Caterham Academy

[karbonkid]

Caterham Academy... Talk to me!

Been in the back of my mind for a while, dont know too much about it, but seems a laugh and reasonably well put together as a package. After chatting briefly to a chap who participates, its persuaded me to look into it further.

I've been doing a little research on the Academy but wanted to know if anyone has any first hand experience in it and if there are any better series out there to consider instead.

[northernjim]

Funnily enough while out shopping for some wellies today.... bear with me please..... I met a nice chap called Rich, who had a csl He even comes on here now and again

He sold it earlier this year, to go back to a caterham As these were what he started off doing track days in, and he did a year in the Caterham Academy, bloody loved it, ( he must have, because he went on about them for ages) then wife and kids came along, so he grew up and got a csl, but itch having been scratched, he's back in the caterhams- far more rewarding drive by all accounts....

not much help I know, but I've got some nice wellies now

[petery]

I did the Academy in 2006 and now running a Caterham race team, Just sold an R300 race car to buy a CSL to focus on the business for a bit.

It's the best thing you will ever do. My brother also did it in 2004 so I'm pretty experienced in the whole process. Ask any question and I will try to answer(pm or on this thread)

[shimmy]

My brother did it all this year. He bought the kit in December 2009, built th ecar over the winter and did the time trails and the races including two extra weekends in the Autumn that were held.

There were two groups of about 25 cars (all novices). All really trailered the cars them selves and had no mechanics as such, as few people had helpers like me!

Over the year in both groups you found 3-5 quick guys and 3-5 slow guys and 15 in the middle. Some contact but not too much for such decent fields and mostly done with good humour but as the year went on it got a bit more competetive.

I think my brothers kit cost him £18.5k plus trailer and bits and bobs. Car is worth around £14k now so the whole year cost him effectively £4.5k plus fuel and hotels.

I dont fit into them tbh and if i was gonna do a race series i would start with Mazda MX5 or similar BUT for those on a budget. no experience and a will to race it is pretty good and Caterham really do hold your hand for this first year.

[karbonkid]

Thanks for the input peps.Didn't realise there would be as much involvement on here, glad I brought it up.

Northernjim, thats got to be the best welly buying story! Congrats on the purchase.
Petery, I may PM you at some point for some more info as you seem the man in thw know.
Shim, thanks for the facts an figures. Seems reasonably priced to me £4.5k for a season. How many races/ sprints does that actually inc? Whats the next step for your bro?

Can you not buy a S/H caterham and enter?

[petery]

For the Academy it is new cars only, you could go straight in to 'Roadsport B' or 'Supersport' but you would find you are paying £14-£17k for a car and £8-£10k to do a season looking after the car yourself.

[shimmy]

if you buy new completed it will cost more but building is pretty easy and Caterham check it and road register it after for you.

Unless you are hooked on Caterhams if i were you go into Academy if you want the assistance and slow lead in to racing, or just get a mazda . Mazda is £6k for front runnning car. £15 a panel and otherwise same costs as Caterham but 2-3 races a weekend, 9 weekends and about 21 races year.

Caterham Academy is only 3 sprints and 4 races for the year. Ideally the races could do with being double headers but they keep it simple for novices.