Caterham Graduates Forum

are you sure it was flooded? mine needs as many as five pumps of the throttle to prime the cylinders with fuel before it'll start. Varies from car to car for some reason.

If it is flooded, cranking the engine over with the throttle held wide open in several short bursts will help disperse the excess fuel vapour- just avoid depressing and releasing the throttle uneccesarily as obviously each time you do this it squirts more fuel in!

Also, jump it to your car battery (with the engine running) to give it more ooommph. Take the plugs out and stick the electrode ends in the flames of your gas stove. Then quickly whip them back in the car, burning your fingers and swearing a lot, just like I used to with my Spitfire most winter mornings many years ago.

I can confirm, however, that coolant tastes absolutely disgusting to adults and not at all like it looks!

sold as seen...................That means that as your punter has seen that it does not start he should not start giving you grief once he gets it home and finds out it's knackered.

In law, sold as seen is the holy grail, even if he is not religious he must understand that.  Your punter (another word for plonker) has seen it dont start so be happy that that yoiu have not misled the plonker. What he has bought is a static classic iconic piece of Englands eccentric past.

There is one born every minute and its great that every now and then one of these special people become our customers :-)

Terry................Bring the car around ther back, the Winchester, and step on it!!!

I've agreed a price on my Silver Caterham and it is to be collected this weekend. When the buyer came to view it, the car refused to start. It was extremely cold and a too-rich mixture flooded the engine. He was quite happy, but it would be nice to start the car in the meantime. Does anyone have any suggestions?

New pit garages at Anglesey. Wonder if they'll be ready for us to not use them in June?

My Fiesta ST in the for sale section, if anyone is interested give me a call

No, Supers and Classics wheels aren't the same.

Roger, I have a set of 5 black and polished aluminium Minator style wheels in very good condition. Looking for £250. These fit my super, not sure if they will fit a classic?

Anybody got a cheap set of Classic wheels, with or without tyres, for sale?  Not for me, I hasten to add.

You are more likely to see 2 Loch Ness monsters!

I am not so sure. I have seen his doppelgänger walking around the village here for a day or two.

There is no one similar to Nick!

Peter/Toby. I can't remember that far back! Anyway, you make it appear worse than it was, as I did a whole lap prior to the Quarry incident. The wheel-off incident was during qualifying at Snetterton. Anyone wanting to passenger with me should watch my youtube videos and then decide.

The problem for me is that I am very rusty and do not have a clue as to how an extra eight years will affect my speed, reactions and overall ability. As hard as it is to say it, I expect to be slower, and that's about it. That's why I was considering the previous day's test session - it would not be fair to other driver's passengers for me to start afresh on the day in question.

I've had an interesting e-mail which has been informative (thank you), but it may be sensible to have a word with Nick or similar over the weekend.

Was that when the wheels fell off?

Peter, I seem to remember you giving a passenger a ride at Castle Combe a few years back. From memory, it lasted until Quarry and then ended abruptly :-)

Can't afford it.........yeah right!!

You need to take it nice and steady in that lovely shiny car Roger!!

It's a sessioned day so, with luck (that is, if the numbers work out), the grads will be out together and any road cars will be in a separate group. I wish I could afford to do the testday as well, but I can't. So I'll be wanting to "get up to speed" at the trackday - within the rules, of course.

Peter, there is nothing to stop you taking passengers. It is a track day and with all the pre-season events I have been to track day rules apply. I have also seen/ taken passengers at all of the track days.

That said it is likely that most of the participants in the day will be grads racing at the weekend. So whilst the normal rules will apply I would anticipate that the average speed and effort being applied by most drivers will be higher than most track days. For those happy to use this environment to reaquaint themselves with the track/ shake off the winter cobwebs/ pick their braking points etc for the weekends racing I'm sure the track day will suffice.

Anyone wanting to time themselves, use data logging, practice their overtaking, the thursday test is the one to do. Simples!

If your passengers are happy being taxied in an environment where there are some rapid drivers in much faster cars looking to get past within the track day rules, I'm sure they will enjoy the day. Lets face it if they are happy to be driven by you they are clearly bored of life in any case! :-) .

Thanks Nick. I had seen the information previously, but couldn't remember where.

