Kitcat

Whoops, somehow ended up back here. Plz ignore.

I had a number of chats over the 3 day NJMP event with Tom, who incidentally, is a world class nice guy. As I have learned the hard way, who assembles the car is as important as who manufactures it. Tom clearly takes pride in producing a well constructed product. His car ran flawlessly over the two track days. I owned an IRS Duratec powered '09 Birkin for 2 years and though it was still the latest iteration. Tom says no, there were many changes in the design of the Birkin XS and those have now found there way to the stock Birkin S3. Maybe he can elaborate. An interesting tidbit is that Birkin manufactures all of their components, Caterham farms theirs out. So the body, chassis, etc., are all constructed elsewhere by others to Caterham's spec, and shipped to Caterham for use. Finally, Tom showed me a photo of a new 'Vette and said it was owned by his 83 year old mother! He built a bike rack for it so she could carry her carbon fiber bike when she traveled. My kind of mom:).

Ditto the thanks to Croc and Tom. This event is a TON of work, and they do it all with amazing enthusiasm and good cheer. We really got this going at the LOG event in Gettysburg 6 years ago. We had so much fun there that Tom and Croc cooked up a plan to duplicate the experience at NJMP. Once I get settled in here (arrived at 11:00 pm last nite), I will add some photos but it looks like most cars, participants and angles have been covered. Some random thoughts: Wow was karting ever fun! Anyone coming next year should seriously consider doing it. And, NJMP has a swimming pool, next to the bar! So after a long hot day on track it is wonderful to jump in the pool then rehydrate with a micro-brew. Only a few of us made it poolside so I'd recommend to all for next year. I found that a driver's suit really enhanced the experience in the car. It breathes well at speed and is only uncomfortable in the pits, where you can take it off. My new helmet was remarkably quiet and that made the on-track experience much better. Bottom line: I cant wait for next year!

Tom: I have been promised the car will be done today. As you know tho, anytime the engine and transmission are pulled and clutch assembly replaced, there can be unintended issues. But I am hopeful, and am planning on being there for karting on Friday, if all goes well. Mike

Tom/Croc: Refresh my memory, is there paperwork, releases, car tech sheet or other forms we are supposed to complete ahead of time, or is all done on site Saturday a.m.? Will there be any tech inspections Friday and if so when/where? I know Saturday a.m is scheduled for tech/drivers meeting, etc., but that seems like a lot to squeeze into a small time fame. I am sure this is all plainly stated somewhere but with my creeping senility, it has escaped my attention or been lost/forgotten.

Steve: I have the same disease & have been monitoring NJMP for 10 days:). As you know, sometimes there is a 40% chance, sometimes zero.I had a track day scheduled last weekend. Rain chance was 40% Friday, 100% Sat/Sunday-this on Thursday eve. In reality: One shower Friday a.m, then dry all weekend:).

Flyin Miata also sells something called an "Exocet" kit for about $10K. It's kind of a cross between a 7 and an Ariel Atom (Aesthetically, the worst of both to my eye). It also uses a Miata as a donor vehicle. I am not sure how your friend gets noticed in this small but already crowded market. So I'd guesstimate 2-4 cars annually? If one of his products (the VII, the IIIX?) did something big (wins the One-lap, is national Solo champ, etc.) sales wld climb.

Great news, Al! You and your car and your family will be one of this year's NJMP highlights. I will dig out some pics from the 7/7/07 event to use for comparisons:)!

Easy enough for a potential buyer to add a full-size Caterham, windshield, if desired. I think the one I bought was about $600.00. Car mite already have the windshield mounting holes pre-drilled. Any necessary mounting hardware can also be ordered from Caterham parts.

To the extent any foam or other padding compresses, doesn't that add corresponding slack in the seat belt harnesses? FWIW, I have added a 3/4'' foam pad to my seat bottom. It is a hard fiberglass racing seat, with helmet wings on each side of the upper seat back that keep my head from moving sideways. HANS + 6 pt belt system and arm restraints finish it up. FuelSafe gas tank hopefully adds a bit of protection as well. Also, just bought a racing suit, and use fire resistant gloves/racing shoes & bought a new, updated helmet as well. *** Further thought: I have a pair of cycle shorts with thick foam padding in the butt, designed to make long rides on the small hard bicycle seat more tolerable. I will try them out under my driving suit. I know they are not fire resistant but all this is something of a compromise. ###Yet another thought: Since you were sitting pretty erect when you had the abrupt landing your vertebrae and discs were perfectly lined up to be damaged. Think of 13 pool balls all in a straight line: hit one, they all get hammered. If you had been significantly reclined, then the vertical load would have been distributed somewhat from the side, not end to end. Seems like that would have helped???

