Kitcat

I hadn't heard of the 485S until now (Caterham seems to change model nomenclature on a monthly basis). I just Googled it, wow, it is a beast. Redline is 8500 rpm, 0-60 is 3.0 secs, top speed 140 mph. It even has a button to push that extracts a bit more performance. If it doesn't come with the FIA roll-over bar, I'd consider adding that. The stock bar may not be equal to the performance this machine offers. I will be interested in how it compares to your departed ZO6. Totally different approaches yes, but in terms of ooomph, this Cat may be similar (at least up to 110 mph or so). Since it is brand new, I cant imagine it needs that much maintenance. I'd take a bunch of little trips out and about, never too far from home and always in cell phone coverage. All of the little things that can and do go wrong with hand built cars will pop up and you can get them fixed before doing anything too adventurous. Parts, it depends. It is typically a scavanger hunt. Stateside, Bruce Beachman at Beachman Racing, has parts as does Caterham USA in Colorado. They are occasionally available from Caterham UK, but more often from Redline in the UK. Also since so many parts are from other cars, you can sometimes get what you need at Auto Zone, etc. (where I just picked up some exotic, high capacity oil filters for my Zetec SVT).

Seb: My sound was via a $23.-00 external for my GoPro2. I got it from Amazon (where else?). I wrapped it in a sock and duct taped the whole thing under the dash. It is described as a Cowboy Studio, model# BY-LM20, on my Amazon receipt. Dan: I have now uploaded a video from Day 2. Again, it is totally unedited so the action doesn't sart til 5-10' in. I chased you a bit at about the 13' point. I haven't watched the whole thing, so I am not sure if you appear elsewhere. Until someone embeds it, you will have to google "978Kitcat" to find it on YouTube. It is described there as NJMP-pt 2 008. Initially, Google will just give you the stuff you ave already seen so you have to click on "repeat the search with the omitted results included"-at the very bottom of the Google search pop up.

WingsA: My idea of how to measure the desirability of a car is to take note of the financial compromises it makes me consider in order to purchase it. So here I am thinking: If I sell my Cat, de-fund my savings for grandchild's college education, stop saving for my own imminent retirement, etc., I mite be able to make this work:)! In all seriousness, it is a spectacular Cat and, hopefully, somebody will snap it up at this price and I can go back to being a (slightly) more rational person.

Too funny! I am not a Testarossa fan so wld prefer your Stalker. Your car is probably faster too!

Thx Tom, parts have been purchased and installed. Installation required removal of cage, drivers seat and rear aluminum bulkhead, just to get access, so it was not a simple project. Starvation problem is solved at least. Mike

Tom, one of my "speed secrets:)" is to go shallow into turn 3, rather than use the classic line. Even tho it looks bad. What little I lose in 3, I gain back, and more in 4, because I am then pointed much straighter into turn 4 and can blast through it at a higher speed, climbing the curbs as much as possible on both 3 and 4, again to make them as straight as possible. I seem to catch everyone there, even thee guys who are faster everywhere else.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwb7DKoq0A&list=UUjZR-x5TFicnhZ7QcyDKpQw&index=1Here (maybe) is some raw, unedited footage (as in it includes 5-10' of me sitting in the pits) of some hot laps from the 1st day 2 weeks ago. Update: OK, that link doesn't seem to work. As an alternative, just google: 978kitcat and you will get the YouTube site where this NJMP video, in all of its unedited splendor, resides.

Parts alone for my surge system exceeded the Hydramat. But I was a bit nervous abt Hydramat's statement that degradation can occur and that it shd be pulled and checked every 5 years or so for deterioration.

So sorry and, so shocking. She was young, by today's standards, and I am sure you and she were enjoying her new found retirement freedom and making endless plans for new adventures together. My wife is 64 and I can't imagine life with out her, or what you must be going through. Words fail me....

