Caterham - roll cage for track days?

ahar

ahar

ahar

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Hi guys

Currently considering whether to go for the Caterham Academy or just get one to hoon around in for a year or two first - that depends on proper life stuff so not the crux of my question.

I've done a few track days in hired caterhams and they've always had a proper roll cage. If I get an ex-Academy car it'll have a roll cage, but most of 2nd hand ones just seem to have the roll bar at the back. If I get one to hoon around in first it'll definitely spend some of its time running around tracks - should I prioritise a full cage when looking at some? If not, any idea how easy they are to fit afterwards?

Also, if anyone has done the Caterham academy, would love to hear your experiences. All the blogs I can find are from people who have had Caterhams for years and have been challenging at the front. If I do it I'll be the guy at the back trying not to be last!
 
I'm doing my first track day in a Caterham 310R SV next week Friday so I am watching this thread closely :)

I'm worried that I'm going to really want one afterwards since I've already been looking at the classifieds. This particular one caught my eye this morning *drool*
 
If you are planning to track it regularly, a full cage is essential IMO. These things have no crash structure at all. If you crash at speed without a full cage then you WILL do some serious damage to your person.

Source: I own a Westfield.
 
ci_newman said:
If you are planning to track it regularly, a full cage is essential IMO. These things have no crash structure at all. If you crash at speed without a full cage then you WILL do some serious damage to your person.

Source: I own a Westfield.
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Agreed. I have been considering one and have one planned for October at Donington but they need a full cage for track work.
 
I track my Westfield without a roll cage - you need a RAC type roll bar with rear diagonals at a minimum imho. Roll cage would be great, but I use mine on the road a lot so I don't think I could live with a roll cage all the time.

7CgExLc.jpg

If you're concerned, don't roll it :-)
 
I've been looking for a Westfield for a few months to use on track and it has to have a roll cage in my opinion. Seen too many incidents on track to know why.
 
also arm restraints... not good when an open topped car rolls and the driver's arms get spun outside the roll cage...

I've just completed a Westfield mega s2000 build and it went through IVA 2 weeks ago, which was ace and now waiting on registration paperwork, but we're already thinking of track fun. But, we only have the standard roll over hoop, which hasn't even got the cross bracing of the approved hoops, so I'm a little concerned about how safe it might be on the track. Full cage is planned for next year, but I'm already not looking forward to retrofitting it... Looking at it, the standard hoop isn't nearly as tall as the yellow car's above - ours almost looks like helmets/heads will hit the ground before the hoop if it rolls...

28s7imc.jpg
 
The standard hoop on a Westfield should be considered cosmetic really. It won't provide any protection during a roll, it will just fold. At a minimum you want one with cross bracing, even better a proper MSA approved roll bar.
 
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If you are serious about racing get the roll cage and whatever else you can put in there designed to keep you healthy/alive in a crash.

Firstly, just on a life preserving point, its just a good idea.

If you are racing, any thought of personal injury or crashing will slow you down, to race at a high standard, you literally must not have any of your concious, or sub councious concerned about crashing, you need to be completely fearless and focus on only how to go faster, not how to go faster without killing yourself. If you are already thinking, should I or shouldnt I get a roll cage, that **** will hit your mind on a corner somewhere, and slow you down when you could have pushed it just that bit harder.
 
Scania said:
Shouldn’t that be you might not live without it? ;)
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Meh, if you're worried about safety, don't drive a 7 style car full stop.

Using a caged 7 on the road regularly is not a nice experience.
 
thewanted said:
As someone who is toying with the idea of buying something like this in the near'ish future, can I ask why? Is it because it's a pain to get in and out of?
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Yeah. Plus you can't have have doors with a cage (or you'll never be able to get in with a cage) and driving without half doors gets old real fast.
 
amigafan2003 said:
Yeah. Plus you can't have have doors with a cage (or you'll never be able to get in with a cage) and driving without half doors gets old real fast.
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Ah, that makes sense. It would primarily be a road car for me anyway so I'd want as much wet weather protection as I could get.

2 more sleeps until my first ever track day at Donington :D
 
Having been in a (relatively minor) track day crash in one, I'd definitely want a full cage with side bars
 
thewanted said:
Ah, that makes sense. It would primarily be a road car for me anyway so I'd want as much wet weather protection as I could get.
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Then a cage is a def no-no as you can't fit a widescreen or wet weather gear.

Having said that, driving a 7 with the wet weather gear up is a hateful experience also. Just wear a helmet and waterproofs :-)
 
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