Kitcat

Since my engine is out and being rebuilt, I had my mechanic look at the clutch he put in 4 years ago. He says its time for it to be replaced and, while I am at it, do the flywheel and pressure plate, and throwout bearing. We put in an off-the shelf pedestrian unit 4 years ago and it wasn't ideal. So I am wondering what people are using for track focused purposes that might be a little more stout? I have a Zetec powered S3 with a 6 sp Caterham transmission.

Croc: the pic of you and Jeff in your helmets in the Cat is a keeper! You look so relaxed and happy, and he looks like he just realized the world was ending!

What JeffersonRaley said: there is a reason TMW is no longer Birkin's USA distributor (IMHO, as the purchaser of an '09 Birkin assembled by TMW, and as other TMW purchasers on this Forum have reported).

I am obviously imagining things:)! Have you driven a Sadev 6 sp gearbox? How does it compare to the standard Cat 6sp? I see it costs 2x as much, unfortunately. I still occasionally miss downshifts in my 6sp Cat gearbox (thus, going into 3rd, from 6th, not 5th) with consequent potential catastrophic engine over-rev. So far I have caught it and corrected it before doing lasting engine damage. I know: time to learn to shift better. Never had a downshift issue w/the 5sp though, and assume it is impossible w/the Sadev as well?

I was referencing the project that is no longer referenced in your description of your stable of vehicles:). Must be super-secret!

Why isn't the 6 sp reliable these days??? I thought it was the gold standard for a Caterham? And what abt that new "project?" of yours:)?

Day 1 was pretty thrilling! You were definitely pushing it and climbing the curbs (kerbs?). Top sped 124 mph, pretty impressive for that spec Cat. The mph gauge shows how incredibly inefficient shifting with a manual is. It wld take a while just to get back to the speed you started your shift at. Day 2-I take it the track was cold/slippery? You were not pushing it at all, tho much faster than most others. The 360 degree cam is pretty wild! The elevation meter projected on the screen seemed totally off? So what is this additional "project coming" in your list of cars?

Interesting discussion of SLR (Super Light R) Caterhams. I always assumed my '03 was a SLR but this discussion got me curious enough to look it up. It turns out I have a Road Sport that was sold as a race car only (not street legal) by Caterham. It was a U.S.-only version and complied with the SCCA's somewhat dated concept of what a Lotus 7 race car should consist of (clam shells for instance). I suspect it is even "rarer" than the SLR's are. It was further modified after it stopped competing in E-Production and competed in the STU category. The seller advertised $90K invested (I paid around $24K). So it is really rare, if that's what you can call a mutt:).

Good job on your lap times Croc, at least in the dry! Even in the dry, the cold weather probably cost you some seconds since your tires likely never got fully warmed up. I dont see the Ferrari 275 GTB. I see a yellow MGB with a hardtop, I think (#34?).

Rain is bad, sleet is worse! Suddenly the enclosed cars make a lot of sense. At least the G-forces will be modest! Have fun tippy-toeing around the track. You will be soaked. What is your non-track car whilst there(I assume you are renting something and not using your Caterham as you mode of transport, or are you....?). How did the Cat stack up against all those exotics and the more modest Ginetti?

Folks who track and or auto-X their se7ens sometimes attach the rear fenders with plastic fasteners. Then, when the inevitable offroad meeting with a tire wall, or a cone collision occurs, the fender and body separate amicably, rather than both being ripped up.

Well, then the least you can do is send us some photos from Spa next week:). I will be waiting.

I went thru starter-replacement hell on my original X-flow. I became convinced that Caterham uses a different starter, on every car they build, just to make it interesting. I eventually had mine rebuilt. No replacement existed.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Q-Silver told me a few months ago that they were no longer building the MicaelD spec, high hp Zetec. Instead, they offer just a basic rebuild. AND, anyway, my plain-Jane 170 hp (advertised) stock SVT Zetec was able to keep up w/MichaelD's 220 hp Q-Silver on the straights. So not sure all of those 220 hp were pulling their weight. Of course, there are other factors, I have a Caterham 6 sp, his car was essentially a 4sp (w/5th being overdrive) and perhaps it had different final drive too? I dont have headlights which helps areo, ditto cycle fenders vs. MD's clams. So, many variables. Still, one would think that those alleged 50 extra hp would show up on long straights. I can add that pulling a lightly used engine from a junked Focus isn't necessarily a great solution. I did that when I blew my Duratec in my Birkin and the replacement engine also had issues, including internal rust from sitting for months (years?).