MD: I will ask my mechanic to eye-ball it but the symptoms dont fit worn synchos. Instead, with the new master cylinder, if shifts as smooth as butter. Then, it won't shift at all, no gears are available. Working theory is something has broken and is gumming things up intermittently (pressure plate spring maybe?). I will know soon.

Thx MD. The new clutch master cylinder fixed part, not all, of the shifting issue. So a new clutch, pressure plate and slave cylinder are on their way to Cincy and will hopefully be installed by end of this week. Cant imagine how nice it will be to able to shift at will:). Getting too close for comfort to the NJMP event tho.

Dunno MD. As you will recall, when I had shifting problems at last year's NJMP se7ens gathering, you did a field service and replaced/replenished the clutch fluid. That got me thru the rest of the event, tho it would always start to get progressively harder to shift as the session wore on. Until now, I have thought I was just not managing the 6sp properly, having used a 5 sp for so long.

Thx guys. There have been 3-4 flushes, each one is only good for a few laps. We may have a replacement already, I will know for sure tomorrow.

This unit is dying in my '03 Zetec powered Caterham S3 with the 6 sp. Caterham transmission. As soon as the unit gets hot, shifting becomes nearly impossible. Any ideas as to a suitable replacement? Can this be purchased at AutoZone, or is it a bespoke Caterham part? Thots, suggestions, solutions?

Looking forward to seeing this new Birkin. That will be quite a haul!

Sevenselans.com (Sevens and Elans) currently has 4 Caterhams of varying vintage and spec for sale.

Flyin Miata uses a Miata drive train in the Westfield 7 kits they sell, no?

Shane-The scariest part of this was how prepared you were and how bad it still was. I think we all tell ourselves that by utilizing all the available safety equipment, as you did, we will be ok. And that is true, until it is not. And we really are not the masters of our destiny out there. Yes, we control our fate to a degree, but there is always that wild card event, the unk-unk-(unknown unknown) that you cant prepare for. I have hit plenty of pot holes hard. I hit a rock so hard when I went off at NJMP that I flattened both front tires, and bent both front wheels. Just rolled into the pits, replaced them, and went back out without a moment's thot to suspension/frame damage. I still think the most dangerous thing I do every week, tho, is ride to my bicycle to work on weekends. I know many people who have suffered catastrophic injuries at relatively low speed riding their bikes. Zero protection, invisible to distracted drives, etc. So it is an ongoing question as to where to draw the line. I scared myself so bad once at VIR (no accident, but convinced I was about to die) that I sold my car and didn't return to the track for 2+ years. But here I am. So all much food for thought. In the meantime you have my deep sympathy. The mental follows the physical. I tell my injured clients' spouses, who are always complaining about hubby being grouchy as an old bear:You try having a positive attitude with a pick up truck rolled on top of one of your feet, 24-7. Pretty hard to do.

Not to toot my own horn (metaphorically speaking, I don't actually have one) but I can see myself sweeping the table here:).

Carman:What spec Ford engine: Zetec? SK: 1turbofocus has been looking for a Caterham to turbo-charge, just an (evil) thot....

This car was also listed here back in 2011. The gentleman Craig bought it from found it here. If you look at the 2011-12 post you see it was listed for $65K, then $55K. Interestingly, the seller then said his family had over $120K in the build (!!!). Craig: How does this one compare to the super fast Vauxall-engined car you owned a while back (aka:Fastest Caterham in the USA)? Do you notice any handling advantage due to inboard suspension, indep rear and wider footprint, compared to a S3 Caterham?

Seeing you next to the car makes me wonder how you even fit in it:). It looks tiny next to you. Why not bring it to the NJMP se7ens event in 4 weeks and show us all the track's fast line?

As I recall, you were already keeping up. And that was with me on slicks. For the time being, tho, I have switched back to narrow ToyoR888's. Hmmm, maybe it will help if I finally learn how to shift the 6sp....

Yes, adjusting toe is just that easy (loosen retaining nut, rotate tie rods-opposite ways, re-tighten retaining nut). If you have the wrenches it takes 10'.