Category Archives: Build Diaries

Follow along with the build of my Caterham Academy 2013 car.

Build Diaries, Caterham Academy

Getting ready to race

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I took the opportunity while the car was off the trailer after Blyton to do the few minor bits and bobs to get it ready for our first Race at Donington in mid-July.

I started with a rear brake pad change. You need a caliper rewind tool to wind the piston back to give enough space for the unworn pads. I picked up a Laser 1314 from ebay for around £20 a while back and it was time to break it out of the packet. It didn’t come with any instructions – I guess for most people it’s obvious – but it wasn’t for me!! I think I cracked it in the end though and I’ve fitted the new pads both sides. I’ve even driven to the petrol station and back and the car stopped!!! Got to be good. I had to rotate the piston more times than I thought I would in order to give enough room for the new pads. Another job done though, so pleased with that.

Next up, remove the timing strut! A 2 second job but one that gave a lot of satisfaction. A kind of Academy right of passage.

Tow straps – apparently out tow hooks aren’t large enough for racing so we’ve been given some new tow straps that have to be attached. They are at least the right colour :) Oh – and now the cheese mobile has yellow wagging tail. I’m pretty sure I’ve used the wrong chassis rail at the front so will adjust this at Brands Hatch on Thursday.

Finally, I gave the car its post event clean and then got onto adding my race numbers! It was nice to take off the sprint number and put the final ’78’ in place. ’78’ is my birth year and has been a number I’ve used for many years. I was extremely happy to get this race number and to finally put it in place really put a smile on my face. It looks the business :). Really hope it’s as lucky as my sprint number!

Build Diaries

Numbers, stickers, seats and sponges

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I was outside in the ‘garage’ today to do final preparations for the official test day on Wednesday. Some of this was ceremonial – other bits were more important!

First up was the removal of the passenger seat. With the car overweight once I step on board, and no need for the seat, it makes sense to save the weight and take it out the car. The passenger seat is MUCH easier to deal with than the drivers seat, so it really wasn’t too much of a hassle.

I took the opportunity to clean out the drivers and passenger side of all the grit, sand and general gunk that had collected over time.

I did a diagonal swap on the tyres to try and keep the wear more even. Something I didn’t do so well with my first set and I’m determined to get this set right.

With the wheels off, I put some aluminium tape over the wheel weights. I had forgotten to do this when I first had the tyres balanced and had been meaning to do this for a while.

Next up was a quick bolt check and visual check over the car. The small radius arm bolts had again worked themselves lose enough to need a good couple of cranks on the torque wrench.

I applied some Rainex type compound to the outside and inside of the windscreen. Having spent a quick 10 mins in horrid rain the previous day, I realised that it was pretty essential to help visibility.

A good wash and rinse later and the car was ready for more stickers. It’s getting harder and harder to really get the car clean. Track day rubber, oil and grime is extremely difficult to shift. I might have to ask for some tips on what shifts it.

It was great to finally get the sprint numbers onto the car. It wasn’t easy though. There’s not a lot of room on the number square and it’s tricky to get everything lined up and looking neat and tidy. A few pencil lines and careful use of masking tape later and I was fairly happy with the result.

I picked up some other stickers and URLs from a company recommended by Steve Grubb. http://www.goodwingraphics.co.uk/ They made me up a batch of sticker that were a great price and also delivered pretty much next business day after the request! Great service.

All that done, I tucked the car back up on the trailer pretty happy that everything is ready for the test on Wednesday. Was great to see the sun finally!

Build Diaries

HANS Adjustment – Arch Motor & Manufacturing Co Ltd

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A long drive today in the Cheesemobile. M23, M25, M11, A14. They aren’t really roads that this type of car was designed for. Turns out, the 5:45 alarm wasn’t what I was designed for either. Whilst all sensible people were in bed or at least watching GP qualifying, I was unloading my car and putting on the necessary layers to at least try and stay warm.

2.5 hours later, I arrived at Arch Motors along with my helmet and HANS device. Essentially the process that is carried out is a quick measurement and calculation of your seating position so that the harness mounting points can be moved inwards on the chassis rail. This ensures that the harness straps sit correctly on the HANS device and also, in the event of an accident, stay say on the HANS device.

Unless you’re particularly tall, the harness is also mounted upside down, under the chassis rail. This necessitates two slot holes to be cut in the rear bulkhead to allow the harness straps through.

The whole process takes in the order of 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. If you want to run with a HANS device, you have to have this process carried out and it can only be done by Arch Motors to comply with regulations. You get a piece of paper to take with you that then needs to accompany you to races for proof.

The drive home got interesting when the beautiful sunshine turned into a rain storm but I was pleasantly surprised how dry it remained in the cockpit despite the roof not being on.

Just the passenger seat to remove now and a few final stickers for the car ahead of the official test day at Castle Combe next Wednesday.

Onwards, ever onwards.