A recall - Caterham style!

While the news is full of Toyota recall details, Caterham quietly had one of their own - but they did it with a bit more interaction.  In fact, a pack of bolts fell through the door via Postman Pat with instuctions to re-fit the rear hub mounting bolts.  While I was doing the side impact bar, I took the hub to pieces and replaced the bolts according to the instructions supplied by Caterham.  It's an easy job and completed within the hour...

Side protection

An extension of the roll cage is the side impact protection bar.  It runs over the rear wing by the driver and attaches to the rear mounting point of the roll cage, the front point (at the saddle bracket) and also the the a-frame mount behind the rear wheel...

At the first attempt to get it fitted, I noticed the a-frame bolt was too short.  It seems there's a specific fixing pack for the side impact bar.  A quick call to Caterham and the next day I received a pack of bolts to do the necessary.  Once you get the right bolts, it's a doddle but note that the front mount needs to use tyhe existing bolt as the one supplied in the pack is too long (it meets the inner bolt and doesn't tighten otherwise).

Seat Sat

A bit of a catch up on status...

My seat has been rescued by Vaughan at Real Essential.  He invited me to Rockingham during a Caterham Motorsport event to personally fit a replacement seat.  He was really helpful, informative and generous with his time.  I can't recommend him and Real Essential enough.

A few points about the seat - it's very labour intensive and while getting a fitting done is expensive, the results are outstanding.  I've been out a few times in the car since getting the seat fitted and you feel 'at-one' with the car.  Every movement is transmitted through you so the amount of feel available is excellent.

In fact, it's so well fitted, it requires a great deal of wriggling technique to get in and out - I'm really pleased I got a removeable steering wheel...