Soon to have a new car

[sdcat]

Hoping this will soon be in my garage! It's an R500 from Caterham USA. Ridiculously pricey, but I can't help myself! I still haven't seen the car, and it may take a few months, but I should get some pictures from them this week.

Justin

[Mondo]

Be a bear... be a Grizzly. You might have mixed feelings on the cost but you definately won't have any complaints about performance. I've been in a car like mine that has about the same HP/weight (supercharged honda S2000 motor), and with slick tires, I thought the front end was going to come up in 3rd gear! You should seriously think about a full cage.

It'll be interesting to see how much your lap times improve as you were pretty fast with an underpowered car. Can't wait to see it when you go to Buttonwillow.

Just remember, car insurance won't cover wadding it up at the track;)

[sdcat]

I do have a cage coming with it! I've spent many months researching and thinking about this car, and am very excited about it. It's funny when you look at all the other cars you could get for that price, but none even come close to the fun of these, or have the appeal to me. Strange that the R500 ends up costing more than the CSR260, which I suppose is mostly the cost of the weight-saving measures. I haven't actually driven either, but from what I've read and heard from those that have driven both, the R500 seems to suit me.

I just noticed another thread here about cages - and that the Caterham cage might not be suitable for NASA or SCCA. I guess I'll need to address that when the time comes.

[mopho]

Is that the one they were supposed to use as a press car?


Great color scheme!

[sdcat]

Yes, that's why I have to wait for it. Hoping the magazines aren't too hard on it! I imagine if I were a test driver, I'd have a tendency to push the cars a bit. Especially since it has "launch control." You know they're going to want to drop the clutch a few times.

[mopho]

Don't worry, I won't be too hard on it, muuhaahahaaaaaahahaaaa......!!!!!!

[mopho]

Actually, the launch control will actually work in your favor when they test the car

[sdcat]

I suppose you're right that they may not over rev it on launch as much. I'm not too worried, since they will sort out any issues it might have during the process. Here are a few pics Ben at Caterham USA sent me today.

[Mondo]

So I wonder how you'll register it... will they get it licensed first? Then you could try for SB100. If never registered, you'll probably have to do the Colorado thing, I assume, as it looks to be completely built (quite nicely) by Caterham USA?

[escondidoron]

That car sounds awesome.

Hoping the magazines aren't too hard on it! I imagine if I were a test driver, I'd have a tendency to push the cars a bit.

I don't want to be a downer but I would keep in mind that things can happen when given access to a car with little or no liability for the driver at the track.

Yeah, right. Sort of like a rental car!

Question:
Do you know what car has the best suspension in the world?

Answer:
Any rental car.

Reasoning:
No Caterham (substutue whatever car here you like) will take a speed bump at 80 mph. Any rental car will.

I know of several different rental cars taken to the 'Ring in Germany. Great fun but the cars can get pretty tired. I know of at least one brand new BMW Z4 that was pretty much used up after a day of straight forward track use. No contact, no dropped clutch starts. Just a full day, say 25 laps of the 'Ring by 2 experienced drivers. There was life still in the car, but it was tired! Probably equivalent to 20-30k miles in one day. Definitely required new pads & rotors, tires, etc.

Seriously though, I would check the car over pretty carefully. Look for any signs of structural fatigue, mechanical issues, engine oil pressure, etc. If somebody missed a shift and over revved the engine it could be problematic somewhere down the line. I would try for a substantial discount (hey, it's well used). Can't hurt to ask.

I've witnessed a couple of car tests of demonstrator vehicles and some of the "testers" were pretty brutal. I know of an '86 Shelby GLHS wadded up into a ball at Willow back in '86 by a magazine 'scribe' at a press day. Good thing for the driver (?) it had a cage.

I'll bet Morgan has seen or heard some interesting stories.

[mopho]

I suppose you're right that they may not over rev it on launch as much. I'm not too worried, since they will sort out any issues it might have during the process. Here are a few pics Ben at Caterham USA sent me today.

With the launch control when they do the performance testing, the driver won't have to do very many launches to find the sweet spot to get the best time since the computer sorts it out for you.

That car sounds awesome.



I don't want to be a downer but I would keep in mind that things can happen when given access to a car with little or no liability for the driver at the track.

Yeah, right. Sort of like a rental car!

Question:
Do you know what car has the best suspension in the world?

Answer:
Any rental car.

Reasoning:
No Caterham (substutue whatever car here you like) will take a speed bump at 80 mph. Any rental car will.

I know of several different rental cars taken to the 'Ring in Germany. Great fun but the cars can get pretty tired. I know of at least one brand new BMW Z4 that was pretty much used up after a day of straight forward track use. No contact, no dropped clutch starts. Just a full day, say 25 laps of the 'Ring by 2 experienced drivers. There was life still in the car, but it was tired! Probably equivalent to 20-30k miles in one day. Definitely required new pads & rotors, tires, etc.

Seriously though, I would check the car over pretty carefully. Look for any signs of structural fatigue, mechanical issues, engine oil pressure, etc. If somebody missed a shift and over revved the engine it could be problematic somewhere down the line. I would try for a substantial discount (hey, it's well used). Can't hurt to ask.

I've witnessed a couple of car tests of demonstrator vehicles and some of the "testers" were pretty brutal. I know of an '86 Shelby GLHS wadded up into a ball at Willow back in '86 by a magazine 'scribe' at a press day. Good thing for the driver (?) it had a cage.

I'll bet Morgan has seen or heard some interesting stories.

I have a few stories, but nothing that was caused by beating on the cars for the sake of beating on them. Shit happens of course, but no one wants to be the one to have to make the phone call to a manufacturer to tell them to come pick up their broken/balled up car, nor do they want to have the reputation of damaging cars, it makes it hard to get cars if that is the case. For the most part, while driven hard enough to evaluate the cars, most do their best to take care of them.

I worked on the CSR260 story for C/D and we just had the car for a few laps around the "bookshelf" track and some road driving and the Caterham USA folks were "chaperoning"

IIRC, this car is supposed to come to the SoCal for it's media tour (the R400 went to Michigan) so there is a chance I might shoot it. TBH, not sure I want to drive it, because it will cost me money :p

[sdcat]

Yes, I think it is coming to California for testing - if I have time I might try to see it then as well! Cat USA assured me that they will go through the car after testing and make sure everything is fine before I get it. I'm going to look at it as a good "QA" opportunity before it comes to me!

I'm a Colorado resident (active duty military), so I have the option of just keeping it registered in Colorado. I'll probably do this, at least for the first year. I may try to register it in California, so I'll make sure to get receipts for the separate sourcing of the engine and car.

[Elv15]

Oh yeah

That is going to be one serious machine.

I LOVE the colors!

[moosetestbestanden]

I'm a Colorado resident (active duty military), so I have the option of just keeping it registered in Colorado. I'll probably do this, at least for the first year. I may try to register it in California, so I'll make sure to get receipts for the separate sourcing of the engine and car.

No wonder my taxes are so high.:D

The engine photo shows that the 'breather' is piped into what looks like the dry sump tank in front of the engine. Is this what you did Magnus?

It also shows what appears to be a Tee fitting in the water plumbing back towards the the overflow tank, relocated (from the old days) to be scuttle adjacent. Better.

And no ignition / spark plug wires are visible.

The blade wishbones are smokin hot. Jon's got em and I want em, amongst other things.

Edit: Don't to get the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin as well as the separate receipts. And get one for the gearbox as well.