J Palmer - Caterham Experience, Bedford Autodrome

[arcbeer]

Sure I'm preaching to the converted here but wanted to share........

I did this on Wednesday and it was absolutely blinding. I've never been on a track or in a Caterham before and am seriously hooked on both now (until I try something else ).

Started the day on a watered parade square trying to get the car to dough-nut around a cone, not as easy as I thought, could get it to spin but keeping it going was a different matter. This was followed by trying to do a figure of eight around two cones while permanently side-ways, very difficult but never tired of the smell of burning rubber. Then a slalom course was set-up and you had to race another car going in the opposite direction in and out of the cones and then back again.

We then moved on to a track with watered corners, nice! I knew Caterhams were quick but feeling the acceleration first hand was fantastic. I never quite realised how much you had to nail it until the last minute then slamming on the brakes, turning in on the turn in cone and then easing on the throttle as you pass the apex. With the water on the corners this made for some quality spins if I turned in too sharply or came in on the power too early, it also lead to beautifully feeling four wheel drift when you got it just right coming out of some of the corners.

Finally we went on a very twisty dry track and were timed. Really started to appreciate the grip after being on watered corners on the last track. I could tell I was getting hooked when I started to try and get the fluidity and then span on the second to last corner, gutted. Still with the instructor sat next to me and both hooked up via in-helmet mikes I couldn't fail to improve.

Overall, a no holes barred day of fun. I learned a hell of a lot and can't wait to get back there.

[tvrforever]

I'm assuming the twist track was their normal caterham track - so what was your time? (51s is good on that circuit)

[davyboy]

.....and there is me thinking I am the don with a winning time of 52.95.

My mate got a second place with 53.34.

[tvrforever]

Ahh sorry - the fastest I've seen there is 50.11

Damm good fun though isn't it? Have you had the chance to do the full JP experience day? Now that is serious car fun

[cheeky_chops]

tvrforever said:

Have you had the chance to do the full JP experience day? Now that is serious car fun

My missus has just won one at work!! How jealous am i that she is going to get to drive the palmer Jag?

[tvrforever]

cheeky_chops said:

tvrforever said: Have you had the chance to do the full JP experience day? Now that is serious car fun My missus has just won one at work!! How jealous am i that she is going to get to drive the palmer Jag?

You should be as well! They are stunning cars - only bettered by the FPAs for madness, and the Clio Cups for cazy fun...

Goods times for the Jags are 34s (North circuit) and 65 (South circuit) - yes she gets to do them twice as well!!

[arcbeer]

tvrforever said:

I'm assuming the twist track was their normal caterham track - so what was your time? (51s is good on that circuit)

Managed a very poor 53.97, kept pushing too hard and spinning, still didn't feel too bad for a first effort. Winning time was 50.93.

[saxo-stew]

how much was this?

ive drivent some caterham's at bedford round a couple of the small tracks,but this sounds a bit more than what i done

[arcbeer]

saxo-stew said:

how much was this? ive drivent some caterham's at bedford round a couple of the small tracks,but this sounds a bit more than what i done

It was a Christmas present from the missus (top lass ) so not exactly sure on the price, think it's around £200.

[tvrforever]

I think the full JP days are about £700 -> £800 - been lucky enough never to have had to pay so far

[saxo-stew]

eek.

[djmotorsport]

Was there yesterday - £525 plus VAT - Managed a 48.64 in the Caterham

DJ

[bennno]

davyboy said:

.....and there is me thinking I am the don with a winning time of 52.95. My mate got a second place with 53.34.

I did a 51.3 when I went to the corporate day a month or so ago. On the day there were a fair number of exceptionally good drivers whom were in the 50's, but 2 of which had raced in formula ford!!!

The best car by far though was the FPA, but the Mitsubushi was an absolute blast.

