Kitcat

Problems with the BAT sale?

I went from a "slow" rack to a faster one. It was a big difference. On different Caterhams so the replacement Cat may have had some other issues as well? I finally added a larger, quick release, steering wheel-which solved the problem, tho it rests on my legs now.... At the end of a 25' track day run, my arms were mush with the small steering wheel and my ability to control the direction desired was disappearing. Sort of like doing 200 push-ups, when maybe 25 is in my comfort zone. Perhaps taking out some caster would have helped? I never tried that tho.

Hi Steve. I don't recall who the organizer was, but 3Balls Racing is likely. They run a pretty loose event, which I usually like, but the failure to impose consequences on over-confident, clueless, drivers for poor track sportsmanship was a bummer.

Thx Steve, I agree, my dislike of that track seems to be unique:). Maybe it was because folks in my run group couldn't be bribed to give a point-by? So I was always stuck behind a slower driver, lap after lap, all day. The organizer was oblivious.

Hmmm, a kit car EV. Is the engine going to be separately sourced and installed? Will the vehicle have to comply with all federal safety and environmental requirements, including crash tests? I cant imagine a good outcome for Caterham here, as a company. Or for the resulting vehicle. An electric Caterham will only be lightweight in comparison to the behemoths now being created, en mass, by the mainstream mfgs. It's too depressing to think about.

Ditto Skip, tho I just used plexiglass safety googles. I also used ear plugs, earmuffs over the plugs and a Tiley hat (which has a chin strap). Or, I just used a full face helmet.

Waterford Hills is a great little 1.5 mile racetrack with a bit of elevation. It was one of the few tracks where i was super competitive in my 1700cc X-flow Cat.The lack of a straight stretch played to the car's strength. The facility was a little run-down when I was last there 3 years ago. Nelson's Ledges, near Akron, is maybe 3 hours away. Like Waterford Hills, it is an older, historic, facility but the new owners have repaved the track and all reports are that it's in great condition. I think it's the fastest track in the US, or was at one point (highest average mph). Also a natural for the Caterham. I recall a CSR 260 pushing Corvettes out of its way on one trip there. I like Gingerman but hate Gratton. At Gratton, which looks like a golf cart path to me, I was never able too find a spot to pass, except for the long straight when all the slow, but high hp cars which held me up the whole way around, took off and left me in their dust. Once was enough there. Autobahn is nice but flat as a pancake. Putnam Park is a nice fit for Caterhams and, at 2 &1/2 hours, the closest track to me, so I have done it many times. Mid-Ohio is definitely worth the 2 &1/2 hour trip. It is a big time track and facility. PittRace (Pittsburgh International Racetrack) is a newer facility that has 2 distinct tracks that can be linked into one large track. Its about 4&1.2 hours from you. Basically, the Midwest is a hotbed of road racing tracks so you will be well entertained. And Ann Arbor is one of the cooler little towns in the Midwest. It is to Michigan what Asheville is to N Carolina. And as Croc has noted (in spite of a price spike over the last 12 months), housing is about 1/3-1/2 of comparable housing on the coasts I often sign up with AutoInterests, which sponsors many Midwest track days, ditto 3-Balls Racing.

Looks like a straight road, but wet. Its tires look new. I agree with SF4018, perhaps the belts weren't being used as the cockpit structure looks pretty intact. The Polo driver apparently is ok. It was clearly a huge impact, the Polo shows at least as much damage as the Caterham. And I think I'd prefer a rear impact to a front impact. So the drastic results for the Caterham occupants are a a mystery

Very ingenious! As a self-appointed member of the trailer safety patrol, I am not a fan of the open hook tie down you are using. The problem is, if the strap stretches or the buckle loosens, there is a danger that the hook will come off. So, a closed end tie down is preferred. It may set you back $40-$60, but? Otherwise, be sure to double check tightness occasionally, esp after the first 50 miles or so as that's when things most often loosen up.

Civic? Why not stay with Lotus and buy a Evora GT? It costs 5% as much as the EVIJA, so it is a relative bargain!

What a beautiful Caterham! It looks brand new. My take on the BAT auctions of Caterhams is that really pristine cars do well, regardless of spec. Since yours is pretty high spec, that should put you that much closer to your EVIJA. GLWA, as they say on BAT:).

What keeps it from rolling around on the trailer? I have 4 D-rings fastened to the frame and spaced about 12"-18" from the front and the back of the car and I use a crisscross tie down pattern to locate the car. So I use quite a bit more space to secure my car in my 16' trailer.

This is Michael D's old Cat, right? Nice to see it getting so much (continued) love!

I have the Caterham 6 sp, but must say I found the 5 sp easier to use. My problem with all 6 speed sticks is that 3rd and 4th are sandwiched between 1st and 2nd and 5th and 6th. So I find it very easy to upshift from 2nd to 5th (there goes that lap record:)) and, even worse, to downshift from 6th into 3rd (there goes that engine). I can hear Croc saying the 6 sp is not for unskilled amateurs like me. But I have been driving sticks since 1962, and there has been almost no time since then that I haven't had at least one stick car in the garage. Its not Caterham, I had a 6 sp Honda last year and have a 6 sp Miata now, to go with my Caterham and have had the same problem with all. A 5 sp with (essentially) 4 usable gears at the track, is much more "fool proof". I'd switch my 6sp for 5 sp (which i had on my first 2 Se7ens) in a heart beat. Just one perspective.

I loaded up my rollover bar in both cars with foam padding. The ‘19 is very nice, it seems luxurious in comparison but the driving experience is very similar. Great audio, gets 30-40 mpg on the interstate. And is about as fast to 60 as my Honda Type R was. And the Miata is as fast on the track as the Honda was(and I had it on R71Rs also).

No informed opinion. But I run 15x 45-225 on the back and 13x60-185 on the front and it works well, but that’s how it was set up for track, with needed mods, by Beachman Racing.

I had a ‘94 Miata which I stripped out and made into a track rat. With every conceivable mod, short of turbo/supercharger and on fat Hoosier slicks it was 3seconds a lap slower than my less modified’19 on wide Bridgestone R71R’s. The Bridgestonees were worth 7” a lap over stock tires at Mid Ohio(my times there in my ‘19 are 2-3” a lap slower than my Cat). Ditto at Putnam Park.

Try option 1 first and save some $ if it works. I have run mixed brands front and back with no adverse effects, as long as grip is equal. You will know instantly if it's not. And I suspect the ZZRs will have better grip than the Toyos, so you will have understeer, which is easier to cope with than oversteer. Consider having the seller (Tire-Rack?) heat cycle the Toyos. If you are feeling adventurous, have them shaved as well. Grip is vastly increased, tho they wont work in the rain. I have an old set of well-worn Kumos for the back of my Cat that are still the equal of any new tire I put on the front.

There is quite a bit of info on this subject on the Ford Focus forums, esp, FocusFanatics. The Duratec is the Focus engine, so relevant to you. Ditto the Miata forums under Power Mods. TurboTom, known here as 1 Turbofocus, is a big contributor there. He says the pump e85 is of poor quality and that he's tested it many times. So stick with the e85 in 55 gallon drums as its consistently better. And he questions whether the modest gain is worth the hassles. The Miata forums paint a much rosier picture of the benefits. Miatas run a version of the Duratec (or visa versa, I think) and claim that most pump e85 is good stuff. Power seems to go up in the range of 10-15%. Mileage drops by about 30%, and finding it in the wild is not guaranteed. And you can't run gas on an e85 tune. The engine runs much cooler, built up deposits in the engine are washed away, etc., etc. You need a separate tune, and have to schlep the e85 drums (or 5 gallon jugs) to the track if that's where you are hoping to see the benefit of reliable hp gains.

The turbo'd Zetec on BAT makes 261 hp and 223 torque. So not close to these very impressive numbers (esp on 93 octane!). What transmission are you using and is it stout enough for all of this power? How often does this engine need to be refreshed by the builder?

Be careful Shane: those of us with Caterhams are very sensitive about references to "the dark side" (thx to a certain notorious prince). And, has this move been blessed by Suave? You my have to rethink it. The Exocet build is inspired. And your daughter will be amazing the all-knowing boys her age with her superior mechanical vocabulary and knowledge. I'd like to be a fly on the wall for some of those conversations:).

Hey Shane: what is all the activity with the Miata about? Huge repairs? Measuring it for the LS3 fitting:)?

Someone is very lucky to have that amazing se7en!

Per a Facebook post, Caterham was sold on 3/31/21 to a Japanese firm, VT Holdings, the Caterham importer in Japan. No idea if this in an April 1 moment (like the “Voltswagon” name change for VW), or is real.

My Zetec SVT went very lean in high RPM's and eventually burned a valve or 2. Solution ended up being bigger fuel pumps and a conversion from a returnless fuel system to a return system. Counting the engine rebuild, the new pumps, separate off/on switch for the main fuel pump,adding an AFR gauge to the dash, multiple visits to the dyno, not to mention my trusty mechanic, it was a 5 figure fix.