Caterham - roll cage for track days?

amigafan2003 said:
You're all wusses :)

Stick to your Civics with their 5 star NCAP protection :p:p:p:p:p:p
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I remember a race weekend I was racing at. We all said the same thing about arm tethers and why bother as we all had full FIA cages etc.

Then this happened to a guy in his first ever race, one of our team cars in front of him too.


Next race most of the grid had their arms tethered to their legs!
 
Yikes, I'm not surprised they did after seeing his arm flop out like that.

Interestingly, I went to see some classic car hill climb event, obviously a bit less dangerous than outright racing but they don't have any form of cage (which is perhaps fine for most as they're not very fast going up hills anyway). Plenty of them don't wear seatbelts either, I was told that there is one school of thought that it is actually safer that way... and later in the day I got to witness the reason for that first hand. One guy on didn't make a turn, crashed through a bush and up an embankment. Luckily for him he was thrown completely clear from the car and into a neighbouring field (thanks to not being strapped in) while the car itself flipped over. He was able to walk away from the thing seemingly just a bit bruised.
 
Housey said:
I remember a race weekend I was racing at. We all said the same thing about arm tethers and why bother as we all had full FIA cages etc.

Then this happened to a guy in his first ever race, one of our team cars in front of him too.

Next race most of the grid had their arms tethered to their legs!
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I wouldn't race without a full cage but racing is very different to track days. The only time I've seen a 7 roll is when there has been car to car contact (or specifically tyre to tyre) - as in the vid you linked - if you're getting that close to someone on a track day, then you aren't driving the track day properly or if track days are what you really want (i.e. do you actually want to race).

TL:DR - Track day is not a race
 
Depends on the track days you do. There are many that allow for more competent driving, passing both sides, running close, having a go. Racing is different no question, but it's a risk question for the individual I guess.
 
vanpeebles said:
I reckon it would have cured my thirst for racing :D
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It's a head game first and foremost motor sport.

I never feel that nervous on track actually. Even in my first MX5 race on the same weekend I was less nervous than some more seasoned racers. My car was pretty much dead engine wise having blown a head gasket 3 laps into the Friday testing day(!!) and being bodged at best so we could get me onto the grid for 2 races. I decided to run even though my head was all over the shop due to 'life' that weekend. It was a comedy of how not to go motor racing for me that specific weekend and season but my head when on track was its more relaxed!

Even with circa 85bhp (rolling road) instead of 140bhp I jumped 5 cars at the start....then they vanished due to, you know, no powers :D
 
ahar said:
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!
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So in summary....

Get a cage if you plan lots of track work.

The chap who built our little team for us and sorted the car builds, had a brother doing Caterham Academy. I don't think he was a Caterham head, he just signed up and did a season and I believe loved it. I went to see them run at Curborough and it was all smiles. I think it's good value and a great way top start to my advice is go run and don't worry about where you come. Start somewhere!
 
So, cage needed - that video pretty much sorted it for me! The academy car I hired a few weeks ago had the side doors on and a full cage so I'm sure that some kind of weather gear can be had.

I think I might try and pick up an ex-academy car to hoon around in first before taking the racing plunge
 
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