Kitcat

Hopefully I can upload a few choice moments. pic #1-Tom's Yellow SS-can you say front end lift? #2 Michael D and Ron, savoring the moment. #3 Stewart and Steve (BBall) comparing notes. #4: Karls unique method of combining body building with racing. #5. OK, no more questions abt why Karl needs an extra tall rollover bar. #6. Croc tweaking one of his multiple Go-Pros. #7 Tom reacting to his (richly deserved) black flag. #8 Go-Pro heaven. #9 Birkin-leading the Porsche parade (Both off and on the track:)). #10 BBall and Stewart plotting how to get their underpowered X-Flows in front of all the high hp se7ens. #11 Se7ens galore. #12 Another beautiful day at the track (Ron's green se7en featured).

As I mentioned at our Texas Roadhouse dinner: Every se7en I followed (I never followed Croc) was way over-slowing on corner entry. People wld run brilliant lines then give it all back, and then some, entering turns. I suspect that will be clear in my video. The worst were the non-se7ens (Porsches/Vettes)-I tried to stay off their butts as I was shocked a coupla times by their heavy braking where I was full on the throtle (and almost rammed into them). Anyhow, I think if se7ens folks just worked on that, they wld be amazed at how much faster they got. Tom-I will say this just once:the black flag you got was totally bogus-I did worse this weekend and no flag. But, I already feel amnesia coming on so its back to the official usa7s policy of merciless ribbing.

Just back home after 1500+ miles on the road. What a great event! Not only was it a group of gentlemen, it was a group of gentle men, and they are fun to hang with. Kudos to Tom (Yellow SS) for herding cats (Caterhams) all year and making this happen. He also rented garage space, provided snacks, and even let several stray Cat owners stay in his room. Croc is awarded my best-sport award for getting the joke at Texas Roadhouse (see saddle photo). He also supplied most of us technologically challenged geezers with Go-Pro cameras. Seems a investment fund he manages saw fit to put some serious $ into Go-Pro and they supplied him with some extra cameras to show their appreciation. Anyhow, other than asking me to turn the camera on/off, Croc did everything else to provide the video from my car. BBall gets long-haul award (940 miles 1-way), and also my shinny-est-Caterham-ever seen-on-the planet award. It was dazzling. Stewart's lovely blue X-flow looked the coolest of all, to my eyes. The padded rollover bar combined w/Brooklands gave it a low slung way-cool look. Michael D: Track dog award. Karl: Most impressive (expensive?) thrash to get the car ready for the event award. Ron: coolest new tow vehicle/trailer award. He's added a high end Land Rover and enclosed trailer. He was also the only guy I wasn't able to catch thru turns 3-4-5 on T-Bolt. Me: Most improved car award. Nothing broke in the Birkin! The car ran like a champ and was able to hang with all the big dogs. I never seemed to find Croc but suspect, in spite of his great modesty, he was faster than me. I did sit in his car and it was wonderful-everything is a step up from standard Caterham fare. Me: Most improved driver award. Last event I went off track at NJMP 4 times, this time 0. No black flags either (unlike certain yellow Caterham owners who shall remain anonymous:)). Croc: Are you actually saying I was "smooth" on the track???? Is this some kind of head game to get me to slow up:)? I will have to see the video before I believe that:). Cant wait til next year!

Congratulations on making this happen Karl. See you guys tomorrow.

Driver came very close to being beheaded on the concrete barrier. Interesting to see him still steering, while upside down in mid air. I'd be totally bummed, but relived I wasn't injured.

Tom: You posted elsewhere that 2 offs and you are done. Is that per day? In other words IF I shd go off 2 times 1st day, do I get a fresh start Tuesday, or am I heading home Monday? As you know this is not a hypothetical scenario. I have driven 4 laps and maybe 50 miles, since our last event at NJMP (where I acquired my avatar wheel photo). The car has been laid up pretty continuously since then, or in winter storage. Thus, I dont claim to have figured the car out yet. My learning curve will continue, I am just trying to figure how much wiggle room I have to do that. Obviously, my hope and my goal is zero offs, but.....

Car is back and faces baptism by fire: 2 day track event @ NJMP. If it doesn't develop any other issues there, I will put it up for sale since my track-only Caterham should be here in a week. Whoever buys it will be getting a much better Birkin than I got. Additional discoveries post engine blow up: The clutch pressure plate was improperly installed and was hitting the bell housing, so clutch wasn't clamping totally. Hence the slippage at high RPM. The alternator gave up the ghost and had to be rebuilt.

