Kitcat

I suspect one of the U.S. Caterham vendors will have one, have you tried (Beachman Racing, Rocky Mountain Sportscar, Sevens and Elans).

For an antique, it more than holds its own. I didn't see you giving any point byes, but you got plenty, from new, more technically advanced, Porsches and 'Vettes, to name a few. Great engine sound too!

Looks like a seven body topped with a Model A cab. Agree the workmanship is impeccable. And a diesel 7? Got to be a first, so major points for thinking outside the box on this and other aspects of the build.

I guess it's all subjective, at 5'9", 160 lbs I found my S3 Birkin very tight, with the steering wheel too close to my chest. I replaced the largish stock seats with a carbon fiber shell seat from Caterham and that made the fit tolerable. The long cockpit Caterham I was coming from felt much roomier.

I just stumbled across the New Jersey Health "Self-Quarantine for Travelers FAQ" advisory regarding COVID19. It was issued in June and updated August 18,2020. It lists 35 states from which visitors to NJ are expected to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days. It is only a recommendation so not enforceable, so just tossing it out there in the FWIW category. If followed, folks from a majority of states would not be able to participate in our se7ens gathering. Absent from the list of banned states, however, are PA and NY, so at least Tom and Croc can come:). Ditto Ohio (me), Colorado, Connecticut and Massachusetts. So maybe no one who typically comes is affected?

Vlad: if you have back-up wheel/tires bring them. But I don't think the wear bars are a big deal as long as it stays dry. Tire tread is only there to deal with wet conditions.The less tread, the faster you will be, that's why folks shave their new tires for track use. Or buy "slicks" with no tread. Of course, if they are heat cycled out, they won't be much fun in any event. I once ran thu a set of tires at the NJMP event and was kindly lent a spare set from Karl, whose Caterham YellowSS is the current custodian of. I also once failed to notice a corded tire on my old Miata and the tube finally burst thru the tire carcass, but never exploded. Instead, it blew up so large it filled the entire wheel well and could no longer spin. I kid you not. SanderGA: As far as being a novice, just keep a sharp eye on your mirrors for cars on your bumper. Some cars/drivers are much faster than others. No one will care how slow you are, unless you hold them up and won't let them by. Having run in every category over the years, I can say the single defining characteristic of the "advanced" group drivers is constant situational awareness, including being alert to giving point-byes. Croc or Tom will know, but I don't see a problem with you running without an instructor/windshield and with the stock roll-over bar. You will need a full face helmet. NJMP, as has been noted, is totally anal abt expired belts and 5-6 pt belts, not 3 point ones. After that, its up to you. HANS is not needed. Typically, we se7en drivers run with arm/wrist restraints. They are not required but are cheap insurance for keeping them out of harm's way.(EDIT:wrist/arm restraints ARE required, as Croc notes below, sorry!).

Fascinating Croc. Your approach to learning new tracks makes tons of sense (my approach is to do 2 slow/feeler laps then balls-out after that and see what happens-I know you are shocked:))! I think the sim racer approach is also a way to break thru the "plateau" we sometimes hit at tracks where we simply can not improve our best time, so are stuck in the not-bad, not-great level. One of my promises to myself a while back when I was at VIR was if I pushed it too hard at the uphill "S's" and went off, I'd sell my car (then an Evo XIII). So of course, I went off at around 115 mph, scared myself to death, and sold the car when I got home and avoided tracks for 2 years.

So, which ran faster, the BMW or the monster Caterham? I like the BMW's chances, esp at VIR, based on its aero advantage over the Caterham's barn door approach. What was you speed thru the climbing "S's"? Yes, VIR is a great track, maybe my all time favorite.

Put it on BAT: you will get your $28K and likely much more. I agree with Croc, what a great car at a great price. After the BRG color, this orange color is my fav for a Caterham.

Great work Croc! All it took was a keen eye, tons of time, and even more money:). It looks like it was worth it as you have a true piece of history. As to the test day on track, in all honesty, I will be more interested in your Caterham experience, tho will be keenly following any BMW updates as well. What track configuration will you be running? I think you may discover your Caterham's top speed there. I will be interested in how fast you go thru the "Up hill" S's, AKA, the "Climbing "S's". One of several places the track separates the men from the boys. Have fun!

Right BrightonUK, but what your formula has overlooked is the cubic $ you would have spent on the Cat 620 keeping it happy! I am old enough (sadly) to say my track car experience has been very expensive, no matter what car I have. At one point I had a new '94 Miata and at the end of the experience I realized I could have had a new Porsche 911 for what I spent on it. Who cares, I loved every minute of researching, purchasing, and installing the various "improvements" to my car. An experience I have duplicated with every car since:). As long as you are not taking food off the table, ignoring your 401K or your kids' college fund, who cares? Enjoy it while you can, tomorrow may be too late.

