xromad

I like it! Wow! I thought I had seen every possible thing speedway had to sell.... And then you show me this.

I know from which you speak! I started using Linux 10 years ago. It took a while to stop scratching my head every time I wanted to do something. Now I use it exclusively at home and actually get confused when trying to do anything on Windows. Stick with it! You'll figure it out.

Arr!

Anyone know details about this one? Electric Sports Car

Is it the October issue with the Dolce, "Double-Bubble" on the front?

A Furr-rari? :jester:

Darn, I'm going to have to disguise it better next time.... :yesnod:

WOW! What great fun! Thanks Steve, Amy, Drew! Lots of good times with good friends. The day was wonderful. The cars ran great. The roads were scenic. The food was good. The Gathering: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12522&g2_serialNumber=1 Short wayside stop by lake Pepin: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12531&g2_serialNumber=1 Another short stop at a beautiful overlook: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12539&g2_serialNumber=1 Another Fabulous overlook: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12575&g2_serialNumber=1 Drew looking cool, me looking like an idiot: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12577&g2_serialNumber=1 Of course the 5 minute stop, to see the overlook, turned into an hour long "show-and-tell": http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12587&g2_serialNumber=1 The shot probably most representative of the roads all day long: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12609&g2_serialNumber=1 Smell-o-vision? ----- See a farm, smell a farm... :lol: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12619&g2_serialNumber=1 Almost the end of the day: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12687&g2_serialNumber=2 I had to beg Brenda to take this evidence shot of my "Bug Smashing": http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12699&g2_serialNumber=2 More photos and even some video to come! Brent

Woo Hoo, Friday at last! I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning. Al Navarro was kind enough to send some club items along for those who show up. Resturant opens at 8:00. I'll probably be there around 7:30. I'm trailering the car down so that we can have a rescue vehicle in the area if necessary. I have 3 confirmed (including myself), But, I do want everyone to know that others are welcome. See you there! Brent

Sordid: seamy: morally degraded oops sorry.... :jester: tr.v. sort·ed, sort·ing, sorts... To reduce to order from a confused state 7s definition - Sorted: Properly set up and configured for peak performance.

Well, I'm not ignoring this topic. I've been thinking and reading. I actually found a direct reference for my argument about corner weights and setting up a wedge to offset the driver's weight and get equal weight on the front wheels. Direct quote: "With single seaters you should be able to get it to about five pounds. With cars in which the driver's weight is offset from the centerline things are somewhat more difficult. Normally it is more important to have the front wheel weight equal and to accept a discrepancy at the rear." Carroll Smith, "Prepare To Win", Page 137, Corner Weight, Paragraph 4 Exactly what I found in my car. Also: "Adjust the bias bar until the fronts [brakes] lock first - but just barely." Carroll Smith, "Prepare to Win", Page 82, Brake Bias, Paragraph 3 Also exactly what I found in my car. And: While it is difficult to just grab a direct quote, Carroll Smith discusses Longitudinal Load Transfer in detail in his book "Tune To Win". The basic summary is that there is a basic formula to calculate load transfer. It's primary variables are: deceleration (g),weight, cg height, and wheelbase. weight(lbs) * cgHeight(inches) weight transfer = deceleration(g) * ------------------------------------ wheelbase(inches) All of those variables except deceleration work against a 7 transfering a significant amount of weight in braking, they also prevent a 7 from transfering a lot of weight under acceleration at the dragstrip. Acording to his discussion, this is not as bad as it might seem. Many of the things that weight transfer does equal bad dynamics. Examples of this are: Unloading the rear wheels causing less traction. Loading the front suspension causing ride height changes, camber changes, gyroscopic procession forces in the steering, bump steer, etc.... These issues are all quite effectively avoided in sevens because of the light weight, low cg, and long wheelbase (for its size). Carroll Smith, "Tune to Win", Page32, Longitudinal Load Transfer Carroll Smith, "Tune To Win", Page34, Anti Dive and Anti Squat Geometry Oh, and before anyone jumps in with spring rates, saying a stiff spring or a soft spring allows more or less weight transfer. Carroll specifically states that neither spring rates nor anti dive significantly affect the weight transferred (notice they are not in the equation). Off to do some more reading Brent

Wow, I can't believe how quickly this day is coming! BUMP!

Well, if you decide on the Black Hills area, I'm sure some of us who live closer could be talked into running out and scouting roads/hotels/dining/etc... One note: While I would be perfectly happy to do nothing but drive, fill the gas tank, drive, fill the gas tank..... Some of the wives, and most of the children will require at least some ability to enjoy other parts of the experience. There are LOTS of great roads around Mount Rushmore, as well as lots of very interesting things to see. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument Custer State Park Jewell Cave National Monument Devil's Tower Wind Cave National Park Badlands National Park Not the same as the Tail, but that is kind of the point too. Different! Either way, count Brenda and I in with both feet! Also, as you said, quite a ways off still, but you should pick a date (1 Oct 08 might be appropriate) to close discussion and make a decision. Then the rest of us have roughly 9 months to save our pennies and figure out how we will get there. Brent

More Details posted here: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/Default.aspx?g=posts&m=10427⢻

