The Caterham performed impeccably last summer, never missing a beat. As the temperature rose - and I lost crucial kilos from the sweat oozing from every pore - the Super 7 plodded on without requiring any attention. Amazingly the water temperature remained rock solid, no different in the low fifties, than it was in the cooler months. I didn't have to top up the water once, nor the oil.

But due to the recent bout of incidents the red Caterham has encountered I thought extra care and precaution was needed before hitting the road, as this year's summer approaches. So I popped along to Yellow Hat for the necessary tubs. pots and bottles - oil, brake fluid, clutch fluid and a few litres of water. Thankfully the Caterham is quite possibly the easiest car in the world to work on. The bonnet is fixed down by two clips and two quick-release springs. In a matter of seconds the bonnet is lifted free of the car and placed on the floor. Four Dzus fasteners (undone by a flat-faced screwdriver) and the nose cone can be removed too. The 2-litre 16v Vauxhall heart and all its components are then laid in front of you, awaiting inspection.

Since the altercation with the speed bump (courtesy of someone else) the HPC Super 7 has begun to leak oil, leaving a small puddle whenever you park up. It's not so drastic that it has stopped me from driving the car whenever I wish, but it does mean I have to keep an eye on the oil level most days.

I checked the oil again and gave old red a little top up of fully synthetic. Out of habit I unscrewed the cap of the coolant bottle: no change there either, all fine and dandy. All there was to do was grab a cloth and give the dusty engine compartment a spring clean, wiping down the rubber hoses and freeing any electrical connectors of dirt and sand. All good.

The rev counter has started to play silly buggers too, going haywire when you hit 4500rpm, sometimes making it all the way to 5000rpm before dropping to zero. An order had been placed, with a fresh Caterham counter now waiting to be installed. This is an easy enough job to do. But before I attacked the dash with my tools, I realised something that required more attention. A dead battery. I had only left the car stationary for three weeks, but this was enough to drain the tiny unit, which is the size of a matchbox. Alejandro was on hand to help out, trying his best by wiring up the Super 7 to his Nissan Armada. When that failed we tried bump starting it down the car park ramp. But no matter what we did, it just wouldn't wake up. Looks like I really will have to dip my hand in my pocket and shell out more money for yet another battery. So no kilometres this month, as I haven't got around to buying another battery (the second since I bought the car a year ago). A year of ownership! Where does the time go? How the months fly by when you are having fun...