Discussion
Greetings!
Having been a distant observer of Pistonheads for some time- I finally signed up today. Of much greater excitement is that I collect the keys to my first Caterham on Friday....!!!!
I've long been a fan and spending some time in various different versions on the run to Le Mans 05- My pub-talk finally turned into pounds a couple of weeks ago.
After all the usual research, a good like-minded friend and I are going in on a 50:50 basis on an '02 1.8 Supersport with 3k miles from Caterham Midlands. We figured that doubling up would allow more bang for our bucks and having spent hours discussing every eventuality and drawing up a draft 'contract' we took the plunge 10 days ago and I am the lucky bu**er who gets to pick it up on Friday....
Any tips on decent roads from Hinkley to Suffolk- avoiding the A 14? The forecast is not great and thank God it has a heater- but I really cannot wait...
Thanks for all your help- this forum has proven invaluable with all our planning, ideas, choices\ etc...
Looking forward to plenty of banter
Charlie
Having been a distant observer of Pistonheads for some time- I finally signed up today. Of much greater excitement is that I collect the keys to my first Caterham on Friday....!!!!
I've long been a fan and spending some time in various different versions on the run to Le Mans 05- My pub-talk finally turned into pounds a couple of weeks ago.
After all the usual research, a good like-minded friend and I are going in on a 50:50 basis on an '02 1.8 Supersport with 3k miles from Caterham Midlands. We figured that doubling up would allow more bang for our bucks and having spent hours discussing every eventuality and drawing up a draft 'contract' we took the plunge 10 days ago and I am the lucky bu**er who gets to pick it up on Friday....
Any tips on decent roads from Hinkley to Suffolk- avoiding the A 14? The forecast is not great and thank God it has a heater- but I really cannot wait...
Thanks for all your help- this forum has proven invaluable with all our planning, ideas, choices\ etc...
Looking forward to plenty of banter
Charlie
I'd be feeling very envious, if I hadn't picked up my first caterham barely a month ago 
Where abouts in Suffolk are you headed? I know plenty of Caterham friendly B-roads around Bury St Edmunds and Thetford
You'll undoubtedly have a superb time, even if you loose your map and do end up on the A14!
Hope the weather holds for you too.
Cheers,
Phillip
Where abouts in Suffolk are you headed? I know plenty of Caterham friendly B-roads around Bury St Edmunds and Thetford
You'll undoubtedly have a superb time, even if you loose your map and do end up on the A14!
Hope the weather holds for you too.
Cheers,
Phillip
Thanks Philip
I'm based in the Newmarket area and have already ear-marked a number of decent B roads for this weekend in the triangle between Newmarket, BSE & Haverhill. Also looking forward to some blasts up to the coast in the summer- taking the B roads from Stowmarket area up to Woodbridge / Aldburgh etc... Although a tad concerned about the volume of tourist traffic and it's ability to drive totally oblivious to all other road traffic!
How are you getting on with yours? She looks fantastic in the photograph on your profile. When does the excitement wear off? I have been like a 5 year old before Christmas since putting down the deposit and I'm 31!
Look forward to sharing thoughts via PH
Charlie
I'm based in the Newmarket area and have already ear-marked a number of decent B roads for this weekend in the triangle between Newmarket, BSE & Haverhill. Also looking forward to some blasts up to the coast in the summer- taking the B roads from Stowmarket area up to Woodbridge / Aldburgh etc... Although a tad concerned about the volume of tourist traffic and it's ability to drive totally oblivious to all other road traffic!
How are you getting on with yours? She looks fantastic in the photograph on your profile. When does the excitement wear off? I have been like a 5 year old before Christmas since putting down the deposit and I'm 31!
Look forward to sharing thoughts via PH
Charlie
Hi Charlie,
It’s better than I ever expected. What I love most are the little rituals involved before I get going – a few mechanical checks here and there, then getting into the damn thing, fiddling with the harnesses and then savouring a wonderful moment of silence before turning the key and hearing that exhaust note! No other car I’ve owned makes driving such an event!
It’s been great fun going to see my family and friends in Suffolk and taking the car around all the country roads that I know and love. The discovery of a few B-road routes from London to Bury mean I’ll never roll a tyre on the M11 again!
