Caterham Drift Day
Discussion
Oh lordy...My wife has just bought me a Caterham Drift Day 'experience' for my birthday. Has anyone out here done one before? I've never driven a Caterham so MASSIVELY looking forward to it. The only problem is that if I really enjoy it as much as I think then I'm worried I will end up buying a Caterham. 
I'm in the market for a new toy in next few weeks and had my plans in place to get an Integrale. This could seriously bu66er those plans up and see me hooning around in a Caterham instead...
Is there some sort of medication I can take that will help me forget how much fun I think the Caterham will be? Then I can carry on oblivious and get the 'Grale...
I'm in the market for a new toy in next few weeks and had my plans in place to get an Integrale. This could seriously bu66er those plans up and see me hooning around in a Caterham instead...
Is there some sort of medication I can take that will help me forget how much fun I think the Caterham will be? Then I can carry on oblivious and get the 'Grale...
I feel your pain!
I have never owned a 'grale (although i have always wanted one) but have been lucky enough to drive one on several occasions and they are very good, but at the same time they are starting to feel their age a bit, with the performance being neutered by the ever increasing performance of everyday cars (see last month's issue of EVO where the latest hot hatches made mince meat out of it) For me, the wonder of a 'grale will come from daydreaming about it's giant slaying capabilities "back in the day"
I am, however, lucky enough to have owned several other "legends" but be warned, 15 years on the impact of driving a 7 for the first time has not worn off - hence why i am on my 3rd Caterham!
I have not been on one of the drift days (as yet) but i have been to a Caterham slalom day at Silverstone. My initial thought was that because i own and drive one on a regular basis, maybe the day wouldn't be as much fun - not a bit of it!
It is borderline illegal to have so much fun hooning about in a car!
I have never owned a 'grale (although i have always wanted one) but have been lucky enough to drive one on several occasions and they are very good, but at the same time they are starting to feel their age a bit, with the performance being neutered by the ever increasing performance of everyday cars (see last month's issue of EVO where the latest hot hatches made mince meat out of it) For me, the wonder of a 'grale will come from daydreaming about it's giant slaying capabilities "back in the day"
I am, however, lucky enough to have owned several other "legends" but be warned, 15 years on the impact of driving a 7 for the first time has not worn off - hence why i am on my 3rd Caterham!
I have not been on one of the drift days (as yet) but i have been to a Caterham slalom day at Silverstone. My initial thought was that because i own and drive one on a regular basis, maybe the day wouldn't be as much fun - not a bit of it!
It is borderline illegal to have so much fun hooning about in a car!
The idea of learning how a Caterham handles in the safety of a slalom day is a good one in theory, except that they set the cars up to have max. front end turn-in and min. rear grip! That said, you still learn how those particular Caterhams handle and therefore learn to drive them to the limit [which is a real hoot!]. On your road-going Caterham, learning the [very different] limits is a more measured learning curve!
OK so first up, both the Slalom and Drift days are great fun and I would heartedly recommend them to all and sundry.*
But it's important to recognise these are experience days, so please don't go under the impression that this will help you understand the limits of your own caterham or give a representative idea of the handling of a 7. The cars are set up to slide which is the opposite of how you would set up your own car. Other than perfecting doughnuts you're not really going to get much else out the day so go to enjoy not to learn.
If you want to improve your understanding of your car book a day with someone like Cadence / Andy Walsh or Ben Elliot amongst others for professional guidance and then get yourself out on track.
But it's important to recognise these are experience days, so please don't go under the impression that this will help you understand the limits of your own caterham or give a representative idea of the handling of a 7. The cars are set up to slide which is the opposite of how you would set up your own car. Other than perfecting doughnuts you're not really going to get much else out the day so go to enjoy not to learn.
If you want to improve your understanding of your car book a day with someone like Cadence / Andy Walsh or Ben Elliot amongst others for professional guidance and then get yourself out on track.
- Oh and if Sam is doing the instruction there will be great eye candy
MikeGF said:
Having just picked up my first Caterham (a Superlight 
) I really want to do a drift day as well as a slalom day, as I really don't want to find the limits on the road before it's too late 
and I think I would learn a lot from the training.