I just drove the Birkin onto my trailer, so it's coming w/me. Took it for a little spin, it performed perfectly. I had forgotten how amazing these cars are-driving a SUV for the last 6 weeks dulled my senses. Anyhow, we'll see how it does on the track Monday and Tues. If it passes that test I will list it for sale (now that I have spent a fortune getting it sorted).

Been told by the driver of the car hauler that my car will be in Utah when I leave Saturday. But my Birkin is "almost"ready. So looks like it's the Birkin for me at NJMP, depending how broadly one defines "almost" (I am adopting an optimistic definition). The truck driver said he like the Caterham tho, drove it onto truck. Also races motorcycles at NJMP, so was simpatico.

Like I know where my confirmation e-mail is, Croc, you are such a kidder! I did e-mail Ian Prout at SCDA abt this and he just replied that all seveners have been moved to Intermediate one (probably for the protection on the other drivers:)).

Caterham in a heart beat as it is a dedicated track car. Part of the reason to move from Birkin to it was the cost of upgrading Birkin for 100% track use (fuel cell, cage, fire suppression, dry sump, slicks etc.). But, the Birkin wld be a great substitute as it is no slouch on the track.

Still no car-this is getting interesting. Spoke to my Birkin mechanic yesterday, new engine is installed but in so doing, they discovered why I was having clutch slippage: Pressure plate was getting hung up on bell housing. So they are modifying the bell housing (lottsa grinding)- which should have been done in the first place by Birkin/Texas Motor Works but.... As to the Caterham, all I know is its supposed to be delivered tomorrow or Friday. Ya know, I had a perfectly good Caterham that I sold, for this????

So, how do you determine what run group you are in? I went to SCDA's site for the event and looked at the schedule (Wow, 5 run groups!; one on-track session for intermediate 1 between 9:00 and 1:45!), but don't see who is assigned to what driving group.

Tom: Do you heat cycle your slicks (Get up to working temp, keep then there 5-10', then store 24 hours and let cure)? New ones are Hoosiers, what were previous ones?

I am adding a gun rack to my se7en for the next track day:).

The deer video is nightmarish. It seemed to materialize out of thin air. TG driver wasn't in a se7en!

Borders on being a fantastic deal for a CSR. In absolute terms tho, still lottsa $.

I will roll in late afternoon Sunday, if all goes as planned. I am staying at the track. Tom: Anything planned for Sunday nite dinner (cook out, head to the clubhouse on site, in to town)??? Karl: I want your mechanics! I still have the following math problem: 1+1 = 0. I visited my no-longer trusty mechanic today. Car sits untouched in last week. Call to my buddies in Seattle where I was promised new car wld be shipped out and received by today-uhh, still looking for a carrier. I am still 99% sure the Birkin will be done in time, looks unlikely the Caterham will be here tho. I am committed to coming with or without a se7en. Like Steve (BBall), I have family in NJ and have planned a reunion w/them as part of this. I suspect if I am desperate there will be a rental of some kind available. Mike M

I think I can detect a slight smile on your se7en, as if all that Calif sun was agreeing with it:). Congratulations on purchasing one of the primo Cats out there.

Sign up on the Focus Fanatics forum and post there. You will be swamped w/info. One of their tuning guru's (1turbofocus, aka TurboTom) will likely comment. He is an occasional visitor here, but at something like 20,000 posts there, much more likely to offer his 2 cents.

That Cat's top gives new meaning to "high visibility." Looks like an excellent adventure!

Hey CarMan. Good luck w/next race @ Lime Rock! I recall other drivers saying that National level racing is much more competitive than regional. Look out for the hump in turn five at Lime Rock, one of our guys stuffed his Caterham into the tire wall there a month or two ago. Do a search here for a thread called:"I learned something in Driver's...." for the details/video. And congratulations on success at Watkins Glen. Small engine, big air resistance definitely limits top speed.

Just paid $1K for a 2.0 Duratec with 9K miles from local junk yard. Cost included removal and delivery to my mechanic's shop.

Maybe my favorite Stalker so far, love the color and it looks professionally built. Congrats!

Hey Tom: I have had some nibbles on a Birkin site where I posted this event. Two Birkin drivers are toying w/coming. We shall see.