Back to Spa-Francorchamps

[rnr]

Thanks to Croc for organizing a fantastic trip. Was great fun to check Spa of the bucket and I might have to swing by the next time I am in Europe.

 

These are the cars we rented from RSRSpa

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=15168&stc=1

[Kitcat]

Good job on your lap times Croc, at least in the dry! Even in the dry, the cold weather probably cost you some seconds since your tires likely never got fully warmed up. I dont see the Ferrari 275 GTB. I see a yellow MGB with a hardtop, I think (#34?).

[Croc]

Ferrari is post 15 of this thread, third photo. It’s the red thing....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Croc]

Thanks to Croc for organizing a fantastic trip. Was great fun to check Spa of the bucket and I might have to swing by the next time I am in Europe.

 

Hi Rahul - It was great to have you part of the group. As Mike and I were discussing in Brussels airport last night (after an extended drive thanks to a particularly French GPS lady and 3 alpha males who would never think of stopping and asking for directions) the fun was over way too quickly. If you like warm weather then check out the Bookatrack Iberia trip in late-September. Its a very social week exploring 3 tracks - Jerez (Spain), Portimao (Portugal), and Ascari (Spain) - all open pit lane, max 40 cars and the Caterham SV rental would work well on those tracks. Hope to see you at another event.

[Innominatus]

Super cool.

 

How is the atmosphere at Bookatrack events, BTW? I'm contemplating booking an R300 and doing one of the evening events at Donington when I'm in the UK this summer. I've heard that they are pretty well-run, with overaggressive driving pretty well policed. Has that been your experience?

[Croc]

Bookatrack is my favorite track day operator. I have been running with them since 2011. They keep a Caterham 7 for me at Donington - so I just turn up and drive when I am in the UK too many times a year for work.

 

The staff are very experienced but great attitude and friendly. They are very efficient. They are strict and will throw people who are misbehaving on track out but they also have a light touch for someone who makes a one-off mistake. There are a lot of repeat customers so the overall tone is quite respectful on track. At Spa there were 50 something cars and I knew about half of them. The passing policy of only passing on the left on straights works very well in practice.

 

Donington can be crowded. For an open pit lane type of event, its the only one where I find you may have to line up to get on track. I would avoid those Bookatrack sessions where it is Academy or other Caterham race series practice events. They get quite aggressive as you would expect.

 

Donington does reward the lower hp car. So if you dont get the R300 then seriously look at a 310R, 280R or Academy car. My last trip to Donington in May 2018 was in a 310R and it was huge fun - the link here talks about it

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?11981-A-visit-to-Donington-Park-and-Silverstone-in-a-Caterham&highlight=donington

 

I was planning my track dates earlier today. Let me know if you are going to see if our dates coincide. I usually day trip out of London unless it is a weekend like the Historics or I am headed to Oulton Park or Anglesey to make it a double header.

[Sean]

Looks like a great time, Mike. And you're looking svelte! Long hours behind the wheel can do that. Cheers, sir!

[Croc]

Sean - me svelte? :rofl: :smilielol5::rofl:

 

Aerodynamically rounded may be more accurate!

[Croc]

The obligatory videos are now ready

 

1) The straight ahead cam with good sound and data

 

 

 

 

2) The 360 cam. Double click on the video to see it on the youtube page. Use your mouse/arrow key to pan the camera around. Lap 1 you can look back at Doofus waving at a friend after Radillion in the Focus RS or on lap 2 follow the Aston Martin DB2 as I (eventually) pass it on Kemmel Straight. Look down for the data overlaid on the headlight

 

[Kitcat]

Day 1 was pretty thrilling! You were definitely pushing it and climbing the curbs (kerbs?). Top sped 124 mph, pretty impressive for that spec Cat. The mph gauge shows how incredibly inefficient shifting with a manual is. It wld take a while just to get back to the speed you started your shift at.