Cheers
MikeGF
A slalom day is basically a really expensive autotest. So join your local car club and go along and do an autotest it will cost you not very much and you can have great fun ) I really want to do a drift day as well as a slalom day, as I really don't want to find the limits on the road before it's too late and I think I would learn a lot from the training.Cheers
MikeGF
MikeGF said:
thinfourth2 - Joined the local sports club, and, hopefully, doing my first auto solo in 2 weeks time
Cheers
MikeGF
I can't imagine a standard Caterham as being that good at one of these - the handbrake on all of my cars has been crap. Mind you I tried autotesting in my standard Carrera 3.2 and that was even worse - never did win anything, but had a lot of fun Cheers
MikeGF
There's a great video on Youtube of a well set up Caterham and expert driver autotesting to perfection.
I'd recommend having a hoon on an airfield trackday to find your limits and then book a proper circuit trackday and make sure you book some tuition.
Airfield day being booked soon as part of my driver training. The Auto solo's that I am taking part in are called Solo's normally, and it's not your usuall reverse, handbrake park thingy..
They usually occur on a 50mx50m patch of tarmac with a course mapped out in cones that you just hoon around as fast as possible, like a mini race track set out for you. Looks like great fun!!
Cheers
MikeGF
They usually occur on a 50mx50m patch of tarmac with a course mapped out in cones that you just hoon around as fast as possible, like a mini race track set out for you. Looks like great fun!!
Cheers
MikeGF
MikeGF said:
Airfield day being booked soon as part of my driver training. The Auto solo's that I am taking part in are called Solo's normally, and it's not your usuall reverse, handbrake park thingy..
They usually occur on a 50mx50m patch of tarmac with a course mapped out in cones that you just hoon around as fast as possible, like a mini race track set out for you. Looks like great fun!!
Cheers
MikeGF
Sounds great fun indeed...if not abrasive to your tyres....if you've ever done and Andy Walsh day at North Weald, you'll know what I mean!They usually occur on a 50mx50m patch of tarmac with a course mapped out in cones that you just hoon around as fast as possible, like a mini race track set out for you. Looks like great fun!!
Cheers
MikeGF
Yep, I did a driver training day in my Chimaera with him. I foolishly (or not!) said show me what my car can do. Sweet jesus, my pants have never been so soiled.
Was very proud showing off the scrubbed tyres to everyone that I did during the day though! And I learnt a lot about TVR. Which is wjy I would like to do one again.
Cheers
MikeGF
PS SJM - Apologies for the slight thread hijack!
Was very proud showing off the scrubbed tyres to everyone that I did during the day though! And I learnt a lot about TVR. Which is wjy I would like to do one again.
Cheers
MikeGF
PS SJM - Apologies for the slight thread hijack!
Edited by MikeGF on Wednesday 5th March 12:39
MikeGF said:
Yep, I did a driver training day in my Chimaera with him. I foolishly (or not!) said show me what my car can do. Sweet jesus, my pants have never been so soiled.
Yes - I thought I was doing well with 87 mph into the wet bend in my SLR...he trumped it with 93 mph - in a VX220 Turbo. Just to prove it was no fluke, he did it again, whilst on the 'phone.... 
rubystone said:
MikeGF said:
thinfourth2 - Joined the local sports club, and, hopefully, doing my first auto solo in 2 weeks time
Cheers
MikeGF
I can't imagine a standard Caterham as being that good at one of these - the handbrake on all of my cars has been crap. Mind you I tried autotesting in my standard Carrera 3.2 and that was even worse - never did win anything, but had a lot of fun Cheers
MikeGF
There's a great video on Youtube of a well set up Caterham and expert driver autotesting to perfection.
I'd recommend having a hoon on an airfield trackday to find your limits and then book a proper circuit trackday and make sure you book some tuition.
as to the youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pJk6lZDzb0&fea...
Okay its not a good driver its me but i will admit that my car has a hydraulic handbrake
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff