Team SE's latest member

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:11 pm

Well folks... finally gone and done it. Passed my ARDS test a few weeks ago. Had a test in a Roadsport A Caterham at Kh last night. Absolutley unbelievable.

It is like nothing else i've ever driven. Steering is heavy, prob coz of the quick rack and the tiny steering wheel. But the car stops and turns like you wouldn't believe. I always thought my S1 handled.... this totally takes the piss out of it and makes it look like a truck by comparison. It's like when you 1st get in a kart. The steering's mega heavy and the car twitches and darts to the slightest mm of movement on the wheel. Into Duffus, bit of a dab on the brakes, and a slight turn on the wheel and it just bites, digs in and turns instantly. Suspention is really hard so when you take a bit of kerb is steps out a bit. It just eats gears.... you dont get a second to rest in it...it's constantly pulling, bucking, twitching.

Cannot put into words how well it stops and turns.
I posted up this vid a while ago, but it shows what it's like for incar, just constant correction and something happening
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 97&pl=true

The biggest problem i had was getting my brain to work fast enough to take in and react to everything that was happening as it all happens so quick. Had a problem at the hairpin as the braking distance is way shorter than the Elise so i didn't have much time to get my heel&toe perfect and change from 6th to 3rd. Kept bringing my foot off the clutch just before i was turning in (for some strange reason) and it would put the car sideways on the way in... good for the cameras... bad for the times.

Managed to get a few laps in with some of the guys who race in the series at the end of the night and was pleasently surprised.

Just need some time in the car to gain more confidence.

The car is a 2003(Eu3) Roadsport A. LSD, 6 speed, full cage, fire extinguisher master switches etc, quick relese steering wheel, dry sump, 1.6, 138 bhp, just had a full £4000

engine rebuild at Minister (forged pistons etc), paint work's been freshened up, only 1800 miles on the clock. The car won the Scottish Championship, got the rebuild, and has virtually done nothing since.

Just need to try and scrape the funds together and gather the budget for the season (tyres/entries etc). So if anyone fancies (or knows a company who wants to) sponsor a fellow SE'r feel free to drop me an e mail.

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:38 pm

Congrats Gordon, all the best for the season!
I'll hopefully be able to help out, hold a spanner etc.

Cheers,
Ali

minkypotglory · Post by **minkypotglory** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:44 pm

Good stuff Gordon hope all goes well i might be able to help with a small donation will send PM

Neilp

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:59 pm

Gordon, is it road legal?
Does it have heater/ wet weather gear?
I don't want to be rude and ask how much it cost but ball park??

Very nice tho

Post by **simon** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:48 pm

Gareth wrote:Does it have heater/ wet weather gear?

That's it, get the important questions in first

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:36 pm

Gareth wrote:Does it have heater/ wet weather gear?

IT'S A F$CKING EX-RACECAR!!! <BG>

Gareth, even mine don't have no heater

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:05 pm

rossybee wrote:
Gareth wrote:Does it have heater/ wet weather gear?
IT'S A F$CKING EX-RACECAR!!!

Gareth, even mine don't have no heater

now now, dont mock the afflicted

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:13 pm

Gareth wrote:Gordon, is it road legal?
Does it have heater/ wet weather gear?
I don't want to be rude and ask how much it cost but ball park??

Very nice tho

Think Ross answered you there. TBH ,no offence intended in any way.....but i really doubt your a Caterham kinda guy. This car is basic even by 7 standards. It's a race car...it's been built specificly to be a race car. Custom made foam seat etc. It has a windscreen if thats any use. But thats getting binned for an aero screen and half doors. A roof can be made to fit over the cage... but thats kinda useless coz you've gotta take the wheel off and climb in and out of the car through the roof. It isn't registered but it has been SVA'd and just needs a few things to make it eligable for road use. But even aftter the track test.... i've figured it out..... all this "race car for the road" pish that folk come out with is a load of bollocks. This car will be a fcuk nightmare on the road. its hard enough to drive on track!!! Race cars are good on a track, road cars are good on the road. The Elise is a good road car that can take track work well and handles well..... but it's not...and isn't trying to be a full blown racer. Neil's Honda'd S1 is a cracking car, and it more focussed towards track work than 90% of Elises.... the 7 could easily pull in car lenghts on the corners last night. (Althought he out dragged me on the main straight)

Ball park figure on cost....between £8000 to 15,000 will get you an RSA racer. Fd's car's up for sale just now and it's a cracker.

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:35 pm

Gordon - very tactful

Gareth - an RSA isn't summit to buy without yer eyes wide open

- Gordon "kens his onions" tho, so I reckon he's got a good 'un

The way to look at race cars is that they've prolly all been in some kind of shunt, it's more important that they've been repaired to a good standard

Oh, and btw - that pink VHPD you featured a while back has just been reduced - the seller is moving out of the country & need to shift it - he's just said as much on blatchat

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:40 pm

Here she is

Quite a few tasty beasts up for grabs over there at the mo.... Fireblade for £15k

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Sun May 07, 2006 6:51 am

minkypotglory wrote:Good stuff Gordon hope all goes well i might be able to help with a small donation will send PM

Neilp

What a guy.

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:19 am

Uh oh....spot the someone who cares for their vehicle so as to ensure its value is retained and they dont drive a shed.....me!
I just thought you could use it on the road like Ali did and still manage to compete.

If I was to buy one I need a road legal version.
I don't have the cash or the time to race one or use on dry days only. S160 could be my answer but I would just love a 7.

Gordon, good luck with the season....

mrbennybennett · Post by **mrbennybennett** » Sun May 07, 2006 12:38 pm

Gordon I think that is my boss George Brewsters old car?? - he took me round KH in it a few time and it was just awesome!!!

Not been in his CSR yet but looking forward to it

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sun May 07, 2006 2:35 pm

Ross, I really want that purple 7....

Although, not sure about a 200bhp K.....

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Sun May 07, 2006 2:45 pm

Congrats gordon, and all the best mate.

If you're around for mexitowers, I may have a guy coming along who you could try to schmooze - no idea if he'd be up for sponsoring you, but that's your job to convince him he needs to!