So, I’ve been doing a lot of reading around putting the Caterham together. I have to say that at one point I scared myself silly and really wondered what the heck I was doing. There are some pretty horrific stories out there and a number of people saying that, given their time again, they would definitely opt for factory built.

However! Part of the reason for going the Caterham route was always the plan to build my own car. Surely knowing how it was put together would mean it was easier to fix when I bend it?

So, some more reading and a download of the build manual later and I’m starting to feel that I can actually do this and saving the £3k it costs to get the factory to put it together is definitely the way forward.

I’ve got a garage lined up for the build and there appears, at this stage, to be plenty of help on offer to help build.

It’s still such a long way off at the moment but I know that the summer will fly by and I’ll be at the point of no return in no time at all!

Can’t wait.

3 times a week, no less! Have to say that, for the most part, I am also enjoying going. Early in the morning seems to suit at the moment and I have to say that the extra energy it gives you through the day is great.

Losing weight and gaining core strength and arm endurance are obviously highest on my priority list! I even have a ‘program’ to follow!

Really, what I should do is also go and join a badminton or squash club again. I’m sure that eventually the gym will lose some of its attraction but I am confident that, with my suitably fixed aim in mind, I will reach my goals.

The only other time I’ve been this motivated was when I took part in the 2005 ‘So you want to be an F1 Driver’ TV show… I spent a year getting ready for the fitness test. It was an absolute killer and I’m glad I put all the hours in to get ready. I did actually pass that stage of the competition – however, the next karting round I missed out by 0.2 seconds on a place in round 4… It still hurts now I tell you!

Anyway, onwards, ever onwards. For those also following the Academy Racer blog – you’ll know that rather more important that losing weight, will be saving money… Again, having a focus is a good thing here and I’m working out all sorts of ways of reducing outgoings and it certainly makes you question every purchase. Do I really need this or that?

Doesn’t help that the washing machine died and had to be replaced. And the TV blanked for no apparent reason yesterday as well! It came back thankfully – but I could really do with that sticking around for another year or so! Please!

Yes, I’ve only just laid down the aims for this blog but already, they are to change!

The aims for this blog have basically been transposed onto another site I’ve just set up. www.academyracer.co.uk will therefore be the learned experiences from entering/racing in the Caterham Academy and this site will be for my own personal musings/worries/triumphs of the same process.

After looking around the net, I genuinely think an information resource for prospective entrants would be very useful, and I don’t want to dilute that resource with my own personal ramblings.

Who knows, maybe that will change again in a couple of days.