Kitcat

Dave: You have a very special Zetec. You are up there with the exotic Cosworth Duratec rebuilds, like Croc's and Yellow SS's. Without a total rebuild, most stock, or near stock Zetecs, top out a bit before 7000 rpm's. My SVT Zetec hits the rev limiter at 6800. I listened to Shane's post of your car blasting around NJMP and it didn't sound like any Zetec I have ever heard either (It was much better). I'd love to see some dyno results.

They have no trouble keeping up with comparable Caterhams at our annual track event at NJMP. The owner just needs to add a track worthy roll-over bar.

I will second the point made by CarMan above: the on-track performance of these little giant-killers is a reason many of us learn to live with their shortcomings as normal transport. Certainly it is the primary attraction for me, as mine is not even street legal. So, it doesn't have the rudimentary concessions to daily use that most other se7ens provide (doors, top, turn signals, lights, passenger seat, etc.). But most of us who track our cars have enjoyed the experience of totally embarrassing the "sports sedan" crowd at the track and their 4,000 lb, 400 hp monsters (often driven by owners with 4000 watt egos). Many of us who did an early NJMP se7ens event remember passing a certain loudmouth, big-shot Audi sedan owner who couldn't emotionally accept the reality of being smoked by our dinky little under powered "kit cars." I think he finally ran Croc off the track and then slunk away in shame (but that mite just be my jaded memory-at least the shame part:).

I got two of the multiple sets of these Pansport wheels from Beachman Racing when I bought my Beachman Racing prepared Cat 3 years ago. The pictures Bruce posted are how mine look. The wheels are in nice shape but not showroom shape. They have many laps of "racing patina". As he says, they are very lightweight. As I recall, they weigh about 17-18 lbs WITH the lightweight and diminutive Goodyear racing slick mounted (20x7-13). Don't recall the offset but they fit my '03 S3 Cat perfectly, no spacers needed.

So the engine is a Zetec?

Croc: Is the '99 Westfield above really a "pre-lit" se7en. I thought the litigation by Caterham v. Westfield ended in settlement in '87? And, as much as I like this yellow car (wh/is a lot), I suspect the ad is fibbing a bit. For instance, the seller claims the car weighs 900 lbs "wet". Maybe without the engine and drivetrain? Also claims the X-flow SuperSprint engine makes 160 hp. That is conceivable, but if it does, it is a very special X-flow (mine made 95 hp). Establishing what the "market'' price of any of our se7ens is challenging. Often they sell for amounts far less than advertised and we are none the wiser. Even if the Westfield here is as nice as it appears, $30K for an X-flow powered car seems a bit rich. I like the dry-sump, the quaife (tho it mite not be easy to potter around on the streets with that transmission), and I like the weather gear and the general presentaion. Maybe it's more realistic at $24K-25K tho?

Well, I find it refreshingly honest. It is not the usual car-magazine love-fest with the se7en (emphasizing the "purity" and romance of the experience over the incredible discomfort). I have had exactly the same reaction to driving my se7ens many thousands of miles on public roads (exhilarating, memorable, hot, cramped, etc). Then throw in the typical se7en's occassional mechanical snafu's (that would make a Miata unmarketable if it were similarly constructed) and trips CAN be a challenge. Don't get me wrong, unlike this writer, I do love all my se7ens. And the most memorable automobile trips of my life have all been in my cozy little se7en. I love the standard Cat seats and like Slomove, I have found that just a few adjustments and the trip can be much easier (starting with ear protection, then sun protection, followed by foot well insulation and sunglasses). But to a normal person used to driving normal cars, the se7en experience can initially be bewildering and disorienting.

I love that most of the Robin Hood seller's sentences end with an exclamation point! (Comes "with a heater!"). And many sentences start without a capital letter. The whole thing seems totally bogus. IF this were a '80 Caterham of similar spec, it might be worth $15-18K? Have to hope any buyer sophisticated enough to be attracted to a se7en will also be sophisticated enough to know this price is a multiple of the car's actual value.

Skip, thx! Some of the clips are epic! I havent seen so much sliding on pavement since the last se7ens event at NJMP:).

James: I watched that Run-offs win and it was grand and glorious. But it was also a consequence of the 4 (as I recall) front runners all taking each other out on the last lap in their desperate and unsportsmanlike efforts to win, leaving the Caterham, back in 5th, to inherit first. And as I recall, he was way behind the front runners (fortunately for him:)).

