JohnCh

I ditched my spare tire years ago and now carry a Safety Seal ATV tire repair kit with a few additional CO2 cartridges, and also a Mini Versair dual action hand pump in case the CO2 runs out or I need to adjust tire pressures when on tour. The hand pump may sound like an exercise in futility, but they work surprisingly well in a low volume/low pressure situation like a se7en. Here's a link to webBikeWorld's review of the Versair for motorcycle usage: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/hand-air-pump/. BTW if you're not familiar with that site, it's worth checking out. A lot of items targeted at bikers are also applicable to us given our obsession with size and weight...or lack thereof http://www.gemplers.com/images/items/134083-lrg.jpg -John

You just had to keep adding lightness to the project car until you finally wound up with that, huh? What kind of bike? -John

Tom, no enthusiasm lost. If I'm organizing a tour, that means I am going along, so I'm really doing it for me. Although now that I think about it, I had to pull out prior to the start of the NorCal tour I organized in 2009 that had 6 or 7 cars in attendance. Hmm... that's an odd datapoint . I always cross-post tour info to California Caterham Club, so that is already covered. Agree about Pashnit. I used that to plan much of the Northern CA legs. I just didn't bother to check for updates this time. I'm sure they noted the road after Garberville has deteriorated a lot over the last 2 years. -John

Tom, both of the Monterey tours were official tours. However, no one really seemed interested. Perhaps the third time is the charm? Went through all my photos today and found a few more to post.

Tom, sounds like a plan. We'll want to do a minor reroute to avoid the hell that now exists after Garberville, and perhaps to cut out the painfully straight and boring sections of OR, but that should be easy to accommodate. We made it back home safely yesterday. The Westfield covered just a touch under 3000 miles, which included about 925 freeway miles to Monterey. Aside from (what I believe is) a failing TPS sensor in my car that resulted in a little unhappiness when cruising at speeds below 45mph, the cars ran flawlessly. The weather was great the entire trip, with only a couple of hot afternoons, and a few very cold - and sometimes foggy - mornings preventing me from deeming it perfect. Even traffic and speed enforcement officials were light to nonexistent the entire route. For those of you who have never toured backroads in your se7en, you need to change that. Yes, track days are a blast, but getting out in the middle of nowhere with beautiful scenery, empty winding roads, friends, and your se7en is an incredible experience. Here's a parting shot taken on the North Cascades Highway yesterday morning. Now why would someone spend their vacation on a beach, when they could do this instead? -John

Here are a couple of more from today. When we entered Mt. Rainier, the Park Ranger told us "No racing" to which Hudson replied with the ambiguous "Absolutely." Given that we weren't trying to see who could make it out of the park first, I think we safely satisfied the ranger's edict. Of course if you asked our tires if we were racing, they might offer a differing opinion. -John

Aside from the potholes that tried to eat us, the frost heaves that attempted to send us into the air, and the heat on a few of the days, it has been just about perfect. The roads yesterday leading into our overnight stop were pretty incredible. Smooth for very long stretches with most corners marked at 20-25mph. Unfortunately the weather report is showing that Mt Rainier is fogged in until mid morning, so we either need to wait for the fog to lift and have a late arrival into our next overnight, or leave at the usual time and miss the views. I guess when that's your toughest decision in the morning, it's a pretty good vacation I only took a few photos yesterday, and it appears there's a problem with my camera. I tried to take this one over my shoulder, but somehow the camera messed up and didn't take the picture where I was pointing :jester: -John

Individual throttle bodies will also give the charactersitic blat sound. You need these. -John

Sorry Sean, would have been great to have you along. I bet you could convince Tom to rerun all or part of that leg before the weather turns - just make sure you have fresh rubber on the car -John

And a few more including a few from the Blat. BTW Alaskossie, when we stopped at the Chevron in Weaverville, not only did they remember us from 2010, but they asked about you :-) http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/3073849_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/6961932_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/723734_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/9089453_orig.jpg Hudson has a number of great photos, so hopefully he'll post a few here. -John