What's esp nice about this well constructed Lowcost is that it's the only one I have seen that mimics the Lotus 7's sloping side entrance sections. Like the Caterhams and Birkins do. Someone will buy this and flip it on BAT for 2x the $.

As I have posted elsewhere here, in Cincinnati the Cars and Coffee scene is booming, loads of people jammed together with no masks anywhere in sight. I call it "Cars and Crazy." Even with that, we dont have the lineup of cars that you describe on your weekend blats.

Croc: Why VIR for the shakedown? How are you getting the car there? I assume you have a "crew" going with you?

I have always joked that my Odyssey PC 680 was the only part of my Caterham that I hadn't replaced. But it finally died (to be replaced by another one). So now it's the frame basically:).

For a rare exotic car, it's amazing how many of us have some story connecting us, if briefly, and tenuously, to the Miura. I was a senior in college spending my last quarter of college "studying" abroad, in Italy in 1968. I came around a corner in, I think, Florence and there was a Miura parked between all of the plebeian Fiats and 3 wheeled Piagio "trucks". Time stood still. It was about as low as a Caterham and as wide as the Ohio river, or so it seemed. And the presence and stance and electric neon green color made it such an indelible memory that here I am, 52years later, remembering it like it was yesterday.

As another point of reference, I can say my 1700cc SuperSprint X-flow Caterham engine never did that. Lots of cool popping on deceleration. Maybe BBall will offer his thoughts, he has chased many X-flow engine demons. And, on a related mater, both BBall and I had huge problems with our carbs due to worn engine mounts. The engine moved (a lot) as a result of the worn mounts, the air filters poking out of the bonnet were then forced against the edge of the bonnet, causing a vacuum leak and resulting in poor running. This only occurred on left hand turns. The X-flow mounts are a high wear item and should be swapped out every 5K miles or so, FWIW.

The car looks great in "normal" pix too! My rebuilt Zetec's leaky rear main seal has earned it a respite from use this summer. I just got a can of Blue Devil "Rear Main Sealer" and will give that a shot before extracting the engine.

Ingenious:)!

It might be simpler (and cheaper) to buy a Cat with a Duratec, or spec one from Bruce B or spec a 2.5 Duratec Birkin from Tom Carlin. You have a different ECU, wiring, intake and exhausts are on opposite sides, probably different fueling system, engine mounts, etc. (I know this as I had this same thought one time:)). Pretty hard to get big HP out of a Zetc, 220hp at the fly wheel seems to be about it. With the Duratec, the hp potential is higher, esp with 2.3 and 2.5 versions

Prisoner7: How do you like the Evora 400? Do you track it? If so, how does it do?(overheating???). Reliability issues? I am test driving a 2020 Evora GT next week.

Welcome Justin, what a beautiful Caterham! The S3 is the standard size (smallish) Caterham. This is clearly a late 90's, early 2000's Caterham.The Zetec engine doesn't quite fit, so they notched the frame a bit on the passenger side of the engine bay. I noticed your car had the notch when it was for sale on BAT. So this is occasionally called a notched frame Cat (like mine). Anyhow, that notch is a definitive bit of automotive DNA. I am not sure what model S3 it is. There were several back then, as always. Maybe a Roadsport or a Superlight? I think there was also an "America" version then which was intended for racing. That may be what what mine started out as, tho the spec has changed via upgrades over the years. I will let those more informed than I comment on that. Now that you know what it is, how does it drive? Best upgrade (IMHO) is new tires if those are the originals or on the old side. Short trips at first with some handy tools so you can trouble-shoot any lurking mechanical issues that newly purchased Caterhams occasionally have. Have fun, it will be an adventure, and the car will blow everyone who sees its mind!

I totally agree Croc. I like to say the first lesson every racer must learn is humility (hmmm, did my 'Vette just get passed by a Civic?). It seems to be true of mechanical work as well. I had my Miata aligned today by a mechanic I have known forever who, among other things, has his 50 year SCCA pin (The Caterham is in a time-out for bad behavior). But he spent almost as much time looking for the right wrench in his pile of wrenches as I do. And $hit happens. I agree the R&T writing abt this project is exemplary. And who doesn't identify with all the dumb stuff that has happened on that build? .

One of 5 pins in a terminal pin inside the fuel injector harness was a little too short...???? Sounds like the proverbial needle in a haystack, made more interesting by needing to trouble shoot it at the side of the road. Hey, at least it wasn't dark (and raining:)). Croc is on point, first year fettling is to be expected.

My Bikin came with a "boot", why didn't yours? In any event, nice work!