Day 2-I take it the track was cold/slippery? You were not pushing it at all, tho much faster than most others. The 360 degree cam is pretty wild! The elevation meter projected on the screen seemed totally off?

So what is this additional "project coming" in your list of cars?

[Croc]

Yes day 2 was very cold with inconsistent grip - think snow, sleet, hail and rain during the day. I backed off a long way as it was just the type of day when I could end up in a wall if I pushed on. It was an ideal day for an all wheel drive car. The first day had better temps and was dry. Plenty of grip for me to push on. Unfortunately I got no video of my fastest session - the mic broke.

 

The gearbox is a T-9 as the 6 speed box that used to be offerred are not as reliable now. Unfortunately it means the ratios as not as well placed and you are lugging the car around the circuit. I was generally going to 7K redline to change and it still was not great. It did not slow me down too much though I think. 124mph is about right for an 420R. An R300 is high teens mph speed at Spa. R500 is about 130-133mph area. 620R is getting well into the 135-140mph area. The striking thing about Spa is the sheer speed of it. So many 100mph+ corners. Average speed in a Caterham about 90mph. No wonder it is so thrilling for drivers.

 

The data is from the GPS and internal altimeter. But for some reason it is always inconsistent at Spa. I think it is because of the high speeds and the 10khz refresh rates not always being quick enough.

Edited March 29, 2019 by Croc

[Kitcat]

Why isn't the 6 sp reliable these days??? I thought it was the gold standard for a Caterham?

And what abt that new "project?" of yours:)?

[panamericano]

Project? Yes, we loves Project. Tell, Master Croc.

[wemtd]

Maybe he’s building a Storker,

Any insight Suave?

[Croc]

Not sure about the 6 speed. BAT originally had no problems up to around 2016/7 area but then started experiencing a consistent reliability issues and so stopped using it in favor of the 5 speed or upgrading to the Sadev 6 speed - both of which are reliable in BATs use of them. Quality downgraded to meet price pressures?

 

What project are you talking about?

[Kitcat]

I was referencing the project that is no longer referenced in your description of your stable of vehicles:). Must be super-secret!

[Croc]

I think you are imagining things :seeya:

[Kitcat]

I am obviously imagining things:)!

Have you driven a Sadev 6 sp gearbox? How does it compare to the standard Cat 6sp? I see it costs 2x as much, unfortunately.

I still occasionally miss downshifts in my 6sp Cat gearbox (thus, going into 3rd, from 6th, not 5th) with consequent potential catastrophic engine over-rev. So far I have caught it and corrected it before doing lasting engine damage. I know: time to learn to shift better. Never had a downshift issue w/the 5sp though, and assume it is impossible w/the Sadev as well?

Edited March 30, 2019 by Kitcat

[yellowss7]

Yellow has the 6 speed and Orange has the Sadev with Paddle shifter. I think the 6 speed is very good, and well spaced, it kind of just snicks in without alot of effort, maybe just a strech to get to 5th.

 

The Sadev is brilliant on track once you get it going, it does NOT like to go slow. It likes full Revs. Downshifts automatically blip the throttle with a slight lift. Pretty fool proof unless you have a brain fart or a twitchy left finger that pulls the downshift paddle by mistake. :leaving:

[Croc]

The Sadev is definitely better than the Caterham 6 speed for "snicketiness" in finding gears, which in itself is better than the 5 speed.

 

I had a 620R in Spain/Portugal for a week and loved the gearbox. No fancy pansy paddleshifters like Tom's car. Just a regular gear lever that you blip back and forth. Video at Estoril is here to give you an idea

 

 

In this installation, clutch only used to get moving. High rev changes with no clutch. Downshift is no clutch. Depending on who you talk to, you should rev match downshift. BAT was telling me dont both to rev match (heel & toe) but some private owners were saying they do. Either way I am mechnically sensitive enough to keep an eye on my revs to avoid a mistimed downshift and rear wheel lock up.