You will also need to determine why the engine went kaput. Typically, it is oil starvation issues caused by GG-forces generated by sticky tires and pushing the limit, over and over, on the track. Cheapest solution is an Accusump set up, then dry-sump, which is double the cost of the Accusump.

When I contacted Quick Silver a few months ago they said the guy that built MichaelD's 220 hp Zetec was no longer there and that they were doing basically stock rebuilds. Brightonuk: I know what you mean about the (seemingly endless) cost. I try to think of it as a form of mental health therapy. And, in reality, if I had the money back I'd probably just waste it on something more expensive to maintain:).

Aha, mystery solved! Not sure how I missed the US one but, given it is of nearly identical spec but 1/2 the price, I'd favor the US version! I think it mostly boils down to what "needs work" means, as Croc noted. Every se7en I have bought has "needed work":). So the question is how much work? As far as needing maintenance, I doubt that this Caterham is any different than any se7en I have owned, they tend to need much more mechanical TLC than your average mass-produced Miata, Camaro, etc., especially the ones that are heavily tracked.

Keep in mind that a street oriented Caterham is still just a slightly civilized race car. And in my experience, a street Cat is easier to drive on the track than a full tilt race prepped Cat (I have tracked both). The street version is a bit softer and more forgiving but still telepathic and with sticky tires, the equal, or better, of everything you are likely to see at a track day, esp on the tight courses that you mention.

I have to say, the new BMW's have (mostly) taken a page from Acura's playbook: give the car styling that is as bland, inoffensive and generic as possible. Such a shame. Compare to Audi, which somehow makes attractive, fresh looking cars, year after year, that copy no one. I agree it is better than deliberately making a new car ugly (see the new Toyota Supra as a prime example of ugly-I liked it better in camouflage-I wonder if that is a paint option:))?

TNcoupe: Good question! Its basically based on my (failing) memory of Caterham prices coming down to earth recently. I dont find the online info about ordering a new Caterham (Or Birkin) very helpful. Maybe Croc can comment?

I know nothing about the Hyabusa SV, but the spec listed sounds perfect for a track day car. Not sure you can import it to USA from Canada tho. Maybe if it will be only used on the track? Price seems very high as well, especially if it is in US $ and not Canadian. For that money you can get a new U.S. legal Caterham or Birkin of nearly equal spec. Some of the representations seem suspect ($6K for carbon fiber wings???). It is described as having an "aqua-sump". Maybe it doubles as a boat:)? More likely, the poster meant it has an Accu-sump, which is a nice track-day feature as it maintains oil pressure, in high G corners and in hard braking, etc.

The headers and exhaust are beautiful! Nice that the Duratec dumps the exhaust out on the passenger side (in the states) and not the driver's side (Unlike the Zetec and X-Flow). It will be quieter/cooler as a result for you as the driver.

It makes sense to have spare "consumables". But I doubt very much that you will wear the rear brakes, or even the fronts, enough to need replacement, even after years of track days. One of the nicest aspects of our lightweight se7ens is they are very easy on tires, and brakes, unlike most of the other track day cars you will be running with.

Bob: Welcome back! I guess the generic-looking silver "super car" at the bottom is an Acura NSX? Without the "calipers" logo, it could be almost anything. Unlike the original NSX. Mike

A busy interstate is the polar opposite of the environment in which a se7en was designed to operate. I did log many miles on less-busy interstates in my original street legal Caterham. It was always somewhat frightening, especially at night or worse, in the rain. Being visible to distracted drivers was questionable-their sight lines did not include looking way down to pavement level to see my little gnat-like vehicle. Tractor trailers and huge RV's were especially intimidating. If you have ever driven on glare ice, you have an approximation of the feeling of being constantly on high-alert. I think driving in a se7en convoy, or with sympathetic drivers towing their se7ens would definitely help. And of course, having a trailer also solves the problem of getting home, should there be a track incident or reliability issue. I am not saying don't do it: I drove my 1st Caterham everywhere. Just be prepared for what you are getting into-it's not like driving a Miata.