I'm a little surprised at the comments regarding the track day, which I thought was set up specifically as a day where passengers can be taken out and was more of a social event. Now, I'm willing to 'toe the line' with the rest of the Graduates, but can you guarantee that the event will be fully booked by Graduates? I don't know what the required numbers are, but BookaTrack will, I expect, take bookings from all and sundry in the not-to-distant future.

My understanding is that track days cannot be used as test days overtaking is via a specific formula and other rules also apply.

Having been away from any form of racing for over eight years, I did not consider it sensible or considerate to treat such an event as a means of getting back up to speed, especially as the same circuit is available just one day earlier for that exact reason.

Can someone please clear up my confusion? Do I book the test day as well (which I was just about to do), should I book the test day and cancel the track day, or just keep the track day?

Donington races: Peter:  "Grid sharing", ie. two classes racing on one grid, is something we have been doing for years.  The arrangements are defined in our own regs.  See 3.1.5, 3.4.2, 3.5.2/4 and 3.6.3.

In order to get to race at Donington, and specifically to be in the "Motors TV Live" racing package, the Club has had to agree to buy the track time we need.  Which is very expensive.  So we opted to buy just two grids - three grids would have exposed the Club to huge financial risk that we just couldn't bear.  Having said that, we have contingency plans in place with BARC which will provide more track-time if the entry numbers justify it.

Good Morning

Just to let you all know Pembrey Circuit is holding a 2 day general testing event on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th March 2012.  They are full days only and the cost is £160.00 1 day / £300.00 2 days. The general test days are for MSA Licence holders only. If you are interested, please call Pembrey Circuit Office on 01554 891042.

Regards
Emma

Pembrey Circuit

If your passengers makes the organiser feel they need to enforce the overtaking rule then I for one hope your passengers dont turn up, sorry but im being honest.

Why do you want to take passengers, Peter? Wouldn't you rather learn the circuit and get used to your new car the way it's going to be for racing? I can't help thinking that if there are passengers on track then overtaking rules may be more rigorously enforced.

I've just found the time table for the Donington Park race here:

 http://www.donington-park.co.uk/events/car/2012/03/31/motors-tv-live-car-raceday/

Caterham Graduates are split into Group A and Group B. I'm guessing two classes race in each? How does this work? I guess that both classes form up on the grid together, with the faster class at the head. Is there a staggered start to ensure the pole Classic does not get mixed up with the trailing Sigmas? I think I've read something in the Blue Book and that the arrangement is optional. If nobody answers over the weekend, I'll let you know what I find.

Excellent news. Thanks Greame. I've also had confirmed today that the Donington Park track day on Friday 30th March is for passengers and run to normal track day rules, so have booked. What's betting all my passengers change their minds?

Racing bits and bobs for sale - Phillipe has asked me to link to some race gear he is selling. It can be viewed here. Please contect Phillipe for more info: phillip.kingwilson@gmail.com 07771 498464

Phew! Thats excellent Keith. Wouldn't be the same without you around. So what is it? New Mega?

Sorted now, thanks Brett.

No way Pete!!!   See you at Donington

You giving up then Keith? Presumably you are as you are looking for a classic car. Sad to see you go after twelve years.

Yet another Mega hits the For Sale page!

Thanks Sean. Mainly a side impact protection bar. YHM.

No one comes back from Ben's!

Anyone heading down to Ben's in the near future and likely to be coming somewhere near me (Twickenham) on the way back?  Thanks.

Seconded. And is "Part Exchange: R300 race car" a clue?

Reece - sorry to hear that you are selling, although I guess it does mean that I will finish one place higher than I would have done! What are you doing this season?

Hey folks, I've put my super up for sale on pistonheads, if anybody is interested, just follow the link.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3563554.htm

Cheers, Reece.

Just you, Andrew - works fine for me (not that I would normally use IE9 I hasten to add)

If you have the misfortune to have to try the below using IE9, you may have to pick the 'compatiblity view' to successfully get into the members area.. at least I did. 

Fesey - your email has been hacked again

Nick,

Sigma info for you, Spark plug Ford part No 1 493 001 4M5G 12405XE, Oil Ford Formula F 5w-30, Oil filter Fram PH10044 hope they are some help to you?

Sigma Plugs, Filter & Oil - Help !!!

Can someone tell me the equivalent Ford part no's for Sigma spark plugs & oil filter. I know regs say the plugs must be Caterham 36E038A, but I assume I can source these direct from Ford?

Also, I checked the oil type and everywhere says something slightly different. I'm sure I put Comma Eurolite 10w-40 semi-synthetic last year, but I checked elsewhere and the handbook & old build manual say either Caterham 5W-50 or Comma X-TEC 5W-30 both of which seem to be fully-synthetic. So now i have no idea?

Cheers, Nick

Amanda - it will be one BIG grid at Spa...the grid limit is 65. The calendar becomes 'official' once the regs are formally published by the MSA, but I suspect that if anything was likely to change, Nick or Graeme would already have let us know.

When we race at Spa, will it be one BIG grid or individual races? When is the Calendar likely to be confirmed please?

JP - sounds more like you should stop drinking before you post, it's causing hallucinations by the sounds of it!

To paraphrase George Orwell "Four wheels good, two wheels not better"

Fancy a brief foray into motorcycle racing JP?

And Darren- 'Schumacheresque' might not be the best style. Can't see JP running in the midfield and being consistently out-driven by younger and less experienced drivers!

JP - I'm expecting a Schumacheresq comeback by you sometime soon!

I really must re-read before I post

They asked me Darren but I had to tell them "I know it is hard to believe but I have retired so please will you and Ron Dennis would stop pestering me. Give the drive to OJ instead."

I see ex Grad Ollie Jackson is doing a full season in BTCC this year

Thanks for clarifying about the track day Nick.

No snow but gale force winds last night and this morning

Surprised you forgot to mention there is of course no snow (in Fuerteventura)  

The Oulton Park mid-March pre-season trackday some years ago had to be cancelled due to overnight snow after most had managed to get there so it is a very fickle time of year weather-wise

Matthew:  Yes, the "traditional" pre-season mass CGRC track-day seems to have fallen by the wayside, mostly due to the exceptionally early start to our race season this year.  Any such day would need to be at least a fortnight before the first race, and UK weather at that time of year is often not that great for open Caterhams.  A special Grads-only trackday needs a good turnout to be viable, and what with the DP race expenses falling into March, we felt that we just wouldn't get the numbers.

But there's no reason why a bunch of enthusiastic and weather-resistant Grads shouldn't all choose to converge on one particular trackday.  BookaTrack have a day at Donington on 4 March (and already a few Grads booked in), so maybe we should target that one...?

Am I right in thinking that the Donington test/track day is different to the Grads pre-season track day or are they one and the same?

Whoever you go with, make sure they'll recover the trailer as well. I've given up bothering with breakdown cover on our Euro trips, it's so expensive (£10 a day sounds cheap) that I'd rather self-insure.

Can anyone recommend a breakdown recovery service for my road car? I'm considering AutoAid, but they could work out expensive on the Spa trip, especially if I have an extended stay (£10 per day in Europe).

Given up racing or know someone that has?  I am looking for second hand race kit for my son, overalls etc and boots.  He is nearly 6 foot tall, 12 stone and with size 10 feet.  Must meet current MSA standards and be capable of passing scrutineering.  

Thanks, Ben!

Roger, I have spares. E-mail me your address and I'll stick it in the post

Not sure about pointy...

Well spotted on the difference, JR. I'll order one anyway, perhaps I can modify it and if not I'll try to swap the terminals.

Roger, have you got a very small pointy tool?

Pretty darn close but if you compare the two, the little grove in the top of your connector is offset to one side whereas it's in the center of the one on the VWP website. However, the terminals in your plug are removable with a very small pointy tool, so you may just be able to re-use your plug by prising out the little rubber water seals, removing the terminals and buying a couple of new terminals and a short length of wire for a few pennies. Fiddly stuff but it must be the cheapest way!

Failing that as Mr. Malkin suggested- J & C Motor Spares Sunbury

Roger, this is boring. I much preferred the roll cage battle!

That looks promising! My links keep failing but try this one

Male and Female, perhaps?

Roger, sorry if this is entirely unhelpful, I'm not sure what the plug looks like- but I wonder if you can buy the connector from someone like 'Vehicle Wiring Products' or 'Polevolt'? I have bought a connector for my loom from there once- turned out to just be a generic three-pin connector housing; you buy the connector casing, the terminals and the water seals and solder it up and assemble it yourself.

