Caterham
Slalom Day at Silverstone
Date:
Friday 5th October 2007
Time: 8.30am - 5.00pm
Location: Silverstone, Northamptonshire
Vehicles: Caterham
 My
invite for this driving experience came from Buyagift,
probably the leading UK gift experience suppliers, and it
read as follows...
"Buyagift
invite you to join them for a day of true driving adrenaline.
The nimble Caterham is guaranteed to deliver the most fun
you've had on four wheels!
Go
wild in one of these amazing two seaters at the world famous
Silverstone track. You'll slip, slide and spin as you race
the clock and perfect your driving techniques.
As
the day progresses you'll have the chance to tackle faster
and more demanding circuits - just to keep you on your toes!
The
event is sure to be pure entertainment and a unique chance
to drive in a way that would get you arrested on public roads!"
Well,
if that doesn't get you excited then we have to wonder why
you are actually reading a website on driving experiences!
Living
in the North West and with an early time to meet at Silverstone
I thought it best to make my way down to Silverstone the night
before so not having to get up a ridiculous hour in the morning.
I had booked myself into a B&B that said it was just 600
meters from the main entrance of Silverstone, what I didn't
realise is that that was as the crow flies and it was a few
miles to actually get there by road, fortunately the B&B
owners gave us a lift into the middle of the circuit where
the main meeting point is.
 I
met someone else I knew there and we were then escorted over
to the Caterham section in the middle of the track, none of
the people we saw there were people we recognised but we continued
to wait and even have the safety briefing. There was also
by the looks of it a drive
a Ferrari experience taking place that day too so
we got to have a quick look at a few of those parked up. It
was only after half an hour when people were getting their
helmets that we realised we were at the wrong part of the
track, a quick phone call and we were picked up and taken
to the car-park right next to the Silverstone entrance that
had a few faces we recognised. So, we then took in our second
safety briefing of the day and were given our timetable of
what we would be doing.
It
was a nice day, just warm enough to be able to wear a t-shirt
so that made a welcome bonus!
There
was 3 Caterham cars that were there and a course set out with
small plastic cones that we would soon be slipping and sliding
through.
There was an electronic timer that was positioned with electronic
beams that started and stopped the clock when you finished
your run, so you got a precise timing for each drive you did.
The day was split up with a new course and each driver would
have their best time for each course totaled so at the end
of the day the over all fastest drivers would receive a trophy
and the honors for the day!
Before each new circuit throughout the day we stood and watched
one of the instructors drive the circuit so we knew where
to head and what to do!
It
should be pointed out that the tyres and suspension on the
Caterhams had been messed about with to make them as slippery
and slidy as possible, they would not normally be quite as
"loose" as these were. This is good though as it
made it easier to get the car to do the naughty things we
wanted it to do...!
Everyones
names were added to a white board so we knew what our running
order would be, we then were able to keep track of driver
changes so the day ran smoothly. You would get your helmet
about 5 minutes before it was your go and then you would be
ready to jump straight into the Caterham when it was your
go. This ran very smoothly and the three Caterham cars were
constantly being driven!
 Each
course that we had to do was progressively different than
the last to help you slowly learn and master different driving
techniques and to make sure you could get the most out of
the car.
The first course required weaving in and out of a set of cones
set up in a line and then driving through 2 far gates and
back to a large bollard. Round this you then had to perform
a donut without touching the bollard or you received a time
penalty.
You will great great amusement and laugh at when it comes
to watching everyone on the donuts and throughout the whole
day that was the part that everyone watching was focussed
on seeing if you would crack it or not.
Doing the donuts is a skill that needs practice, some mastered
it and some struggled. It is a case of setting the car up
in the correct position and then getting your throttle and
clutch balance right so that you could keep the rear wheels
spinning you round as the front ones guide you round the cone.
Too much power and you spin right out, not enough and you
won't get a spin on, it is a right challenge but great fun.
After that it's into the "stop" area where you will
stop the clock and then be back into the pits for your second
run and then a driver change. Your best run would be used
for your running "time" score.
While
you were waiting for your go there was a refreshments room
where you could get a drink and something to eat while you
then carried on watching or chatting with the other drivers
there.
A
quick change round and the circuit was changed again, this
time with a couple of zigzag slalom gates where you can to
slide the car round about 120 degrees between these cones
to be pointing towards the next gate, again it ended with
the donut where you could try and work on your original attempts
to see if you could improve.
Despite doing the donuts I managed to keep clipping the bollard
(well, on the odd times I didn't completely spin it out, ahem...)
