First Blat in my Caterham
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:15 pm
x-posted from Jock7 :-
Ok, so technically it isn't my first, and it probably doesn't really count as a "blat" but it's my first time out on the road in my car.
So, got to the bottom of the road - bang - brain freeze! Thought to myself this isn't good - I've still got 20 mins drive to go and at faster speeds. Disengage brain and off we go again. I'm being mega cautious as it's an unfamilar car and I'm on my way to the testing station. The rest of the journey there was taken at a sedate pace (for all I know I could have 4 collapsed wheel bearings and 8 broken ball joints.
MOT passes with flying colours - only the lights need adjusting but that's no suprise as they came in a box when I bought the car.
Head home from work confident that what I have underneath (or all around) me is safe I push on a little.
I'm fortunate that the route home takes me on a 30, then a 40, to a 70 dual carraigeway and a 60mph limited roads. I build up the confidence on the 30's pitching it into corners at slow speed just to see what happens - all going well although the lack of body roll takes a bit of getting used to - it's like cornering on rails.
40mph comes and goes and the road opens into dual carriageway. So far I've been short shifting at 3, 3.5k on the dash - and even at a low gear change there has always been power there - never feels laggy or off cam unlike the elise.
National speed limit sign appears and I part bury the throttle in third. Car just lifts it's skirts and sprints - if I was to describe it as breath taking then I really wouldn't be lying. With the screen off and the two little aeros on (clear plastic things) I couldn't catch my breath and had to bring the speed back to under 50.
Unfortunatly the rest of my journey was plagued with traffic which was very disappointing. The car is now road legal and I'm starting on my wish/want list. First on the list is decent sized wing mirrors, second is something that will let me breathe at a decent speed
I can see why you guys love the cars so much - I may have hypothermia - but I'll die with a smile on my face that I didn't think could be topped when I drove an elise.
Mac
Ok, so technically it isn't my first, and it probably doesn't really count as a "blat" but it's my first time out on the road in my car.
So, got to the bottom of the road - bang - brain freeze! Thought to myself this isn't good - I've still got 20 mins drive to go and at faster speeds. Disengage brain and off we go again. I'm being mega cautious as it's an unfamilar car and I'm on my way to the testing station. The rest of the journey there was taken at a sedate pace (for all I know I could have 4 collapsed wheel bearings and 8 broken ball joints.
MOT passes with flying colours - only the lights need adjusting but that's no suprise as they came in a box when I bought the car.
Head home from work confident that what I have underneath (or all around) me is safe I push on a little.
I'm fortunate that the route home takes me on a 30, then a 40, to a 70 dual carraigeway and a 60mph limited roads. I build up the confidence on the 30's pitching it into corners at slow speed just to see what happens - all going well although the lack of body roll takes a bit of getting used to - it's like cornering on rails.
40mph comes and goes and the road opens into dual carriageway. So far I've been short shifting at 3, 3.5k on the dash - and even at a low gear change there has always been power there - never feels laggy or off cam unlike the elise.
National speed limit sign appears and I part bury the throttle in third. Car just lifts it's skirts and sprints - if I was to describe it as breath taking then I really wouldn't be lying. With the screen off and the two little aeros on (clear plastic things) I couldn't catch my breath and had to bring the speed back to under 50.
Unfortunatly the rest of my journey was plagued with traffic which was very disappointing. The car is now road legal and I'm starting on my wish/want list. First on the list is decent sized wing mirrors, second is something that will let me breathe at a decent speed
I can see why you guys love the cars so much - I may have hypothermia - but I'll die with a smile on my face that I didn't think could be topped when I drove an elise.
Mac
)
