Kitcat

IF I were in the market, I'd be driving the M-Spec Storker home tomorrow. It can be had for $30K, that's almost stealing.... The original Lotus 7 is also pretty stunning, tho at the opposite end on the se7en spectrum. Hmmm, maybe I'd actually be driving the Lotus 7 home....? Fortunately, I am not in the market.

Sign me up for everything, including karting, if that materializes. For various reasons, this has been my only track event for the last 2 years. Hopefully impending semi-retirement will free up more time in the near future. But, if I am only going to do one event a year, this is the one to do! Don't wait til too late to get your room rez in, either on or off track, like I did last year. I had to scramble and pay extra $$$ to find something conveniently located. Our group is just one of may using the track and the motorcycle guys show up in hordes for their event, so the rooms disappear.

Thx guys, I will start by checking into the Hoosiers. I won't miss the Goodyears-the front driver's side was good for 2 track days, then bald. They were also prone to punctures and they were very expensive. My skinny, Toyo R888' street/track tires have nearly as much grip.

I just tried to order replacement tires for my worn Goodyear slicks. Since my car was used for SCCA racing, it was required to use skinny wheels. Clever car mfgs like Goodyear got around that by making cantilevered tires (Muffin tops?). But now my tire supplier has advised that Goodyear no longer makes the Formula Ford tire that my car ran (13x7.5 rear, 13x6 front). So what tires are folks using? Or, has everyone gone to normal wheel and tire combos? It wld be cheaper for me not to replace the existing skinny wheels so I am hoping to find a direct replacement for the Goodyears. Any thots?

Croc/YellowSS:Is there a tentative date for the '15 version of this epic?

Dave: Thx, great memories and nice counter-weight to these desolate, se7en-less winter months. Epic slide at 7'40'' (who was it?). Easy to tell the V8 7's and their menacing rumbles from our little X-flows, Zetecs and Duratecs.

Look closer Paul.

OK, I am adding this one to my list of things to do on my 12 year old Zetec.

Looks so much nicer than the beat-up prototype in the earlier posts. It has 2 sets of screens, what info does each contain?

Croc: Not to date myself, but I went from NYC to Cherbourgh, and back, on the original Queen Elizabeth-as an adult:). You got bragging rights on everything else tho!

Blaine: "Tank slapper" is a motorcycle term. Because of my vast experience with disastrous results whist motoring about, I have had the unfortunate experience of a tank slapper on a motorcycle. It is not pretty: mine occurred when I braked suddenly, the rear of the bike slid wide, i reflexively released the brake and the rear swung back fast and hard, all the way over to the opposite side, then back to center. This set up a huge shimmy or oscillation that ran the length of the chassis out through the handle bars. That resulted in the handle bars "slapping" the bike's tank. In other words, the bars were yanked hard right til stopped by hitting the tank then hard left, repeat. Obviously forward progress was quickly interrupted and down I went. A mere 52 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. Broke my arm, with various long term implications, but I digress.... So, the exact same thing happened in the Birkin, I over braked at the track, set up a lurid (and unexpected) slide, reflexively jumped off the brakes, car slid way far the opposite direction, thus setting up an oscillation in the chassis that ending with the front wheels slamming right, then left, without my ability to control it, in spite of tight steering wheel grip. The only thing that solved it was eventually coming to a rest, and starting over. It happened every time I was aggressive with the brakes, so I backed off a bit, slowed braking inputs, etc. Why it happened is way beyond me. I know it has never happened in either of my Caterhams, in spite of my "exuberant" driving style. I do know 1/4" of rebound is essentially a solid suspension, which is not good! Sounds like your rebuild is progressing methodically. I agree the initial shoddy build issues were further complicated by shoddy repairs. I think I finally have found a responsible local mechanic, but that was post-Birkin.

As Croc wisely notes, my existing reputation was unscathed by the Birkin's evil handling and his opinion of my driving level was completely unaffected:).

JR: For track use of my '09 Duratec Birkin, I discovered (the hard way) that in addition to adding extra breathers to the valve cover, it was necessary to modify the Redline oil pan (that on paper is aggressive enough for track use), by adding a trap door. I blew my engine due to the lack of said trap door. Keep one eye on oil pressure at all times, at least initially, to be sure its not dropping precipitously (it is esp severe at end of long curve with braking).Also, check that the rubber boots protecting the rear CV joints are adequately and securely attached. Mine came off at speed at my 1st track day, and I lost the grease there and both real axles had to be replaced. Make sure suspension points and engine mounts are properly torqued. Many of mine were loose, leading to some huge, and uncontrollable, "tank slappers" on track at speed. My engine never ran properly until completely warmed up. My local tech said the ECU system was inadequate.(This is a very partial list of my Birkin's mechanical issues, I am just listing those that come to mind that are track related problems). Mike M.

Croc: Just drop a crate L3 in there and call it done:).

Ditto the negative quality of TMW constructed Birkin. Dick's the nicest guy in the world. But.... I put maybe 500 miles on my Birkin and had every problem known to man. Spent scary money trying to fix it ($10K?) All due to poor construction. Finally sold it to a person who had built 2 Birkins in the past and was looking for a project. So, sold it for $10K less than I bought it. You can do the math. The new buyer is completely rebuilding it. And BTW, when it did run, it was wonderful, certainly the equal of the Caterhams I have driven/owned, so not a knock on Birkins.

He is 74 years old! Looks 54, if that. I mite have to take up panel beating:).

Thx Croc. I typed in Lotus Elite (an all time favorite) and found 6-7 pristine examples. None in the US, all well over $100K, but they are out there (whispering my name:)).

Walmart is famous for telling American suppliers to move operations to China or else. Gotta say, Channelock is still American made, right in my home town of Meadville, PA. But factories there that directly employed 8,000 local folks (including me for a while) all moved out of the country (after 1st going to the anti-union sunbelt).

"One of" your race cars? Inquiring minds need to know which one? The Mustang is done, right? Is this an Aussie import?

Per that article, Ferrari ownership experience is very much like owning a se7en. With the difference that se7en buyers aren't typically using for daily driver (they know what they are buying and why).

I ended up buying Croc's suggested aluminum pellets last year in my 21 gallon fuel tank/bladder. Not cheap tho (esp when you have a 21 gallon tank). I went thru 3 fuel pumps in a coupla hundred miles w/10 year old foam.

I think if the engine is pushed back far enough that weight is biased to the rear, it can be termed a "front" mid-engined car? Didn't a car of that type advertise it self as "front mid-engined" sports car? Maybe a TVR?

Depending on whether the date ends up on a time already scheduled for vacations, weddings etc., I'd be interested. It is a shorter and much easier drive from Cincy than to NJMP, for instance. I doubt 2 track days is feasible. It is an expensive track to rent. Happy to do 2 tho, if it happens.

The shot of the white 1958-ish Elite sitting behind the Mark I (Lotus's Model T?) shows what amazing progress the company made in 10 years. The Elite is my favorite all time Lotus, then the 7. I have never seen a surviving Lotus Elite where the hood (bonnet) wasn't warped badly or ill-fitting. And of course using un-reinforced fiberglass to support suspension points wasn't destined to last long. Still, the few surviving examples can command 6 figures. Didn't know the 7 only had one SCCA Run-offs victory. I would have guessed it had many.

JR: Don't recall for sure but think I ordered a replacement thru Dick Brink, who was a Birkin dealer of sorts back then and "built" my car. He still has lottsa parts and is knowledgeable, so mite know where to find one, if he doesn't have one. There is also a Birkin group on Yahoo and they are v helpful (birkinowners@yahoogroups.com). Maybe join/post?