Kitcat

I would check motor mounts first. They are notoriously fragile and every Cat owner I know has replaced theirs at least 1x, if not more. Do a search for "transmission fluid" and read the 2nd post for some info on the T9 transmission.

Croc: I was going to hold back on the 90 degree headlamp rotation. I was hoping that just the sound of my mighty X-flow would make you guys run for your trailers. But, if your new bad-a$$ Cats still somehow managed to be faster than me, then I was going to pull the 90 degree rotation out of my bag of tricks as a last resort:). And what is all this "grip" talk? I thot half the fun of a se7en was sliding all over the place! Mike M.

I am headed to Mid-Ohio this Monday for a track day. Since rain is predicted i will probably take my M3. Also, it's better suited to Mid-O's many long stretches. It will do 140 mph down the back straight, my Cat 110 mph, if I have a tailwind. Thus far, my plans to go to NJMP in late June are still in place, and looking better all the time. Again, if it looks like a rain-fest, I will bring my M3. I am driving there, not towing, so weather is a factor. No demon tweaks planned for the Cat, unless reversing the direction of the headlights when on track counts:). I will be sooo much more aerodynamic! I mite even change the oil, well see. Mike M.

A downside of super sticky slicks can be oil starvation in some corners. My stock X-flow w/non-baffled oil pan is particularly vulnerable. Dry-sump systems have no issues. Don't know what's in between the 2, I guess my system w/ baffles? Or an Accu-sump system?

As I recall from my auto-X days, 6 events (heat cycles) was max on Hoosiers. And all the serious guys ran on tires w/just 1 heat cycle at Nationals.

And Karl's "tall" bar is absolutely tall!

Mike: No caption but I definitely giver Karl credit for better "situational awareness" than either you and Steve:). And, back to cars, every time I see an Evora I want one. Man, Karl's car is orange! (Maybe its the color coordinated wheels?). MoPho may have to cede his car's name over to Karl's car. Mike M.

Guys, guys, guys..... It was an April Fools joke, you have the Google, don't take my word for it. It was on same page as polka music reduces colon cancer. OK?? A joke. Some people will believe anything:). After all Sen Schumer's office itself put out the word that his favorite car was a Plymouth Duster! (They got the joke). Anyhow, your money may not be safe from the tax man, but this is not cause for concern.

Croc: Interesting license plate. Does it have a wind blocker behind the seats? Looks like a total beast. I see you are continuing your LOG 30 tradition of off-roading your new se7en:). Is the power sufficient (intoxicating)? How soon til you pitch the seats for Tillets? All in all, fantastic car, congrats! Mike M.

Finally, some aspect of this whole big deal that I can relate to!

Unique track: more of a 2 lane county road, with lots of Armco. Still, I'd love to drive it.

Hey, I lusted from age 16 or so til age 60, when I (barely) finally had enough $. Up til then it was pay back school loans, get married, have a child, get divorced, pay child support, upgrade apartment, get remarried, have more kids, buy a house, furnish it, buy practical cars, get the 3 guys thu college, etc. It all made the purchase that much sweeter, even my my ripe old age.

For $5K you get a plaque, a book and a tour?

I look forward to seeing the dyno sheets, after this months long build up! I hope you beat 220 hp:). Photos of the completed car/engine bay would be nice too:)!

Wow! Sounds epic! How did the car do? What route? Are you now sick of it? Will the ringing in your ears ever go away:). Top up/down, etc, etc. Congratulations on a car well-bought. I thot more than once about upgrading to that very car, Croc's price made it so tempting.

Interesting (to me anyhow:)) is how much space is between the clam on the Cat and its wheel vs the cycle fender on the Westfield and its wheel. Perhaps another (slight) advantage of the cycle fender approach?

I am still planning on being there-by midday Sunday, hopefully. Since I will be driving the 600 miles in my Cat, it depends on how much weather (and how many breakdowns:)) between here and there. I have the time blocked out on my calendar. There are a few loose ends that could derail my plan but I am 85% sure I will be there.

So far 11" in April, and much more predicted (it's raining now) typical is 4". Average annual haul is 41". After all the ice and snow was gone, I had visions of fun in the sun. This is getting old!

As a XFlow owner I can say I am very happy after 4+ years. As noted above, its sounds great. It is easy to drive because the power is so modest that you don't have to be especially careful with the throttle. And it still is pretty speedy. At track days I am as fast as the typical Mustangs & Cameros, much faster than Miatas, a tad slower than Elises. I can out corner anyone, I fall back on the straights. I had it tuned on a chassis dyno 3 years ago and it has run great since. It gets mediocre/lousy gas mileage: 20 mpg at 70-75 mph, 13 mpg around town (tho I am usually hammering it). I have 27K miles on mine, and it uses very little oil. I'd love to have another 10-15 hp but except for those long straights at track days, it is irrelevant. It does effect resale: an identical car with a Zetec will cost $3-5K more, typically. Mike

I will be happy to be wrong, but I have a bad feeling abt this. I am afraid that, somewhere along the line, little Caterham will be sacrificed for some greater purpose, or run intro the ground, or that the purity of the product will be watered down. Perhaps the April 2011 new car announcement (diesel engine, etc., was not in jest after all().

I am not sure I will like my car in yellow, even with those nice wheels . Thx, actually they look great , as hoped. BTW; that Cat seems to have a lot more sky between the tire and front fender, than mine does.

Tom: Any improvements noticed w/the Brooklands (top end/acceleration, etc)? Mike M.

Wow! Fun! That little Ariel Atom pulled like a freight train. Used all the track too. Looked like you had him in the corners but on the straights he was gone. And there is a lot of straight on that course. Is that the track we are using for the June NJMP meet-up? If so, I may need to add a supercharger:). BTW, you drive better when you are trying to catch the guy on front of you-better lines, more aggressive throttle, etc. I just bought a Go-Pro. I liked the simplicity of the package. Apparently sound quality sucks, tho, we'll see. Your sound was terrific.

Thx guys! The valve cover is cork and probably original. I will call Dave Bean for a replacement. I never vent any oil/gunk into the catch-can at the end of the breather tube, even after a hard track day. But, if I use thin oil or overfill the oil, the excess is pumped out the vented oil filler cap onto the engine and windshield. Sort of sounds like the breather tube is non- functional. If I use appropriate weight oil (20-50), and don't overfill, I have no issues.

Dick Brink doesn't respond to e-mails. I bought my car from someone else while waiting to hear back from him on an e-mail I sent. Years later I talked to him and he said:"Oh right, that website email address doesn't actually work, I need to get it fixed." Don't know if he ever did. He is a very nice guy and very knowledgeable abt Birkins and Caterhams. If I were in the market for a new se7en, I'd look hard at the Birkin. They sell for $10-15K less than a Caterham, similarly equipped. Also come with IRS, unlike the Cat's.