Caterham's first autoX tomorrow :)

[ashyers]

Taking the Caterham out to play tomorrow at a local autoX. It's been a LONG time since we've done an event, all of the local venues shut down years ago, and it's the 1st time we've run the Caterham.

 

I followed the advice on the forum and fitted nylon bolts to the rear wings and fabricated a nerf bar to keep cones out of the fender without exhaust "protection". I'm really looking forward to the event! Hilde and I have put a bunch of miles on the car since the COVID adventure has started, so hopefully we won't do anything too spastic! It will be fun to see how it does when there's no trees to hit or cliffs to descend from.

 

If you have any last minute advice post up, I'll check this before we head off to help set up the course at 6:15 :auto: .

 

Andy

[Anker]

Good luck! I am doing the same in two weeks! If you can, take some GoPro video!

[Croc]

I’m a bit late but best of luck to you Andy!

[panamericano]

So how did it go Photos?

[ashyers]

That was SUPER FUN!!!!

The event yesterday was well run and limited to 50 participants, so Hilde and I did a total of 17(!) runs. This is a good thing because the first 3-4 runs for both of us were ugly, no cones, but one DNF and lots of sloppy driving. I did 7 runs in the morning and Hilde did 10 in the afternoon (someone didn't want to give up the driver's seat...). It took about 3 runs to get acquainted with the car and the remainder of runs were an effort to actually use it well. The car's ability to recover from ham fisted driving was impressive! We both managed to overdrive the car and induce impressive amounts of understeer. My LF tire thanks me for that... The ability to steer the car with the throttle is wonderful, no snap/catch/snap, it's super controllable and had me laughing out loud in my helmet. Sorry no video/photos, we were a bit too busy for that.

 

The take away from the event is the car was great, but the driver's both need much more practice. The good news is we both had a good time and I didn't get into trouble while in the passenger's seat, this may be due to the loud exhaust and full face helmet! Unfortunately we have to wait until September for the next event. Few places in the area are willing to rent out parking lots/air fields so getting seat time around here is not as easy as it used to be. We're looking forward to September.

 

Andy

 

ps. Anyone know how to keep the windshield washers from spitting up during hard corners? I put a loop in the hose, but it had little effect. It's distracting!

Edited July 13, 2020 by ashyers

[panamericano]

"windshield washers"! Again with the Cat softness. Great y'all had fun. I'll bet that some of the by standers took photos, maybe you'll get lucky with one.

[rnr]

Great seeing you yesterday. Some video from my stalker. Needs a faster steering rack and better rear suspension.

 

[Anker]

What's the issue with your rear suspension? If you have a rear roll bar and it is lifting a wheel on turns disconnect the roll bar or move the connection further out to make it weaker!

[ashyers]

mr,

Nice to meet you at the event. Thanks for posting your video, now Hilde and I can discuss our driving on Sunday and see where we were on the course without a million hand gestures and references to cones (!).

 

We could see your steering inputs when we were working station 6 and your in car video really puts it into perspective. You were working hard! That car of yours has plenty of grunt, it squirts around the course. From what I saw once you get the vertical motion calmed that thing will be a rocket.

 

I'm hoping there's another event scheduled prior to September.

 

Andy

[Jesse D]

One of the specific reasons I bought my 93 Caterham was to take up autocross. My theory was "buy the perfect car, so all the mistakes belong to the driver- best way to learn". I still tell people that, and believe it. Took a while, but finally the regulars suggested new tires and soon after that suggested slicks, as the car runs in DM anyways. Found some 13" wheels, ran Hoosiers for two years and this summer have done one event on a new set of Avons. Slicks are fun. I disconnected my anti-roll bar to help the Avons fit, but my first impression is that mechanical grip is improved- these cars are so light.

[rnr]

What's the issue with your rear suspension? If you have a rear roll bar and it is lifting a wheel on turns disconnect the roll bar or move the connection further out to make it weaker!

Rear is just too stiff and bounces around. Need to play with spring rates and shocks.

[Andy69]

How does your nerf bar arrangement work? Did you fabricate from scratch or modify something? I’m trying to figure out how to make it work so I don’t destroy the rear fenders. I’ve figured out how to get the car legal for SCCA Heritage Classic Street class but I won’t run it without figuring out how to protect the fenders and nose cone.

[panamericano]

How does your nerf bar arrangement work? Did you fabricate from scratch or modify something? I’m trying to figure out how to make it work so I don’t destroy the rear fenders. I’ve figured out how to get the car legal for SCCA Heritage Classic Street class but I won’t run it without figuring out how to protect the fenders and nose cone.

 

Attached are photos of my cone catcher. Without it, the fender flexes and cracks at the top. After the second $225 repair and paint, I had this made.[ATTACH=CONFIG]17418[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]17419[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]17420[/ATTACH]Two bolts on bottom.

[Andy69]

Nicely made! So I take it they work ok just on the bottom like that? The reason I ask is I cracked my left side one, which surprised me since that’s the side the exhaust is on. I was thinking I needed something that went a little higher. I can fabricate something like yours but making one out of tube would have to be farmed out since I don’t have the right equipment for DIY.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Anker]

Mine is made out of flatiron bar, bolted into the tube frame.

[ashyers]

Mine's bolted to the front most outer seat bolt and to the threaded boss for the exhaust (unused on the driver's side). I made it with some round stock from a discarded lawn chair and some scrap I had lying around . It bolts on in under 5 minutes with not modifications to the car other than a longer seat bolt, but I haven't "tested" it yet ! I picked up a bag nylon 6/6 bolts for the fenders from Amazon.

[panamericano]

Nicely made! So I take it they work ok just on the bottom like that? The reason I ask is I cracked my left side one, which surprised me since that’s the side the exhaust is on. I was thinking I needed something that went a little higher. I can fabricate something like yours but making one out of tube would have to be farmed out since I don’t have the right equipment for DIY.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do not think higher is necessary. The cone is bigger and heavier at the bottom, so that's where you want to catch it. Mine is tilted up a bit, only because my mechanic wanted to give it a little style. I have not ever hit a cone on my side and hope that the exhaust there would be enough protection.

[Jesse D]

I have a tube bar almost identical in shape to panamericano's. Fiberglass is one part of these cars I'm good at, and I can tell you that these Caterham's glass parts are not very strong and will crack from flex at very little provocation- I took a tiny chip out of the top of my passenger fender from a cone, probably because I was going very fast when I hit it and I had strengthened the lower parts of the fender with carbon and so the energy just went to the top curve. The fenders are made using chopped mat- I didn't see any evidence of cloth when I repaired both fenders. Next winter I'll strengthen the entire lip.

 

The good news is that the gel coat finish makes for easy spot repairs that are invisible if your color match is good- that is a big advantage over paint.