speak to www.simonmason.com you can always use his car to save the hassle of buying another car
if you sell the FVL let me know
if you want a very fast very reliable 7 that its race prepared mine will shortly be for sale - its on the www.racecardoctor.com website and also www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk under projects
If you are after a good instructor speak to www.simonmason.com you can always use his car to save the hassle of buying another car
if you sell the FVL let me know
if you want a very fast very reliable 7 that its race prepared mine will shortly be for sale - its on the www.racecardoctor.com website and also www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk under projects
Hi,
Take a serious look at the Graduates racing club. www.graduates.org.uk.
There are 3 classes, 2 of which will be on interest to you.
Graduates class (for live axle 1600cc 8v engines from the caterahm academy between 1995-2000)
Super graduates (for post 2001 academy cars with 1600 Kseries engines).
Both these classes have road legal spec, indeed some people have driven to races. It suits occasional races and novices very well. There are several people who do a couple of races a year and people how dont have strong ambitions to be at the front (with a grids of 40 cars thats most of us!). The club structures prizes so even if you are at the back you stand a chance of a bit of recognition (best improvers award etc.). The club is very cost aware, for example the grads race on A539s, and supers on a0048Rs, both of which are no more than £50quid a corner and have reasonable wear rates. The specs dont leave much to change, except brake pads and Anti-roll bars, this keeps the cars very equal and promotes close racing.
Cars vary in price, but a grads spec car can be yours for 6-8k, and a supers car for 8-13k depending on age and condition. see the for sale section on site above.
regards
h
Take a serious look at the Graduates racing club. www.graduates.org.uk.
There are 3 classes, 2 of which will be on interest to you.
Graduates class (for live axle 1600cc 8v engines from the caterahm academy between 1995-2000)
Super graduates (for post 2001 academy cars with 1600 Kseries engines).
Both these classes have road legal spec, indeed some people have driven to races. It suits occasional races and novices very well. There are several people who do a couple of races a year and people how dont have strong ambitions to be at the front (with a grids of 40 cars thats most of us!). The club structures prizes so even if you are at the back you stand a chance of a bit of recognition (best improvers award etc.). The club is very cost aware, for example the grads race on A539s, and supers on a0048Rs, both of which are no more than £50quid a corner and have reasonable wear rates. The specs dont leave much to change, except brake pads and Anti-roll bars, this keeps the cars very equal and promotes close racing.
Cars vary in price, but a grads spec car can be yours for 6-8k, and a supers car for 8-13k depending on age and condition. see the for sale section on site above.
regards
h
Racecardoctor,
Thanks for the reply - I appreciate your point about a 7 not representing the feel of an FVL single seater but I can't think of anything that will in reality. I was hoping that the 7 might be a reasonable compromise, especially as I would really like the option of driving it on the road and, maybe, in the odd race. OK, so I am probably asking for the impossible!
I drove an Elise S2 a while back on the South circuit at Silverstone and that felt (a bit) like the single seater but may be a bit out of my budget. I have also thought about a Porsche 968 Club Sport.
I suppose I am looking for something that has a bit more of the "raw" feel of a single seater with good cornering performance, even if it does not fully represent the actual dynamic performance. The 7 may not be the ideal vehicle for what I want but perhaps its the closest for the money I have available?? If not what else would be recommended? I suppose, of all my requirement, I could delete the ability to race the chosen vehicle most easily.
As for getting in touch with Simon Masson, I have heard his name a few times and will certainly consider him. I do need some instruction but I don't reckon there's much point in him taking me round in my current vehicle - an Audi quattro, great car but not for the track.
Thanks for the reply - I appreciate your point about a 7 not representing the feel of an FVL single seater but I can't think of anything that will in reality. I was hoping that the 7 might be a reasonable compromise, especially as I would really like the option of driving it on the road and, maybe, in the odd race. OK, so I am probably asking for the impossible!
I drove an Elise S2 a while back on the South circuit at Silverstone and that felt (a bit) like the single seater but may be a bit out of my budget. I have also thought about a Porsche 968 Club Sport.
I suppose I am looking for something that has a bit more of the "raw" feel of a single seater with good cornering performance, even if it does not fully represent the actual dynamic performance. The 7 may not be the ideal vehicle for what I want but perhaps its the closest for the money I have available?? If not what else would be recommended? I suppose, of all my requirement, I could delete the ability to race the chosen vehicle most easily.
As for getting in touch with Simon Masson, I have heard his name a few times and will certainly consider him. I do need some instruction but I don't reckon there's much point in him taking me round in my current vehicle - an Audi quattro, great car but not for the track.
Edited by andy97 on Friday 14th July 08:04
You can find various specs of race caterhams for sale that are road legal and usually excellent value - despite being newer and often far better maintained/set up than the road cars they don't retain value nearly as well. Roadsports A cars are probably the best road legal spec you are likely to get for that budget, I've seen some good ones go for about that. MEga grads cars are the next best option, followed by super grads/roadsports B cars and academy cars. The LSD and 6-speed box of the RS-A cars make them worth the extra IMHO, though the boxes can be trouble they are much nicer to use. As and when I finally get another Caterham fopr trackdays I intend to buy a RS-A spec.
Edited by jwyatt on Friday 14th July 09:57
I agree with James, of all the caterham combinations my favourite is a 1.6k with the 6 speed box and crucially the 3.9 limited diff - you will get some road cars in this spec ( I currently run one)
it'll feel very wallowy and vague at the front compared with the FVL but raw compared to a road car - a half way house really. Problem with caterhams is that they tend to be pricey for what they are despite a recent price drop on the second hand market, however you can always argue that you get the money back when you sell it, but I'm not sure that always happens in the real world!
If you are running the FVL in monoposto I'd be tempted to just get some instruction, you'll be suprised how you can transfer the information learnt in another car to the FVL. The FVL has reasonably soft suspension for a single seater and feels more car than kart like compared to F3/FR. I really miss mine...
it'll feel very wallowy and vague at the front compared with the FVL but raw compared to a road car - a half way house really. Problem with caterhams is that they tend to be pricey for what they are despite a recent price drop on the second hand market, however you can always argue that you get the money back when you sell it, but I'm not sure that always happens in the real world!
If you are running the FVL in monoposto I'd be tempted to just get some instruction, you'll be suprised how you can transfer the information learnt in another car to the FVL. The FVL has reasonably soft suspension for a single seater and feels more car than kart like compared to F3/FR. I really miss mine...
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