Looks like I can get a whole engine loom for 25-30 quid on ebay, or one connector for around a tenner - only the seller of the connectors hasn't responded yet. I don't actually know of any "vehicle end-of-life reprocessing centres" round here.

Roger.. Probably a scrap yard would be the best bet... I think all of the loom is standard Rover K-series so a quick snip, slide it into your pocket, whistle sweetly and run like hell...... Alternatively, might we worth trying someone like Rimmer Bros.... (oooh err missus)...

Has anyone still got a decent condition non-cat exhaust from 06/07 ish when we were allowed to use them? If so please let me know at the usual address - thanks.

Help! Has anyone replaced their engine loom and still got the old one? I've just discovered that one of the leads on my ECU water temp sensor plug is hanging on by a couple of threads - and the break is too close to the plug to repair. I need to splice on a replacement plug, but I don't think that's something you can buy easily.

...Pretty sure the Operation is to her Spine!?

Poor Jo, Rogered plus having an operation to face!  

Haha!  Chris wants something magnetic so he can make sure I dno't stray too far !

Our regs specifically disallow carbon fibre and titanium. Can you ask them to replace the disc with standard cast iron? Wouldn't like you to fail scrutineering when you're finally fit again.

I'm very jealous of you all!  As some of you know I am not racing this year due to more back surgery (on Thursday) - either a fusion (which apparently involves carbon fibre which is cool) or a disc replacement (no carbon fibre but titanium which is equally cool!)

I will try to get along to a few races this year to say hello, will miss you!  Have a great year and hopefully see you at a circuit soon :)

Jo

To add to what Roger said, the reason we have a track day at Donington is because Testing there is a) very expensive and b) on Thursdays rather than Fridays. Of course, you can go to the previous test day but it will be expensive and potentially another day off. For 'normal' circuits, they would run a test day on the Friday (except for Thruxton which is another special case, but this time CGRC have sorted that one).

I'll be at Autosport Friday. No idea about meeting areas yet...

Grads-specific trackdays are usually run a little closer to test day rules - if you're hoping to take passengers I would check with Jonny whether they'll be allowed, because they're not always. Obviously timing isn't allowed, so if your dash is showing live timing info you'll have to cover it or at the very least avoid looking at it.

I'll be at the Autosport this Friday. I've got loads to buy, including a crash helmet, overalls and a data logger. I'll probably think of loads of extra things next week!

Is anyone else going on that day and is there a Graduates Meeting Zone?

Thanks Nick.

Are people testing the day before or doing that work on the track day? I'm possibly going to have guests (I do have friends!) to take around, so don't want to be terrorised. Also, does anybody know what the rules are regarding using data loggers with a live feedback to the dash, and videos are during track days?

I'm wondering how I'm going to find my race-pace during a track day. It may be sensible for me to invest in a half- or full-day's test the day before.

With record numbers of Classics and Sigma numbers up in the teens, does it mean that Sigma’s will get their own grid or still share?

Peter: Donny price is, I believe, for morning and afternoon only.  I'm not aware of an evening session - note that sunset will be at 19:37.

- Donington circuit layout is "National".
- Brands is "Indy".
- Anglesey races should be on both "Coastal" & "International" layouts.
- Only one layout is now routinely used at Rockingham - "International Super Sports Car"
- Thruxton has only one layout
- Cadwell does have a "short" layout but is only used in "emergencies" (ie. lack of marshals)
- Oulton layout - TBD

Thanks Nick. I have some questions:

Which configuration will we be using at Donnington Park? (the same question, with even less urgency, applies to all the other circuits).

Is the price shown for the morning and afternoon sessions only, or does it include the evening session too?

Good thinking Darren, I just e-mailed him.

James - Do you still have Charles Fitzhugh's email address I don't think he ever fitted the side impact bar you got him, so might be worth a try.

Does anyone here have a spare side impact bar for a Classic that I could buy?

Failing that does anyone else need one? (I may have to get Arch to make one so could get a cheaper deal on two or more)

Happy New Year everyone...

Due to a work move to Singapore, the Cow Car is up FOR SALE at a bargain price of £9450.  Thanks

I bought 16 wheel nuts for an  Ital axle in error (like these) - they are opened, but still in the Caterham bag they came in. Any Classics want them for £15? I can bring them to the pre-season trackday/first race...