 I
think it is worth writing about the instructors and the guys
who actually run the day (about 3 middle aged guys, and 1
young guy and a young lady), they were absolutely superb.
They were constantly cracking jokes and knew everyones names
when it came to your turn. They also offered hints and tips
when you came to start your next drive, saying which bits
you got right and suggestions on how you could improve and
get the most fun out of the day. The day really geared towards
having fun and despite safety being the most important part
the instructors made it so enjoyable that you always had a
smile on your face (well, other than if you got a bit of a
slapped wrist for maybe being slightly naughty...I will expand
more on that a bit later)!
When
dinnertime came a buffet type spread was supplied for everyone
to munch on, plenty to go round to fill everyone up. We were
told we wouldn't start the afternoons driving until we had
eaten all the food that had been laid on, as much as an incentive
it was for everyone to make sure it was all eaten up there
was still some scran that been left.
After
dinner it was time to hear what our placings were, this is
when I realised that our times for each run were actually
being added together and it was actually important to knock
up a good time in each run. Without sounding like I'm getting
my excuses ready but I, despite being a very competitive person,
had been having a laugh and maybe enjoyed sliding the car
slightly more than I should so my time wasn't towards the
fastest, plus the fact I got some time penalties for hitting
the cone on my donuts didn't help I guess, that said I know
it was the same for everyone so will just accept to not being
the best there on the day!
The run down of our placings drew comments from the instructors
at those who may have stood out for one reason or another,
all good fun and kept the feeling of the day fun and jovial,
yet with a hint of competitiveness to it!
The
afternoon session included another 3 different courses for
us to complete, following the same format as before, we had
the added incentive that if we were quick and did our change
over quickly we might be able to all get an extra run in at
the end of the day.
It
was the first session in the afternoon where I was the first
person of the day to get a slap on the wrist (much to the
delight and laughs of everyone else who was attending). I
had done my run and it came to the donut part again, I over
did it and managed to flip the rear of the car round, instead
of taking my foot off the accelerator I decided to keep it
planted and lit the rear wheels up with a huge cloud of smoke,
I also decided to hold one of my arms up to wave at everyone
as I did it...
Now everyone else loved it, the instructors didn't. Obviously
from a safety aspect had the rear wheels gripped and shot
me forward into the pit area it could potentially have been
dangerous (it was all under control really). I got a bit of
a talking to and was give the first warning of the day, I
am pleased to say I was later joined by one other person who
also got a warning later on in the day, that made me feel
slightly less naughty!
When
it came to the final run of the day, we had been given our
placings and the timings for first place were split but just
a second, so for those at the top of the list there was all
to play for. With my messing around and acceptance that I'd
put myself out of the running at the start of the day when
I had not put in great times I had carried on just having
fun and not hugely worrying about the times.
I'd settled to enjoy doing longer powerslides
round the cones and controlling them than worrying about the
times I was getting.
Anyway, final run of the day and I decided to go for it, just
to show that I could do it if I tried, I did it amazing and
the only problem being I caught the bollard on the donut which
ruined my time, the biggest problem was that it got caught
up against the front suspension arms and in a desperate attempt
to still finish quick I drove with the bollard up against
the front suspension, that got me my second telling off of
the day and probably resulted in the slowest time too, gutted.
 Anyway,
presentation time came and there was much banter as had happened
all day. Time and placings were read out and I got another
mention, firstly to tell everyone that on the last run, up
until the donut/bollard incident I was a full 2 seconds quicker
than everyone else and secondly that I was probably the most
enthusiastic with a heavy right foot person they had had.
I decided to take that as a compliment...
The
top 3 people were presented with trophies to take away. We
all had a group photo around the cars and then that was it
for the day.
I
have done a few driving experiences, single
seaters, rally driving,
driving
supercars such as getting to drive
a Ferrari and Lamborghinis which are great fun, but
obviously with a supercar that costs hundreds of thousands
of pounds also comes slightly more restrictions, yes you get
to give them a drive and put your foot down but all with an
instructor sat with you. The Caterham experience was totally
different, you were in the car on your own an were actively
encouraged to drive in a fashion you would not usually be
able to drive, sliding the car and doing donuts. It was absolutely
brilliant fun and I didn't lose the smile on my face all day,
I don't think anyone did. The moto of the day was "Drive
it like you stole it", and that sums it up really well,
pure fun and extreme driving that leaves you with a huge grin!
You
just need to compose yourself before you leave though, you
need to remember when you get behind the wheel of your own
car that you need to put your sensible hat back on!
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