Another top event and once again my favorite car-oriented experience of the year. Much fun was had and much was learned. Top photo is one of hundreds from Croc's garage. Then it is Wentmd's Birkin, lurking in the grass, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting Caterhams. Next is emblematic of the group's spare-no-cost approach to car numbers:). And talk about attention to detail! Followed by MichaelD, fighting off the effects of squeezing to much fiun into a single weekend. And finally, Tom in his super fast Cat, next to his passenger, Dave, who drives a Superperformance S1. The "Birkin Boys" showed us the "Birkin oil pan Diaper", a jury-rigged device scientifically designed to stop a moderate to severe oil drip from keeping them off the track. We (I) also learned that one point by-means just one car can pass out on the track (not 2 cars, even if I am the 2nd one:)). It is possible to combine massive drinking and eating with massive amounts of track driving, you just have to do so in the proper sequence. Croc's garage has to be seen to be believed. Many of the participants were at the USA7s event at the Tail of the Dragon in '07, including me, MichaelD, Norm Beaver, and Scott Lentz. Many also attended the LOG in Gettysburg a few years later where we cooked up the idea for what has become this annual gathering at NJMP. Those folks again included the above suspects and the critical addition of Tom and Croc. Dave of Birkin diaper fame was there as well (and mite have been at the Tail of the Dragon?). We had so much fun together, after being ostracized by the Lotus guys, that we decided to get together on an annual basis. This led to Croc and Tom suggesting the NJMP venue for what has become an annual gathering and the largest USA gathering of sevens. Next year will be the 7th anniversary. I already cant wait. I will post some random pictures, including the new, but already coveted, "Debris Flag" award, referenced above. Since I was this year's honored winner (victim?) I have renamed it the "I Rock" award:). It truly illustrates the old adage that what goes around comes around. It now sits proudly in my office next to my Golden skid marks trophy (a gold toilet bowl) from last year.

My Zetec SVT suffered a power loss on the Lightening course at NJMP last year necessitating a rebuild. The best theory was the fuel pump was failing, causing the mixture to lean out, causing engine damage. Since I was on my 3rd fuel pump in a short while, it was determined that the "return-less" fueling system was not adequate and was causing my multiple premature fuel pump failures. This was confirmed when we dyno'd the car after the rebuild, but before the conversion to a return fuel system. That showed inadequate fuel and dangerously high AFR's. So we ultimately converted it to a "return" system. And beefed up the fuel pump capacity, and added multiple fuel filters, and are in the process of now adding a fuel surge tank system. We also put in a nice big AFR gauge that allows me to visually monitor the AFR's under track stress. It has run well the 2 track days I have done since it was rebuilt, apart from fuel starvation in some corners, but it is still too soon to really know. I am also running 100 octane unleaded fuel per advice of the engine tuner, as a final safety measure. Good luck with trouble shooting what can sometimes be a complicated and elusive problem.

Zetec SVT engines have become somewhat scarce, ditto parts. What are you doing with yours?

So sorry! Any theories as to the cause (oil starvation?)? In any event, your reaction is perfect.

MichaelD's Cat is looking sharp. He must have polished it up in anticpation of the NJMP event, in 2 weeks:).

Tom: Remind everyone (incl me) what the best way into NJ is for those of us coming from the west. I know Philly is an epic diaster and folks on I-80 need to drop way down past it, but where? I will be heading north on I-95. First timers beware: traffic on the interstates in and around Baltimore, DC, Wilmington and the fore-mentioned Philly is atrocious, esp Friday afternoon and evening. Once you enter NJ all is well, it is getting there that is murder (esp pulling a trailer in the cut & thrust East Coast traffic).

I look forward to a full report of YellowSS's "other" Caterham, the fire breathing former Blubarisax Uber Cat, now that its overheating issues have been addressed and it has been re-tuned. Rumor has it that it made 250hp at the rear wheels on a conservative chassis dyno recently. Look out Storkers!

Thx Tom, I have forwarded this to my mechanic, Jeremy, who is scheduled to work on this in a few days. BTW, my SVT engine has run great since you and Jeremy did the tune 2 months ago.

Stewart: Any progress? I know it will be slow, just curious. Any chance of you coming to spectate at NJMP? We'd love to have you and it might be good therapy. And, bring the family again, I think they had fun last year.

Black Hole : "Now" looking to buy a car?

Fingers crossed! Looking forward to a full report, complete with dyno sheets.

Oooohh, a Chalker-newest rival to the storker:)?

First "racing stripe" I have seen that runs thru the passenger compartment! I think the side louvers on the engine bay are a new Birkin feature? The chrome exhaust sure beats the trusty rusty iron so many se7ens feature. Beautiful car!

Check with Dick Brink, at Texas Motor Works. He used to be the Bikin dealer in the USA. He has a bunch of left over Birkin parts he is selling and he might have the shroud. Or try Tom Carlin, the new USA Birkin dealer. Fire concerns aside, that shroud keeps the majority of engine heat out of your foot well and it makes driving in warm/hot weather much more tolerable. But not cool. When I have measured the heat there it is typically 110-120 degrees, with the shroud....

Nice to see so many 7's at the front of the pack. Nice to see so many still racing! They can be pretty effective track weapons. I know a member who still races his original 7 and who laps Mid-Ohio about 10'' faster a lap than I do in my modern day version. And it is not all driver (tho maybe mostly) as he hiits 135 mph at fastest part of the track, where I hit maybe 117 mph.

AutoEurope in Birmingham, MI has a nice '90 Zetec-engined Caterham, for $39K. It features a unique rollover bar/cage that does pass the broomstick test, but not the laugh test.... I lack the skills to link it but google will find it for you.