My new favourite is the A143 from Bury to Haverhill and then the B1057 to Great Dunmore. I’m really looking forward to getting some Toyo R888s on the car (useless Michelin Pilots at the moment), because there are some superb twisty sequences than I’m washing out on a bit
If you even need to urgently get from Stowmarket to Botesdale, I’d thoroughly recommend the B1113 too!
See you out on the lanes soon, no doubt. Oh, and if you get the chance, the Suffolk/Norfolk Club meets are good value too.
Enjoy!
Phillip
It’s better than I ever expected. What I love most are the little rituals involved before I get going – a few mechanical checks here and there, then getting into the damn thing, fiddling with the harnesses and then savouring a wonderful moment of silence before turning the key and hearing that exhaust note! No other car I’ve owned makes driving such an event!
It’s been great fun going to see my family and friends in Suffolk and taking the car around all the country roads that I know and love. The discovery of a few B-road routes from London to Bury mean I’ll never roll a tyre on the M11 again!
My new favourite is the A143 from Bury to Haverhill and then the B1057 to Great Dunmore. I’m really looking forward to getting some Toyo R888s on the car (useless Michelin Pilots at the moment), because there are some superb twisty sequences than I’m washing out on a bit
If you even need to urgently get from Stowmarket to Botesdale, I’d thoroughly recommend the B1113 too!
See you out on the lanes soon, no doubt. Oh, and if you get the chance, the Suffolk/Norfolk Club meets are good value too.
Enjoy!
Phillip
Charlie,
I too have just got round to posting after reading the forums for a few months. I saw a used black R300 for sale on Caterhams website a few weeks ago. My partner and I popped over to the Surrey showroom and I fell in love with it and put down a deposit there and then. After waiting three weeks we picked up the keys last Saturday. The weather was perfect for the drive back - my second ever in a Caterham (the first being at Mallory Park on one of Everymans Single Seater Racing experiences)!
I've booked myself and the other half onto one of the Carlimits at North Weald in early April so we can learn to get the most out of it
Heather
I too have just got round to posting after reading the forums for a few months. I saw a used black R300 for sale on Caterhams website a few weeks ago. My partner and I popped over to the Surrey showroom and I fell in love with it and put down a deposit there and then
. After waiting three weeks we picked up the keys last Saturday. The weather was perfect for the drive back - my second ever in a Caterham (the first being at Mallory Park on one of Everymans Single Seater Racing experiences)! I've booked myself and the other half onto one of the Carlimits at North Weald in early April so we can learn to get the most out of it
Heather
Edited by h.phoenix on Wednesday 21st March 13:40
h.phoenix said:
Charlie,
I too have just got round to posting after reading the forums for a few months. I saw a used black R300 for sale on Caterhams website a few weeks ago. My partner and I popped over to the Surrey showroom and I fell in love with it and put down a deposit there and then. After waiting three weeks we picked up the keys last Saturday. The weather was perfect for the drive back - my second ever in a Caterham (the first being at Mallory Park on one of Everymans Single Seater Racing experiences)!
I've booked myself and the other half onto one of the Carlimits at North Weald in early April so we can learn to get the most out of it
Heather
I too have just got round to posting after reading the forums for a few months. I saw a used black R300 for sale on Caterhams website a few weeks ago. My partner and I popped over to the Surrey showroom and I fell in love with it and put down a deposit there and then
. After waiting three weeks we picked up the keys last Saturday. The weather was perfect for the drive back - my second ever in a Caterham (the first being at Mallory Park on one of Everymans Single Seater Racing experiences)! I've booked myself and the other half onto one of the Carlimits at North Weald in early April so we can learn to get the most out of it
Heather
Edited by h.phoenix on Wednesday 21st March 13:40
Was the black R300 by any chance the one with the bare Carbon Nose and cycle wings?
h.phoenix said:
I've booked myself and the other half onto one of the Carlimits at North Weald in early April so we can learn to get the most out of it
Heather
Hi,
I got my Caterham a few weeks ago and did one of Andy Walshs days last week, you'll enjoy it, it was great fun. Andy has a very relaxed style of teaching and it's interesting finding out just what you can do in one of these cars... also very safe as there is nothing to hit when you get it wrong... which you will!!