Nice top, and excellent job keeping your Cat so shined up, esp the aluminum! Looking thru your pix I realize how much more I like the character of the older cars. They were unafraid of taking a stying risk. The newer cars seem so bland (with a few notable excepetions). I'd rather drive the new cars, but would rather be seen in one of the old ones. The only exception is your se7en, which is an old car on a new car chassis and running modern brakes, engine, etc.

I second the suggestion of contacting Craig Chima. His cars have won the Run-offs in the past, and he knows the host track of this year's Run-offs (Mid-Ohio) inside and out. Also a very nice guy. I think Mid-O is a tough place for se7ens to compete due to their hp and aero disadvantage, combined with the lengthy straights. I suspect if you come for fun and to compete it will be special. If you come to win or trophy, it may be a challenge. A number of track day events are held there all spring and summer. Why not sign up, learn the track and see how competitive your times are?

I share your sense of the good stuff. I noticed that one of the few Morgan dealers in the country is in Morgantown WV. Company must have liked the name:). And they have a coupla 3-wheelers in stock.

In defense of my driving style, I'd just like to point out that I give an equal amount of time to exploring the track's "outfield":).

Welcome Ted, great story. I am with you:"Yee haw!"

Or just Google the lyrics to the Hokey-Pokey: they pretty much cover the topic of getting in a se7en with the top up:).

I just saw that Caterham will offer heated carbon fiber seats on some '16 models! That should fill the show rooms:)! Apparently, they are holding off on the cup holders and cruise control....

I am counting the days:).

For my 3000th post I thought I'd start at the beginning, way back at my very first post on this Forum, almost 10 years ago. Obviously I didn't get the Elise and instead a X-flow Caterham, the first of three (and counting) se7ens. It was a great choice and it has been a great adventure. And it was an easy choice, I grew up reading Road and Track in the early '60's and they never failed to extol the virtues of the small, but mighty seven. Al was right, it is possible to drive a se7en for hours in the rain. I did that numerous times (very exciting on shaved race tires!). I ultimately wimped out and went the trailer/tow vehicle route. That extended the useful range of my se7en's use. I was unwilling to travel long distances at night on the interstate to get to events. The deciding factor was the first USA7s get-together at NJMP 5-6 years ago. The thot of my nearly invisible seven in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic on I-95 was too intimidating, even for me. The trailer also solved the ominous breakdown-in-the-middle-of-nowhere issue, with the needed parts on a 6 month back order dilemma. Unfortunately, my track-dedicated seven ended the joy of early morning blats and scaring the adult citizenry and thrilling children 8 and under (a group with which seven owners seem have a natural connection -youth is fleeting but immaturity can last forever, etc.). So I may have to come up with some sort of solution in that regard, we'll see what the next 10 years brings. At that point I will be 80 and maybe starting to slow up a bit-maybe I will finally have matured enough to get that Elise:)?

Croc: Great to have you back and to see this Forum's favorite section rolling again. Also just noticed your Forum odometer has clicked over 3000 posts. Not many folks in that select group, tho I am knocking on the door-thus proving it is possible to rack up an impressive number of posts without actually saying much:).

My Zetec has also encountered coil issues (among others:)). So I also had the overlapping engine problems. I mistakenly thought that when I traded my X-flow engined car in for a Zetec powered one I'd have better reliability. I did get better power and better gas mileage, probably less reliability.

I am still chuckling. I plan to watch it again.

501: How many RPM's at 60 mph? I vaguely remember that my 5sp X-flow turned about 3800 at a cruising speed of 70 in the overdrive 5th gear. And that was plenty buzzy, tho somewhat muted by deafening wind noise:).

Max, my track-only Caterham and I visit Putnam a few times a year, typically with 10-10ths, and I hope to get to Mid-O at least once. No passenger seat and not street legal so it would mostly be a audio-visual experience. If a visit to Cincy were planned, I'd be happy to let a prospective se7en owner take it for a short solo spin around my secluded neighborhood streets. Or if you see me at Putnam, a spin down the track entrance road and back should be feasible, ditto Mid-O. Be prepared tho, for total sensory overload:)!

Great photos of some classic cars! Automotive technology has made amazing advancements over the 60 years represented by those cars. Styling, not so much. What variety se7en is yours? I love the clams and Brookland set-up.