Bennno

[shmern]

bennno said:

davyboy said: .....and there is me thinking I am the don with a winning time of 52.95. My mate got a second place with 53.34. I did a 51.3 when I went to the corporate day a month or so ago. On the day there were a fair number of exceptionally good drivers whom were in the 50's, but 2 of which had raced in formula ford!!! The best car by far though was the FPA, but the Mitsubushi was an absolute blast. Bennno

aww disappointed now, I got a 51.55 on the Caterham (But won the day)

And got second fastest with the JP1 with 68.2, so still slow there !!!

And your right the Evo was a blast (Only did 1.15.5) cos I was having too much fun going sideways down the main straight.

How's the other time stack up ?

Kart 25.64
VX220 78.34 (spun big time on my fastest lap too )
Clio 87.8 (For some reason me and the Clio didn't agree, was the only car on the day I didn't enjoy)

Here's some pics of a great day (hoping to go back this year !!)
www.shmern.org/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=9

Shmern

[phatgixer]

Ahem..

Last time I was there..(with 78 others)

JP1, 67.02 (I really, really want one)

EvoVI 70.65

Clio 84.91

VX220T 75.90

Caterham 50.54 (Pleased with that as I'm 18 stone)

Kart 24.33 (What chicane )

And the winner with 526 points, Moi!

Nice trophy.

>> Edited by phatgixer on Friday 6th August 23:40

[phatgixer]

djmotorsport said:

Was there yesterday - £525 plus VAT - Managed a 48.64 in the Caterham DJ

Excellent time.

You are clearly made of loo paper and the caterham had new tyres. The best I have ever seen there was 49.7

And he was very 'ickle...

[shmern]

You been before ?

>JP1, 67.02
So I was fairly close then!

>EvoVI 70.65
Seriously was this a diff track ? Cos my 1:15 was only a couple of seconds shy of the fastest on the day (Wet corners on track, water splash and jump on alternate runs, had to stay in third gear, beside garage with VX220's??)


>Clio 84.91
Im surprised, cos my time was K RAP on the day, and your was only a few secs faster, next time I'll try harder!

>VX220T 75.90
Yeah I was up at least a couple of secs on my last lap(so richard the instructor said), and then spun at the fast chicane (just behind the JP1 garage) I was gutted

>Caterham 50.54
I was quite pleased with my lap, 50's must be very hard to get into. Never mind djmotorsport's 48!!!! Mental

>Kart 24.33
JEEZ, I was fastest on the day (No wait second fastest cos some small bloke beat me by 5 100th 25.64 to his 25.59) but your over a second faster !!! Hell what size are you ? Im 6ft and 15 1/2 Stone, hopefully thats my excuse

>And the winner with 526 points, Moi!

Strange our points were dramatically different.

I was third (out of 42) with 252, second was 253 (doh) and the winner had 283(but he had been 4 other times, my excuse and im sticking to it!!!)

Shmern



>> Edited by shmern on Friday 6th August 23:59

[CraigAlsop]

djmotorsport said:

Was there yesterday - £525 plus VAT - Managed a 48.64 in the Caterham DJ

Nice one Dave - you're obviously still improving - that's a lot better than your last dry time of 51.41

[djmotorsport]

It was a nice hot, dry day - Full results

JP1 South 66:33
JP1 North 34.10
Kart 24.30
Caterham (Slicks!) 48.64
Clio (road tyres) 91.07
(10 seconds off my best slick time!)
VX220 73.41
Evo(new gravel track)89% (I was crap at this!)

For anyone who's not been, what a experience :-)

LooPaper? Slightly over 12 stone and just the right side of 45 :

[phatgixer]

shmern said:

You been before ? >And the winner with 526 points, Moi! Strange our points were dramatically different. I was third (out of 42) with 252, second was 253 (doh) and the winner had 283(but he had been 4 other times, my excuse and im sticking to it!!!) Shmern >> Edited by shmern on Friday 6th August 23:59

The more people that attend the more you score. My Palmer Audi lap was 1.15.6 btw.

I have 3 other DoD trophies from Palmers, so it is fair to say that I have had a bit of practice...

The Evo was mine by over 2.5 seconds!! The kart was not real as I missed the chicane.....