Two years ago, Hudson, Alaskossie, and I did a tour post Monterey car week that took us from there up to northern WA. Alaskossie, of course, continued on all the way to Alaska, while Hudson and I headed south to my house near Seattle. This year, Hudson and I decided it was time to do a repeat. After spending several days in the Monterey area doing the various shows, auctions, and races, we hooked up with Pierats, and assaulted the roads above Santa Cruz, followed by my favorite stretch of Highway 1 that begins shortly after Stinson Beach. That day was in a word, epic. Yes, we had a little more traffic than last time, but the roads were superb. By the time we arrived at the hotel in picturesque Gualala, I felt like I had run about 8 sessions at the track, and my tires looked like they had done the same (new set is already on order). The next morning, Pierats had to head back home, but Hudson and I soldiered on to Willow Creek, the home of Bigfoot (everything in town is the Bigfoot something: Bigfoot Motel, Bigfoot Grocery, Bigfoot Hemp Shop. The hotel even mentions the creature in their wireless password). This was a rough day. It started out cold and foggy, but it quickly dried out and the road was incredible. Corner, after corner, after corner. Most marked at around 25mph and all taken at speeds *just* a bit faster. The period after lunch, however, was miserable. When we took this route two years ago, the road was a little rough and there were several short sections where the pavement was replaced by gravel, but the inconvenience was offset by the great twisties and relatively smooth tarmac on the other side. The passing 24 months have not been kind to the road. We literally had to idle through certain sections in first gear, and were constantly dodging potholes and what looked like frost heaves from hell. My car was shaken so much, that not only did the nuts on the back of some gauges work their way off, but today I discovered that a zip tie that was holding some wires in place under the scuttle had come undone. I didn’t even know that was possible. Today started out much as yesterday. Fantastic road with little traffic, but after lunch, the temps climbed and the roads straightened, so the driving was all about the scenery. We still have a few days to go. Tomorrow starts out on winding back roads in Oregon, followed by a long patch of straight boring road, and then a bunch of great roads that begin right before we cross the border into WA. We’ll hit Rainier and the North Cascades Highway before finishing up on the local roads I drive on weekends. Here are a few pictures from Monterey. http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/3556211_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/4082014_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/3141936_orig.jpg http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/500268_orig.jpg -John

About 2650rpm at 60mph. My speedo is programmable based on tire circumference, and dead accurate up to 45mph according to our local radar signs. Doubt it gets into any significant error over the next 15-25 mph. -John

I fit all the hand tools in a tool roll that attaches to the shelf in front of the scuttle. Spares, electrical diagnostics, first aid kit, jackets in stuff sacks fit behind the seats (I have MOGs so quite thin). The car cover is in its own stuff sack that is stowed under my knees in front of the driver's seat. The remaining items fit in the boot. A great way to extend room is to put your clothes in Space Saver bags. When you evacuate the air the clothes compress and take up significantly less space. The key to travelling in a se7en is to pretend you're backpacking; compress the compressible and ensure you are using every available square centimeter. -John

Hmm... Westfield has made changes over the years, so I just did a search on WSCC and it sounds like the ET35 is no longer the current recommendation. According to posts 2 & 3 here, the factory is recommending ET24 for the Team Dynamics: http://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/index.php?/topic/95634-seiw-standard-wheel-offset-23mm/ -John

Westfield and Caterham use the same bolt pattern: 4x108. They also share the same offset for their 6" wheels at ET24, but Westfield uses ET35 for their 15x7 wheels. That places the outside of the wheel in essentially the same place, but the inside extends inward about 24mm. On my car, that would foul the front wing stays. Have you looked for an ET stamp on your current wheels? Most manufacturers have this, although sometimes it's hidden on surface that mates to the hub. -John

Here's more info on the supercharger including link to a dyno sheet: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=5683&parentid=0&stocknumber=03-90010 My understanding is that Cosworth initially developed this, but there were teething problems that Flyin Miata worked through when they took over the project. The Miata NC uses a 2.0L Duratec, so this is an option for those running that engine in their se7en. I love Elans and almost bought one before getting a Westfield, but finally decided it was just too damn civilized I'm glad the video captured the amazing exhaust and intake sounds of this particular example. Just fantastic. -John

Lucky dawg, you have PM. -John

RNR, sorry to hear we won't see you this time around. Lucky Dawg, the WA legs of the tour are below: 8/23 Crescent, OR to Morton, WA 8/24 Morton to Winthrop 8/25 Winthrop to Sammamish (half day) Let me know if you're interested in joining at some point. Skip, so are you saying that when you wrote earlier I could drive your car in Monterey if I asked nicely, you were referring to your rental car and not the Caterham? -John

Reviving an old thread given Monterey weekend is less than 2 weeks away. Just three of us doing the tour afterwards, but who else is planning on attending the weekend festivities? It would be nice to get together at the track like we did in 2010. Looking at this thread, it appears we have: Mondo Slomove Scannon RNR Pierats Hudson Anyone else? RNR, do you have details yet on the GGLC breakfast in Salinas? -John

Sounds like great time. Wish I could have made it. And yes, more pictures please -John

The helium filled loafers were a failed attempt at weight reduction to offset my distinct lack of talent behind the wheel. They do look marvelous though. -John

Ooh that's right! I forgot to include the hair dryer, mousse, and Old Spice body wash in my earlier list. I never take my Birkin or Miata anywhere without them. -John

Croc's list is pretty comprehensive. The only additions I carry that I can think of are: - tire fill kit with extra CO2 cartridges in case I need to use the tire repair kit - high performance bicycle pump for small tire pressure changes along the way. - disposable painter's overalls, and some nitrile gloves in case I need to do a roadside repair. Oh, and a good attitude is also important, because sh*t does and will happen (remember, Murphy and Sod were both optimists.) Unfortunately for me though, I generally forget to pack that item. -John

In addition to Slomove, there are several of us still on the forum: me, Hudson, Pierats, Sequential7 (who recently joined), and I'm sure I'm missing others. -John

Sorry for the size, but this one kind of deserves it. Group photo from the USA2005 tour while we overnighted in Page, AZ. http://www.throttle-steer.com/uploads/1/1/0/8/11083275/850330_orig.jpg -John