We have three confirmed for a Blat on the weekend of the 22nd. There are also two additional that are between 10% and 50% chance. So, in light of this, and the fact that all confirmed are in the Twin Cities area. We are going to forego any type of Hotel/Motel and just meet at a breakfast place. What: Saturday Blat :thumbs: Where: Hastings to Winona and back (and all the fun roads inbetween).....Twice if we have to.... :crazy: Meeting: Liberty's Resturant in Redwing http://www.libertysonline.com/breakfast.html :seeya: Start Time: 8:00am hungry and ready to eat (and warm up) then Blat :surprised: Stop Time: Whenever we decide to go home.... :reddevil: Maps: I will provide maps at breakfast Saturday morning. :willy: Thoughts: Probably best to bring something warm, mornings are starting to chill down. :shocked: We are planning a stop mid day in Nelson for Chese and Wine. http://nelsoncheese.com/index.htm :cheers: Lunch and Dinner TBD I will be bringing my trailer and a fair amount of tools so that we can retrieve a broken car if necessary. :smash: Questions? :bigears:

And, to muddy the waters.... There are several other terms I've seen "bandied about". In informal conversation I use them pretty interchangeably. However, formally I would put them in kind of this order... 1. Seven - Lotus, Caterham 2. Se7en - A close facsimile of a Seven. Birkin, Westie... 3. LSIS and Clubman - A fairly loose facsimile that still follows the primary "look and feel". Stalker, Ultralite... 4. Sevenesque - Has a vague resemblence.... Atom, Prowler, Panoz... My favorite, of course is: 5. All of the above. Others would probably have arguments for a different order, or different terms.

Drew, Thanks for the save! I was fantastic meeting you and Janet. Brent

A chance encounter at the anual Wheels and Wings Show in Osceola Wisconsin. The three in this photo are Drew, Myself, and Mike. http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=12344&g2_serialNumber=1 There was another 7 at the event too, but unfortunately I didn't get a photo. Sorry Steve! I only know of 6 Se7ens in MN and this was 4 of them... :party: Brent

Ah, I know you weren't speaking to me, but this description is exactly why I described the Atom as "Sevenesque" and neither called it a Seven nor an LSIS. There are many cars that i would call "Sevenesque" that are neither Sevins nor LSIS but the line does become quite blurred. The Panoz Roadster comes to mind. I wouldn't include the 32 Ford because I think the description is still lacking a bit. I think you need to add: designed for minimum weight, Space Frame construction, and risk of being sued by Caterham for "Look and Feel" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Brent

And that's just the big names :-) WCM tends to use the S2k motor of which I'm sure the atom owners are quite familiar. The Stalkers use either the 3.4Litre 60deg V6 or the almost unbelieveable supercharged 3800 V6. neither of these motors has realy big horsepower numbers, but both have monster torque and a powerband with a huge "area under the curve". Then step into the Demans, the Hayabusa powered screaming meanies, rotary powered vikings, rotary powered Rotuses (Roti?), Mazda's V8 powered Rotus, the list goes on. I will say this. In the last five years the 7 has exploded onto the U.S. scene. Yes it's still a niche, but compared to what it was, it's amazing. Especially fun to see the Sevens tear up the competition at R&G and other national events. Additionally, all the variations are good for improving the breed. (this is where I think the single marque clubs have it entirely wrong) I guarantee that when the different cars gather, the manufactures are looking at each other's work and saying (WOW!) or (YUCK!) and some of it bleeds over into each successive generation. Personally I think Caterham enforcing their pattents and copyrights on Westfield and others has actually been good for the communitiy. It forced the other makers to evolve which then put pressure on Caterham to evolve or get left behind.

Yep, that's the one. I don't have numbers to quote, but I heard he was very fast at UTCC. He's also done very well at the Run & Gun the last two years. Brent

I'm sure a couple of these guys could be talked into a little game of "chase me around the track". Or better yet, "chase me through the mountains...":cheers: http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=11782&g2_serialNumber=1 Warning, beware of the yellow one with flames in the top left corner. He's just a little bit fast.... Brent P.S. Not a single S2K motor in the group. :jester:

Hey Randy, Thanks for chiming in. Thanks to the other Atom owners too. Personally, I thought the article made it quite clear that the Atom was not sorted. I still hold by my earlier statement. I'd stand a sorted Seven, on it's home turf, against any unsorted car in the world. I don't care what horsepower or lineage. Properly sorted, there are lots of cars out there that can beat a seven around a track. Some can even beat it in its home turf. Then, there is the whole driver equation. I'd bet a real master driver could use a Trabant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant) to beat me and my seven around a track. Heck Sabine managed to push a Ford Transit around the 'nurburgring' in 10:08. Which, is pretty darned impressive. I'd love to see a combined event. Even if it was just spirited drives in the mountains. I personally think the Atom is very Sevenesque. Kind of like my cousins: I didn't get to pick them but they are still family. John, Al, Mazda, I think we should make a point to invite them to our next national (or even large regional) event. That would be cool! Brent

Oh, and my usual response to "How fast does it go?" is: "Zero to Jail in about 4 seconds."

I just ignore them. Double ignore if it is a kid in a Camaro or Mustang. Sometimes they realy do piss me off though and It is very hard to keep control. Worst was about a month ago when a WANKER in a Porche 996 passed me on the right, on an on-ramp. I saw him make his move in the mirror and was extremely pissed. (visions of being in my old truck and "accidentally letting him hit me came to mind) It was all I could do to act my usual and just wave as he went by. :blueangel: . . . Of course I was waving with 4 less fingers than normal. :reddevil: