Kitcat

Didn't get enough runs? (You are so hooked!)

Buckeye Bottlebrush in the background. They will bloom in a few weeks and be spectacular for about a week. I will try to get a 2nd photo at that spot & post it for comparison. As a Cincy resident, you have probably seen them, tho they are somewhat rare. Do you know Cincy resident Stuart Phipps? He too is building an Ultralight, tho he is not a member here. I know him from my auto-x days a while back.

7evin got 14th in the 2nd session, 10th overall. Hopefully it will be dry for today's drag race-shd be very interesting.

Suspension setup = R compound tires. On a 55 second course, they are worth 2-5 seconds. However, no reason not to slide around on your no-names for awhile and get the hang of reading the cones and learning the car's strengths and weaknesses.

They are 12th and moving up. Racking up top 10 finishes against very stiff competition-car wise & driver wise. Keep it up guys! If the past is any guide, consistency is as important as finishing in the top 3 occasionally.

Thx Martin & Bruce. Martin, the asphalt photos were taken this morning from my office's fire escape, overlooking the parking lot-hence no shadow of me. The other photos were taken in my driveway at home this morning before I left for work. I am featured in the nose cone photo (My image as well as the side of my house is reflected there). Downloading the photos was an adventure for a Neanderthal like me. Several never made it. Slgshot's instructions in the "Help" section only got me part way. Then I just kept up a withering attack of key strokes until, one by one, the featured photos relented. The others would not yield. I never did understand what the magic keystroke formula was-I ran out of time and quit while I was ahead (translation-don't expect more photos anytime soon:)).

I am challenged by the Kodac Brownie camera so this whole digital thing has been beyond me. Until now: http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/845583434_Special May 4, 2008 photos 001.jpghttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1121405584_Special May 4, 2008 photos 007.jpghttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/533536976_Special May 4, 2008 photos 004.jpg http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/852374456_Special May 4, 2008 photos 003.jpghttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/931430762_Special May 4, 2008 photos 002.jpg

Looks like the setup Al brought to the Dragon event last July.

It was 40 degrees here, sunny, no top, did have side curtains up. Definitely bracing. My 5 mile route to work includes a 3 mile stretch of 1930's parkway, semi tree-lined, slow speed split 4 lane into and thru a city park full of 90 degree turns, off camber S's, a one way down hill road with a panoramic view of the Ohio River with back to back 10-15 mph curves followed by a roundabout (aka "the Skid Pad") which, as suggested by its name, I go round about at least 1x, maybe more depending on traffic. Wheee!!! It's invigorating!

And there are lots of members here who don't own Sevens (like Al:)). I hung out here for almost a year before taking the plunge (Or was I pushed?). Anyhow its a great car to fantasize about (I did that for 45 years) and even greater to own. Mike

Enjoy: I bought an identical spec '97 Caterham here last year. Things I have done to make it better, in order of benefit produced: Tighten throttle cable (adjustment is in foot well-remove aluminum cover from engine bay). If it is loose, it will quickly fail, if it is tight (no play) it will not-I learned the hard way. Replace fossilized tires, get engine/Webers tuned, replace hydraulic clutch fluid (I was unable to shift), replace radiator hoses (they were cracked and leaking and shorting out the electrics) replace ALL fluids (diif, tranny, engine, radiator, brake), alignment, tighten every suspension bolt to spec. Remember, altho the car has very few miles, it's 18 years old and most of the stuff noted above is 18 years old too and needs to be updated. My car is 100% better, more enjoyable/reliable as a result of above. Many other optional upgrades too (5 point harness , FIA roll-over bar, etc.) . Mike

Robert: Others may be faster, but yours is the prettiest! Mike

Stan: Do you use a tonneau cover with the Kirkeys? If so, did you modify it to accommodate the seat backs? I almost never use the top between May-October & just throw the tonneau on when parked to keep out rain, bird poop, etc. But the headrests on the stock Caterham seats are removable so they don't interfere with the tonneau. I guess I could cut holes in the tonneau for the fixed Kirkey seatbacks/headrests and fashion an insert to accommodate them. Mike

When (frequently) asked if it's a kit car, I say it's a hand built race car that I have gotten certified for road use. Then the other standards: How fast will it go (it will out run almost anything at the track) and how much did it cost (new ones can cost $70K, but I got mine used).I have found that telling the truth (100 mph & $22K) just produces way too much disapointment.

Yes, moving the snap is at the top of my list of things to do someday soon.

I am 5'9", 160 lbs. The only part that doesn't fit well in my standard sized '97 Cat is the left side of my upper body. I need about another 1/2". As it is, my upper torso just under my shoulder is jammed against the snap that holds the "door" shut. Not a big deal on short runs, but it gets painful on trips. I can wiggle around it and get comfortable but would love just a bit more room. If I were a bit taller I probably would clear the snap.

But, no-one can truly explain to a non-se7ener how much fun this continues to be :thumbs: Now that its warm, it's like riding a roller coaster to work:).

I was actually going to take a stab at driving my Cat down from Cincy: Wife was out of town for 6 days; decks were cleared at work, dog boarding was arranged, had the route planned, had called local motels, as where you were staying was booked, etc., etc. Thot I could do 400 miles Thurs afternoon/evening after work, 800 Fri, hang out/drive Sat/Sun, then 2 days back. Don't know if either the car or I would have actually made it. I have my doubts as it was so ambitious. But the weather made it all moot-tornadoes, hail, rain, subfreezing temperatures, possible snow, ferocious winds etc., predicted for the first 2 days of the drive made it impossible. The pictures look great tho, wish I could have been there. Mike

I am headed from Cincy to Lexington, KY Friday for work. On the way back I will check out some of the back roads. I plan to visit Rabbit Hash, KY, as much for the name as anything:). Rabbit Hash is a big bilker destination and is supposed to be surrounded by Sevenesque roads. Then I will cross the Ohio River on the Anderson Ferry's small paddlewheel car ferry south of Cincy-nice to enjoy technology even more dated than my Seven's! Should add about 250 miles towards my quest to be the odometer champ for '08 too.

Jeez Bob, you waited 3 seconds from when it ended to up date us, what took so long:)? Wonderful car/price. About what I spent for my much older/slower Caterham last year.

I will check it out. I am in Madison a lot as part of my job. Maybe take the Seven and get paid at the same time:)?

I thot the car looked familiar.

I'd love to see Al's numbers at the drag strip, someone coordinate that soon please:). A Superlite like his was tested at 13 flat thru the 1/4 mile and 103 mph thru the traps in a roadtest I read a while back. There are some Caterham road tests reprinted on the RMSC site. One is of the standard 147 hp engine (wh/probably makes 115 hp at the rear wheels). It did 92 mph thru the trap as I recall. When tested by Car & Driver, the 260 Caterham went 113 mph thru the trap with a time of 12.1" (PDQ). But enough with the Caterhams, how about the other LISS's?

:):)!

Does anyone have any 1/4 mile times they would be willing to share? There are some numbers here and there from the "Dyno Grand Prix" but little from the real world. The dyno specs on the Demon and the West Texas One-Lapper under construction look amazing. I am sure some of the Stalkers, Dick Brink's maroon Birkin, the Caterham 260's, Ultralights, BEC's, etc.,etc. are all quick. But who's quickest? Of course, the world awaits the results of Frankenstein's performance, especially now that it has been removed from its dungeon in West Virginia:). Since I have an underpowered Crossflow, I am also interested in who owns the slowest, backed up by actual time sheets, of course. Seems to me that the car mags tested my version at 88 mph trap speed, low 15's, back in the day.