Enjoy, John
Red Boy & Heather;
I'd be interested inhearing how you get on with your 'training' days... Reckon it could be money well spent. I can't wait to get going in it; but a tad nervous about really pushing it without some kind of training- Especially as I will only own half of it!
North Weald would probably be good- I commute to Harlow every day (for my sins!)
Philip- looking forward to passing you somewhere between Horringer & Stradishall some time soon!
Charlie
I'd be interested inhearing how you get on with your 'training' days... Reckon it could be money well spent. I can't wait to get going in it; but a tad nervous about really pushing it without some kind of training- Especially as I will only own half of it!
North Weald would probably be good- I commute to Harlow every day (for my sins!)
Philip- looking forward to passing you somewhere between Horringer & Stradishall some time soon!
Charlie
Hmmm one quick thought....
When I was back home last weekend, had a quick flick through latest Low Flying mag and there was a handling day at Dunsfold ummmm next month or 2 for £40 or so...
My dad's gonna go along (hopefully I can to!) that might be worth going along to for some extra experience!
When I was back home last weekend, had a quick flick through latest Low Flying mag and there was a handling day at Dunsfold ummmm next month or 2 for £40 or so...
My dad's gonna go along (hopefully I can to!) that might be worth going along to for some extra experience!
Congratulations to all you new owners!
Dunsfold is for Lotus 7 Club members only, so if anyone hasn't joined, do so asap! You may have difficulty getting in now as there are limited places and it's very popular. This one is Saturday 19th May, but there will be another in September.
For those who don't know the format, you get a half day for £35 and the events include:-
a 0-60 strip
a slalom course
a freestyle area for donuts etc.
For an extra £5(?) you can do 3 laps of the Top Gear course, and there's usually some form of fast car to do hot laps with one of Caterhams drivers. Last time I went it was the new CSR260 in race trim.
Dunsfold is for Lotus 7 Club members only, so if anyone hasn't joined, do so asap! You may have difficulty getting in now as there are limited places and it's very popular. This one is Saturday 19th May, but there will be another in September.
For those who don't know the format, you get a half day for £35 and the events include:-
a 0-60 strip
a slalom course
a freestyle area for donuts etc.
For an extra £5(?) you can do 3 laps of the Top Gear course, and there's usually some form of fast car to do hot laps with one of Caterhams drivers. Last time I went it was the new CSR260 in race trim.
Canam, thanks for the Dunsfold info, looks very interesting... I have only just joined the club so haven't seen much of whats going on yet.
Charlie... have fun tomorrow, I also got my car from Caterham Midlands and must say the service has been very good so far.
Re the the Andy Walsh airfield training days... I think it was very worthwhile and definitely money well spent, I have actually booked to go again in May! IMO you can spend as much as you like on 'go faster' upgrades but if you can't drive it properly and safely what's the point?! There are a number of threads on the Elise/Exige forum about the training, I think this thread probably sums it up quite well -> www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=257328
Good luck with the car,
John.
Charley Farley said:
Red Boy & Heather;
I'd be interested inhearing how you get on with your 'training' days... Reckon it could be money well spent. I can't wait to get going in it; but a tad nervous about really pushing it without some kind of training
I'd be interested inhearing how you get on with your 'training' days... Reckon it could be money well spent. I can't wait to get going in it; but a tad nervous about really pushing it without some kind of training
Charlie... have fun tomorrow, I also got my car from Caterham Midlands and must say the service has been very good so far.
Re the the Andy Walsh airfield training days... I think it was very worthwhile and definitely money well spent, I have actually booked to go again in May! IMO you can spend as much as you like on 'go faster' upgrades but if you can't drive it properly and safely what's the point?! There are a number of threads on the Elise/Exige forum about the training, I think this thread probably sums it up quite well -> www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=257328
Good luck with the car,
John.
Edited by redboy on Thursday 22 March 17:19
I sent off my application to the Lotus 7 Club the other day, I'm looking forward to getting some information.
I like the sound of the Dunsfold Park day, its not too far away from me (I live near Heathrow).
I agree about spending money on driver training first before performance upgrades. Modifications are next to worthless if you can't drive the car properly in the first place!
I like the sound of the Dunsfold Park day, its not too far away from me (I live near Heathrow).
I agree about spending money on driver training first before performance upgrades. Modifications are next to worthless if you can't drive the car properly in the first place!
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