Kames off

[David]

Well it had to happen sooner or later . A loss of concentration at Kames today and some hefty contact with the tyres spoilt my day. Unfortunately no video but Mass can probably remember more than me as he was the pax at the time.

It looked quite serious but I've stripped it down tonight and most of the expensive bits are OK. Mainly racing consumables - a wishbone, damper, stearing arms, rod ends, and a tyre. Some cosmetic damage to panels and carbon but all repairable.

Many thanks to all who helped - particularly Quenton who got me home after spending a frustrating time stuck on a closed A80.

[Andy G]

unlucky.

Not much room for error on that track.

I went off in someone elses car last time i was there (didnt actually realise how quick i was going as it felt slow after the Atom!)

Still, hope the repairs arent too £, and if you are okay, and your pax - all good

[Modena Scotland]

Glad to hear the car isn't too badly damaged. I'm sure you will soon be back on track.

[Kayfur]

Sorry to hear that David. Easily done, as Andy says there's not much run-off at Kames.

At least the damage doesn't sound too bad. Let me know if you need to borrow a Caterham-sized trailer.

Kevin

[Modena Scotland]

It wasn't an off by a loss of control. Dave took a wrong turn and straight into tyres We flew over them and landed on the grass area.

[meatball]

Glad everyone is ok and the car should be a simple fix......
A wrong turn? Where?

[David]

A wrong turn? Where?

I went up the 'clockwise' entry lane. I can't remember making that decision but on the laps previously I had been trying to balance the throttle round the gentle right before a burst of full throttle down to the hairpin. I think I sighted the wrong apex but didn't notice - the classic mistake of focusing on the apex and not looking ahead.

Edit: For the record, the data show I locked the brakes at 65mph and hit two large lorry tyres head on at 35mph which all but knocked off the LH wheel and bent most parts on the RH suspension. Fortunately the nose went between the tyres and escaped mostly undamaged.

[vx220]

Glad you are ok and hope you get the 7 fixed all ok

[meatball]

I assume you were going anticlockwise?
Ouch......a well.....we're all human!

[j2 lot]

Ouch indeed - a 35 mph hit is quite a knock. Glad you're ok.

[Cisco]

David,

Sorry to read this.

Easily the cleanest Caterham I've seen so far.

Hope you get it back together soon.

Take care,

Frank

[David]

Thanks for all your comments

Update: The car is now stripped back and all the parts arrived from Caterham this afternoon (much that I've criticized Caterham in the past, their 'racing consumables' parts service is second to none). A through examination confirmed no chassis damage so it is just a case of bolting on the new bits and a few cosmetic fixes.

I was thinking about getting it back together for the HM on the 29th but rushing it might not be wise. With the general election looming, my work commitments are high and Gordon will be sitting his highers, so end of May might be a more sensible target On a more positive note, after all the hassle with the upgrades, Caterham have given me a credit note for the roller barrels and that has more than paid for the parts.
.

[j2 lot]

Good news that it is a relatively easy fix- you should give your co-driver at the time a dig for leading you up the wrong road

[Modena Scotland]

Dave, great news. I am glad it didn't end up too expensive.

See you soon.

Mass

[kevham]

Ouch! That could have been very bad if someone had been waiting on the clockwise startline!

Kames can be unforgiving - my last test day there had three fairly big crashes including one driver injured after going through the tyre wall.

Glad everyone was ok and that your car will be fixed without too much expense.